Gutter cover and drainage channel with such a cover

Abstract

In a channel cover for a drainage channel for the discharge of surface water, comprising a discharge element which has at least one fastening section and at least one discharge wing which are articulated to each other in such a way that the discharge wing is held in a discharge position by a spring force and can deflect against the spring force towards a passage position with increasing load from incoming surface water, it is provided that the channel cover comprises an inlet grate with inlet openings and the fastening section of the discharge element is attached to an underside of the inlet grate which is intended to face a drainage channel.This ensures that surface water can either be kept out entirely by means of a channel cover, or that drainage within an underlying drainage channel can be directed either into a lateral trough section or into the channel itself, with the amount of incoming surface water determining where it is directed.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a gutter cover for a drainage channel for draining surface water, comprising a diverting element which has at least one fastening section and at least one diverting wing, which are articulated to one another in such a way that the diverting wing is held in a diverting position due to a spring force and can deflect against the spring force in the direction of a passage position with increasing load from incoming surface water, as well as to a drainage channel with such a gutter cover.

[0002] Such a gutter cover is already known from CN 113 322 746 A. This document proposes that drainage channels be installed on both sides of a path or road to drain surface water. However, these should only open during heavy rainfall events, as lighter rainfall would result in larger amounts of debris being introduced, thus increasing maintenance costs.

[0003] A similar concept is the basis of WO 97 / 16609 A1. This document provides a filter channel into which surface water flows via a drainage element during lighter rainfall events. If precipitation increases, the filter channel cannot process the water, and due to the pressure of the standing water, the drainage element opens, opening a larger space surrounding the filter channel to increase the capacity of the overall arrangement.

[0004] The increase in capacity as needed is also the focus of EP 2 816 163 A1, where several drainage channels are arranged one above the other and connecting valves are opened due to the weight of the surface water introduced when corresponding quantities of water are required for drainage.

[0005] The known solutions therefore only provide for more or less water to flow into the drainage channel located below such a diverter element. A targeted diversion of water during specific rainfall amounts is not considered.

[0006] However, it may be desirable to drain water fundamentally differently during heavy rainfall than during light rainfall events. There are many reasons for this. For example, heavy rainfall has a different hydraulic effect on the drainage channels than light drizzle. During light rainfall events, it may also be beneficial to divert the water to other sinks, such as crop irrigation. It is also recognized that more water accumulates in winter than in summer, and that water must be treated differently in winter due to the salt load from road salt.

[0007] Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of creating a gutter cover for a drainage channel, as well as a drainage channel with such a gutter cover, which drains the surface water in different ways depending on the amount of water.

[0008] This object is achieved by a gutter cover according to the features of independent claim 1, as well as by a drainage channel according to the independent claim 8. Useful designs of both the gutter cover and the drainage channel can be found in the respective subsequent dependent claims.

[0009] First, a gutter cover is provided for a drainage channel for draining surface water, comprising a diverting element having at least one fastening section and at least one diverting wing, which are pivotally connected to one another such that the diverting wing is held in a diverting position by a spring force and can deflect against the spring force toward a passage position with increasing load from incoming surface water. Such a gutter cover is characterized according to the invention in that the gutter cover comprises an inlet grate with inlet openings, and the fastening section of the diverting element is fastened to an underside of the inlet grate intended to face a drainage channel.

[0010] This creates a channel cover into which surface water can flow into the drainage channel even when the drainage element is in a diverting position. However, the incoming water is not diverted toward the channel bottom in this diverting position, but rather toward the side walls. By attaching trough sections to the side walls, which can be connected to other water reservoirs or other depressions, automatic, variable drainage can be achieved in the event of larger or smaller amounts of surface water accumulating.

[0011] In addition, such a water guide wing can also keep light away from the inside of the gutter and thus ensure that no vegetation grows in the gutter.

[0012] In a specific embodiment, the fastening section can be connected to the at least one deflector wing via at least one film hinge. This is particularly simple and durable in terms of manufacturing technology. This is particularly useful when the deflector element is made entirely of plastic, so that the film hinge merely represents a thinner material.

[0013] Although a deflection element with only one deflection vane is possible, similar to the prior art, a mirror-symmetrical arrangement of two deflection vanes on either side of the mounting section is preferred. The mounting section can be connected to the inlet grate centrally between the longitudinal edges on both sides.

[0014] In principle, the deflection element can be manufactured in such a way that the at least one deflection element is inherently resilient and returns to the deflection position. However, it is preferred if a spring element, preferably a spring steel clamp, is assigned to the deflection element. Such a spring element can form a connecting opening through which a screw connection of the fastening section to the inlet grate is passed.

[0015] Such a spring element can be positioned both below and above the deflection element, although a position below the deflection element is preferred. There, the spring element is less exposed to the elements and no dirt can accumulate on the spring element. Furthermore, the at least one deflection vane can have a peripheral bend on its edge facing away from the fastening section, with the bend being associated with a through-opening for receiving a spring clip of the spring element. This holds the spring immovably in its position and prevents it from twisting and thus moving out of its operative position.

[0016] Another object of the invention is a drainage channel comprising a channel body with two side walls and a channel base, wherein the side walls have a frame at their free ends, on which a channel cover of the type described above is arranged.

[0017] Such a drainage channel can form a trough section on at least one of the side walls below the frame, which runs continuously as a drainage element, at least in one possible gradient direction, up to at least one end face of the channel body. Only when the trough section is led out of the channel body from any point within the body, be it into an adjacent channel body, another trough section, or a lateral drain, does an actual separation of the different water loads occur. If, due to the intensity of the rainfall, at least one of the diverter vanes of the diverter element is pressed downwards against the spring force so far that the water can no longer fall into the trough section, the entire drainage channel is available for drainage.

[0018] With some advantage, the trough section can run along the entire channel body. This allows the trough section to both conduct water from trough sections of neighboring channels and collect water from the associated discharge vane along its entire length.

[0019] If the trough section is intended to communicate with adjacent trough sections of other gutter bodies, it may be provided with terminal connecting elements, at least in the direction of gradient, for connecting to a trough section of an adjacent gutter body. This can be achieved, in particular, by a tongue-and-groove connection or by an intermediate connector.

[0020] Finally, to provide a retrofit solution, each trough section can also be connected to a side wall or frame, preferably detachably by hooking, clipping, or screwing. By adding at least one trough section and the inlet grate with the drainage element, the solution according to the invention can then be retrofitted at any time.

[0021] The invention described above is explained in more detail below using an exemplary embodiment.

[0022] It shows Figure 1 shows a gutter cover with a deflection element arranged on its underside in a perspective view, Figure 2 shows a frontal plan view of the gutter cover according to Figure 1 , Figure 3a detail of the Figure 2, Figure 4 a spring element for arrangement below the diverting element in perspective view, Figure 5 a detail of the diverting element penetrated by the spring element on the underside, Figure 6 a drainage channel with a channel cover according to the invention according to Figure 1 in a cross-sectional view, Figure 7 a detail of the Figure 6 with folded-up deflector wings for the drainage of surface water into the trough sections, as well as Figure 8 the detail according to Figure 7 with folded down deflector wings to direct surface water into the drainage channel.

[0023] Figure 1shows a gutter cover 1, which comprises a conventional inlet grate 2 with a plurality of inlet openings, which is engaged underneath by a discharge element 7. Such a gutter cover 1 fits a conventional drainage channel 16 in terms of external dimensions and format and thus also emerges from a conventional gutter cover. As shown in Figure 2shown, it differs from the already known gutter covers in that it has a screw connection 6 in the middle of the underside 5, with the help of which a diverter element 7 is fixed to the inlet grate 2. For this purpose, a screw receptacle can be used, as is known for securing gutter covers to the associated drainage channels 16. For this purpose, the screw passes through a web between two inlet openings 3 from an upper side 4 and protrudes again on an opposite underside 5. It can first be secured with a nut, then the diverter element 7 with its fastening section 8, which has a bore at a suitable point, is placed on top. This is followed by a spring element 13, which engages under lateral diverter wings 9 of the diverter element 7 and finally a nut for securing, which is part of the screw connection 6.

[0024] If surface water now flows in from the top side 4 of the gutter cover 1, it falls through the inlet openings 3 onto the drainage element 7. In the case of low rainfall amounts, the water runs off to the lateral ends; in the case of high rainfall amounts, it first presses the drainage vanes 9 of the drainage element 7 downwards due to its weight against the force of the spring element 13.

[0025] The detail according to Figure 3 This shows the connection between the mounting section 8 and the deflector wings 9, which are formed by film hinges 12, i.e., thinner material sections. Thanks to these film hinges 12, the deflector wings 9 can be pivoted relative to the mounting section 8 without additional components.

[0026] The design of the spring element 13, which is already in the Figures 2 and 3 shown is in Figure 4shown again in detail. Such a spring element 13 consists of spring steel, which has two spring clips that support the deflection vanes 9 of the deflection element 7 against gravity. The spring element 13 is held by a connecting opening that protrudes laterally from the spring clips and in this case consists of a loop formed by the spring element 13, which is formed from a continuous spring wire. The loop is threaded onto the screw connection 6 and secured with the lower nut against falling off. An additional safeguard against twisting can be provided as shown in Figure 5 shown. There, it is shown that the deflector vanes 9 have edge bends 10. These bends 10 are assigned through-openings 11 in the area of ​​the spring elements 13, through which the spring clips 15 of the spring elements 13 are inserted.

[0027] Figure 6further shows a drainage channel 16, on which a channel cover 1 according to Figure 1 This is also a conventional drainage channel, in which, in addition to the channel cover 1 according to the invention, additional lateral trough sections 21 are added, for example by screwing, clipping or hanging. The drainage channel 16 has a channel body 17, which is laterally delimited by side walls 18. These, in turn, are connected to one another via a channel base 19. The channel body 17 can be formed in one piece, as shown in the Figure 6 shown, but a multi-part gutter body is also possible without any problems.

[0028] The upper part of the Figure 6 marked detail is in the Figures 7 and 8 Enlarged view. On a frame 20 arranged at the upper end of the side walls 18 rests a gutter cover 1, the deflection wings of which are Figure 7are folded almost completely upwards due to only slight rainfall and thus only a small amount of surface water flowing in. This occurs due to the spring action of the spring element 13 arranged beneath the deflector vanes 9. The only small amounts of precipitation are thus diverted along the deflector vanes 9 in the direction of the side walls 18 and run into the trough sections 21 provided on the side walls 18, along which they can then run to a separate drain or into adjacent trough sections or adjacent channel bodies that do not interact with the channel body 17 of the drainage channel 16. In this way, small amounts of precipitation can be collected. In addition, this allows the small amounts of precipitation in the summer months to be drained to other locations, such as into on-site planting basins, rather than into the sewer system.Larger amounts of precipitation, such as in winter, which are then also loaded with salt due to the use of de-icing salt and are rather unsuitable for planting basins, can then be drained into the sewer system.

[0029] This is in Figure 8 shown, where, due to the larger amount of water, the greater weight also rests on the deflector vanes 9 and thus on the spring element 13. In this position, a large portion of the incoming water now reaches the drainage channel 16 at its channel bottom 19 and can be drained into the sewer system.

[0030] What is described above is a gutter cover for a drainage channel, as well as a drainage channel with such a gutter cover, which drains the surface water in different ways depending on the amount of water. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0031] 1 Channel cover 2 Inlet grate 3 Inlet opening 4 Top 5 Bottom 6 Screw connection 7 Drainage element 8 Fastening section 9 Drainage wing 10 Bend 11 Through opening 12 Film hinge 13 Spring element 14 Connection opening 15 Spring clip 16 Drainage channel 17 Channel body 18 Side wall 19 Channel base 20 Frame 21 Trough section

Claims

1. Channel cover for a drainage channel (16) for draining surface water, comprising a diverting element (7) which has at least one fastening section (8) and at least one diverting wing (9), which are articulated to one another in such a way that the diverting wing (9) is held in a diverting position by a spring force and can deflect against the spring force towards a passage position with increasing load from incoming surface water, characterized in that the channel cover (1) comprises an inlet grate (2) with inlet openings (3) and the fastening section (8) of the diverting element (7) is fastened to an underside (5) of the inlet grate (2) which is intended to face a drainage channel (16).

2. Gutter cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the fastening section (8) is connected to the at least one deflector wing (9) via at least one film hinge (12).

3. Gutter cover according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the deflection element (7) has deflection vanes (9) on both sides of the fastening section (8), wherein the fastening section (8) is connected to the inlet grate (2) centrally between both longitudinal edges of the latter.

4. Gutter cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring element (13), preferably a clamp made of spring steel, is assigned to the discharge element (7).

5. Gutter cover according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring element (13) forms a connecting opening (14) through which a connecting means, in particular a screw connection (6), a rivet connection or a fastening clip, of the fastening section (8) with the inlet grate (2) is passed.

6. Gutter cover according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in thatthe at least one deflector wing (9) has an edge-side bend (10) on its edge pointing away from the fastening section (8), wherein the bend (10) is assigned a through-opening (11) for receiving a spring clip (15) of the spring element (13).

7. Gutter cover according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the discharge element (7) is made of a plastic.

8. Drainage channel comprising a channel body (17) with two side walls (18) and a channel base (19), wherein the side walls (18) have at their free ends a frame (20) on which a channel cover (1) according to one of the preceding claims is arranged.

9. Drainage channel according to claim 8, characterized in thaton at least one of the side walls (18) below the frame (20) a trough section (21) is formed, which runs at least in one possible gradient direction continuously up to at least one end face of the channel body (17) as a diverting element.

10. Drainage channel according to claim 9, characterized in that the trough section (21) runs along the entire trough body (17).

11. Drainage channel according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that the trough section (21) has terminal connecting elements at least in the direction of gradient for connection to a trough section of an adjacent channel body.

12. Drainage channel according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that each trough section (21) is connected to a side wall (18) or a frame (20), preferably detachably by hanging, clipping or screwing.

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