MANHOLE

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure relates to a manhole with a base plate, manhole walls, and a cover plate for covering the manhole, the manhole walls being composed of a plurality of grid-like wall elements arranged in rows one above the other and selectable from a modular system, wherein a part of the grid-like wall elements has at least one conduit insertion opening so that the position, number, and size of conduit insertions into the manhole walls are freely selectable by arranging the grid-like wall elements correspondingly.

Manholes of this type allow access to lines and cables laid underground for providing technical installations such as cable couplers, cable junctions, or other technical components.

Previously known manholes have been constructed by arranging manhole components, storage of which requires a lot of effort and results in a list containing a great number of item numbers, so that there is often uncertainty among persons conducting construction work which parts are required on site, which may easily lead to erroneous orders.

Previous solution approaches for modular manholes that can be assembled have failed due to the fact that sufficient resilience of such manholes could not be guaranteed in practice because they are mostly made of plastic injection molded parts in order to facilitate a long life cycle, low material costs, and low weight.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

It is thus the object of the disclosure to provide an improved manhole allowing a substantial reduction of storage costs and planning efforts and at the same time meeting all requirements regarding statistic and dynamic resilience.

According to the disclosure, this is achieved by providing several circumferential connecting frames, which are arranged at different heights, and by connecting each of the grid-like wall elements on their top sides and bottom sides with one of the connecting frames.

By using a modular system, complicated storage procedures can be dispensed with, and conduit insertions can be mounted at any position of the manhole. The grid-like wall elements selectable from the modular system allow the provision of conduit insertions at the respectively desired position by installing a grid-like wall element with a suitable conduit insertion size at this position in the manhole. In order to guarantee a sufficiently stable arrangement of the grid-like wall elements, the disclosure provides for connecting frames that are arranged parallel with the base plate and at different heights, to which the grid-like wall elements are attached during the construction of the manhole.

Preferably, the circumferential connecting frames and the grid-like wall elements are made of plastic, however, other materials can also be used within the framework of the disclosure.

In order to facilitate the assembly of the grid-like wall elements and the connecting frames when constructing the inventive manhole, the grid-like wall elements can be connected to the connecting frames via fit connections, the connecting frames having suitable fit receptacles so that the fit connectors of the wall elements are engageable with the fit receptacles of the connecting frames. During assembly, the grid-like wall elements thus formed can be selected from the modular system according to the requirements and then fit into a connecting frame one after the other on their bottom side. As soon as one circumferential row of grid-like wall elements is inserted into the corresponding connecting frame, the subsequent connecting frame in height can be put on the top side of the grid-like wall elements with its bottom side, which frame now forms the receptacle for the next row on its top side. Since the fit connection is detachable, the buildup of the manhole can be changed at a later time. Also, the fit connection together with the connecting frame provide for sufficient resilience of the manhole.

According to a further embodiment of the inventive manhole, it may be provided that the grid-like wall elements each have connectors on their top sides and bottom sides, which are fit into suitable fit receptacles of the connecting frames.

Due to the form-fit and friction-locked connection of the grid-like wall elements, assembly of the inventive manhole is possible in a simple and fast manner, and at the same time, a stable arrangement of the grid-like wall elements can be achieved. Due to the combination of connecting frames and grid-like wall elements resulting therefrom, a very high resilience of the inventive manhole is achieved because the connecting frames arranged between the rows of grid-like wall elements prevent the grid-like wall elements from yielding under pressure.

A further embodiment of the disclosure can consist in the connectors being formed in a triangularly corrugated manner, which provides a stable form and friction fit with the receptacle of the circumferential connecting frames at low weight. Thus, they can easily be made from plastic.

An important partial object of the disclosure consists in achieving sufficient stability of the combination of grid-like wall elements and connecting frames because there may be very high loads resulting from, e.g., road traffic.

Very high resilience can, according to a further embodiment of the disclosure, be achieved by the circumferential connecting frames having an H-shaped cross-section with two flange walls and one web, wherein the flange walls form upper and lower fit receptacles separated by the web, wherein the fit connectors of the grid-like wall element bottom side are fittable into the upper fit receptacle of the respective connecting frame located below, and the fit connectors of the grid-like wall element top side are fittable into the lower fit receptacle of the respective connecting frame located above.

The H-shaped cross-section ensures, on the one hand, high strength with low weight, and also provides a very stable fit receptacle for the connecting frame.

According to a further embodiment of the disclosure, a stiffening element can be provided on the external flange wall of the connecting frame in order to increase resilience.

In a further embodiment of the disclosure, the stiffening element can be formed by a stiffening wall arranged parallel with the external flange wall and connected to the external flange wall via a stiffening bar.

This type of stiffening increases the resilience of the connecting frame and can, e.g., easily be manufactured by injection molding with low weight.

Very high stability at low weight can also be achieved by the stiffening bar being triangularly corrugated.

In addition, in some grid-like wall elements, one of the conduit insertion openings or part of one of the conduit insertion openings can be cut out.

In order to be able to accommodate existing lines and cables in the manhole, they are surrounded by grid-like wall elements from the side when constructing the inventive manhole, wherein the conduit insertion openings or parts of the conduit insertion openings can have a circular edge or a partly circular edge, e.g., a semicircular edge.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description of the disclosure, will be better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the disclosure, there are shown in the drawings embodiments which are presently preferred. It should be understood, however, that the disclosure is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an oblique view of an embodiment of an inventive manhole;

FIG. 2 shows an oblique view of a further embodiment of an inventive manhole;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show an oblique view of components of an embodiment of a modular system for constructing the inventive manhole;

FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 show a back view, a side view, a top view, and an oblique view of a base plate half according to FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 8 to 10 show an oblique view, a top view, and a side view of a further base plate half according to FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 11 to 14 show an oblique view, a side view, a top view, and a frontal view of a connecting frame according to FIG. 3A;

FIGS. 15 to 17 show an oblique view, a frontal view, and a top view of a cover frame of the embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGS. 18 to 20 show a side view, a top view, and a section AA of a conduit insertion cylinder with a staggered diameter;

FIGS. 21 and 22 each show an axonometry of a further embodiment of the inventive manhole;

FIG. 23 shows an axonometry of a base plate of a further embodiment;

FIGS. 24, 25, and 26 each show an axonometry of different angular partial frames of the modular system relating to FIGS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 27 shows a section BB through the axonometry shown in FIG. 28 of an embodiment of a connecting frame;

FIG. 28 shows an axonometry of an embodiment of a connecting frame;

FIG. 29 shows an axonometry of the base plate according to FIG. 23 with the connecting frame according to FIGS. 27 and 28 placed on top of it;

FIGS. 30, 31, 32, and 33 each show an axonometry of different embodiments of grid-like wall elements of the modular system relating to FIGS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 34 shows an axonometry of an embodiment of a grid-like wall element row from the modular system assembled into manholes according to FIGS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 35 shows an axonometry of a further embodiment of a grid-like wall element row assembled from the modular system relating to FIGS. 21 and 22;

FIG. 36 shows an axonometry of an embodiment of a cover plate;

FIG. 37, FIG. 38, and FIG. 40 each show an axonometry of further elements of the modular system relating to FIGS. 21 and 22; and

FIGS. 39, 41, and 42 each show an axonometry of grid-like wall elements of the modular system relating to FIGS. 21 and 22.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

FIG. 1 shows a manhole 1 with a base plate 2, manhole walls 3, and a cover plate 93 for covering the manhole 1, wherein a cover frame 19 carrying the cover plate 93 is placed on top of the manhole walls 3.

The manhole walls 3 are assembled of a plurality of grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, which are selected from a modular system, and four connecting frames 20.

FIG. 2 shows a manhole that is assembled on the basis of the same modular system as in FIG. 1, but in a modified form. For higher stability, two or three connecting frames 20 are arranged directly on top of each other.

Components of the modular system of the embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 are shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, wherein one representation each is shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B for every design, while every modular system has several parts per design in order to allow a complete assembly of the manhole walls 3 of the inventive manhole.

The grid-like wall element 4 is a wall element with a predeterminable grid width b and a uniform height h, which dimensions are adapted to the respective circumstances. Thus, the grid width b can, e.g., be selected to be one fifth or one sixth of the length of manhole 1.

The grid-like wall element 5, on the other hand, is a wall element with half the grid width b. The grid-like wall elements 6, 7, also having a width of b/2, have rectangular conduit insertion openings 77 and semicircular conduit insertion openings 33, 34 open at the edges, which, when arranged adjacently, result in a completely circular conduit insertion opening. The grid-like wall element 7 additionally has semicircular conduit insertion openings 36 that form a completely circular conduit insertion opening with semicircular conduit insertion openings 36 of the grid-like wall elements 8.

Divided conduit insertion openings are advantageous when existing cables or conduits are to be installed during construction of the manhole without separating them, so that such an existing cable can be surrounded with the grid-like wall elements 7, 8 by installing the conduit insertion openings 35 and 36 from two opposite sides.

The grid-like elements 9, 10 are also dimensioned with half a grid width and they each have a semicircular conduit insertion opening 37, 38, so that they result in a completely circular conduit insertion when arranged adjacently.

The grid-like wall element 11 is a corner grid-like wall element insertable into a corner area of manhole 1.

The manner how the different grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and the connecting frames 20 are combined in each case or the order in which they are installed is explained in FIGS. 1 and 2 merely as an example and is not limited thereto, but it can be adapted to the respective requirements based on the modular system.

As can be seen from FIG. 1, arranging connecting frames 20 and grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 alternately on top of each other results in a succession of grid-like wall element rows that can be constructed in a freely selectable way by means of the modular system in order to be able to vary the position, size and number of conduit insertions as desired.

In the embodiments shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 of the modular system are detachably attachable via a fit connection, and they can be fitted in a freely selectable arrangement.

Within the framework of the disclosure, other forms of connections, e.g., screwed or riveted connections or the like, may also be provided for fixing the grid-like wall elements of which the manholes are assembled.

In order to achieve secure fixing of the grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 in the wall planes, the connecting frames 20 are provided parallel with the base plate 2 and at different heights, on which the grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 are attached via fit connection, wherein the grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 have fit connectors and the connecting frames 20 suitable connecting receptacles for this purpose in order to allow the grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 to be fitted in.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, several connecting frames 20 can also be arranged directly on top of each other, if, as mentioned above, higher stability or a certain distance of the wall planes are to be adjusted.

The base element is the base plate 2, which in the shown exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 1 consists of two parts 2′, 2″ (FIGS. 3A, 7, and 8) that can together be attached to a ground in order to obtain the complete base plate 2, on which a triangular corrugated profile 25 projecting upwards is provided along the circumference, on top of which a first one of the connecting frames 20 is placed, the external circumference of which is congruent with the external circumference of the base plate 2. The internal circumference of the intermediate frame 20 corresponds to the inside diameter of the manhole 1.

The grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 have fit connectors 50 (FIG. 3B), the connecting frames 20 having suitable fit receptacles 21 (FIG. 13), so that the fit connectors 50 of the grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 are engageable with the fit receptacles 21 of the connecting frames 20.

The fit receptacle 21 of the connecting frame 20 is, according to FIG. 13, a rectangular ring-shaped recess into which the fit connectors 50 of the grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 can be fit.

FIG. 3 shows that the grid-like wall elements 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 each have a wall segment 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 101, 111, which together form the outsides of the manhole walls 3 when installed. The modular system comprises grid-like wall elements with conduit insertion openings of different sizes and numbers, which are, e.g., at least partly cut out in the wall segments 61, 71, 81, 91, 101, 111, as well as others without conduit insertion openings. The conduit insertion openings shown in FIG. 3 or parts of the conduit insertion openings have a circular edge or a partly circular edge, e.g., a semicircular edge, can, however, also have a different geometry.

Some of the conduit insertion openings have destroyable, thin end walls, which can easily be pierced, if required, in order to pass through a conduit or cable.

The elements 36, 37, and 38 are split seals for the manhole cover 93 and are, when installed, positioned between the manhole cover 93 and the top side frame 19.

Element 39 serves for connecting two intermediate frames 20 in order to achieve a slight rise if the desired excavation depth is not achieved.

At the backside of each wall segment 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 101, 111 there is a fit connector 50 that is triangularly corrugated and projects on the top side and bottom side of the wall segments 41, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91, 101, 111. The triangularly corrugated design of the fit connectors 50 may, within the framework of the disclosure, also deviate from the above and is in no way limited thereto, but there could also be provided any other suitable fit element.

The fit connector 50 projecting on the bottom side of the grid-like wall element 4 is fit into the fit receptacle 21 of the connecting frame 20 arranged below during installation of the inventive manhole 1, followed by other selected grid-like wall elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, which are fit into the connecting frame 20 with their fit connectors 50 until an entire wall plane is assembled.

Then, another one of the connecting frames 20 is put on the fit connectors 50 projecting upwards, and subsequently the next-level wall plane can be assembled on the further connecting frame 20. As soon as the desired height of the manhole 1 is obtained, the top side frame 19 is put on the uppermost connecting frame 20 carrying the wall segment 9.

The insertions 210 (FIG. 3B) of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 have insertion cylinders with staggered diameters, which are shown in detail in FIGS. 18, 19, and 20. Thanks to the staggered diameters, the desired opening diameter can be achieved by breaking out the smaller cylinder areas.

FIG. 21 and FIG. 22 each show a further embodiment of an inventive manhole 1′and 1″ with a base plate 200 or 201, respectively, and rows of grid-like wall elements 401, 402, 404 arranged thereon, which are selected from a respective modular system, wherein the number of rows and the layout of the manhole are freely selectable within the framework of this modular system.

According to the disclosure, several circumferential connecting frames 20′or 20″ are provided, which are arranged at different heights, wherein the grid-like wall elements 401, 402, 404 are each connected to one of the connecting frames 20′or 20″ on their top or bottom side, so that together they form the four walls 3′or 3″ of the manhole 1′or 1″, respectively. In the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 21, four connecting frames 20′are provided in total, and for the rows according to FIG. 22 three connecting frames 20″ in total.

Components of the respective modular system of the embodiment according to FIG. 21 as well as FIG. 22 are shown in FIGS. 23, 24, 25, 26, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, and 42, wherein each modular system has several pieces per design, as required, in order to be able to completely assemble the manhole walls 3′, 3″ of the inventive manhole 1′or 1″, respectively.

The grid-like wall elements 401, 402, 404 are detachably connected to the connecting frames 20′ or 20″ via fit connections. The type of connection can, as already mentioned with regard to the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, also be implemented in a different way within the framework of the disclosure.

FIGS. 30, 31, 33, 34, 35, 39, and 42 show the grid-like wall elements 401, 402, 403, 404 in detail, each of which has, on the top side and bottom side, fit connectors 450, 451 that are triangularly corrugated and placeable in suitable fit receptacles of the connecting frames 20′, 20″ so that they form a form-fit and friction-locked connection.

FIG. 32 and FIG. 41 show a corner grid-like wall element 403, which also has fit connectors 452 or 453 on its top side and bottom side, however, these are implemented by parallel ribs and also fit into the fit receptacles of the connecting frames 20′, 20″ in a form-fit and friction-locked manner. Furthermore, a removable cover plate 93′, formed integrally, e.g., from cast iron DIN EN 124, is provided above the uppermost connecting frame 20′. The design of the cover plate 93′can be adapted to the requirements, e.g., be made of plastic, concrete or paved. The same is true for the cover plate 93″.

The grid-like wall element 402 (FIGS. 31, 33) is a wall element with a predeterminable grid width b and a uniform height h, which dimensions are each adapted to the circumstances. The grid-like wall element 402 has a full-surface wall on the interior side facing the interior of the manhole, and a stiffening formed with grid-like fan shapes.

The grid-like wall element 401 (FIG. 30), on the other side, is a wall element with half the grid width b and serves for a finer subdivision of the modular system.

The grid-like wall element 401 as well as the grid-like wall element 402 have pierceable circular openings 520, which are usable as cable or wire passages.

As can be seen in FIGS. 21 and 22, alternately arranging circumferential connecting frames 20′or 20″ and grid-like wall elements 401, 402, 404 on top of each other results in a sequence of grid-like wall element rows, the arrangement of which is freely selectable thanks to the modular system to vary the size and number of conduit insertions as desired.

Depending on the layout of the manhole 1′or 1″, the cover plate 93′or 93″ with correspondingly adapted dimensions is placed on a suitable cover frame 310′or 310″, e.g., made of hot-dip galvanized steel with an elastomer pad. In order to guarantee height adjustability for the purpose of adjusting the level, a head frame 311′or 311″, e.g., made of hot-dip galvanized steel, with stepless height adjustment options (not shown) is additionally arranged below the cover plate 93′ or 93″.

The cover frame 310′with the cover plate 93′placed on top of the head frame 311′can be adjusted with regard to its vertical interval to the head frame 311′in order to balance differences in levels, e.g., compared to the road surface.

In the embodiment of the inventive manhole 1″ according to FIG. 22, a base plate 201, shown in detail in FIG. 23 and composed of two rectangular plate elements 201′, 201″, is provided at the lowermost position. The plate elements 201′, 201″ have openings for a water drainage 600 and connection fit openings 601, into which fit connection elements 480 are fittable, e.g., in order to connect the two plate elements 201′, 201″ with the base plate 201. In this way, the base plate 201 can, as required, be assembled from two or more plate elements 201′, 201″.

Further fit connection elements 408 (FIG. 38) can be placed in order to make a connection with the lowermost connecting frame 20″, as is shown in FIG. 29.

FIG. 28 shows the lowermost connecting frame 20″ composed of four angular partial frames 202 (FIG. 24). FIG. 25 and FIG. 26 show further angular partial frames 203, 204 of the modular system allowing for a variable assembly of the connecting frames 20′, 20″. At the ends of each angular partial frame 202, 203, 204, connecting projections 240 with fit openings for insertion of connecting fit elements (not shown) are provided, which allow connecting the angular partial frames 202, 203, 204 with other angular partial frames within the framework of the disclosure, however, any other type of connection known to the person skilled in the art can also be used.

FIG. 27 shows a cross-section BB of the circumferential connecting frame 20″ comprising an H-shaped cross-section with two flange walls 220, 221 and a web 222, wherein the flange walls 220, 221 form an upper and a lower fit receptacle 230, 231 separated from each other by the web 222.

On the exterior side of the cross-section of the partial frame, a parallel stiffening wall 223, which is connected to the exterior flange wall 220 of the connecting frame 20″ via a triangular corrugation-shaped cross-connection web 224, is arranged for improving the resilience of the connecting frame 20″.

The oblique view of FIG. 28 shows—for the assembled connecting frame 20″—upper circumferential fit receptacle 230 for fitting the fit connector 451 on the bottom side of the grid-like wall elements 401, 402, 403, 404 to construct a row of grid-like wall elements. Subsequently, the connecting frame to be arranged above is placed onto the fit connectors 452 at the top of the wall elements 401,402, 403, 404.

FIG. 29 shows the connecting frame 22″ in a state in which it has already been placed on the base plate 201 and is connected thereto via the fit connection elements 480.

FIG. 34 shows an exemplary row of grid-like wall elements assembled from the grid-like wall elements 401, 402, 403.

FIG. 35 shows a further possible combination of grid-like wall elements 402, 403, 404, of which an exemplary wall element row for an inventive manhole has been assembled, which row is, in its completed state, fit into the receptacles of connecting frames on its bottom side and top side.

Here, the grid-like wall element 404 (FIG. 39) has a relatively large circular recess 431 for a conduit insertion opening provided with a pierceable wall that is pierced if required. This wall element 404 can be arranged at the respectively best position according to the spatial circumstances in order to pass through a cable or a conduit. Instead of this wall element 404, however, divided grid-like wall elements as in the exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be provided for installing existing cables or conduits.

The modular system 407 offers the possibility of fitting it into the circular recess 431 of the wall element 404 in order to divide it into three smaller passage openings.

The modular element 409 has an elongated wall with triangularly corrugated fit connectors on opposite sides of the wall and can serve for connecting two frames arranged one above the other, e.g., for connecting an uppermost connecting frame 20″ with a head frame 311″. The number of different elements of the modular system is not limited in any way.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this disclosure is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the preferred present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.