The present invention relates to a device for temporarily obstructing a passage, in particular a well for accessing an underground pipe of an underground sewerage network intended to collect and discharge the different waters, whether natural such as run-off water and rainwater or produced by human activity such as wash water, drainage water or waste water (household waste water and black water; gray water), called a manhole, in addition to or as temporary replacement for a manhole cover constituting the lid of the manhole. It has primarily utility and safety purposes: it is about limiting the access to the underground sewerage networks only to professionals (sewer men) and avoiding the accidents on public ways. In case of theft of a manhole cover or of flooding-related displacement or loss, the obturation device according to the invention allows preventing pedestrians from falling during the time of replacement of the cover (frequent problem sometimes causing the death of the victims).
More particularly, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for obturating a manhole which is installed to prevent heavy floods or precipitation with the risk of sewerage overflows or run-off water or flooding, which allows water discharge through the device while preventing pedestrians from falling into the manhole. Another aim is to provide a device provided with fastening means strong enough to withstand the weight of a pedestrian walking over it without separating it from the vertical bearing surfaces and to withstand the weight of a cast-iron manhole cover if the device is placed on the underside thereof. Another aim is to provide a device that can be easily installed in series from a single blocking tool on site.
The manhole covers are most often round, with a diameter slightly larger than that of the hole because it is the simplest shape to produce for preventing the cover from falling to the bottom of the hole, which constitutes a safety factor for sewer men working underground. A square cover, for example, could fall if it was introduced through the diagonal of a square hole. A round shape is also easier to handle for workmen or sewer men, since it is possible to roll it and replace it without having to align it, at least for the covers that can be completely removed, some having a retaining tab and only pivot. In addition, for the hole, the cylindrical shape is the most solid and the simplest shape to avoid its compression by the pressure of the ground surrounding it. The cover has therefore the same shape as the hole.
It is known in WO 2010/125270, in the name of the Applicant, an autonomous protection device that allows temporarily obstructing a passage such as a corridor, a door or a window, characterized in that it comprises at least one longitudinally extensible bar, preferably a telescopic bar, operable in extension by a jack, said bar being able to be removably blocked in extension between two wall surfaces delimiting said passage called blocking surfaces, said extensible bar supporting a plurality of obstruction elements to form a protective shield making an obstruction at the level of said passage, preferably said obstruction element(s) being removably fastened thereto. This device allows temporarily obstructing a passage such as a bay or a corridor in order to prevent or delay the crossing of this passage by consenting or non-consenting persons and/or to prevent the projection of objects through said device, in particular from outside to inside or from inside to outside when the device is laid against a door or window. More particularly, this type of device aims at preventing a suicidal defenestration during the arrest of madmen, but also aims at allowing channeling people by temporarily obstructing some passages, for example corridors, during demonstrations or crowd movement in public or private places.
The device of WO 2010/125270 on the one hand is not suitable for the obturation of a cylindrical, in particular circular, passage in a horizontal plane and on the other hand does not meet the specific aims of the present invention in terms of partial obturation allowing the discharge of water without authorizing the passage of pedestrians with a fastening strong enough to withstand the weight of a pedestrian walking over it and the weight of a cast-iron manhole cover if the device is placed on the underside thereof. Finally, it does not allow an easily removable installation in series.
To do so, the present invention provides a removable obturation device for transversely obstructing a passage delimited by a cylindrical side wall characterized in that it comprises:
This system is possibly intended for several uses. In case of flooding, it is installed to prevent heavy floods or precipitation. In case of theft of a manhole cover, it allows preventing pedestrians from falling during the time of replacement of the cover (a frequent problem in India, sometimes causing the death of victims). In the event of a terrorist attack or perimeter lock down, the system can be used to allow security personnel, such as the police to prohibit the entry to or the exit from undergrounds.
Preferably, the device according to the invention further comprises a removable actuation element able to cooperate with said central block to actuate in extension or retraction said extensible rods of said arms simultaneously, said actuation element preferably comprising first reversible fastening means on said support and blocking element, preferably at said central block.
The axis ZZ′ is called longitudinal axis in that it extends in the longitudinal direction of said passage.
More particularly, in the device according to the invention:
said actuation element comprises a geared motor able to actuate in rotation on itself along its longitudinal axis (ZZ′) a shaft called motor shaft, and
a1) said arms each comprising one said drive shaft disposed in one said longitudinal direction in a perpendicular radial plane (XX′, YY′) with respect to said longitudinal axis (ZZ′) of said central block, each said drive shaft being able to be driven in rotation on itself along its radial longitudinal axis (XX′, YY′) and able to cooperate with one said extensible rod in coaxial translation by helical link such that said rotation on itself in either direction of said drive shaft causes the translation of said extensible rod in extension or respectively in retraction in one said radial direction (XX′, YY′), and
a2) one said central block comprising a shaft called input shaft (2b) disposed along the longitudinal axis (ZZ′) of said central block and able to be actuated in rotation on itself with respect to its longitudinal axis (ZZ′) when it cooperates with said motor shaft of said actuation element, and an angle transmission device comprising bevel gears able to cooperate with each other at the ends of said input shaft and said drive shafts so that the rotation on itself along its longitudinal axis (ZZ′) of said input shaft simultaneously causes the rotations on themselves of said drive shafts along their axes in their said radial directions (XX′, YY′).
More particularly, in the device according to the invention, said helical link is of the screw-nut type, said drive shaft comprising an external helical threading forming a screw cooperating with a tubular rod at least one end portion of which forms a nut engaged on the threading of the threaded screw formed by said drive shaft, said nut being prevented from following said rotation of said drive shaft and said tubular rod being guided in said translation by a guide pin of said nut due to the fact that said guide pin cooperates with a rectilinear inner slot of a guide and protection cylinder inside which said drive shaft and one end portion at least of said tubular rod extend coaxially, the free end of the rod comprising said pad always remaining outside said guide and protection cylinder.
Said guide and protection cylinder also acts as a protection for the rod and drive shaft assembly in a helical link.
More particularly, the device according to the invention comprises a single obturation element extending above said arms, able to be removably fastened to said support and blocking element preferably at said central block.
More particularly, said obturation element comprises a hoop linked to a central hub by spokes, said central hub of said hoop being able to be removably fastened to said support and blocking element around said central block so that said spokes of the hoop extend between said arms, preferably along the bisectors of the angles between said arms.
More particularly, said support and blocking element comprises four said arms disposed in a cross at 90° around the central block.
In one variant, said obturation element comprises or cooperates with threads or rubber parts for smoothing a fall between said arms.
In another variant, said obturation element comprises spike elements to deter pedestrian from passing through said passage.
Still more particularly, said actuation element comprises a handwheel-shaped gripping element around said geared motor to which it is fastened.
Still more particularly, said actuation element comprises first reversible fastening means on said obturation element, preferably at a central hub of said hoop-shaped obturation element, the latter comprising second reversible fastening means on said support and blocking element, preferably at said central block.
It is understood that in this embodiment, said actuation element is fastened in a reversible manner on said support and fastening element by means of said obturation element before or after its fastening on said support and blocking element.
Still more particularly, said actuation element comprises a handwheel-shaped gripping element around said geared motor to which it is fastened, said handwheel comprising first reversible locking means allowing the blocking of the reversible fastening of said actuation element on said obturation element, by a movement of relative axial rotation about said longitudinal axis (ZZ′) of a magnet ring rotating with respect to said handwheel and on the underside of said handwheel, at least one magnet of said ring being able to cooperate with respectively at least a first metal elastic locking pin in a hole of said obturation element, said first locking pin being able to leave said hole attracted against said magnet, preferably by means of a first spring, when the positioning of said actuation element with respect to said obturation element and the rotation of said ring places said magnet opposite the first elastic locking pin of said obturation element, preferably opposite a first elastic locking pin in a hole at a central hub of said hoop-shaped obturation element.
Still more particularly, said obturation element comprises second reversible locking means allowing a blocking of the reversible fastening on said support and blocking element of the assembly of said actuation element fastened to said obturation element, by movements of relative axial rotation and translation with respect to said support and fastening element of the assembly of said actuation element fastened to said obturation element, along and respectively about said longitudinal axis (ZZ′).
These movements of relative axial rotation and translation with respect to said support and fastening element of the assembly of said actuation element fastened to said obturation element, ensure that said actuation element remains fastened to said obturation element.
Still more particularly, said hoop-shaped obturation element and said second reversible locking means comprise:
at a central hub of said hoop-shaped obturation element, at least a second locking pin and a second spring in a cylindrical recess within said central means of the hoop, and on the outer wall of said central block, at least one locking slot comprising a first vertical portion along the longitudinal direction (ZZ′) of said block, a second circular-arc portion on the periphery of said block and a third vertical portion, said second circular-arc portion forming the junction of the lower ends of said first and third vertical portions, said first vertical portion being open at its upper end and said third vertical portion being closed at its upper end,
so that said second reversible locking means are able to be actuated in locking by:
a first downward vertical translational movement of the assembly of said actuation element fastened to said obturation element with respect to said central block and coaxially therewith along its longitudinal axis (ZZ′), said second locking pin thus being able to be guided in translation in said first vertical slot portion up to its lower end by compressing said second spring in doing so,
a second rotational movement of the assembly of said actuation element fastened to said obturation element with respect to said central block, said second locking pin thus being able to be guided in rotation in said second circular slot portion up to the lower end of said third vertical slot portion, keeping said second spring compressed, and
a third upward vertical translational movement of the assembly of said actuation element fastened to said obturation element with respect to said central block and coaxially therewith along its longitudinal axis (ZZ′), said second locking pin thus being able to be guided in translation in said third vertical slot portion up to its upper end due to the extension of said second spring.
The present invention also provides a method for setting up an obturation device according to the invention in order to transversely obstruct a passage delimited by a cylindrical side wall characterized in that it comprises the steps of:
a) positioning the device according to the invention in said passage with the extensible rods of said arms in the retracted position, said arms being disposed in a perpendicular radial plane (XX′, YY′) with respect to said longitudinal axis (ZZ′) of said central block itself disposed coaxially with the axis of said passage, and
b) actuating, by means of one said actuation element, said arms to block said pads in abutment against the cylindrical wall of said passage by extension of said extensible rods, said actuation element cooperating with said central block to actuate in extension said extensible rods of said arms simultaneously.
Still more particularly, the method for setting up an obturation device according to the invention comprises the additional steps of:
a) positioning said device according to the invention in said passage with the extensible rod of said arms in the retracted position, using a handwheel-shaped gripping element fastened around a geared motor of said removable actuation element, and
b) actuating said arms to block said pads in abutment against the cylindrical wall of said passage by extension of said extensible rods using said geared motor of said actuation element, and
c) removing said removable actuation element to let in the passage only the assembly of said support and blocking element and said obturation element.
Still more particularly, the method comprises the preliminary steps of:
a1) fastening on said obturation element one said actuation element comprising a handwheel-shaped gripping element, then
a2) fastening the assembly of said actuation element assembled with said obturation element on said central block of said support and blocking element.
By doing so, said handwheel-shaped gripping element facilitates the set-up of said obturation element on said support and blocking element, then facilitates the set-up of the obturation device according to the invention 1 with its 3 elements thus assembled in the appropriate position in said passage, then facilitates the removal of said actuation element to use it for the mounting and the set-up of another obturation device according to the invention in another passage.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly upon reading the following description, given in an illustrative and non-limiting manner, with reference to the appended drawings in which:
In practice, the fastening of said actuation element 10 is carried out on said obturation element 6, which facilitates the fastening of said obturation element 6 on said central block 2a of said support and blocking element 2 with said handwheel-shaped gripping element 12. Then, said handwheel-shaped gripping element 12 facilitates the set-up of said obturation device according to the invention 1 with its 3 thus assembled elements 2, 3 and 10.
Each arm 3 comprises a drive shaft 3a disposed in one said longitudinal direction in a perpendicular radial plane XX′, YY′ with respect to said longitudinal axis ZZ′ of said central block 2a. Each drive shaft 3a passes at a first end through an orifice 2-1 of the cylindrical wall 2a2 of the block 2a shown in
As shown in
As shown in
A guide pin 3b2 on the periphery of the nut 3b1 cooperates with a rectilinear inner slot 3c1 of a guide and protection cylinder 3c coaxially covering said drive shaft 3a and said tubular rod 3b in the retracted position. Thus, said drive shaft 3a is able to cooperate with said extensible tubular rod 3b in coaxial translation by helical link due to the fact that when said drive shaft 3a is driven in rotation on itself along its radial longitudinal axis XX′, YY′, said rotation on itself in either direction of said drive shaft 3a causes the translation of said tubular rod 3b in extension or respectively in retraction in one said radial direction XX′, YY′ due to the fact that the nut 3b1 and therefore said tubular rod 3b which is fastened thereto are prevented from rotating on themselves by the blocking and the guiding of the pin 3b2 in the slot 3c2 thus forcing said coaxial translation of said rod 3b. The tubular rod 3b slides in translation through a terminal ring 3c2 closing the annular space between the guide and protection cylinder 3c and the tubular rod 3b at the end of the guide and protection cylinder 3c.
In
The free end of the tubular rod 3b furthest from the central block 2a comprises a pad 4 always remaining outside said guide and protection cylinder 3c when the rod 3b is in the maximum retracted position.
The pad 4 comprises an end part 4c fastened to the bead 4a which ensures the link to the end of the arm 3, preferably an end part 4c made of rigid elastomer material. The end part 4c has a longitudinal shape in the direction ZZ′ of the axis of the passage or hole 20. The end part 4c comprises a contact surface 4d with the cylindrical wall 20a, 20b of the passage 20 which has a cross-sectional contour in the plane XX′, YY′ which follows the cross-sectional contour of said cylindrical wall 20a, 20b in the plane XX′, YY′.
The geared motor 11 is able to actuate in rotation place along the axis ZZ′ of a passage 20 with a cylindrical wall 2a, 20b. A gripping element 12 comprises a circular handwheel 12a and a first coaxial central hub 12c linked to each other by first linking elements by forming first spokes 12b disposed in a cross (at 90°). The tubular wall of the first central hub 12c is surmounted by said geared motor which is fastened thereto by studs 11b and delimits a first central cylindrical recess 12c1 traversed by said motor shaft 11a disposed coaxially along the axis ZZ′. On the underside of the tubular wall of the first central hub 12c is disposed coaxially a ring 9 which is fastened thereto by a circular fastener 9-1 coaxial along ZZ′ so that the ring 9 is able to be driven manually in relative rotation with respect to said first central hub 12c to achieve the reversible locking of said actuation element on a hoop-type obturation element 6 represented in
The ring 9 comprises two magnets 9a in two diametrically opposed first empty housings 9b.
The hoop 6 is intended to be positioned above the support and blocking element 2 with the second spokes 6b disposed from the 4 arms 3 in the directions of the bisectors of the empty spaces 3-1 between two adjacent arms 3. The second spokes 6b have a length such that the rim 6a arrives at the level of the end 3c2 of the protection cylinder 3c. In practice, the hoop 6 and the protection cylinders 3c of the arms 3 are dimensioned such that the arms 3 being in maximum extension with the pads 4 in abutment on the lateral surface 20a, 20b, the rim 6a arrives approximately to the half the length of said arms 3, that is to say the length of the protection cylinders 3c represents approximately half the length of said bars 3 in maximum extension.
The second central hub 6c is of tubular shape delimiting a coaxial cylindrical internal recess 6e of axis ZZ′. The second central hub 6c is surmounted by a coaxial upper portion 6d of cylindrical tubular shape forming a shoulder 6c1 at the junction between the second central hub 6c and its upper portion 6d. The upper portion 6d delimits an internal recess 6e1 of smaller diameter than the recess 6e and communicating therewith.
The shoulder 6c1 is able to support the circular fastener 9-1 and the ring 9 on the underside of the tubular wall of the first central hub 12c when said actuation element 10 comprising the geared motor 11 and the handwheel 12 are assembled on the hoop 6 by coaxially threading the ring 9 and the tubular wall of the first central hub 12c on the upper portion 6d surmounting the second central hub 6b as shown in
The tubular wall of the upper portion 6d surmounting the second central hub 6c comprises at its lower end close to the shoulder 6c1, two diametrically opposed second hollow housings 8b enclosing respectively two first locking pins 8.
A second coaxial spring 7 which serves for the reversible locking of the hoop 6 on the support and blocking element 2 is disposed within the recess 6e delimited by the tubular wall of the first central hub 12c. The tubular wall of the first central hub 12c has four second locking pins protruding on its inner face protruding towards the central recess 6e. The second spring 7 and the second locking pins are able to cooperate with outer slots 2c on the periphery of the walls of the central block 2a of the support and blocking element 2 in order to achieve a reversible locking of the hoop 6 on the central block 2a.
In
In
At this stage, as shown in
The obturation device according to the invention is an articulated system of 4 arms that allows blocking the passage of a manhole. The arm extension system has been described as being preferably an electromechanical system operating via a screw-nut system to make a helical link causing the deployment of the rod accompanied by a gear torque multiplier to provide the required force with bevel gears to redirect the axes of rotation. The input shaft 2b is rotated via the motor axis 11a and the bevel gear system 5 allows the redirection of the main rotation on the 4 secondary shafts 3a which drive the helical link (screw-nut). Thus, also thanks to the blocking of the rotation of the output rod 3b via a slot 3c1 in the guide 3c, the system is deployed. It is under stress during the contact of the pads 4 with the walls of the manhole 20.
However, they can be substituted with hydraulic or pneumatic jacks, thus providing a slide link or sliding pivot link rather than a helical link, said jacks being coupled on a hydraulic or pneumatic fluid supply. In this case, manual pre-adjustment is required to reduce the used volume of fluid.
The obturation device according to the invention is adaptable to all manhole geometries and dimensions thanks to a stress made on the walls of the hole by activation of the arm extension system.
The obturation device according to the invention is mainly used for prevention in case of flooding (the system can be sealed), prevention during work, or obturation of possible exits in the event of an attack. In these multiple cases, the obturation device according to the invention allows preventing a person from falling through the manhole or prohibiting the voluntary passage of an individual.
A method for setting up an obturation device according to the invention 1 in order to transversely obstruct a passage 20 delimited by a cylindrical side wall 20a, 20b, comprises the steps of:
The obturation hoop 6 is locked via a simple mechanical action made by the user on the handwheel 12. The locking pins 13 must therefore be aligned with the slots 2c1 present on the central block 2a. Then, the assembly is depressed, and a 45° rotation is exerted in the slot 2c2. Finally, the handwheel 12 is loosened, which allows the assembly to move up thanks to the spring 7. The locking pins 12 will thus be blocked in the slot 2c3. The unlocking is simple: the actions listed in reverse order must be made.
In step 5), the separation of the handwheel 12 is exerted by a simple 30° rotation of the magnet ring 9.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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1874003 | Dec 2018 | FR | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/FR2019/053013 | 12/11/2019 | WO | 00 |