The present invention is directed to a sump backfill protector, and more particularly, to a sump backfill protector which is configured to provide increased strength.
Sumps and other storage/containment devices are often used for containing pumps or other fluid handling equipment, along with associated pipe junctions, electrical connections and the like. A backfill protector is often positioned on top of the sump, and has an opening to provide access to the sump. A cover, such as a manhole cover or the like, is positionable in the opening of the backfill protector. Many current backfill protectors are made of relatively thick material to provide sufficient strength and durability. However, such backfill protectors can be relatively heavy and expensive to manufacture, and can be difficult to transport and install.
In one embodiment the present invention is a sump backfill protector that is configured to provide increased strength, such as in one case by having a recess or channel that is configured to receive backfill material therein to thereby strengthen the backfill protector. More particularly, in one embodiment the invention is a system including a backfill protector including a skirt having an opening configured to receive a cover therein and a lip extending around a perimeter of the opening. The lip is configured to support the cover thereon, and the skirt further includes an inwardly-extending channel positioned adjacent to the lip.
The backfill protector 12/skirt 18 includes a lower sidewall 24 extending axially downwardly from the upper lip 22, and a radially-extending lower lip 26 extending radially outwardly from the lower sidewall 24. In the illustrated embodiment the upper lip 22 is positioned above and has a greater length (in the radial direction) than the lower lip 26. The backfill protector 12/skirt 18 also includes an annular lower body 28 positioned axially below the lower lip 26. As shown in
The upper lip 22, lower sidewall 24, and the lower lip 26 define a radially outwardly-facing or outwardly-opening recess or channel 32 that is configured in a generally sideways “U” shape in the illustrated embodiment. The backfill protector 12/skirt 18 also includes a flange 34 extending radially outwardly from the upper lip 22 and channel 32 (and can also at least partially define the channel 32). The flange 34 is generally aligned with the upper lip 22 in the illustrated embodiment, and can also be integrally formed therewith such that the flange 34 and upper lip 22 are in one case a unitary, one-piece seamless piece of material. If desired the flange 34 can include a set of circumferentially spaced openings 35 formed therein for weight and/or cost reduction.
In the illustrated embodiment the upper sidewall 20 and lower sidewall 24 are each generally positioned in/aligned in circumferential planes (e.g. flat planes defined by a circumferential line), and the upper lip 22, lower lip 26 and flange 34 are all generally positioned in/aligned in parallel radial planes (e.g. cylindrical planes defined by a fixed radius). Each of the upper sidewall 20, upper lip 22, lower sidewall 24, lower lip 26, flange 34 and lower body 28 can be generally annular and extend continuously 360 degrees about the backfill protector 12/skirt 18. However in some cases if desired any one of the upper sidewall 20, upper lip 22, lower sidewall 24, lower lip 26, flange 34 and lower body 28 can be discontinuous and extend around only some, or a majority, of the perimeter of the backfill protector 12/skirt 18. The upper sidewall 20, upper lip 22, lower sidewall 24, lower lip 26, flange 34 and/or lower body 28 (e.g., in one case the backfill protector 12/skirt 18 as a whole) can be formed from a single, unitary integral seamless piece of material, such as by molding. However, in other cases the backfill protector 12/skirt 18 can be made of multiple pieces joined together, such as a multi-piece weldment. Moreover, the skirt 18, opening 14, and/or cover 16 need not necessarily be circular/annular, and can instead have a variety of regular geometric shapes, or other shapes, in top view.
As best shown in
In order to utilize the backfill protector 12, the backfill protector 12 is first positioned in an opening in a ground surface, and positioned on top of and aligned with a sump 44, e.g. positioned as shown in
Once the backfill protector 12 is in place as shown in
Once the backfill protector 12 is installed the cover 16 can be installed. In order for the cover 16 to fit into the opening 44, each of the cam locks 36 can be positioned such that their ramps 42 (or at least the thickest portions thereof) face radially inwardly, such as the left-most cam lock 36 in
Thus, the particular location and configuration of the channel 32, which is outwardly-facing to enable backfill material 50 to enter and fill the channel 32, enables the backfill material 50 to act as a structural component of the backfill protector 12 once the backfill protector 12 is fully installed. Besides providing stiffness to enable the channel 32 to resist compression by the cam locks 36, the backfill material 50 in the channel 32 also strengthens/supports the upper lip 22 to aid the upper lip 22/channel 32 in supporting the weight of the cover 16 and forces applied to the cover 16 (e.g. when vehicles are driven over the cover 16). In this manner the backfill protector 12 can be made of a relatively thin-walled and/or weaker material compared to other backfill protectors since the backfill protector 12 need not be able to, alone, resist the compressive forces applied by cam locks 36 or other forces. This, in turn, enables the backfill protector 12 to be made of thinner and/or lighter materials, provides for a more inexpensive backfill protector 12 that is easier to handle and install.
It has been found that fill material 50 in the form of concrete positioned in the channel 32 can reduce deflection of the channel 32, when exposed to a 850 pound load by a cam lock 36, by at least about ten times, up to about seventy-eight times, depending upon the material and thickness of the channel 32. The channel 32 can have an axial height that is at least about equal to the thickness of the material defining the channel 32, or at least about double the thickness of the material defining the channel 32, or less than about ten times the thickness of the material defining the channel 32, or less than about five times the thickness of the material defining the channel 32, so that the channel 32 can be made sufficiently thin but can receive sufficient material 50 therein for strengthening. The channel 32 can have an axial height that is greater than about 3% and/or less than about 12% of a height of the backfill protector 12.
The channel 32 may extend radially inwardly sufficiently to enable the channel 32 to be engaged by the cam locks 36, but may not extend radially inwardly sufficiently to unduly block the upper opening 14. In one case the channel 32 has a radial length that is about 3% of a radius or average radius of the opening 14, and/or less than about 10% or greater than about 0.5% of a radius or average radius of the opening 14. In one embodiment the backfill protector 12/skirt 18, or at least the channel 32, is made of a relatively thin-walled materials such as composites or polymers (including but not limited to polyethylene) or metal (including but not limited to steel) having a wall thickness of less than about 0.50 inches, or less than about 0.20 inches in another case. In one case, for example when the channel 32 and/or backfill protector 12 is made of polymer materials such as polyethylene, the channel 32 and/or backfill protector 12 has a thickness of less than about 0.5 inches, or less than about 0.3 inches, or greater than about 0.05 inches, or greater than about 0.1 inches. In one case, for example when the channel 32 and/or backfill protector 12 is made of metal such as steel, the channel 32 and/or backfill protector 12 has a thickness of less than about 0.3 inches, or less than about 0.2 inches, or greater than about 0.03 inches, or greater than about 0.05 inches.
Having described the invention in detail and by reference to certain embodiments, it will be apparent that modifications and variations thereof are possible without departing from the scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/454,415, filed on Feb. 3, 2017 and entitled SUMP BACKFILL PROTECTOR, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
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Product Information featuring “OPW Conquistador™ Plus Composite Cover Manholes” www.opwglobal.com (2015). |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20180223498 A1 | Aug 2018 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62454415 | Feb 2017 | US |