Patent Application
20090183658
(Not Applicable)
(Not Applicable)
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to vault covers assemblies and more particularly, to a vault cover assembly having a vault door configured to remain in an open position to provide access to a vault.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many of today's modern utilities typically include a complex support network. For instance, communications, electricity, gas, steam, and sewage systems are exemplary utilities which include intricate support networks. In many cases, the support network is located underground for aesthetic, safety and security reasons. Each support network may include a number of subterranean rooms, referred to as utility vaults, spread throughout the network to provide access to each network.
The utility vaults may be used to store connections and controls related to the particular system. For instance, the utility vault may include valves for water and natural gas systems, and switchgear for electrical and communications systems. Routine operation and maintenance of the utility systems may be conducted from the utility vaults.
A vault typically includes a vault frame embedded within the ground, and a vault door. The vaults are commonly positioned in or near streets and sidewalks. Consequently, the vault may be configured to withstand vehicular and foot traffic. As a result, the vault doors tend to be very heavy and robust.
As a result of the considerable weight of the vault doors, opening the doors can be very difficult. Once the doors are open, the door has a tendency to close very quickly making it very difficult for a utility worker to get into the vault. Furthermore, many vault doors are configured to lock when they are closed. Therefore, if the vault door closes while a worker is in the vault, the worker may be trapped in the vault. Even if the vault door does not automatically lock when closed, the large weight of the door may make it difficult for the worker located within the vault to open it from the inside, which effectively traps the worker therein. Therefore, an additional worker may be required in order to hold the door open so as not to trap a worker within the vault.
As is apparent from the foregoing, there exists a need in the art for a door for a utility vault which may be maintained an open position. The present invention addresses this particular need, as will be discussed in more detail below.
According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vault cover assembly including a vault frame and a vault door. The vault door is pivotally connected to the vault frame. The vault door is pivotable between open and closed positions relative to the vault frame. A spring-biased support arm is connected to the vault door and is moveable between locked and unlocked configurations relative to the vault door. The spring-biased support arm is biased toward the locked configuration. The spring-biased support arm includes a locking member that is engageable with the vault frame when the spring-biased support arm is in the locked configuration. The vault door is disposed in the open position upon engagement between the locking member and the vault frame. The vault door is pivotable between the open and closed positions when the spring-biased support arm is in the unlocked configuration.
An aspect of the present invention enables a vault door to remain in an open position. The spring-biased support arm may support the vault door when the spring-biased support arm is in the locked configuration. Thereafter, the spring-biased support arm may be moved into the unlocked configuration to allow the door to close. In this manner, a utility worker may open the vault door and enter the vault without having the vault door close while the worker is in the vault.
The vault door assembly may include a guide post engaged between the spring-biased support arm and the vault door to align the locking member for engagement with the vault frame. The guide post may protrude from and be integrally formed with the spring-biased support arm. The vault door may define a guide aperture which engages with the guide post.
The vault door assembly may further include a fastener connecting the spring-biased support arm to the vault door. The fastener may include an arm biasing element configured to bias the spring-biased support arm towards the locked configuration. The arm biasing element may be a helical spring defining a central spring axis and the fastener may define a fastener axis. The fastener axis may be aligned with the central spring axis.
The spring-biased support arm may define an arm fastening hole and the vault door may define a door fastening hole. The fastener may be disposed within the arm fastening hole and the door fastening hole to connect the spring-biased support arm to the vault door. The fastener may include a bolt having a head portion and a shank portion. The shank portion may be disposed within the arm and door fastening holes and be moveable within the door fastening hole as the spring-biased support arm moves between the locked and unlocked configurations.
The present invention is best understood by reference to the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout and in which:
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for purposes of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the present invention only, and not for purposes of limiting the same,
The vault frame 12 includes a plurality of vault frame rails 35. Each vault frame rail 35 may include a vertical portion 36 and a horizontal portion 38. The vertical and horizontal rail portions 36, 38 may be disposed perpendicularly relative to each other, as shown in the
The vault cover assembly 10 includes a vault door 14. In the embodiment shown in
Vault cover assemblies 10 are commonly embedded within streets and sidewalks to provide easy access for utility workers. As such, the vault cover assembly 10 may be configured to withstand vehicular and pedestrian traffic. Therefore, the vault doors 14 tend to be very heavy and robust. The vault doors 14 depicted in
According to an aspect of the present invention, the vault cover assembly 10 is configured to maintain the door 14 in the open position. In one embodiment, the vault door 14 is maintained in the open position by a spring-biased support arm 34. In this manner, the support arm 34 is configured to support the vault door 14 when the vault door 14 is in the open position. More specifically, the spring-biased support arm 34 engages both the vault frame 12 and the vault door 14 when the vault door 14 is in the open position to maintain the vault door 14 in the open position. Therefore, the vault door 14 may be maintained in the open position while the utility worker is in the utility vault. In this regard, the utility worker may not have to worry about having the door close while the worker is in the vault.
In one embodiment, the spring-biased support arm 34 is connected to the vault door 14. As shown in
It may be desirable to incorporate the support arm 34 into a foot latch. Since many vault frames 12 are embedded within the ground, the support arm 34 may engage with the vault frame 12 at ground level. Therefore, when a user wants to close the door 14, it may be convenient to move the support arm 34 into the unlocked configuration with the user's foot.
One aspect of the invention includes a spring-biased support arm 34 having a locking member 44 which engages with the vault frame 12 when the support arm 34 is in the locked configuration. When the spring-biased support arm 34 is in the locked configuration, the locking member 44 may be placed in contact with the vault frame top surface 13. The locking member 44 may be integrally formed with the spring-biased support arm 34 or detachably engaged thereto. Although the particular locking member 44 depicted in
The spring-biased support arm 34 may include a first planar portion 40 and a second planar portion 42. The first planar portion 40 defines a first plane, while the second planar portion 42 defines a second plane that is angularly disposed relative to the first plane. The angular disposition may define the amount of support arm 34 movement between the locked and unlocked configurations. In other words, as the angular disposition of the first planar portion 40 relative to the second planar portion 42 increases, the range of motion of the support arm 34 between the locked and unlocked configurations may also increase.
The support arm 34 may be configured to substantially maintain the planar disposition of the first planar portion 40 relative to the second planar portion 42 during use of the vault cover assembly 10. In other words, the support arm 34 may be configured to mitigate deformation of the first planar portion 40 relative to the second planar portion 42.
The spring-biased support arm 34 may be secured to the vault door 14 by a fastener 56. In the embodiment depicted in
The fastener 56 may further include an arm biasing element 58 configured to bias the spring-biased support arm 34 toward the locked configuration. As shown in
In the particular embodiment shown in
According to another aspect of the invention, the vault cover assembly 10 further includes a guide post 46 defining a post longitudinal axis 48. The guide post 46 is engaged between the support arm 34 and the vault door 14. The guide post 46 is configured to align the support arm 34 for engagement with the vault frame 12. If the vault cover assembly 10 does not include a guide post 46, the support arm 34 may rotate about the fastener 56 and out of alignment with the vault frame 12. Therefore, the guide post 46 is configured to mitigate such rotation of the support arm 34. It is contemplated that the guide post 46 engages with a guide aperture 52. The guide post 46 may include a post distal end 50 which translates along the post longitudinal axis 48 as the spring-biased support arm 34 moves between the locked and unlocked configurations.
In one embodiment the guide post 46 protrudes from the spring biased support arm 34 and the guide aperture 52 is defined by the vault door 14. As shown in
In another embodiment, the guide post 46 protrudes from the vault door 14, while the guide aperture 52 is defined by the spring-biased support arm 34. In this manner, the guide aperture 52 moves as the support arm 34 moves. In other words, the guide aperture 52 moves along the guide post 46 as the support arm 34 moves between the locked and unlocked configurations.
When the support arm 34 is placed in the unlocked configuration, the vault door 14 may pivot to the closed position. In one embodiment, the vault door 14 is configured to automatically lock when placed in the closed position. The vault door 14 may include a lever lock 24 pivotally engaged thereto, as shown in
As mentioned earlier, the vault door 14 tends to be very heavy and robust making it difficult to open. Therefore, the vault cover assembly 10 may include a lift assist 80 to help a user open the vault door 14. The lift assist 80 may be engaged to both the vault door 14 and the vault frame 12. In one particular embodiment, the lift assist 80 may include an assist spring 82. The assist spring 82 may include a door assist element 84 which engages with the vault door 14 and a frame assist element 86 which engages with the vault frame 12. As shown, the vault door 14 includes a door assist aperture 54 located within one of the support ribs 32. The door assist aperture 54 engages with the door assist element 84 of the assist spring 82 and the frame assist element 86 engages with the vault frame 12. In the embodiment depicted in
With respect to the embodiment depicted in
As the vault door 14 moves between the closed and open positions, the support arm 34 is in the unlocked configuration, and the locking member 44 may be in contact with the inner surface of the vertical frame rail 38. The embodiment shown in
The locking member 44 is inward of the vertical frame rail 36 until the door 14 pivots past the open position. Once the vault door 14 pivots past the open position, the support arm 34 is biased outwardly thereby placing the locking member 44 in position to engage with the vault frame 12. The support arm 34 may include a restriction portion 37 to prevent the locking member 44 from biasing past the vault frame 12. In the embodiment shown in
The locking member 44 may also be aligned with the vault frame 12 by the angular disposition of the first planar portion 40 relative to the second planar portion 42. In other words, once the first planar portion 40 is flush with the door rail 30, the locking member 44 may not move outwardly past the vault frame 12. Therefore, the locking member 44 may be aligned with the vault frame 12 to maintain the vault door 14 in the open position.
When in the open position, the locking member 44 engages with the vault frame 12. As illustrated in
The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein. Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.
