Shaft cover for shafts, channel entrances, or drainage channels

Abstract

A manhole cover for manholes, sewer accesses or drainage channels, including a reinforcing element and a body made of plastic which is connected to the reinforcing element. The reinforcing element may be constructed from intersecting, vertically aligned elements. Corrugations may be formed in the reinforcing element. The reinforcing elements may be arched and may include an outer encircling strip and a central plate, which are each connected to the body made of plastic. The reinforcing element rests on a bearing surface on the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel when the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel is closed by means of the manhole cover. The body made of plastic includes ribs, which extend perpendicularly or at an angle of more than 45 to the surface surrounding the manhole cover, sewer access or drainage channel when the manhole, sewer or drainage channel is closed.

Claims

1. A manhole cover for manholes, sewer accesses or drainage channels, comprising an reinforcing element and a body made of plastic, which is connected to the reinforcing element, wherein the reinforcing element is designed in such a way that said reinforcing element rests on a bearing surface on the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel when the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel is closed by means of the manhole cover, and the body made of plastic comprises ribs made of plastic, which extend perpendicularly or at an angle of more than 45 to the surface surrounding the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel when the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel is closed, wherein the reinforcing element is manufactured from a metal, and wherein additionally one of the following features is included: the reinforcing element is arched, corrugations are formed in the reinforcing element, the reinforcing element has a corrugated outer circumference, wherein the corrugations extend to a central point of the reinforcing element, the corrugations thereby become smaller toward the center.

2. The manhole cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing element is constructed from arched strips which converge in the center of the reinforcing element.

3. The manhole cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein openings are formed in the reinforcing element.

4. The manhole cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plastic of the body which is connected to the reinforcing element is selected from thermoplastic or thermosetting polyesters, polyamide, polyvinylchloride, polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer, acrylonitrile-styrene-acrylic ester, polyoxymethylene, polymethylmethacrylate, syndiotactic polystyrene, polyphthalimide, polyphenylene sulfide, formaldehyde resins, unsaturated polyester resins, vinyl ester resins, phenacrylate resins, vinyl ester urethanes, epoxy resins, diallyl phthalate resins, allyl esters, silicone resins and polyurethanes.

5. The manhole cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body made of plastic has a flat plate, which rests on the ribs and is connected materially to the ribs.

6. The manhole cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein holes are formed in the reinforcing element, through which holes the plastic of the body made from plastic is forced for connection to the reinforcing element, or wherein the body made of plastic is clipped or screwed to the reinforcing element.

7. The manhole cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body made of plastic rests slidably on the reinforcing element.

8. The manhole cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein the body made of plastic surrounds the reinforcing element at the outer circumference.

9. The manhole cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein countersunk holes are formed in the manhole cover, through which holes the manhole cover can be screwed to the bearing surface on the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel.

Description

(1) In the drawing:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a manhole cover having an upward-arched reinforcing element,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a manhole cover having a downward-arched reinforcing element,

(4) FIG. 3 shows a reinforcing element having a plurality of arched strips,

(5) FIG. 4 shows two individual parts, which give the reinforcing element illustrated in FIG. 3 when joined together,

(6) FIG. 5 shows a reinforcing element having an encircling outer strip and a central rod, which is attached by spokes to the outer encircling strip,

(7) FIG. 6 shows a reinforcing element having an encircling outer strip and a central plate, which is attached by spokes to the outer encircling strip,

(8) FIG. 7 shows a reinforcing element having corrugations of corrugated design,

(9) FIG. 8 shows a detail of a manhole cover having a lower reinforcing element, an upper plate made from the same material as the reinforcing element, a body made of plastic between the metallic parts and an outer casing made of plastic,

(10) FIG. 9 shows a detail of a manhole cover having a reinforcing element, an upper plate and a body made of plastic situated between them in a first embodiment,

(11) FIG. 10 shows a detail of a manhole cover having a reinforcing element, an upper plate and a body made of plastic in a second embodiment,

(12) FIGS. 11.1 to 11.4 show various rib geometries for the body made of plastic,

(13) FIG. 12 shows a section through a manhole cover having vertically aligned elements to form the reinforcing element.

(14) FIG. 1 shows a section through a manhole cover having an upward-arched reinforcing element.

(15) A manhole, a sewer access or a drainage channel is covered with a manhole cover 1. For this purpose, the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel has a bearing surface 3. Here, the bearing surface 3 runs around the circumference of the manhole, sewer access or drainage channel.

(16) According to the invention, the manhole cover has an reinforcing element 5 and a body 7 made of plastic. In the embodiment shown here, the body made of plastic has ribs 9 and a plate 11 resting on the ribs 9. Here, the plate 11 resting on the ribs 9 is generally connected materially to the ribs. By means of the plate 11 resting on top, a smooth surface of the manhole cover 1 can be obtained.

(17) In order to connect the body made of plastic 7 to the reinforcing element 5, it is preferred if holes are formed in the reinforcing element 5, through which holes the plastic compound can flow. Enlarged portions 13 form under the holes in the reinforcing element 5, ensuring that a stable connection between the reinforcing element 5 and the body 7 made of plastic is obtained. A corresponding fastening can be achieved, for example, by injection molding the body 7 made of plastic and inserting the reinforcing element 5 into the mold during the injection molding process. As an alternative, it is also possible to produce the body 7 made of plastic and the reinforcing element 5 separately and then to attach them to the reinforcing element 5 by clipping, clamping, adhesive bonding or screwing, for example. However, it is preferred if the connection between the reinforcing element 5 and the body 7 made of plastic is achieved by through-injection during the process for producing the body 7 made of plastic.

(18) FIG. 2 shows a manhole cover having a downward-arched reinforcing element. The manhole cover 1 shown in FIG. 2 differs from that shown in FIG. 1 in the direction in which the reinforcing element 5 is arched. In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the reinforcing element 5 is arched downward in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2. This makes it possible to use the manhole cover 1 for manholes, sewer accesses or drainage channels in which the distance between the bearing surface 3 and the surface 15, e.g. a road surface, is less than that in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, for example. Apart from the direction of curvature of the reinforcing element 5, the construction of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 corresponds.

(19) Both in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and in the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, it is possible to provide the plate 11 shown here, which rests on top, in order to obtain a smooth surface. As an alternative, however, it is also possible to dispense with the plate 11 which rests on top, with the result that the body 7 made of plastic is constructed only of ribs 9. It is furthermore also possible to provide a base plate, wherein said base plate is shaped in such a way, for example, that it rests on the reinforcing element 5 or extends centrally in the body 7 made of plastic, with the result that the ribs 9 extend upward and downward from the base plate. Here, the base plate can be provided either in an embodiment with a plate 11 which rests on top or one without a plate 11 which rests on top.

(20) The reinforcing element 5 can be a full-surface plate, for example.

(21) An alternative embodiment for a reinforcing element is shown in FIG. 3.

(22) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the reinforcing element 5 comprises an encircling strip 17 and a central plate 19. The encircling strip 17 and the central plate 19 are connected to one another by curved strips 21. The curved strips 21 result in arching of the reinforcing element 5. Here, the alignment to produce the manhole cover can be as in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e. it is arched upward or arched downward.

(23) FIG. 4 shows two individual parts from which the reinforcing element shown in FIG. 3 can be constructed.

(24) In this case, the reinforcing element 5 is constructed from two individual parts, where the first part 23 has the encircling strip 17 and strips 25 extending toward the center of the reinforcing element. The second part 27 has the central plate 19 and outward-extending strips 29. To produce the first part 23 and the second part 27, it is possible, for example, to punch the second part 27 out of a round plate. Given appropriate configuration of the outward-extending strips 29, the first part 23 having the encircling strip 17 and the strips 25 extending toward the center is left as a remainder after the punching process. For this purpose, the strips 25, 29 are preferably configured in such a way that the width of the strip 25 extending toward the center on the first part 23 corresponds, at the inner circumference of the encircling strip 17, to the outer width of the outward-extending strips 29 of the second part 27. In corresponding fashion, the width of the strips 25 of the first part 27, which extend toward the center, correspond at their ends to the width of the outward-extending strips 29 of the second part 27 at the circumference of the central plate 19. After the production of the first part 23 and of the second part 27, these parts are formed in order to form the arching. For this purpose, a pressing method, e.g. a deep drawing method, can be used, for example. After the forming process, the strips 29 of the second part and the strips 25 of the first part are connected to one another. In order to obtain a stable connection, the strips 25, 29 are welded to one another, for example. For a stable connection, it is particularly preferred here if the second part 27 is inserted into the first part 23 for the connection of the strips 25, 29. Apart from welding, however, any other method for connecting the two parts 23, 27 is also possible, e.g. screwing, riveting or adhesive bonding. It is also possible to connect the two parts 23, 27 by overmolding with the plastic compound for the body 7 made of plastic.

(25) An embodiment of a reinforcing element having an outer encircling strip and a rod, wherein the rod and the encircling strip are connected to one another by spokes, is shown in FIG. 5.

(26) The reinforcing element shown in FIG. 5 comprises an encircling strip 17 and a rod 31. A plate 33 can additionally be mounted on the rod 31, wherein a force acts on the plate 33 when subjected to load. In order to transmit the force acting on the plate 33 to the encircling strip 17 as well, the rod 31 on which the plate 33 rests is attached to the encircling strip 17 by spokes 35. As an alternative to the spokes 35, it is also possible to use cables or strips made of the same material as the encircling strip 17 and the rod 31, by means of which the rod 31 is attached to the encircling strip 17. Particularly steel or any material which is well-suited to bearing tensile stress is suitable as a material for cables.

(27) As an alternative to the embodiment with a rod and an upper plate, it is also possible to configure the reinforcing element as shown in FIG. 6 with an encircling strip 17 and a central plate 19, wherein the central plate 19, unlike the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, is attached to the encircling strip 17 not by means of wide strips but by means of spokes 35. Here too, it is possible, as an alternative to the spokes 35, to attach the central plate 17 to the encircling strip 17 by means of cables.

(28) Another possible embodiment for an reinforcing element 5 is shown in FIG. 7. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, the reinforcing element 5 has a corrugated outer circumference 37. Here, the corrugations extend to the central point 39 of the reinforcing element 5, with the result that the corrugations become smaller toward the center.

(29) Instead of the corrugated configuration shown in FIG. 7, it is also possible to introduce any desired corrugations into the reinforcing element 5. A particularly preferred option here is a corrugation shape which corresponds substantially to the corrugated shape shown in FIG. 7, namely corrugations which are wider at the outer circumference and the width of which decreases toward the center. Here, the corrugations do not necessarily have to extend as far as the central point 39 but can end at a distance from the central point 39.

(30) FIG. 8 shows a detail of a manhole cover having an arched reinforcing element and, additionally, a second plate made of the same material as the reinforcing element, wherein the body made of plastic is formed between the reinforcing element and the additional plate.

(31) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the manhole cover 1 has a reinforcing element 5 which is arched downward. Here, the reinforcing element can be embodied in the manner shown in FIG. 2, for example. In addition to the reinforcing element 5, the manhole cover 1 of the embodiment shown in FIG. 8 has an upper plate 41. Here, the body 7 made of plastic is positioned between the reinforcing element 5 and the upper plate 41. In the embodiment shown here, the body made of plastic has vertically extending ribs 9 and a base plate 43. Here, the ribs 9 extend upward and downward from the base plate 43. In this case, the body 7 made of plastic rests by means of the ribs 9 on the reinforcing element 5, and the upper plate 41 rests on the ribs 9 extending upward from the base plate 43.

(32) In order to obtain a smooth surface, an outer envelope 45 made of plastic is provided in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8. In this case, the outer envelope 45 made of plastic surrounds the reinforcing element 5, the upper plate 41 and the body 7 made of plastic. In this case, the same plastic can be used as a material for the body 7 made of plastic and the outer envelope 45. However, it is also possible to use different polymers.

(33) Two further alternative embodiments of a manhole cover having an reinforcing element 5, an upper plate 41 and a body 7 made of plastic, which is positioned between the reinforcing element 5 and the upper plate 41, are shown in FIGS. 9 and 10.

(34) In contrast to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 do not have an outer envelope 45 made of plastic. However, it is also possible to embody the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 with an outer envelope 45 as well. It is also possible to dispense with the outer envelope 45 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8.

(35) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, the reinforcing element 5 and the upper plate 41 are connected to one another at the rim by a flange connection. In this case, the connection can be made positively, materially or nonpositively, although a nonpositive connection, e.g. by screwing or riveting, is preferred. If an outer envelope 45 made of plastic is provided, it is also possible to dispense with the additional connection between the reinforcing element 5 and the upper plate 41 since they are positioned and held relative to one another by the outer envelope 45.

(36) In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an elastomer connection 47 is provided to connect the reinforcing element 5 and the upper plate 41. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the elastomer connection 47 surrounds the upper plate 41 along the outer circumference thereof and is positioned in a horizontal plane between an upward-extending rim 49 of the reinforcing element 5 and the upper plate 41. In contrast, the elastomer connection 47 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is positioned on the outer rim of the reinforcing element 5, and the upper plate 41 rests on the elastomer connection 47.

(37) The use of an elastomer connection 47 has the advantage that differential thermal expansions of the individual component elements can thereby be compensated.

(38) As an alternative to the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 having an elastomer connection 47, it is also possible to provide a positive connection or a nonpositive connection.

(39) In FIGS. 11.1 to 11.4, different variants for the arrangement of ribs in the body 7 made of plastic are shown. Here, the body 7 made of plastic has a circular cross section in the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11.1 to 11.3 and a square cross section in the embodiment shown in FIG. 11.4. In this case, the shape of the body 7 made of plastic usually corresponds to the shape of the manhole cover 1. In the case of a round manhole cover 1, the body 7 made of plastic is also round and, in the case of an angular manhole cover 1, the body 7 made of plastic is likewise angular.

(40) In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11.1 to 11.4, the ribs form a rectangular division, wherein a square division, as shown, is preferred here. In this case, the individual ribs 9 of the body 7 made of plastic intersect at an angle of 90. As an alternative to the square division shown here, however, it is also possible to provide a triangular division or any other division, for example, wherein the ribs 9 intersect at an angle different from 90 in this case.

(41) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11.2, the ribs 9 extend radially from the central point of the body 7 made of plastic to the outer rim. In this case, it would also be possible to arrange for the ribs to extend outward from an eccentrically situated point, but it is preferred if the ribs extend radially from the central point 39 of the body 7 made of plastic to the outer rim.

(42) In addition, it is possible to provide ribs 9 which surround the central point 39 of the body 7 made of plastic in a ring shape. This is shown by way of example in FIG. 11.3. In this case, the ribs surrounding the central point 39 in a ring shape intersect the ribs 9 extending radially outward from the central point 39.

(43) Of course, it is also possible to use the variants of a body 7 made of plastic which are shown in FIGS. 11.2 and 11.3 with any other cross-sectional area, e.g. a rectangular or square cross-sectional area.

(44) In addition to the profiles, shown here, of the ribs 9, any other alignment of the ribs 9 which is known to a person skilled in the art is also possible.

(45) An alternative embodiment of a manhole cover 1 is shown in FIG. 12.

(46) In contrast to the above-described reinforcing elements 5, the reinforcing element 5 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is constructed from vertically extending elements. Here, the reinforcing element 5 in the embodiment shown in FIG. 12 has two intersecting elements 51. In this case, the elements 51 are at an angle of 90 to one another. The body 7 made of plastic rests on the reinforcing element 5 formed by the elements 51. This body has ribs 9 and a plate 11 resting on top. By means of the ribs 9, the body 7 made of plastic rests on the vertical elements 51 of the reinforcing element 5.

(47) In addition to the embodiment shown in FIG. 12, having two intersecting elements 51, it is also possible to provide a plurality of elements 51. In this case, these elements can extend radially outward from the central point or, alternatively, can extend parallel to one another, for example. It is preferred here if at least one element 51 is aligned transversely to the elements 51 extending in parallel, with the result that the elements 51 aligned in parallel intersect the element 51 extending transversely thereto. In addition to just one element 51 extending transversely to the elements 51 aligned in parallel, it is, of course, also possible to provide a plurality of elements 51 extending in parallel in both directions, giving a rectangular division, for example. As an alternative, however, any other alignment of the vertically extending elements 51 for the formation of the reinforcing element 5 is also conceivable. Thus, these can extend in the manner of the variants of the ribs 9 of the body 7 made of plastic which are illustrated in FIGS. 11.2 and 11.3, for example.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(48) 1 manhole cover 3 bearing surface 5 reinforcing element 7 body made of plastic 9 rib 11 plate resting on top 13 enlarged portion 15 surface 17 encircling strip 19 central plate 21 strip 23 first part 25 strip extending toward the center 27 second part 29 outward-extending strip 31 rod 33 plate 35 spoke 37 outer circumference 39 central point 41 upper plate 43 base plate 45 outer envelope 47 elastomer connection 49 upward-extending rim 51 element