Intelligent lock type manhole cover

Abstract

This utility model discloses an intelligent lock-type maintenance manhole cover, including a manhole cover body. A gear set is rotatably mounted within the manhole cover body. One side of the gear set has an upwardly extending lever handle, and the other side has a downwardly extending first assist rod. The lever handle can control the swing of the first assist rod via the gear set. A pressure block is also movable up and down within the manhole cover body. A second assist rod is hinged between the pressure block and the first assist rod. An assist arm is hinged to the bottom of the manhole cover body. One end of the assist arm is detachably pressed by the pressure block, and the other end is hinged to a support arm. The middle of the support arm is hinged to the manhole cover body, and the other end presses against the manhole cover groove surface. The gear set converts the vertical downward pressure from the lever handle into the swing of the first assist rod, amplifying the torque and reducing the initial operating force. Simultaneously, utilizing the lever combination effect, with the support arm as the final lever, the manual labor required for lifting is greatly reduced, allowing for single-person operation of heavy-duty manhole covers.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of water conservancy engineering technology, and in particular to an intelligent lock-type inspection manhole cover. Background Technology

[0002] Intelligent lock-type manhole covers are mainly used in scenarios requiring high security, real-time monitoring, and remote management. For example, rainwater and sewage manholes in roads can monitor water levels and opening / closing status in real time to prevent illegal opening that could damage pipelines or cause pedestrians to fall in. Power and communication manholes can ensure facility safety and prevent cable theft or interruption. Drainage outlets in transportation systems can monitor road surface water and coordinate with pumping stations to prevent flooding and ensure driving safety.

[0003] When installing a smart lock-type manhole cover, the lock base needs to be fixed to the pre-positioned position of the manhole cover, and then the sensor cable is connected. The device is then bound to an APP. When in use, the lock can be unlocked remotely via the APP or through on-site Bluetooth pairing. In the event of a power outage, it can be manually opened using a magnetic mechanical key or a hydraulic assisted lever.

[0004] However, the existing smart lock-type manhole covers only innovate the function of monitoring water level and can open the manhole cover opening to drain water by motor. The overall disassembly and replacement of the manhole cover still requires the use of tools to pry up the perimeter of the manhole cover to create a gap between it and the road surface. Then, the manhole cover can be lifted up by tools or manually through this gap. This disassembly method is too cumbersome and can easily affect work efficiency. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide an intelligent lock-type inspection manhole cover to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0006] The technical solution of this utility model is implemented as follows: This utility model provides an intelligent lock-type maintenance manhole cover, including a manhole cover body. A gear set is rotatably installed inside the manhole cover body. A lever handle extending upward at an angle is fixed on one side of the gear set, and a first assist rod extending downward is fixed on the other side. The lever handle can control the swing of the first assist rod through the gear set. A pressure block is also installed inside the manhole cover body that can move up and down. A second assist rod is hinged between the pressure block and the first assist rod. An assist arm is hinged to the bottom of the manhole cover body. One end of the assist arm is detachably pressed by the pressure block, and the other end is hinged to a support arm. The middle part of the support arm is hinged to the manhole cover body, and the other end presses against the groove surface of the manhole cover.

[0007] In one embodiment, the gear set includes a large gear and a small gear that mesh with each other, and the middle part of the large gear and the middle part of the small gear are rotatably connected to the manhole cover body. The side of the small gear is fixedly connected to the lever handle, and the side of the large gear is fixedly connected to the first assist rod.

[0008] In one embodiment, the end of the lever handle away from the pinion is retractably fitted with an extension handle.

[0009] In one embodiment, the manhole cover body has an arc-shaped groove for swinging a lever handle, and limiting blocks are fixed at both ends of the arc-shaped groove to limit the swing angle of the lever handle.

[0010] In one embodiment, the top of the manhole cover body is provided with a removable closure for covering the lever handle and making the top of the manhole cover body form a flat surface.

[0011] In one embodiment, the end of the extension handle away from the lever handle is engraved with anti-slip threads.

[0012] In one embodiment, a cushioning pad is fixed to the bottom of the pressure block.

[0013] In one embodiment, a sealing rubber ring is provided at the edge of the manhole cover body.

[0014] The advantages or beneficial effects of the above technical solutions include at least the following: In this invention, the vertical downward pressure from the lever handle is converted into the swing of the first assist rod through the gear set, thereby amplifying the torque and reducing the initial operating force. At the same time, the multi-stage transmission from the first assist rod to the second assist rod, the pressure block, the assist arm, and the support arm forms a lever combination effect. With the support arm as the ultimate lever, the manpower required for lifting is greatly reduced, and heavy-duty manhole covers can be operated by a single person. Attached Figure Description

[0015] The accompanying drawings illustrate exemplary embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description thereof, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. These drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification.

[0016] Figure 1 This is a three-dimensional structural diagram of the exterior of the manhole cover body in this utility model.

[0017] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the planar structure of the manhole cover body after being cut apart in this utility model.

[0018] Figure 3 for Figure 2 Enlarged schematic diagram of the structure of section A in the middle.

[0019] Figure 4 for Figure 3 Enlarged schematic diagram of section B in the middle.

[0020] Reference numerals in the attached drawings: 1. Manhole cover body; 2. Gear set; 201. Large gear; 202. Small gear; 3. Lever handle; 4. First assist rod; 5. Second assist rod; 6. Pressure block; 7. Assist arm; 8. Support arm; 9. Extension handle; 10. Arc groove; 11. Limiting block; 12. Sealing component; 13. Buffer pad; 14. Sealing rubber ring. Detailed Implementation

[0021] Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. While some embodiments of the present invention are shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the present invention can be implemented in various forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided to provide a more thorough and complete understanding of the present invention. It should be understood that the accompanying drawings and embodiments of the present invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0022] It should be noted that, where there is no conflict, the embodiments and features described in these embodiments can be combined with each other. The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings and embodiments.

[0023] It should be understood that the term "comprising" and its variations as used herein are open-ended, meaning "including but not limited to". The term "based on" means "at least partially based on". The term "one embodiment" means "at least one embodiment"; the term "another embodiment" means "at least one additional embodiment"; the term "some embodiments" means "at least some embodiments". Definitions of other terms will be given in the following description. It should be noted that the concepts of "first", "second", etc., mentioned in this utility model are only used to distinguish different devices, modules, or units, and are not used to limit the order of functions performed by these devices, modules, or units or their interdependencies.

[0024] It should be noted that the terms "a" and "a plurality of" used in this utility model are illustrative rather than restrictive. Those skilled in the art should understand that, unless otherwise expressly indicated in the context, they should be understood as "one or more".

[0025] The names of the messages or information exchanged between the multiple devices in this embodiment of the invention are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to limit the scope of these messages or information.

[0026] Reference Figures 1-4A smart lock-type manhole cover includes a cover body 1 made of ductile iron. Ductile iron has high tensile strength, good toughness, excellent wear resistance, and good heat resistance, which can effectively extend the service life of the cover body 1. A gear set 2 is rotatably installed inside the cover body 1. A lever handle 3 extending upwards is fixed on one side of the gear set 2, and a first assist rod 4 extending downwards is fixed on the other side. The lever handle 3 can control the swing of the first assist rod 4 through the gear set 2. A pressure block 6 is also movable up and down. A second assist rod 5 is hinged between the pressure block 6 and the first assist rod 4. An assist arm 7 is hinged to the bottom of the manhole cover body 1. One end of the assist arm 7 is detachably pressed by the pressure block 6, and the other end is hinged to a support arm 8. The middle of the support arm 8 is hinged to the manhole cover body 1, and the other end presses against the manhole cover groove surface. With this configuration, the worker applies a vertical downward force to the lever handle 3 exposed above the ground. This downward force is transmitted to the gear set 2 through the lever handle 3, driving the gear set 2 to rotate. The movement causes the first assist rod 4, which is fixed to it, to swing. The swing of the first assist rod 4 is transmitted to the pressure block 6 through the second assist rod 5. At this time, the second assist rod 5 converts the swing motion of the first assist rod 4 into a major downward pushing force on the pressure block 6. Under the action of the second assist rod 5, the pressure block 6 overcomes the friction and preload and begins to move downward. After contacting the assist arm 7, it continues to press down. Since the other end of the assist arm 7 is connected to the support arm 8, when the pressure block 6 presses down on one end of the support arm 8, the assist arm 7 rotates around its bottom hinge point, pressing down on the other end. When an upward force is applied, the upward force generated by the rotation of the assist arm 7 is transmitted to the support arm 8 through the hinge point. According to the lever principle, when one end of the support arm 8 is subjected to an upward force, it will quickly and powerfully pry upward around the hinge point in the middle. Therefore, the prying action of the support arm 8 directly acts on the manhole cover groove surface through the other end, generating a strong upward lifting force, lifting the entire manhole cover and separating it from the manhole opening installation groove surface, thereby realizing the lifting of the entire manhole cover body 1, so that a gap that can meet the gripping requirements appears between the manhole cover body 1 and the manhole cover groove surface.

[0027] The aforementioned mechanism cleverly utilizes the lever principle, gear transmission, and multi-link mechanism to transmit and convert the vertical downward pressure applied by the operator to the lever handle 3 through the gear set 2 and the connecting mechanism, ultimately generating an upward lifting force at the end of the support arm 8 that far exceeds the input force. Furthermore, the upward tilted lever handle 3 design allows the operator to operate without excessive bending or lying down, simply by stepping or pressing vertically with their foot or a special tool, resulting in a relatively comfortable and natural operating posture.

[0028] In one specific embodiment, opening a traditional manhole cover requires inserting a crowbar and applying a large lifting and prying motion, which can easily cause slippage and injury or damage to the edge of the manhole cover. However, the structure in this utility model completes the opening through a stable downward pressing action, reducing the risk of slippage. Its labor-saving and stable opening method reduces the risk of occupational injuries such as muscle strain caused by sudden force or carelessness on the part of the workers.

[0029] Meanwhile, the support arm 8 applies lifting force to the bottom of the manhole cover body 1 and transmits it to the groove surface through the relatively large contact surface at the end of the support arm 8. This avoids the force being concentrated at a single point on the edge of the manhole cover, which could cause edge cracking or damage to the groove surface, as is the case with a crowbar. Most of the components are connected by hinges, ensuring smooth movement transmission and minimizing stress concentration. During the opening process, each component mainly bears pressure, tension, or bending moment. The design is relatively clear and controllable. When the manhole cover is closed, each part can usually be reset under the gravity of the manhole cover body 1, which not only improves work efficiency but also effectively extends the overall service life of the manhole cover.

[0030] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3 The gear set 2 includes a large gear 201 and a small gear 202 that mesh with each other. The middle parts of the large gear 201 and the small gear 202 are rotatably connected to the manhole cover body 1. The side of the small gear 202 is fixedly connected to the lever handle 3, and the side of the large gear 201 is fixedly connected to the first assist rod 4. With this configuration, when the lever handle 3 is subjected to a vertical downward force, the downward force is directly converted into a torque that causes the small gear 202 to rotate around its central axis. The rotation of the small gear 202 drives the large gear 201 to rotate around its central axis through the meshing of its teeth with the teeth of the large gear 201. According to the gear transmission principle, the small gear... The large gear 201 driven by wheel 202 is a reduction transmission, meaning that the rotational speed of the large gear 201 is less than that of the small gear 202. According to the law of conservation of energy, the torque will increase. Therefore, the torque output by the large gear 201 will be significantly greater than the torque input by the small gear 202. Since the first assist rod 4 is fixed to the side of the large gear 201, the increased torque output by the large gear 201 directly drives the first assist rod 4, causing it to swing with a larger torque. At this time, the powerful swing of the first assist rod 4 pushes the pressure block 6 down through the second assist rod 5, thereby triggering the assist arm 7 and support arm 8 mechanism, and finally lifting the manhole cover body 1 with a powerful force.

[0031] In the above mechanism, the staff only needs to apply a relatively small downward pressure to generate a huge lifting force on the support arm 8. Furthermore, since the gear transmission allows the small gear 202 and the large gear 201 to be arranged in parallel but in different positions in the output space, the lever handle 3 and the first assist rod 4 can be arranged in relatively independent and reasonable positions inside the manhole cover. This not only allows for a more compact design and saves internal space of the manhole cover, but also optimizes the overall structural layout and avoids motion interference.

[0032] In one specific embodiment, the shaft diameter of the pinion 202 is one-third of the shaft diameter of the large gear 201. Since the pinion 202 drives the large gear 201 through a speed reduction transmission, the torque input from the pinion 202 will be amplified three times on the large gear 201 to become the output torque. Therefore, only one-third of the weight of the manhole cover is needed to lift the manhole cover.

[0033] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4 An extension handle 9 is retractably fitted onto the end of the lever handle 3 away from the pinion 202. With this configuration, before operation, the operator can manually pull or push the extension handle 9 to adjust it to a suitable extension length and temporarily fix it using a locking mechanism or by relying on sufficient friction. The locking mechanism includes, but is not limited to, a pin hole, a knob lock, and a spring ball lock. After the extension handle 9 is adjusted and fixed, it is essentially connected to the lever handle 3 to form a longer rigid lever. Thus, the operator applies a vertically downward force to the end of the extension handle 9, which is transmitted to the lever handle 3 through the extension handle 9, thereby driving the pinion 202 to rotate.

[0034] In one specific embodiment, when the extension handle 9 slides and retracts to its minimum extension distance, the end of the extension handle 9 is lower than the upper surface of the manhole cover body 1, so that there is no protrusion on the upper surface of the manhole cover body 1, thereby preventing the protrusion from affecting vehicle driving and avoiding the occurrence of safety accidents.

[0035] In the aforementioned mechanism, the extended handle 9 significantly increases the lever arm, which can linearly reduce the required operating force. However, when the manhole cover is particularly heavy, compacted by silt, lacks lubrication and has high resistance, or when the operator's strength is insufficient, the extended handle 9 provides a multiplied effort-saving effect. Simply pulling the handle out a certain length makes the opening operation much easier. Furthermore, when the manhole cover is extremely difficult to open, the worker may need to use their weight to jump down. A shorter fixed handle would cause a huge impact force to be concentrated on the short arm and transmitted to the relatively precise internal gear set 2 and linkage mechanism. With the extended handle 9 increasing the lever arm, the same effect can be achieved with a smaller and more controllable force. Even if jumping is used, the longer lever arm makes the peak torque transmitted to the gear set 2 and linkage mechanism more controllable, reducing the risk of damage to the internal mechanism due to instantaneous overload.

[0036] Reference Figure 3 and Figure 4The manhole cover body 1 has an arc-shaped groove 10 for the lever handle 3 to swing. Limiting blocks 11 are fixed at both ends of the arc-shaped groove 10 to limit the swing angle of the lever handle 3. With this setting, when the worker presses down the lever handle 3, part of the handle will be embedded in the arc-shaped groove 10. At this time, the shape of the arc-shaped groove 10 can accurately guide the handle to move along the predetermined arc trajectory, ensuring the correctness and stability of its movement direction. When the lever handle 3 is not in operation, it is located near the upper limiting block 11. When the worker presses down the lever handle 3 with force, it moves in a specific direction in the arc-shaped groove 10. When the lever handle 3 moves to the other end of the arc-shaped groove 10, it will abut against the limiting block 11 at that end. At this time, the limiting block 11 rigidly prevents the lever handle 3 from continuing to press down. At the same time, the pressure block 6 also slides down to the maximum length. Therefore, the manhole cover body 1 has been raised to the maximum height. This can prevent the lever handle 3 from moving in a certain direction and exceeding the design range.

[0037] In the above mechanism, the presence of the limiting block 11 can effectively limit the input torque. The pressing depth of the lever handle 3 directly determines the initial torque input to the pinion 202. Excessive pressing will cause the input torque to exceed the design limit. At the same time, it also limits the maximum torque transmitted to the pinion 202, preventing the gear set 2 from being subjected to excessive impact load or shear force and breaking, deforming or severely wearing. The subsequent first assist rod 4, second assist rod 5, pressure block 6 and other components are also subjected to the force transmitted by the lever. Therefore, the presence of the limiting block 11 can also effectively prevent these linkage mechanisms from experiencing excessive stress and strain, avoiding bending, deformation, joint breakage or disengagement of connecting parts.

[0038] In one specific embodiment, the two limit blocks 11 work together to not only limit the downward pressure, but also indicate the rebound amplitude or accidental swing of the lever handle 3. This avoids the risk of collision or safety hazards caused by the lever handle 3 swinging significantly in the closed state or during transportation and installation. Furthermore, when the lever handle 3 is pressed to the limit block 11, it will suddenly stop and produce a noticeable vibration and then make a sound, giving the staff clear physical feedback and reminding them that the maximum stroke of the mechanism has been reached. There is no need to exert excessive force, thus avoiding accidents such as slippage or tool bounce-up causing injury due to continuous ineffective downward pressure.

[0039] Reference Figures 1-3The top of the manhole cover body 1 is provided with a detachable sealing member 12, which is used to cover the lever handle 3 and make the top of the manhole cover body 1 form a flat surface. With this setting, when the manhole cover needs to be closed or in a non-maintenance state, the sealing member 12 is installed in the designed position on the top of the manhole cover body 1. The installation method includes, but is not limited to, fixing by bolt locking. After the sealing member 12 is installed in place, its top surface is flush with the upper surface of the manhole cover body 1. It completely covers the lever handle 3 and extension handle 9 that were originally exposed. At this time, when viewed from directly above, the top of the manhole cover is a continuous, non-protruding flat surface that blends perfectly with the road surface to eliminate the existence of protruding obstacles and avoid any risk of tripping pedestrians, obstructing vehicle tires, or affecting the passage of small wheeled vehicles, greatly improving road traffic safety.

[0040] The closure 12 provides an effective physical barrier for the lever handle 3 below, its connection with the pinion 202, and the telescopic interface of the lever handle 3 and the extension handle 9. It significantly prevents contaminants such as mud, dust, water, de-icing agents, and oil from intruding, thereby extending the service life of the components and reducing corrosion and jamming. Furthermore, the robust closure 12 withstands the direct load and impact of road traffic, preventing the handle from being directly impacted, crushed, deformed, or damaged by long-term exposure to the road surface.

[0041] In one specific embodiment, the closure 12 conceals the lever handle 3, a key opening mechanism, so that ordinary passersby cannot directly see or touch the operating handle, which greatly increases the difficulty for unauthorized personnel to identify and illegally open the manhole cover, and improves theft prevention. Unauthorized personnel include, but are not limited to, thieves and vandals.

[0042] In one specific embodiment, the end of the extension handle 9 away from the lever handle 3 is engraved with anti-slip threads. This setting increases the friction of the handle of the extension handle 9, thereby further reducing the possibility of the operator slipping when pressing the extension handle 9 with their hand.

[0043] Reference Figure 2 and Figure 3A buffer pad 13 is fixed to the bottom of the pressure block 6. With this configuration, the buffer pad 13 is the first contact surface between the pressure block 6 and the assist arm 7. When the pressure block 6 moves to the moment its bottom contacts the upper end of the assist arm 7, due to possible gaps in the mechanism or manufacturing tolerances, or because the assist arm 7 is not fully compressed, there may be a small gap in the initial contact. At this time, the elastic properties of the buffer pad 13 allow it to slightly compress and deform upon initial contact with the assist arm 7. This initial deformation effectively fills any possible small assembly gaps, ensuring that power is transmitted to the assist arm 7 without delay. When the pressure block 6 rapidly impacts the assist arm 7 under driving force, or when the assist arm 7 itself cannot respond instantaneously due to high resistance, a significant instantaneous impact force will be generated. When subjected to such impact load, the buffer pad 13 undergoes significant elastic deformation. This deformation process absorbs and dissipates a portion of the impact energy and significantly prolongs the duration of the impact force, meaning the peak impact force is greatly reduced. During the process of stabilizing and compacting the assist arm 7, the buffer pad 13 maintains a certain state of compression under continuous pressure. It still provides a stable and continuous force transmission interface. However, due to its elasticity, it can also partially absorb any minor uneven deformation or vibration that may exist at the end of the assist arm 7. When the operation ends and the pressure block 6 needs to be reset upwards, the buffer pad 13 recovers its original shape by its own elasticity after the pressure is removed. If the pressure block 6 rebounds and collides with the assist arm 7 or its upper structure during reset, the buffer pad 13 can also effectively buffer the reset impact.

[0044] Reference Figures 1-3 A sealing rubber ring 14 is provided at the edge of the manhole cover body 1. This setting can further enhance the sealing between the manhole cover body 1 and the manhole cover groove.

[0045] In the description of this utility model, it should be noted that the terms "center", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this utility model and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this utility model.

[0046] Those skilled in the art should understand that the above embodiments are merely for clearly illustrating the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can make other changes or modifications based on the above disclosure, and these changes or modifications still fall within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A smart lock-type maintenance manhole cover, comprising a manhole cover body (1), characterized in that: The manhole cover body (1) is rotatably equipped with a gear set (2). One side of the gear set (2) is fixed with an upwardly extending lever handle (3), and the other side is fixed with a downwardly extending first assist rod (4). The lever handle (3) can control the swing of the first assist rod (4) through the gear set (2). The manhole cover body (1) is also equipped with a pressure block (6) that can move up and down. The pressure block (6) and the first assist rod (4) are hinged together with a second assist rod (5). The bottom of the manhole cover body (1) is hinged with an assist arm (7). One end of the assist arm (7) is detachably pressed by the pressure block (6), and the other end is hinged with a support arm (8). The middle part of the support arm (8) is hinged to the manhole cover body (1), and the other end is pressed against the manhole cover groove surface.

2. The intelligent lock-type maintenance manhole cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: The gear set (2) includes a large gear (201) and a small gear (202) that mesh with each other. The middle part of the large gear (201) and the middle part of the small gear (202) are rotatably connected to the manhole cover body (1). The side of the small gear (202) is fixedly connected to the lever handle (3), and the side of the large gear (201) is fixedly connected to the first assist rod (4).

3. The intelligent lock-type maintenance manhole cover according to claim 2, characterized in that: The lever handle (3) is retractably fitted with an extension handle (9) at the end away from the pinion (202).

4. The intelligent lock-type inspection manhole cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: The manhole cover body (1) has an arc-shaped groove (10) for the lever handle (3) to swing. Limiting blocks (11) are fixed at both ends of the arc-shaped groove (10) to limit the swing angle of the lever handle (3).

5. The intelligent lock-type maintenance manhole cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: The top of the manhole cover body (1) is provided with a detachable closure (12) to cover the lever handle (3) and make the top of the manhole cover body (1) form a flat surface.

6. The intelligent lock-type inspection manhole cover according to claim 3, characterized in that: The end of the extension handle (9) away from the lever handle (3) is engraved with anti-slip threads.

7. The intelligent lock-type maintenance manhole cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: The bottom of the pressure block (6) is fixed with a buffer pad (13).

8. The intelligent lock-type inspection manhole cover according to claim 1, characterized in that: A sealing rubber ring (14) is provided at the edge of the manhole cover body (1).

Images