EP1606464A1 - Cover arrangement - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a cover arrangement for a surface de-watering device or similar which can be installed in the ground in a hollow body which can be opened. Said device comprises a rectangular frame for installing into the ground, a cover which can be inserted into the frame, hinge devices which enable the cover to be maintained in the frame in a manner which pivots in an upwards direction in the direction of opening and lock devices which can lock the cover into the frame, thereby preventing opening. Said hinge and/or lock devices are embodied as flexible cast bars and are connected to the covers in a single-piece.

Description

 cover assembly

description

The invention relates to a cover arrangement for a surface drainage device or the like, which can be installed in a floor and opened, according to the preamble of patent claim 1.

Cover arrangements of this type, for example for street drains or the like, are known. For example, DE 3523423 Cl shows a hinged street attachment, consisting of a frame and a grate, in which hinge bolts are inserted or screwed into the frame from the outside.

As a result, the grate can be easily opened using these hinges. This has the advantage that the grate does not have to be lifted completely out of the frame, for example for cleaning and maintenance work, but can simply be folded up if necessary. This not only reduces the workload and the risk of injury during cleaning and maintenance work, it also secures the rust against theft. The disadvantage of this embodiment is that in order to dismantle the grate, the frame in the hinge area must be exposed in order to access the hinge bolts. This inevitably means damage to the adjacent road surface and thus a not inconsiderable amount of work and material to dismantle or replace the grate. In addition, in this embodiment, the folding direction of the cover arrangement must be taken into account already during installation in order to prevent the cover or the grate from being raised opposite to the direction of travel. Such a raised grate is a major source of danger for traffic.

In most known hinged cover arrangements, the opening of the grate or the cover is also not against vandals secured, since it is usually possible to open the cover arrangements without a special tool. Both the unfolded rust protruding from the carriageway and the unlocked opening of the manhole cover represent a major source of danger.

DE 299 14 492 UI shows a manhole cover with hinge bolts accessible from the inside, which has the advantage that, for example when the cover is replaced, the frame does not have to be exposed in the area of the fastenings of the hinge bolts. Otherwise, this embodiment has the same disadvantages as the manhole covers described above.

DE 1834483 UI shows a hinge device which consists of 2 pivot pins, each of which lies in a cavity which is formed in a tab on a grate. These two tabs are now placed in corresponding receptacles on the frame, the loose ones lying in the cavity

Some of the pivot pins slide into corresponding cavities on the frame and thus firmly connect the grate or the cover to the frame. The pivot pins are shaped, for example, as balls that roll into the corresponding cavity of the frame by gravity, or consist of cylinders mounted on springs that are pressed into the respective cavities of the frame by the spring force. The disadvantage of this embodiment is that the hinge of the cover arrangement does not consist of one part but of several individual elements. After casting, these must first be installed in the cover device. This is expensive. In addition, additional parts also increase the

Susceptibility to errors because they can be lost. In addition, the system described is very susceptible to contamination, since these small parts (springs, balls) are sensitive to corrosion and contamination. Another disadvantage is that the grate, once installed, can only be removed with great effort. In this embodiment, too, there is again the problem of the direction of installation depending on the direction of travel. Adjusting the grate when the traffic direction changes is only possible with great effort. The object of the invention is to further develop a cover arrangement for a surface drainage device or the like which can be installed in a floor and which can be opened in such a way that an inexpensive arrangement which is simple to manufacture and use is produced.

This object is achieved in a cover arrangement of the type mentioned at the outset in that the hinge devices and / or the locking devices are designed as resilient cast rods and are connected in one piece to the cover.

An important point of the invention is that the cover arrangement, consisting of a frame and a cover that can be used in this frame, has hinge devices and / or locking devices that are integrally formed on spring bars, which in turn are integral with the

Cover are formed. The cover therefore consists of cast material, in particular cast iron, preferably spheroidal graphite cast iron. The hinge devices serve for pivoting mounting of the cover in the frame and the locking devices for locking the cover in the frame against unintentional opening, the hinge devices also, of course

Hinge devices can be as they are already known from the prior art. In addition, it is of course conceivable to carry out the locking device in a conventional manner and to design only the hinge device according to the invention.

The solution according to the invention has a number of essential advantages over cover arrangements known from the prior art. The realization of hinge and / or locking units integrally connected to the cover in the form of resilient cast rods is a very inexpensive and, moreover, advantageous solution. Firstly, the number of

Manufacturing materials used to a minimum, on the other hand, the production process consists of significantly fewer steps. Since the cover arrangement consists of only two individual parts, the susceptibility to errors is reduced because no parts (for example on the construction site) can be lost. In addition, the design according to the present invention is significantly more resistant than known constructions. For example, failure due to corrosion or dirt is not expected here.

The design of the hinge and / or locking device according to the invention has great advantages with regard to the handling of the cover arrangement. The inventive design of the locking device enables a quick and easy opening of the cover device; the design of the hinge device according to the invention represents an inexpensive and, moreover, functionally reliable hinge design. The installation of the cover in the frame is made very simple and quick by the hinge and / or locking devices designed as resilient cast rods. The hinge or locking devices only have to be pressed into the corresponding bearing recesses formed on the frame. To do this, press the cover into the

Frame, which leads to an initial bending and then to the integrally formed locking or hinge pins in the bearing recesses and thus connects the cover to the frame. To release and open the cover, a force must be applied to the spring bar of the locking device according to the invention essentially perpendicularly to the opening direction using a release tool. This causes the spring bars to bend into a temporary opening position and the locking pins slide out of the bearing recess, which enables the cover to be opened.

The simultaneous use of the locking device and hinge device according to the invention on a cover leads to an inexpensive to manufacture, durable, versatile and easy-to-use cover arrangement. However, it should be mentioned that, if desired, a cover arrangement with only one of the two according to the invention

Elements in conjunction with an element that is already known from the prior art can be used. For example, a cover arrangement with locking line devices and conventional hinge devices known from the prior art, screwed to the frame.

Due to the concealed opening mechanism of the locking device according to the invention, the covering device is also against an unwanted one

Unfolding or unfolding secured by unauthorized persons. On the one hand, the locking mechanism is not too easy to see, on the other hand, it is not possible to open it without a suitable release tool, or only with difficulty. The cover is therefore secured against vandalism and theft; the risk of unintentionally opened covers or open shafts is significantly reduced.

In general, in a cover arrangement according to the present invention, the frame and the cover each consist of a single part and can also be produced from a single material. This lowers the

Production costs and the production time, since only a small number of production steps have to be taken into account.

A preferred further development is the design of the locking devices according to the invention with inclined shoulder surfaces. By means of these shoulder inclined surfaces, the locking device is bent into an open position by a force acting on the cover in the opening direction. The cover can thus be detached from the frame in a simpler manner. In this development, it is no longer necessary to push the locking pin out of the bearing recess on the frame by applying lateral pressure to the respective spring bar. A force in the direction of the opening direction causes the pins to slide out of their locking. This means that the cover can be released even more quickly and safely.

The identical design of hinge devices and locking devices on the cover in such a way that the cover can optionally be opened on two sides represents another embodiment. The cover can thus be made, so to speak, as a unit cover, because of the opening direction and the associated arrangements of the hinges and Bars no consideration must be taken. This embodiment enables the hinge device to function both as a hinge and as a latch, depending on which side the cover is opened. The cover can be opened around an axis along the two pairs of hinges or latches. If a force now acts perpendicular to the opening direction, preferably in the area between the two hinges, the hinges or latches can be pressed out of their mounting; in this case the hinge unit has a locking function. An advantage of the solution according to the invention is that, for example when the flow of traffic changes, no conversion measures have to be carried out on the cover arrangement, since this can be opened on both sides and is therefore independent of the direction of travel.

If the hinge device is designed such that it can be detached from the frame by a force which acts essentially perpendicular to the opening direction, the complete replacement of the cover can be carried out without great effort and in the shortest possible time

Time. If the connection between the frame and cover is to be released, the hinge pins can simply be pressed out of the bearing recess by lateral pressure on the spring bars. It is therefore possible to remove the entire cover without having to work on the frame or in the surrounding traffic area. In addition, the problem of dirty or rusted hinge fasteners and locks is eliminated.

It is intended to provide the frame with insertion bevels for the optional insertion of hinge pins or locking pins. These bevels make it easier to insert the cover. The trained on the cover

Hinge or locking pins only have to be inserted into the insertion bevels and pressed into the corresponding bearing recesses on the frame by gentle pressure. In this way, the cover can be installed without a tool, which simplifies the assembly process and makes it cheaper. Because both the hinge and the locking pin over this

Insert slants in the respective bearing recesses can of course also be used regardless of the direction with a symmetrical design of the cover of the frame. It also slants through this Insertion surfaces minimize the risk that the locking or hinge devices on the frame edge will strike and break due to careless closing or insertion.

The frame and the cover are preferably provided with attachment surfaces which engage with one another when the cover is closed. This relieves the load on the latch and hinge units, since traffic loads are directed through these top surfaces into the frame and from there into the ground. The entered forces therefore no longer have to be derived into the frame via the pins of the hinge and / or the locking units or via other hinge or locking devices designed according to the prior art. In this way, the cover arrangement according to the present invention can also be installed in traffic areas with very high traffic loads.

The cover and the frame of the cover arrangement can optionally be provided with lateral cutouts. These recesses are used to attach a release tool with which the cover can be folded up. It is possible to design these recesses in such a way that the cover can only be opened with a corresponding special tool. This significantly increases the theft protection of the cover. In addition, the risk of opening by unauthorized persons is of course avoided.

It also makes sense to use the cut-outs to attach one

Arrange release tool only on the sides of the cover or frame, which are really foldable. This prevents the release tool from being placed on sides that are not designed to be opened. Unintentional damage to hinge units is thus avoided since it is clearly visible which side of the cover can be opened.

The frame of the cover arrangement can consist of any sufficiently strong material, for example metal or plastic. The cover, however should preferably be made from spheroidal graphite cast iron, which surprisingly has sufficient elasticity for these purposes. Of course, other appropriate materials can also be used. Depending on the materials used and their elasticity, the cover arrangement is more or less easy to open. A stiff material leads to a difficult opening mechanism, the use of more flexible materials leads to a more easily opening mechanism. It can therefore be influenced by the targeted choice of the material of the cover, the mode of operation or the locking strength of the opening mechanism.

It should be pointed out that the cover arrangement according to the present invention can also take any other, non-rectangular shape with regard to its base area. The formation of latch or hinge units on spring bars, which are integrally formed on a cover, is also possible, for example, on a round or oval cover.

Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention is described below using an exemplary embodiment which is explained in more detail with reference to the figures. Here show:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section along the line II. -II. according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 shows a cross section along the line III. -III. according to Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section along the line IV-IV of Fig. 1; and

5 shows a section along the line VV of FIG. 1st In the following description, the same reference numerals are used for the same and equivalent parts.

1 shows the top view of a cover arrangement 1 of an embodiment of the invention. The cover arrangement 1 comprises a frame 10 which can be installed in a floor, a cover 20 which can be inserted into the frame 10, two hinge devices 22, 22 'by means of which the cover 20 is held in the frame 10 so that it can be swung open in an opening direction, and Locking devices 23, 23 'by means of which the cover 20 can be locked in the frame 10 against opening, the hinge devices 22, 22' and the

Locking devices 23, 23 'are formed on resilient cast rods 21, 21' and are connected in one piece to the cover 20 via them. 1 also shows a recess 27 for a release tool 40, which is arranged on the side on which the cover 20 can be opened. On all four sides 10 insertion bevels 15, 15 'are attached to the frame, which make it easier to insert the

Allow cover 20. The hinge pins 28, 28 'arranged on the hinge units 22, 22' and the locking pins 29, 29 'arranged on the side of the locking devices 23, 23' simply slide over these insertion bevels 15, 15 'into corresponding bearing recesses 16 in the frame 10 ( see Fig. 3, 4). The integral design of the bolt or

Hinge devices 23, 23 'and 22, 22', on the cast iron spring bars 21, 21 'of the cover 20. It should be pointed out that the design of the cover 20 shown in FIG. 1 as a grate is purely exemplary. Of course, any other embodiment, for example as a perforated plate or essentially closed surface, is also possible.

Fig. 2 shows a cross section along a line II. -II. 1. The partially opened cover 20, as well as the position of the release tool 40 after opening the cover arrangement 1, are shown here in dashed lines. 2 clearly shows that traffic loads F are not diverted via the cover 20 into the locking or hinge units 23 or 22, but rather the forces F acting through the attachment surfaces 24, 24 'of the cover 20 in the attachment surfaces 14, 14 'of the frame 10 are derived. The top surface 14, 14 'of the frame 10 is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as a narrow console. Of course, this attachment surface 14, 14 'can also be designed differently, for example as a small plateau, whose base corresponds to that of the corresponding attachment surface 24, 24' on the frame 20. This prevents dirt from accumulating on this plateau.

Fig. 3 shows a cross section along the line III. -III. the embodiment according to FIG. 1. The integral design of the locking unit 23, 23 'on the spring bar 21, 21' can be clearly seen. Inclined attachment surfaces 25, 25 'on a locking pin 29, 29' make it easier to open the cover 20, since the locking pins 29, 29 'are pressed out of the bearing recess 16, 16' in the frame 10 as a result of a force F ¹ in the opening direction. The bevels 15, 15 'on the frame 10 enable the locking pins 29, 29' of the cover 20 to slide easily into the bearing recesses 16, 16 'of the frame 10 when the cover 20 is closed. Numeral 14 denotes the attachment surface 14' on the frame 10, via which the force transfer of the traffic load F into the frame 10 and from there into the underground takes place.

4 and 5, the latches or the hinge unit 23 and 22 'are shown in detail along the lines IV. -IV. and V.-V. shown in Fig. 1. It is clear here that the hinge unit 22 'shown in FIG. 5 cannot be released from its anchoring by a force F ¹ shown. Rather, to release the connection between the frame 10 and the cover 20, a force F ^{2 is} necessary, which acts on the spring bar 21 in a direction perpendicular to the traffic load F or to the opening level. As a result, the hinge pin 28 'from the

Bearing recess 16 pulled and the cover 20 detached from the frame 10. In FIG. 4 it is clear that the force F ¹ causes the cover 20 to be opened, since the locking unit 23 slides out of the corresponding bearing recess 16 of the frame 10 due to the oblique attachment surface 25 and thus enables the frame 20 to be opened. In this embodiment, the hinge unit 22 ′ integrally formed on the spring bar 21 only differs from the locking unit 23 likewise integrally formed on a spring bar 21 due to the lack of this inclined shoulder surface 25, which enables it to slide out of the bearing recess 16 in the frame 10.

At this point it should be pointed out that all the parts described above are seen on their own and in any combination, especially those in the

Details shown in the drawings are claimed as essential to the invention. Modifications to this are familiar to the person skilled in the art.

1 cover arrangement

10 frames

14, 14 'top surface

15, 15 'insertion bevels 16, 16' bearing recess

20 cover

21, 21 'resilient cast rod

22, 22 'hinge device

23, 23 'locking device 24, 24' attachment surface

25, 25 'shoulder inclined surface

27 Cutout for release tool

28, 28 'hinge pin

29, 29 'locking pin 40 release tool

F ¹ force in the opening direction

F ² force perpendicular to the opening direction

F traffic load

Claims

claims 1. Cover arrangement for a surface drainage device or the like, can be installed in a floor and opened hollow body, comprising - A rectangular frame (10) for installation in the floor; - A cover (20) which can be inserted into the frame (10); - Hinge devices (22, 22 '), by means of which the cover (20) is held in the frame (10) so that it can be swiveled up in an opening direction, and - locking devices (23, 23'), by means of which the cover (20) in The frame (10) can be locked so that it does not open, so that the hinge devices (22, 22 ') and / or the latch devices (23, 23') are designed as resilient cast rods (21, 21 ') and are integrally connected to the covers (20). 2. Cover arrangement according to claim 1 d ad u rch g eken nzei ch n et that the locking devices (23, 23 ') shoulder inclined surfaces (25, 25') in such a way that with a force acting in an opening direction on the cover (20) (F ¹ ) the locking devices (23, 23 ') are bent into an open position. 3. Cover arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hinge devices (22, 22 ') and the locking devices (23, 23') are identically shaped and attached to identical, symmetrical locations of the cover (20) and are designed such that the cover (20) can optionally be opened on two sides. 4. Cover arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the hinge devices (22, 22 ') are designed in such a way that they can be detached from the frame (10) by a force F ² which is directed essentially perpendicular to the opening direction. 5. Cover arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (10) insertion openings (15, 15 ') for optional insertion of hinge pins (28, 28') or locking pins (29, 29 '). 6. Cover arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the frame (10) and the cover (20) have attachment surfaces (14, 14 '; 24, 24') which are designed and arranged such that the attachment surfaces (14, 14 '; 24, 24') are in engagement with one another when the cover (20) is closed. 7. Cover arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (10) and / or the frame (20) on the edge recesses (27) for Have a loosening tool (40) attached. 8. Cover arrangement according to claims 1 to 6 d a d u rch gken I net that the cover (20) and / or the frame (10), only on the hinged Sides of the cover (20), recesses (27) for attaching a release tool (40). 9. Cover arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cover (20) is made of cast iron, preferably spheroidal graphite cast iron.