EP0796949A1 - Hinged, closed or grating-like, manhole cover and its supporting frame - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a solid cover or a grid (3) supported by a frame (2). An axis (9) extending from the cover fits into a housing in the frame. A groove in the frame forms the housing. The two side walls (25a,25b) are joined by a base (26). There are stops (27a,27b) at the top which extend horizontally towards the outer edge of the frame. The stops cover the side edges (14a,14b) of the axis (9) when the cover is closed. The base extends towards the edge of the frame and has a lug (28) which supports the axis. The cover is opened or closed by moving the axis through the open space (32) formed by the lug and the stops. This space is below the upper edge (21) of the frame and opens towards the outside of the frame.

Description

The present invention relates to a hinged road device comprising a cover of the grid or buffer type and a support frame, this frame being provided with at least one housing open upwards, under the conditions of installation of the frame, and opening out towards the inside of the frame, each housing being intended to cooperate with a pivot with which the cover is provided and which projects on the periphery of said cover, thus authorizing the tilting of the cover relative to the frame by pivoting around the hinged device.

The invention applies in particular to devices for closing inspection or inspection chimneys of a water network such as manholes or sidewalk manholes, or to devices for crowning manholes such as road grids.

In known road systems of this type, the cover can easily be removed from its support frame when the latter is sealed in the ground, in particular by simply lifting the cover when the latter makes an angle of 90 ° relative to the position. closing.

This then results in a significant risk of theft of the cover by ill-intentioned individuals. To overcome such acts of vandalism, it has been proposed to provide the cover with a locking member, such as for example a bolt or a rotary finger abutting under a flange of the frame, this member can only be operated by a specific tool or key. However, such a solution has the drawback of not being easy to implement and of being inexpensive. In addition, the use of a particular tool to unlock the locking member before opening the cover proves impractical for the user.

The present invention has therefore set itself the aim of remedying the aforementioned drawbacks, and more particularly of economically ensuring the anti-theft security of the cover when the frame is sealed in the ground, and this with parts which are easy to install. work that does not require the use of an attached locking member.

To this end, the invention relates to a road system of the aforementioned type, characterized in that the housing is in the form of a notch formed in the thickness of the frame, this notch being defined by two lateral walls connecting to a bottom wall and which terminate, upwards, by abutment means, projecting horizontally towards the outside of the frame, said abutment means being adapted to cover the lateral ends of the pivot when the cover is in place on the frame, said bottom wall extending towards the outside of the frame by a lug serving as a support for the pivot, the assembly or disassembly of the cover being effected by passage of the pivot of the cover through the open space delimited by the lug and the abutment means of the frame, this open space being located below the upper face of the frame and opening towards the outside thereof.

• les parois latérales qui bordent l'échancrure se prolongent, vers l'extérieur du cadre, par des nervures d'appui et de guidage du pivot qui assurent un positionnement correct du couvercle sur son cadre support lors de la fermeture du couvercle ;
• la patte d'appui s'étend horizontalement entre les deux parois latérales de l'échancrure et se termine, à son extrémité libre, par un rebord en saillie vers le sommet du cadre ;
• le pivot présente un arbre de pivotement dimensionné de manière telle que l'introduction du pivot dans son logement associé du cadre est uniquement possible lorsque les faces principales du couvercle sont inclinées d'un angle de 180° par rapport à la position de fermeture de ce couvercle ;
• le rebord extérieur de la patte constitue une section incurvée qui, lors de l'articulation du couvercle sur son cadre, coopère avec une section de forme générale cylindrique correspondante du pivot ;
• après scellement dans le sol, la position d'ouverture maximale du couvercle est une position d'ouverture à environ 150° par rapport à la position de fermeture ;
• en position de fermeture, le couvercle repose sur le fond d'une gorge ménagée à la périphérie d'une collerette d'appui située sur le pourtour intérieur du cadre.

The road system according to the invention may include one or more of the following characteristics:

• the side walls which border the notch extend, towards the outside of the frame, by ribs for supporting and guiding the pivot which ensure correct positioning of the cover on its support frame when the cover is closed;
• the support leg extends horizontally between the two side walls of the notch and ends, at its free end, by a rim projecting towards the top of the frame;
• the pivot has a pivot shaft dimensioned in such a way that the introduction of the pivot into its associated housing of the frame is only possible when the main faces of the cover are inclined at an angle of 180 ° relative to the closed position of this cover;
• the outer edge of the tab constitutes a curved section which, when the cover is articulated on its frame, cooperates with a section of generally corresponding cylindrical shape of the pivot;
• after sealing in the ground, the maximum opening position of the cover is an opening position at approximately 150 ° relative to the closed position;
• in the closed position, the cover rests on the bottom of a groove formed at the periphery of a support flange located on the inner periphery of the frame.

The subject of the invention is also a support frame and a cover, in particular a pad or a grid, for a roadway device as defined above.

• la figure 1 représente, en plan, un couvercle d'un dispositif de voirie conforme à l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue en plan du cadre support associé au couvercle de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 est une vue prise en coupe suivant la ligne III-III du couvercle de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une vue prise en coupe suivant la ligne IV-IV du cadre de la figure 2 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe du couvercle de la figure 3 en position de fermeture sur la cadre de la figure 4 ;
• la figure 6 est une représentation schématique partielle, en perspective, du couvercle et du cadre avant assemblage.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows, in plan, a cover of a road device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a plan view of the support frame associated with the cover of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 is a sectional view taken along line III-III of the cover of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along line IV-IV of the frame of Figure 2;
• Figure 5 is a sectional view of the cover of Figure 3 in the closed position on the frame of Figure 4;
• Figure 6 is a partial schematic representation, in perspective, of the cover and the frame before assembly.

The road system 1 shown in Figure 5 is a sidewalk manhole consisting of two pieces of ductile iron, namely a support frame 2 and a shutter pad 3 forming a cover.

The frame 2 is intended to be sealed in the covering 4 of the sidewalk at the upper end of a cylindrical chimney (not shown) for access to a sewerage network.

As seen in Figure 1, the buffer has a generally circular shape in plan. It essentially comprises a planar and horizontal upper veil 5 beneath which a stiffening rib 6 projects, as well as a vertical annular rim 7 situated near the periphery of the pad 3.

The upper face 8 of this veil 5 is equipped with non-slip patterns (not shown).

At a point on its periphery, the buffer 3 comprises a protruding pivot 9 having the general shape of a T consisting of a pivot shaft 10 extending perpendicularly to a radial shaft 11, said shaft 11 connecting the pivot shaft 10 to the web 5 and to the annular rim 7 of the pad.

The pivoting shaft 10 is located, considering FIG. 3, at a level lower than the upper face 8 of the pad. It has a generally cylindrical shape, the upper part (upwards when considering FIG. 3) has a longitudinal flat 12, parallel to the main faces of the pad, and the lower part of which is provided with two semi-cylindrical recesses 13a and 13b arranged at the lateral ends of the shaft 10, said lateral ends thus forming lateral tenons 14a and 14b.

The pivoting shaft 10 therefore has an approximately cylindrical central part 15 whose thickness E is greater than the thickness e of the lateral pins 14a, 14b which surround it.

Unlike the pivot 9, the pad 3 has an operating bar 16 of generally rectangular shape which extends the upper web 5 outwards.

Considering FIG. 2, the frame 2 comprises a vertical skirt constituted by a cylindrical skirt upper 17 and a lower cylindrical skirt 18 whose diameter is less than that of the upper skirt 17, these two vertical skirts 17, 18 being coaxial and connected together by a frustoconical shoulder 19. The upper skirt 17 extends to its top and towards the outside of the frame by a horizontal upper plate 20 whose outer contour is square.

As shown in Figure 5, when the road system 1 is sealed in the covering 4 of the sidewalk, the upper flat face 21 of this plate 20 is flush with the ground surface and is in the same horizontal plane as the upper face 8 of the veil 5 of the buffer.

The frame 2 also has an inner annular flange 22 which serves as a support for the pad 3 when the latter rests on the frame. This flange 22 is located approximately opposite the shoulder 19 with which it defines a circular groove 23 in the bottom of which is housed the vertical annular rim 7 of the pad. This arrangement is particularly advantageous since it makes it possible to obtain the odor tightness of this device 1, and this by filling the groove 23 with the aid of an appropriate material such as sand or water for example.

At a point on its periphery, the frame 2 has a housing 24 open upwards and opening towards the interior of the frame, this housing 24 being adapted to receive with play the pivot 9 of the pad 3, thus forming with the pivot 9 a hinged device which allows the tilting of the buffer 3 relative to the frame 2.

As seen in Figure 2, the housing 24 is centered on the median of one of the sides of the square defining the outer contour of the upper plate 20 of the frame.

Considering Figure 6, this housing 24 is in the form of a notch formed in the upper part of the thickness of the frame. In the embodiment described, this notch is made in the upper plate 20 and in the upper skirt 17 and presents, seen from above, a generally rectangular shape. It is thus delimited by two lateral walls 25a and 25b whose opposite faces are planar and substantially vertical, these two walls being connected downwards by a bottom wall 26 with a planar and horizontal upper face belonging to the upper skirt 17.

The side walls 25a and 25b have, in section along a vertical plane perpendicular to the edge of the frame in which the recess is formed, the general shape of an inverted L whose vertical branch came integrally with the upper skirt 17 of the frame 2 and whose horizontal branch came integrally with the horizontal upper plate 20.

The horizontal branches which frame the notch formed in the frame thus defining two horizontal retaining stops 27a and 27b under which the respective studs 14a and 14b of the pivot 9 of the pad 3 are trapped when the pivot 9 is in place in its housing 24 of the frame.

Thanks to this arrangement, the pad 3 is retained on the frame 2 and cannot be detached from the latter accidentally and inadvertently when it is in the closed position; on the other hand, the retaining stops 27a and 27b do not prevent the tilting of the buffer for opening the manhole 1.

The bottom wall 26 is extended, towards the outside of the skirt 17, by a substantially horizontal tab 28 formed integrally with the skirt 17 of the frame and which, with reference to FIG. 2, extends between the side walls 25a and 25b of the notch. This tab 28 serves as a support for the pivot 9 during the tilting of the pad 3 during the opening or closing movements.

Advantageously, the tab 28 is curved upwards at its free end situated opposite the skirt 17, thus defining a curved section 29, the curvature of which is adapted to conform to the cylindrical shape of the central part 15 of the pivot shaft 10 of pivot 9. This curved section 29 thus constitutes a rim which serves as a support and guiding surface for the pivot 9 during the articulation of the pad; in particular, it prevents the pivot from sliding towards the outside of the frame when the buffer is closed.

Preferably, each of the two side walls 25a, respectively 25b, which delimit the notch of the housing 24 is also extended towards the outside of the skirt 17 by a support rib 30a, respectively 30b, integrally formed with said skirt 17. The ribs 30a, respectively 30b, are connected upwards to the overhanging stops 27a, respectively 27b, and downwards to the tab 28.

When the hinge is mounted, these ribs 30a and 30b come respectively opposite the pins 14a and 14b of the pivot 9, of which they limit the clearance in the housing 24 of the frame; thus, when closing the pad 3, they ensure the rotational guiding of the pad, and therefore allow the correct positioning of the latter in the rebate of the frame.

They also serve to support the respective studs 14a and 14b when the pad is in the open position.

The frame 2 also has, opposite the housing 24 of the pivot 9, a cavity 31 intended to receive the bar 16 for operating the buffer 3.

This cavity 31 is open upwards and opens towards the inside of the frame; it is formed in the thickness of the plate 20 and of the upper skirt 17 of the frame 2.

The buffer is placed on the frame before it is sealed in the ground. Referring to FIG. 6, to insert the pivot 9 into its housing 24 of the frame 2, the pad 3 is turned over flat, that is to say in a position where the upper web 5 of the pad makes an angle of 180 ° from the closed position shown in Figure 5, and placed at side of the edge of the frame where the housing 24 is located, the pivot 9 being oriented towards this housing.

The pivot shaft 10 is then horizontally translated into the open space 32 delimited by the tab 28 and the overhanging stops 27a and 27b, until the tenons 14a and 14b covered by the respective stops 27a and 27b come into contact with the respective ribs 30a and 30b.

It then suffices, using the operating bar 16, to impress on the pad 3 a tilting movement in the closing direction. During this rotation of the pad, the cylindrical shape of the central part 15 of the pivot shaft 10 bears on the tab 28 of the frame, and more precisely on the inner face of the curved section 29, thus facilitating the pivoting of the buffer to the closed position shown in Figure 5.

To remove the buffer 3, these operations are reproduced in reverse order.

It should be noted that the dimensioning of the parts is such that the pivot 9 can only be introduced into its associated housing 24, or extracted therefrom, when the pad is inclined at an angle of approximately 180 ° relative to its closed position. This comes from the fact that the difference in level H between the upper face 33 of the curved section 29 and the lower face of the stops 27a and 27b is greater than the thickness e of the studs 14a and 14b, but less than the width 1 of these hold on; this particular arrangement allows the pivot 9 to pass through the open space 32 only when the pad is tilted 180 °, and prohibits the passage for any other inclination of the pad. It should be noted that in this position of inclination at 180 ° relative to the closure, the upper face 8 of the pad is located below the horizontal plate 20 of the frame.

It is therefore easily understood, in view of FIG. 5, that when the road system is sealed in the ground 4, with the upper face 21 of the frame flush with the upper level of the covering, that the tampon can no longer be easily removed. For this it is then necessary either to unseal the device 1 in its entirety in order to be able to deposit the pad, or to destroy a sufficient volume of floor covering material in order to be able to pivot the pad by an angle of 180 ° and then horizontally translate the pivot 9 outside its housing 24 of the frame. Such operations are tedious and therefore guarantee the stamp against any attempted theft or removal by malicious people.

Note also that when the road system 1 is sealed in the ground, the pad 3 can be opened at an angle of about 150 ° relative to the closed position. In this position of maximum opening, the region of the upper face 21 of the pad located near the pivot 9 comes into contact with the ground level 4, consequently preventing any opening beyond this limit.

Such an opening angle is however largely sufficient to prevent the tampon from accidentally closing, under the effect of its own weight.

This road device 1 also offers the advantage of being easy to implement, the frame 2 and the pad 3 being moldable without a core.

The embodiment which has just been described relates to ductile iron parts but can be applied, more generally, to metal parts.

This hinged device can also be used with a cover whose general shape is other than circular, in particular for grids or pads of polygonal shape. In the case of a grid or a pad of square or rectangular shape, two hinges according to the invention are preferably used to ensure the articulation of this part on the support frame associated, the two hinges then being arranged on the same bank.

Finally, the road device 1 described above constitutes a preferred but non-limiting embodiment of the invention.

As a variant, it is possible, for example, to consider eliminating the curved section 29 at the end of the tab 28 from the frame and therefore having a cylindrically pivoting shaft whose diameter is less than the height which separates the tab 28, the overhanging stops 27a and 27b, this so as to be able to translate the pivot shaft in the open space located between the tab 28 and the overhanging stops 27a and 27b, thus allowing the introduction of the pivot in its housing of the frame.

In this specific case, this operation can then be carried out for different inclinations of the buffer relative to the frame. To extract the pad when the road system is sealed in the ground, it will again be necessary either to lift the assembly above ground level, or to break the material of coating of the ground which surrounds the hinge, and this until it can translate the pivot shaft outwards outside its housing in the frame. Again, the special arrangement of the hinge which makes it difficult to remove the pad protects it against acts of vandalism.

Claims (9)

Hinged road device (1) comprising a cover (3) of the grid or buffer type and a support frame (2), this frame (2) being provided with at least one housing (24) open upwards, in the conditions for installing the frame, and opening towards the inside of the frame, each housing (24) being intended to cooperate with a pivot (9) with which the cover (3) is provided and which projects on the periphery of said cover, allowing thus the tilting of the cover (3) relative to the frame (2) by pivoting around the hinged device (9, 24), characterized in that the housing (24) is in the form of a notch formed in the thickness of the frame, this notch being defined by two side walls (25a, 25b) connecting to a bottom wall (26) and which terminate, upwards, by stop means (27a, 27b) projecting horizontally towards outside the frame (2), said stop means (27a, 27b) being adapted to cover the lateral ends (14a, 14b) of the pivot (9) when the cover (3) is in place on the frame (2), said bottom wall (26) extending towards the outside of the frame (2) by a tab ( 28) serving as a support for the pivot (9), the assembly or disassembly of the cover (3) being effected by passage of the pivot (9) of the cover through the open space (32) delimited by the tab (28) and the stop means (27a, 27b) of the frame (2), this open space (32) being located below the upper face (21) of the frame (2) and opening towards the outside thereof. Road system according to claim 1, characterized in that the lateral walls (25a, 25b) which border the notch extend, towards the outside of the frame (2), by supporting ribs (30a, 30b) and pivot guide (9) which ensure correct positioning of the cover (3) on its support frame (2) when the cover is closed. Road system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support tab (28) extends horizontally between the two side walls (25a, 25b) of the notch and ends, at its free end, by a rim (29) projecting towards the top of the frame (2). Road system according to claim 3, characterized in that the pivot (9) has a pivot shaft (10) dimensioned so that the introduction of the pivot (9) into its associated housing (24) of the frame (2) is only possible when the main faces of the cover (3) are inclined at an angle of 180 ° relative to the closed position of this cover (3). Road system according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the outer rim (29) of the tab (28) constitutes a curved section which, when the cover (3) is articulated on its frame (2), cooperates with a corresponding generally cylindrical section (15) of the pivot (9). Road system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that after sealing in the ground (4), the maximum opening position of the cover (3) is an opening position at approximately 150 ° relative to in the closed position. Road system according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that, in the closed position, the cover (3) rests on the bottom of a groove (23) formed at the periphery of a flange of support (22) located on the inner periphery of the frame (2). Support frame (2) for a road device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7. Cover (3), in particular a pad or a grid, for a roadway device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

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