WO2004046469A1

WO2004046469A1 - Access covers

Info

Publication number: WO2004046469A1
Application number: PCT/GB2002/005406
Authority: WO
Inventors: Rainer Clover; Derek Pearce
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-11-18
Filing date: 2002-11-28
Publication date: 2004-06-03
Anticipated expiration: 2005-05-18
Also published as: AU2002350896A1; GB0226901D0; EP1565624A1; GB2395217A

Abstract

An access cover (C) includes a hinge mechanism (H) to raise the cover (C) from the hole (2) in which it is set in a floor (F). A hinge rod (12) sits in a box like socket (13), one wall (19) of which is curved and the facing wall (17) of the hole (2) is relieved so that the cover (C) can be raised without fouling infills (13) present to make the cover level with the surrounding floor (F).

Description

ACCESS COVERS

This invention relates to access covers and, in particular, access covers which are used to provide access to an underground utility, such as a sewer, cabling or the like. Such a cover is set in a floor, level with the surrounding floor.

Access covers are usually made from metal, or from concrete, or a mixture of the two and are consequently heavy. A typical cover can weight 150 kg or more. Accordingly, when it is desired to gain access via such a cover, several operatives are required to lift the heavier covers or the use of hydraulic lifting machines are required. Besides the obvious advantage of not having to lift the cover this unique combination eliminates the damage lift out covers do to the surrounding floor covering when they are dragged across the floor.

Access covers are found in many locations, such as in supermarkets, airports, hospitals, swimming pools and the like where there is pedestrian or vehicular traffic. It is important that the access cover is flush to the surrounding floor, thereby not providing an obstacle, such as a "trip-hazard". In addition it is important to avoid shapes which can trap and retain dust and dirt or allow the downward passage of water or upward passage of gases. There are proposals to address this objective, see e.g. GB 1124717, GB 1164727 and GB 227198, but as far as I am aware none has been accepted commercially.

It is an object of this invention to provide an access cover which can be opened by a single operative and which is substantially flush to the surrounding floor.

In one aspect the invention provides an access cover in a hole in substrate, the cover being connected at one side by a hinge mechanism to a wall of the hole, the cover being level with the surrounding substrate when the cover is in a lowered condition, characterised in that the wall of the hole and the facing hinge mechanism are shaped relative to each other so that the hinge mechanism is not obstructed when the cover is moved between the lowered condition and a raised condition.

Preferably the wall of the hole and the facing wall of the hinge mechanism are relieved, preferably in corresponding fashion.

Preferably, the hinge mechanism is located in an infill member between the wall of the hole and the facing wall of the cover. The infill preferably includes a hinge rod present in aligned length portions of a member between the facing sides of the hole and the cover. Preferably, the hole wall and the cover each have frame members and the length portions are located between the facing frame members. Preferably the frame members are extruded lengths of aluminium or the like.

Preferably, the cover includes a compartment to receive a body of set material, typically concrete. Preferably the frame comprises one or more seal members which preferably extend around the entire periphery of the frame. The cover member may engage the seal members to ensure that the passage of fluids such as liquids and/or gases is prevented.

The cover is preferably pivotable between a closed, substantially horizontal position, whereby access to the utility is denied and a open, more upright position, whereby access to the utility is afforded to an operative. The hinge mechanism may be arranged to hold the cover in an intermediate position.

Typically the cover will have a locking mechanism, usually opposite the hinge mechanism. The cover may be raised in any way when the lock is released, either by hand or power assisted. Such an opening means may comprise one of a pneumatic cylinder, such as an air spring, a winch mechanism, a hydraulic cylinder or an electric motor. In a preferred embodiment the opening means is a pneumatic or hydraulic cylinder, say an air spring, biased to urge the cover open, i.e. from the horizontal toward the vertical.

It is a feature of the invention that the hinge rod is resting in an infill which is there to ensure that there is no discontinuity between the wall of the hole of the facing edge of the cover which would allow the ingress of dirt and water from above and the escape of gas from below the floor. It is a further feature that the infill is shaped to coordinate with the adjacent half of the hole to allow the cover to be raised in a pivotal movement which would not allow ingress of undesirable matter. The infill is generally box-like in section, but the wall of the box and the facing wall of the hole have corresponding arcuate raised surfaces designed so that the hinge action can take place conveniently.

In order that the invention may be well understood it will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of an access cover of the invention in raised condition taken from one side;

Figure 2 is the same as Figure 1 in the lowered condition;

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical view of the hinge mechanism, but from the other side to that of Figure 1 ; and

Figure 4 is a partial plan view of the region A on Figure 2.

The device shown in Figures 1 to 4 includes an outer frame 1 which engages the sides of a hole 2 in a floor F. The floor is typically above a utility passage or the like and is covered by tiles or the like. The hole is generally square and the frame has the same shape. The walls of the frame are lengths of extruded aluminum joined at the corners of the frame. The frame houses an access cover C which also has four frame walls 10 defining its perimeter. The walls provide a compartment 11 to receive set material, e.g. concrete to a level flush with the upper edge of the cover frame walls. The outer frame has an outer vertical wall and a ledge 3,4 is present on at least two opposite sides for the cover C to rest on when in a closed condition. At one side there is a hinge mechanism H, made up of a hinge rod 12 located with an elongate extruded box like body 13. The body has a flat top 14 so that it is flush with the floor F and the cover C. One vertical wall 15 has external lugs 16 for engagement in the vertical wall of the frame 1 so locking the body 13 to the frame. The facing wall 17 is short and has an arcuate outside face 18. The facing wall 19 of the cover C is also correspondingly arcuate, and while at the top 20 it is level with the top 14 of the body 13, it is concavely relieved at 21 and dimensioned so that when the cover C is raised it will. easily ride up and over the flat top 14. In the fully raised condition it reaches the far cover of the body 13. The body 13 is in length portions 13A, 13B some of which lack the vertical wall extension 15.

The apparatus shown provides an access cover which can be inserted into the floor flush with the floor and able to withstand or prevent increase of dirt and dust from above and the escape of gases from below. Despite its weight the cover can be unlocked and raised by one operator. The cover may be filled with any material and the shape may be varied. The cover will reduce installation and maintain costs.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment shown. As shown, the relieved portion is in the wall of the hole and the wall of the hinge socket is curved; these arrangements may be reversed. The curved surfaces may have different inclinations from that shown. The infill need not be of metal. The hinge rod need not go the full extent of the adjacent cover wall. The frame may be in one piece. The inside surface of the walls of the cover may have ledges to guide filling the compartment to different levels.

It is a further advantage of this access cover that it has the hinge facility and that is not visible from the outside of the access cover which would otherwise mar the overall appearance of the floor. The cover will satisfy the British Manual Handling Operations Regulations 1992.

Claims

1. An access cover (C) in a hole (2) in a substrate (F), the cover (C) being connected at one side by a hinge mechanism (14) to a wall of the hole, the cover (C) being level with the surrounding substrate (F) when the cover is in a lowered condition, characterised in that the hinge mechanism (H) and the facing wall (17) of the hole (2) are shaped relative to each other so that the hinge mechanism (H) is not obstructed when the cover (C) is moved between the lowered condition and a raised condition.

2. A cover according to Claim 1 , wherein the hinge mechanism comprises a hinge rod (12) in an elongate body (13) and the wall (17) of the hole adjacent the hinge mechanism and the facing portion (19) of the body (13) are relieved in corresponding fashion.

3. A cover according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein the elongate body (13) comprises an infill member between the wall (17) of the hole (2) and the facing wall (19) of the cover (C).

4. A cover according to Claim 3, wherein the infill comprises aligned length portions of the body (13A, 13B ) between the facing sides of the hole

(2) and the cover (C).

5. A cover according to Claim 3 or 4, wherein the hole wall (17) has a frame member (1) and the infill (13) is located between the frame members (i) and the cover (C).

6. A cover according to Claim 5, including one or more seal members to prevent the passage of fluids such as liquids and/or gases through the hole (2).

7. A cover according to any preceding Claim, wherein the cover has a locking mechanism, preferably opposite the hinge mechanism.