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EP-4556635-B1 - SECONDARY CLOSING DEVICE FOR AN UNDERGROUND CHAMBER

EP4556635B1EP 4556635 B1EP4556635 B1EP 4556635B1EP-4556635-B1

Inventors

  • CARBON, Ludovic
  • DEDUIT, Benoît

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20241113

Claims (10)

  1. A secondary closure device for an underground chamber, to be installed in said underground chamber (1) under a primary closure device, in order to at least partly obstruct, when said secondary closure device is in a closed position, access to a bottom of said underground chamber (1), the secondary closure device comprising: - a grid (5) comprising a circular cross-section transverse pin (13), - supports (6A, 6C) adapted to support the grid (5) in said underground chamber (1) in said closed position, the supports (6A, 6C) comprising: - a first support (7A, 7C) forming a hinge and allowing pivoting of the grid (5) about the transverse pin (13), such that the grid (5) can be pivoted to an open position in which access to the underground chamber (1) is released, - a second support (8A, 8C), the first support (7A, 7C) and the second support (8A, 8C) being positioned proximate to opposite walls, according to a so-called longitudinal direction (L), of the underground chamber (1), characterised in that the first support (7A, 7C) comprises two wings (18, 18A) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the transverse pin (13) of the grid (5), each wing (18, 18A) comprising a slot (19, 19A) which has a substantially C-shaped trajectory or a substantially S-shaped trajectory, said slot (19, 19A) having a width (l) larger than the diameter (D) of the pin (13), thereby allowing sliding of the pin (13) in the slot from an inlet (21) up to an end portion (20, 20A) and allowing rotation of the grid about the pin (13), said end portion (20, 20A) being straight and allowing a longitudinal translation of the transverse pin (13).
  2. The secondary closure device for an underground chamber according to claim 1, wherein the second support (8A, 8C) comprises at least one vertical tab (22, 22A), adapted to pass through a notch (23) formed in the grid (15).
  3. The secondary closure device for an underground chamber according to claim 2, wherein the notch (23) has a length (w) greater than a width (e) of the tab (22, 22A), allowing longitudinal displacement of the grid (5).
  4. The secondary closure device for an underground chamber according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the at least one vertical tab (22, 22A) of the second support (8A, 8C) comprises a hole (24) located above the grid (5), when the same is in the closed position, so as to be able to attach a locking device, for example a padlock, to said vertical tab (22, 22A).
  5. The secondary closure device for an underground chamber according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first support (7A, 7C) or the second support (8A, 8C) is formed by two angle pieces (16, 16A), each angle piece (16, 16A) comprising a fastening wing (17, 17A) intended to be fastened, for example pegged, to a wall (2) of the underground chamber (1).
  6. The secondary closure device according to claim 5, further comprising an installation template (25) for determining the position of the holes to be made on a wall (2) of the underground chamber (1) to attach the first support (7A) or the second support (8A) thereto, the template being comprised of a plate, said plate comprising a first surface (26) to be brought into contact with an upper edge of the chamber, a second surface (27) to be brought into contact with said wall (2) of the underground chamber (1) to which the first support (7A) or the second support (8A) is to be attached, and an edge (29) to be brought into contact with a side wall of the underground chamber which is perpendicular to said wall (2) of the underground chamber (1) to which the first support (7A) or the second support (8A) is to be attached, the second surface (27) of the template (25) comprising openings (30) whose position corresponds to the position of the piercings to be made.
  7. The secondary closure device for an underground chamber according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the first support (7C) is formed of a part comprising a central plate (34) and two wings (18A) parallel to each other and perpendicular to the central plate (34), said central plate (34) comprising a folded end section (35) adapted to be welded to a frame (3).
  8. The secondary closure device for an underground chamber according to claim 7, wherein the second support (8C) is formed of a part comprising a central plate (34A) and two vertical lugs (22A), said central plate (34A) comprising a folded end section (35A) adapted to be welded to a frame (3).
  9. The secondary closure device for an underground chamber according to claim 8, further comprising a frame (3) forming a seating surface (4) for a primary closure device of an underground chamber (1), for example for a lid, wherein the first support (7C) and the second support (8C) are welded to opposite edges of the frame (3).
  10. The secondary closure device for an underground chamber (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first support (7A, 7C) and/or the second support (8A, 8C) is made only by bending and cutting a flat sheet.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the field of access chambers for underground infrastructure. More specifically, it relates to underground chambers providing access to networks such as telecommunications networks or distribution networks (water, electricity, gas, etc.). It particularly concerns means of closing and securing such chambers. STATE OF THE ART Communication networks, as well as water, electricity, and gas distribution systems, are often buried underground. Access chambers are installed at various points within these underground infrastructures to allow for inspections, connections, and/or maintenance work on these networks. These access chambers are closed when not in use to access the corresponding underground infrastructure. This closure is achieved by means of a cover, also called a manhole cover, which forms the main closing device. Such a lid can be metallic, for example cast iron or steel, but it can also be made of plastic, for example composite. The lid protects the contents of the chamber and allows passage over it for people and/or vehicles. The cover forming the main closing device of a chamber can have various configurations. It is generally positioned in a frame that is sealed in the ground. The cover can be removed from the frame or tilted to allow access to the chamber below the frame and the network it contains. However, when the main locking device is removed or tilted to allow access to the chamber—in other words, when the chamber is open—certain problems can arise. For example, there is a risk of an operator falling while the chamber is open but the operator is not working inside it, or during the chamber opening process. Furthermore, improper handling can cause the cover or a tool to fall into the chamber, particularly during… the opening of the chamber, which can cause damage to the underground infrastructure present in the chamber. To address these issues, a known solution is to install a secondary closure device beneath the primary one. This second device is usually in the form of a grille. While this grille does not offer the same sealing capacity or resistance as the primary lid, it does prevent a person or object (for example, from the lid itself) from falling into the chamber. As is known, this grid can be held in position in two alternative ways. In one configuration, the grid can be inserted into supports that are fixed to opposite walls of the chamber, towards the top of these walls. This can then be referred to as a grid with pegged or "spun" supports. According to a second configuration, the grid is placed on supports welded to the frame of the access chamber. To access the chamber, and depending on the type of grille, the grille can be removed or opened by pivoting (this is called a hinged grille). The latter solution is preferable, as a removable grille could itself fall into the chamber. Thus, whether the grid supports are fixed to the frame or to the chamber, advantageously, these supports and the grid can be configured to allow on the one hand the grid to pivot and on the other hand the grid to be locked, for example with a padlock. The grid is typically articulated by aligning holes formed in the supports and the grid itself, and inserting a transverse axis through them. Alternatively, an axis can be rigidly attached to the grid and inserted into a hinge formed by the support. The document FR3062860 thus reveals an example of a fall arrest grid, as described above, with a bolted axle. Another example of a grid as described above is known from the document FR2792662A1 The grid described in this document is further configured so that it can be opened by pivoting 180° relative to the frame of the room it equips. Nevertheless, secondary sealing solutions for access chambers to underground infrastructure can still be improved. One particular problem is that installing such grates requires precise positioning of the grate supports, while the chambers are often manufactured with significant dimensional tolerances. This is especially true when the supports are fixed, or bolted, to the chamber walls. It is also true when the supports are connected to the frame, as any significant manufacturing precision translates into... a higher cost. In general, the cost required to achieve the function of the secondary grid, whether it be the cost of the supports or the cost related to the low tolerance required, can be improved. DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention aims to remedy all or part of the drawbacks of the prior art mentioned above. To this end, the invention relates to a secondary closure device for an underground chamber, intended to be installed in said underground chamber under a main closure device, in order to block, when said secondary closure device is in a closed position, at least partially the access to a bottom of said underground chamber, the secondary closure device comprising a grid having a transverse axis