WO2006058972A1

WO2006058972A1 - Safety device

Info

Publication number: WO2006058972A1
Application number: PCT/FR2005/002683
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bertrand Vasconi
Original assignee: Bertrand Vasconi
Priority date: 2004-11-30
Filing date: 2005-10-26
Publication date: 2006-06-08
Also published as: EP1819891A1; FR2878552A1; FR2878552B1; WO2006058972B1; WO2006058972A8

Abstract

The invention concerns a safety device for a water tower (1) of the type comprising a support (10), an elevated tank (2) mounted on said support, and a roof (3) covering said tank, the support being provided with at least one means of access (12) to the tank and an access trap door (30) provided in the roof, an access well (23) passes through the base of the tank and rises along the latter up to a certain height beneath the roof, said safety device including at least one closure means (4) incorporating at least one selectively mobile part providing access into the tank, said closure means (4) extending in the extension of the access well (23) until it reaches beneath the roof (31), thereby enabling the inside of the tank (2) to be isolated from the access well and the access trap door to the roof.

Description

SECURING DEVICE

The present invention relates to a security device for water tower and a water tower equipped with said security device. The water tower is a link in the water production and distribution network, it is most often located on the outskirts of agglomerations even if it can also be located in the city center as in the open countryside. The role of a water tower is to ensure the storage of drinking water for distribution, it allows to regulate the pressure of the water thus ensuring a homogeneous distribution throughout the network. To do this, a water tower must be elevated compared to the dwellings it serves. To this end, a water tower must be built on a relief, or in the absence of relief, the water tower must be raised artificially which requires to build the latter on a support.

In general and with reference to Figure 1, a water tower 1 consists of a support 10, most often in the form of a tower with or without symmetry of revolution. At the top of this support 10, is placed in elevation a tank 2 serving as a water reservoir E. The support 10 of the water tower may comprise several levels of floors 11 or intermediate levels spaced in height in the body of the 'work. Access means 12 in the form of ladders or stairs provide access to all levels, including access means 13 to the tank to facilitate maintenance.

The tank 2 generally has the same as the support 10 a symmetry of revolution. The tank 2 of a water tower has a maximum filling level 20a and a minimum filling level 20b. The water towers being geographically dispersed, they are of interest in the fight against fires by serving as water reserves usable by firefighters. Thus a certain quantity of water must always be at their disposal whether the tank is full or at its minimum level. To do this, all the tanks 2 have a reserve -fire- 20c. The tank-2 is generally provided with two level pears, a high level pear 21a and a low level pear 21b, which make it possible to control the quantity of water contained in the tank and to check that it is not either too full or close to its minimum level. The minimum filling level of the tank corresponds to the amount of water serving as fire reserve 20c. Finally, two pipes, one for supplying water 22a and taking water 22b, connect the tank to the rest of the water distribution network and also make it possible to regulate the level of the water in the tank. An access chimney 23 passes through the bottom of the tank 2 and raises the latter so that the upper edge 24 of said access chimney is higher than the maximum filling level of the tank. The access means 13 to the tank 12 pass through this stack to allow maintenance personnel to ensure the verification of the state of the tank and its cleaning.

In order to protect the contents of the tank from bad weather, the water tower is covered with a roof. 3. The water towers being elevated points in the landscape, they constitute perfect places of implantation among others for antennas resignation. This material is attached to the roof 3 of the water towers. In order to be able to maintain it or to monitor the state of the roof 3, it was necessary to equip the roofs with water towers 30 giving access to this equipment. The hatch 30 is accessible through access means 13 which are either the same as those leading to the tank 2 and which have been extended to reach the under roof or new access means which extend from a platform attached to the top of the access chimney 23 (not shown in Figure 1) to the under roof.

A problem with water towers lies in the fact that many people, other than the water distribution agents, are brought to approach the tank containing drinking water. In general, only a padlocked door, located at the foot of the support, prevents access to the infrastructure of the water tower and including the drinking water tank. This door can be easily fractured by malicious people in order to pollute the water in the tank.

In addition, it is possible that animals enter the water tower through a day under the entrance door attracted by the coolness of the tank when it is hot or by the temperature

- relatively constant -in-the-level-of-tanks (due to pumps and heating) when it is cold outside. These crawling or flying animals (mice, field mice, birds, cats, etc.), if they have access to the tank, can pollute the water it contains.

In addition, if an intervention must take place on the roof, there is a risk that the intervener introduces into the tank of dust or earth, through the access chimney. One of the risks of this lack of protection of the tank lies in a deliberate or involuntary pollution of the water of the tank with heavy consequences in terms of public health and in terms of maintenance (stop of the distribution of the water emptying and cleaning the tank, distribution of mineral water bottles to the population, for example).

An object of the present invention is to provide a device for blocking access to the tank even if an intruder or a wild animal has been able to get inside the water tower.

This object is achieved by a securing device for a water tower of the type comprising a support, an elevated tank placed on said support, said tank ensuring the storage of the water for distribution, a roof covering said tank, the support being provided with means for access to the tank and an access hatch formed in the roof, an access chimney passing through the bottom of the tank, said access means extending at least partially in said chimney; access, characterized in that said securing device comprises a closure means incorporating at least one selectively mobile part allowing access to the inside of the tank, said closure means extending in the extension of the chimney of access to the access hatch at the level of the under-roof, to isolate the interior of the tank of the access chimney and the access hatch to the roof.

According to another feature, said access door is located vertically to the access chimney, said closure means bearing on the upper edge of said access chimney and being fixed to the under-roof around the trapdoor. access.

According to another feature, said selectively movable portion of the closing means is slidably mounted in a lower guide rail disposed on the upper edge of said access chimney or on a platform on which said chimney would open. access and in an upper guide rail attached to the under-roof.

According to another feature, said relatively movable portion of the closure means is provided with rolling means for rolling along a lower guide rail disposed on the upper edge of said access chimney or on a platform on which to emerge. said access chimney and along an upper guide rail fixed to the under-roof.

According to another feature, said access door is offset transversely relative to the access chimney, said closure means resting on a platform fixed in a console to said access chimney and being fixed to the under-roof .

According to another feature, the closure means is constituted by a plurality of moving parts in the form of vertical slats hinged together and guided by the guide rails, said movable parts wrapping around a reel contained in a housing attached to the access chimney or platform.

According to another feature, the closure means consists of at least two distinct parts, one of these parts being movable, the other being fixed, the mobile part (s) being suitable ( s) to retract into the fixed part.

According to another feature, the closing means consists of two coaxial half-cylinders of which at least one is movable, the outer diameter of the first half-cylinder being smaller than the inner diameter of the second half-cylinder in order to retract at least partially in said second half-cylinder by relative rotation. The other of the two half-cylinders can be even fixed.

According to another feature, the closure means is provided with at least one locking means for maintaining said closed closure means either by connecting it to a portion of the chimney or by connecting two constituent parts of said closure means.

The invention also relates to a water tower of the type comprising a support, an elevated tank placed on said support, said tank ensuring the storage of water for distribution, and a roof covering said tank, the support being - equipped with means-access to the tank and an access hatch in the roof, an access chimney passing through the bottom of the tank, said access means extending at least partially in said access chimney, characterized in that it is equipped with the securing device as defined above.

The invention will be better understood, and other objects, details, characteristics and advantages thereof will appear more clearly in the following detailed explanatory description of several embodiments of the invention given in the following respects. purely illustrative and non-limiting examples, with reference to the attached schematic drawings.

In these drawings: FIG. 1 represents a schematic view in elevation and in section of a water tower equipped with the securing device according to the invention,

FIG. 2 represents an enlarged view of the portion encircled at II in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 represents a sectional view according to the arrows;

IH-III of Figure 2, illustrating a first embodiment of the invention, the device being in the closed position,

FIG. 4 represents a view similar to that of FIG. 3, the device being in the open position; FIG. 5 represents a view similar to that of FIG.

3, but illustrating a second embodiment of the invention, the device being in the closed position,

- Figure 6 shows a view similar to that of Figure 5, the device being in the open position. The present invention relates to a security device, especially for water towers.

Referring to Figure 2, we see the top of the access chimney 23 with its upper edge 24. The access means 13 up through the chimney provides access to the drinking water tank 2 and at the access hatch 30 to the roof 3 covering the water tower.

An upper guide rail 40a is attached to the sub-roof

31. A second lower guide rail 40b is attached to the upper edge

24 of the access chimney 23 facing the guide rail 40a. A

- -moyen dαclermeture-4-is mounted between the two rails, guiding 40a, .4Ob so as to be able to move along these guide rails. Thus, the closure means 4 can slide along the rails so that they can open or close access to the drinking water tank.

In some water towers, the access chimney 23 is not aligned with the access hatch 30.

In such a case, the access chimney 23 opens generally on a platform (not shown in the figures) fixed cantilever to the chimney. This platform makes it possible both to access the drinking water tank 2 via a descending ladder of the tank for example and to access the hatch 30 via an ascending ladder. In order to protect the tank 2 from possible pollution when a maintenance agent comes to control or repair the installations fixed on the roof 3 of the water tower, it is necessary to place the securing device according to the invention along each side of the platform opening on the tank 2.

Figures 3 and 4 show a first embodiment of the device according to the invention. In this first embodiment, the securing device 4 consists of two half-cylinders 240a, 240b coaxial. This embodiment is suitable for access chimneys 23 of circular shapes.

In this embodiment, a first half-cylinder 240b is fixedly mounted between the upper edge 24 of the chimney 23 and the under-roof and a second half-cylinder 240a is mounted to be movable or sliding between the guide rails 40a, 40b. The movable half-cylinder 240a has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the fixed half-cylinder 240b so that it can retract at least partially into the fixed half-cylinder by relative rotation (see FIG. 4). In a variant of this embodiment, the two half-cylinders 240a, 240b are both movable.

It is obvious that any other geometric shape can be applied to the closure means according to this embodiment. Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment of the device according to the invention. In this second embodiment, the securing device 4 consists of a closing means 340 capable of sliding or rolling in the guide rails 40a, 40b. In this embodiment, the closure means 340 consists of a plurality of moving parts 341 in the form of vertical slats hinged together and guided by the guide rails ₅ 4OA 40b. The moving parts 341 are wrapped around a reel 342 contained in a housing 343 fixed on the upper edge 24 of the access chimney 23 or the platform. In order to facilitate the handling of the closure means 340, it is possible to motorize the winder.

Of course, the closure means is not limited to any particular geometric shape.

A third embodiment, not shown in the figures, consists of a closure means in the form of at least one curtain adapted to lower or to rise by wrapping around a winder fixed to the under roof 31, for example a curtain with horizontal slats hinged.

To lock the securing device of the tank 2 drinking water, the closure means may be provided with any suitable locking means, for example a padlock.

For example, a padlock can make it possible to lock the connection between the two fixed and movable parts of the first embodiment of the closure means 240. Thus, without the padlock keys, it is impossible to move the movable part 240a in order to access the tank 2.

In the second embodiment, a padlock 50 makes it possible to lock the closure means 340 to the casing 343 containing the reel 342. Finally, in the third embodiment, a padlock makes it possible to lock the curtains to a riveted eyelet on the same side. floor of the access platform or chimney.

The closure means according to the invention is in permanent contact with a humid medium and subjected to numerous temperature variations. In order to ensure maximum durability by means of closure, it is made of a material that is both treated to resist corrosion and that withstands temperature changes due to, for example, changing seasons. Such a material could be, for example, a stainless steel, or a polymer. Although the invention has been described in connection with several particular embodiments, it is quite obvious that is not limited and includes all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combination if they fall within the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. Device for securing a water tower (1) of the type comprising a support (10), a raised tank (2) placed on said support, said tank ensuring the storage of water for distribution, a roof (3) covering said tank, the support being provided with access means (12 and 13) to the tank and an access hatch (30) formed in the roof (3), an access chimney (23) passing through the bottom of the tank, said access means (13) extending at least partially in said access chimney, characterized in that said securing device comprises a closing means (4) incorporating at least a part selectively mobile device allowing access to the inside of the tank, said closing means (4) extending in the extension of the access chimney to the access hatch (30) at the level of the under-roof ( 31), to insulate the inside of the tank of the access chimney and the hatch of access to the roof.

2. Securing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said access door (30) is located vertically from the access chimney (23), said closure means (4) bearing on the upper edge (24) of said access chimney and being fixed to the under-roof (31) around the access door.

3. Securing device according to claim 1, characterized in that said access door is offset transversely relative to the access chimney, said closure means bearing on a platform fixed in a console to said chimney. access and coming to attach to the under roof.

4. Securing device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said relatively movable portion (240a, 341) of the closing means (4) is provided with bearings for rolling along a lower guide rail (40b) disposed on the upper edge (24) of said access chimney (23) or on a platform on which said access chimney would open and along an upper guide rail (40a) fixed to the under-roof (31).

5- - Device - of - securing, according - - - - - - -. Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said selectively movable portion (240a, 341) of the closure means (4) is slidably mounted in a lower guide rail (40b) disposed on the upper edge (24) of said access chimney or on a platform on which said access chimney (23) opens and in an upper guide rail (40b) attached to the under roof (31).

6. Securing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the closing means (4) consists of a plurality of movable parts (341) in the form of vertical slats hinged together and guided by the guide rails (40a, 40b), said movable parts wrapping around a reel (342) contained in a housing (343) attached to the access chimney (23) or platform.

7. Securing device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the closing means (4) consists of at least two distinct parts, one of these parts being movable (240a), the other being fixed (240b), the (or) part (s) mobile (s) (240a) being adapted (s) to retract in the fixed part (240b).

8. Securing device according to claim 7, characterized in that the closing means consists of two coaxial half-cylinders (240a, 240b), at least one of which is movable, the outer diameter of the first half-cylinder (240 a) being smaller than the inner diameter of the second half-cylinder (240b) so that it can retract at least partially into the second half-cylinder (240b) by relative rotation.

9. Securing device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the closure means (4) is provided with at least one locking means (50) for maintaining said closing means (4) closed either by bonding it to a portion of the chimney (23) or by bonding two constituent parts of said closure means.

10. Water tower (1) of the type comprising a support (10), a tank (2) elevated placed on said support, said tank ensuring the storage of water for distribution, and a roof (3) covering said tank, the support being provided with access means (12, 13) to the tank and

- An access hatch (3θ) -ménagée in the-roof, a-chimney-access- (23) crossing the bottom of the tank, said access means extending at least partially in said access chimney (13), characterized in that it is equipped with the securing device according to one of the preceding claims.