GB2353313A

GB2353313A - Access cover assembly

Info

Publication number: GB2353313A
Application number: GB9919537A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Patrick Martin Murphy; Ronald Francis Clark
Original assignee: CLARKSTEEL Ltd
Current assignee: CLARKSTEEL Ltd
Priority date: 1999-08-19
Filing date: 1999-08-19
Publication date: 2001-02-21
Anticipated expiration: 2019-08-19
Also published as: GB2353313B; GB9919537D0

Abstract

An access cover assembly with a frame (10), at least one cover (15) hingedly connected to the frame and a guard rail assembly (17). Opening of the cover is assisted by a spring, preferably a torsion spring (18). The guard rail is movable between a collapsed position where it is stored in the frame and an erected position. The guard rail assembly is formed from at least two posts (21,22) and a number of extendible and retractable rails (23-28), which when erected connect the cover or covers and posts together. In a preferred configuration the frame is rectangular and the two posts are pivotally connected to the frame on the opposite side to the cover. The posts (21,22), fig 4, extend diagonally within the frame when in the collapsed position. The rails may be pivotally connected to a cover or post, so to be foldable against the underside of the cover or in side-by-side relationship with one of the posts, when in a collapsed position, fig 4. The rails may also be telescopically extendible and retractable. The assembly also has a load bearable internal platform (31) supported by the frame. The platform is slidable between two positions where it either closes or allows access to the hole below. The platform has two parallel spaced apart reinforcing members (32), fig 2, on it's underside, each with a ramp surface (33) at one end to facilitate movement between the two positions. Movement is further enabled by a transversely extending elongate member (34) on the platform which co-operates with inclined slots (35) in opposite sides of the frame.

Description

ACCESS COVER ASSEMBLY This invention relates to an access cover assembly

and more particularly to such an assembly for covering access holes used by utility companies.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an access cover assembly comprising a frame, at least one cover hingedly connected to the frame and a guard rail assembly movable between a collapsed condition in which it is stored within the frame and beneath the cover or covers and an erected condition, the guard rail assembly comprising at least two posts and a plurality of extendible/retractable rails which, in an erected condition of the guard rail assembly, connect the cover and posts together.

Preferred and/or optional features of the first aspect of the invention are set forth in claims 2 to 10, inclusive.

According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided an access cover assembly comprising a frame, a cover hingedly connected to the frame and a load bearable internal platform supported by the frame, the internal platform being slidable between a first position in which it forms a working platforrn over a hole which is in use covered by the access cover assembly and a second position in which it allows access to the hole below the assembly.

Preferred and/or optional features of the second aspect of the invention are -2set forth in claims 12 to 14.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of an access cover assembly in an open condition, Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing the internal platform in another position.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing two of the guard rails folded against the underside of the cover to provide access for work to be carried out on an object supported by the internal platform, Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 but with the guard rail assembly partially collapsed, and Figure 5 is view similar to Figure 1 but showing the assembly in a closed 20 condition.

Referring now to the drawings, the access cover assembly shown therein is particularly suitable for covering access holes used by utility companies, such as electricity companies or water supply companies.

-3 The access cover assembly comprises a rectangular frame 10 having sides 11, 12, 13 and 14, a cover 15 connected to the side 11 of the frame 10 by two hinges 16, and a guard rail assembly 17. As shown, the cover 15 is in the form of a plate like member but it could be in the form of a grille and the term "cover" as used herein is intended to be construed accordingly.

Torsion springs 18 are provided to assist opening of the cover 15, although these could be replaced by gas springs. The cover 15 has a lock 19 for securing the cover in a closed condition in the frame. A releasable safety stay 20 is provided to support the cover 15 in an open upstanding position.

The guard rail assembly 17 comprises two posts 21 and 22 and six telescopically extendible/retractable rails 23 to 28. The rails 23, 24 and 25 form upper rails of the guard rail assembly when the latter is in an erected condition and the rails 26, 27 and 28 form lower rails which lie intermediate the upper rails and the frame 10 when the guard rail assembly is an erected condition.

The posts 21 and 22 are supported in sockets (not shown) when in upstanding positions as shown in Figures 1 to 3. However, these posts 21 and 22 can be raised out of their sockets and pivoted into a storage position (see Figure 4) in which they extend diagonally within the frame 10, one across the other.

The rails 23, 24, 26 and 27 are all pivotably connected to the underside of the cover 15 so that, when in a retracted condition, they can be folded against the underside of the cover 15 and held by clips 29. The rails 25 and 28 are pivotably connected respectively to the posts 21 and 22 so that these can be folded in side-byside relationship with their respective posts as shown in Figure 4.

The posts 21 and 22 are provided with Lshaped brackets 30 for supporting the free ends of the guard rails and each of the rails 23, 24, 26 and 27 is provided at its free end with a hook 45 for preventing unintentional retraction of these rails.

The access cover assembly also comprises a load bearable internal platform which is supported by the frame 10 and which is slidably movable to the position shown in Figure 2 in order that access may be obtained to the hole below the access cover assembly. The internal platform 31 has two parallel spaced apart reinforcing members 32 attached to its underside. These reinforcing members are of plate-like construction and have ramp surfaces 33 at one end. At the other end of the reinforcing members 32, the platform 31 has a transversely extending rod 34 which co-operates with inclined slots 35 in the frame in a manner to be described hereinafter. A keyhole slot 36 is also provided in the cover 15 to receive a lifting tool (not shown).

In use, the cover 15 is hinged open and fixed in an open position by the brace 20. The guard rail assembly 17 is then erected. The posts 21 and 22 are raised to upstanding positions. The rails 23 to 28 are then extended and fitted into respective brackets 30 in the posts 21 and 22. The internal platform 31 is then slidably moved to the position shown in Figure 2. This is achieved by placing a tool -5in the keyhole slot 36 and applying force to the platform 31 in the direction shown by the arrow 37. The ramp surfaces 33 will engage the frame 10 and the rod 34 will co-operate with the slots 35 so that the cover is raised out of the frame 10. The rod 34 and the reinforcing members 32 will then slide along respective edges of the frame 5 10.

A lifting davit 38 supported in a socket 39, which could be integrally connected to the frame 10, can then be lowered into the hole 40 to retrieve an object, such as a pump 41, to be overhauled. After the pump has been lifted above the frame 10, the internal platform 31 can be returned to its initial position without having to displace the pump sidewards. The pump 41 can then be lowered onto the platform 31 and two of the rails, for example, rails 23 and 26 can be collapsed to provide access for an operator to overhaul the pump. Once the overhaul has been completed, the whole process can be reversed in order to return the pump 41 to the hole 40 and close the cover 15 in the frame 10.

The embodiment described above is given by way of example only and various modifications will be apparent to persons skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the assembly could include two or more covers. Also, the assembly could include more than two posts.

Claims

-6CLAIMS

1 An access cover assembly comprising a frame, at least one cover hingedly connected to the frame and a guard rail assembly movable between a collapsed condition in which it is stored within the frame and beneath the cover or covers and an erected condition, the guard rail assembly comprising at least two posts and a plurality of extendible/retractable rails which, in an erected condition of the guard rail assembly, connect the cover or covers and posts together.

2. An access cover assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein the frame is rectangular, the cover is hingedly connected to one side of the frame and the two posts are pivotably connected to the frame at or adjacent to opposite ends of that side of the frame opposite to said one side.

3. An access cover assembly as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the two posts, in a collapsed condition, extend diagonally or substantially diagonally within the frame.

4. An access cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein each rail is pivotably connected to the cover or a post so as to be foldable against the underside of the cover or in sideby-side relationship with one of the posts.

5. An access cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the rails are telescopically extendible/retractable.

6. An access cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein spring means are provided to assist opening of the cover.

7. An access cover assembly as claimed in claim 6, wherein the spring means includes at least one torsion spring.

8. An access cover assembly as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, further comprising a load bearable internal platform supported by the frame, the internal platform being slidable between a first position in which it forms a working platform over a hole which is in use covered by the access cover assembly and a second position in which it allows access to the hole below the assembly.

9. An access cover assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the internal platform has two parallel spaced apart reinforcing members on its underside and these reinforcing members each have a ramp surface at one end to facilitate slidable movement of the platform from its first to its second position

10. An access cover assembly as claimed in claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the platform has a transversely extending elongate member which co-operates with inclined slots in opposite sides of the frame to facilitate slidable movement of the platform from its first to its second position.

-8 An access cover assembly comprising a frame, a cover hingedly connected to the frame and a load bearable internal platform supported by the frame, the internal platform being slidable between a first position in which it forms a working platform over a hole which is in use covered by the access cover assembly and a second position in which it allows access to the hole below the assembly.

12. An access cover assembly as claimed in claim 11, further comprising a guard rail assembly movable between a collapsed condition in which it is stored within the frame and beneath the cover and an erected condition,

13. An access cover assembly as claimed in claim 11 or claim 12, wherein the internal platform has two parallel spaced apart reinforcing members on its underside and these reinforcing members each have a ramp surface at one end to facilitate slidable movement of the platform from its first to its second position.

14. An access cover assembly as claimed in any one of claims 11 to 13, wherein the platform has a transversely extending elongate member which co-operates with inclined slots in opposite sides of the frame to facilitate slidable movement of the platform from its first to its second position.

is. An access cover assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.