REMOVABLE CONNECTING PIECE FOR COMPOSITE OR PLASTIC PAD

Abstract

The invention relates to a removable connecting piece (3) for handling a pad (2), comprising an upper part (31) adapted to cooperate with a handling means, and a lower part (33) adapted to cooperate mechanically with a pad (2). According to the invention, the upper part (31) has magnetic properties, and the lower part (33) has mechanical mounting elements for removably attaching to the pad (2) made of non-magnetic material, to facilitate handling of the non-magnetic pad (2) via a magnetic connection between said handling means and said removable connecting piece (3) attached to the pad (2). Figure for the abstract: [Fig 5].

Description

Title of the invention: REMOVABLE CONNECTING PART FOR COMPOSITE OR PLASTIC PAD Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of handling access covers for all types of networks, in particular telecommunications or sanitation, used on public roads.

[0002] The present invention relates to a removable connecting piece for handling buffers, and more particularly, a removable connecting piece with magnetic properties for lifting non-magnetic buffers using a LIFTPLAQ type plate lifting tool, "registered trademark", for example intended for handling cast iron buffers capable of performing an operation by one person quickly and safely without applying a significant pulling force.

[0003] In the telecommunications sector in particular, underground distribution network equipment for cable connections is installed with manholes. These manholes are covered by manhole covers whose primary function is to restrict access to underground cable distribution networks for professionals and to prevent accidents on the road. A manhole cover lifting tool, LIFTPLAQ, a registered trademark, is available on the market, facilitating the handling of cast iron manhole covers by magnetic contact.

[0004] The development of a new range of telecom pads made of composite or non-magnetic material for handling therefore requires the use of a specific plate lifting tool, the existing plate lifting tool cannot be used insofar as the composite materials of the pads do not possess magnetic properties. Previous technique

[0005] Cast iron cover handling devices are known according to patent KR 101715922 B1, allowing a single person to quickly and safely open a cast iron cover without great force by means of a switching magnet attachment unit on a cover-lifting tool, which is attached to the cast iron cover by magnetic force so that it can be detached. This applies to all types of manhole covers.

[0006] Since the composite materials constituting the new buffer range developed are not magnetized, the use of a known magnetic plate lifting tool is no longer possible. Presentation of the invention

[0007] The present invention aims to overcome the handling problems of new buffers, for example made of composite or plastic material which does not have magnetic properties, and to propose handling means compatible with said buffers, the same plate lifters cannot be used for cast iron buffers.

[0008] An object of the invention aims to provide specific means for handling newly developed composite material buffers by means of a plate lifting tool used for handling cast iron buffers.

[0009] The objects assigned to the invention are achieved by means of a removable connecting piece, for the handling of a pad, comprising an upper part adapted to cooperate with a handling means, a lower part adapted to cooperate mechanically with a pad, characterized in that the upper part has magnetic properties, the lower part having mechanical mounting elements to be attached removably to the pad made of composite or plastic material, to facilitate the handling of the pad by means of a magnetic link between said handling means and said removable connecting piece attached to the pad.

[0010] The handling means is advantageously a plate lifting tool.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the upper part of the removable connecting piece comprises a cap intended to extend over an upper face of a pad and a base securely attached on the underside to the cap, the mechanical mounting elements being on the one hand fixed to said base and on the other hand intended to engage at least partially in the pad.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the mechanical mounting members comprise a cylindrical rod, which is partially engaged in the base and fixed against rotation with one end and which has at the other end a stop foot of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and fixed against rotation on the cylindrical rod, said stop foot being intended to fit into the buffer.

[0013] The mechanical mounting elements include, for example, a spring fitted onto the cylindrical rod and extending between the base and the stop foot over at least a portion of the length of said cylindrical rod, a free washer being engaged on the cylindrical rod between the stop foot and one end of the spring in contact with the base attached to the cap, said washer serving as a support on the pad to compress the spring when said removable connecting piece is mounted on the pad.

[0014] According to one embodiment, the removable connecting piece is housed on the composite material pad by means of a buffer orifice allowing the stop foot, which is fixed to the cylindrical rod, to descend over a predetermined engagement stroke; then, said removable connecting piece is rotated a quarter turn around the axis of the rod. cylindrical to fit into a stop zone in the buffer and immobilize the removable connecting part in translation.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the base has a pin base orifice into which a pin screw or a set screw is engaged to lock the cylindrical rod in said base.

[0016] The objects assigned to the invention are also reached using a handling assembly for a composite material pad, comprising a removable connecting piece as shown above and a plate lifting tool having a magnetic end adapted to make a magnetic connection and consequently a reversible fixing with said removable connecting piece.

[0017] The handling assembly according to the invention has the significant advantage that it includes an existing plate lifting tool, which can be used for handling cast iron and composite material covers thanks to the removable connecting piece. Therefore, it is not necessary to develop a specific plate lifting tool for the new range of composite material covers. Brief description of the figures

[0018] Other features, objectives and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description that follows with reference to the accompanying drawings given by way of non-limiting examples, in which:

[0019] [Fig-1] is a partial and perspective view of a buffer and an example of an embodiment of a removable connecting part according to the invention,

[0020] [Fig.2] is a cross-sectional view of a buffer and an example embodiment of a removable connecting piece according to the invention,

[0021] [Fig.3] is a perspective and exploded view of an example of an embodiment of a removable connecting piece according to the invention,

[0022] [Fig.4] is a perspective view of the assembled removable connecting piece of the [Fig. 3], and

[0023] [Fig.5] is a schematic perspective view of a buffer and a set of handling in accordance with the invention. Detailed description of the invention

[0024] Structurally and functionally identical elements present on several distinct figures are assigned the same numeric or alphanumeric reference.

[0025] In the example illustrated in [Fig. 1], the invention is applied to the handling of a non-magnetic pad 2, made, for example, of composite material or plastic material. The invention relates to a removable connecting piece 3, shown in a position above the pad 2, before being inserted into a pad orifice 21 formed in said pad 2. The removable connecting piece 3 is composed of at least an element or part exhibiting magnetic properties, such as a cast iron / steel alloy, to facilitate permanent contact with a magnetized object.

[0026] In the present case, a composite material is, for example, an assembly of at least two immiscible materials that possess different or complementary physicochemical properties. The composite material pad offers good strength, good corrosion resistance, and is insensitive to electric fields. The composite material pad is lighter and easier to handle and possesses many other characteristics, such as reduced noise, unlike known cast iron pads. However, one of the disadvantages of composite materials is the lack of magnetic properties, hence the solution of an intermediate part with magnetic effects to facilitate the handling of the composite material pad.

[0027] The removable connecting piece 3 comprises a cap 311 forming an upper part 31, a stop foot 331 forming a lower part 33, which parts are connected by means of a cylindrical rod 32 so as to be fixed together during the use of said removable connecting piece 3.

[0028] The cap 311 has on its underside a base 312 in which one end of the cylindrical rod 32 is engaged. The base 312 has a pin base orifice 313 and the cylindrical rod 32 has a pin rod orifice 321, for example, passing through the upper part of the cylindrical rod 32, in which a pin screw 34 or a set screw is engaged, to lock said cylindrical rod 32 in said base 312. Any other known fastening system of the cylindrical rod 32 on or in the base 312 may also be considered.

[0029] According to another embodiment, the rod 32 can also be fixed in the base 312 by gluing.

[0030] According to one embodiment, the hat 311 shown for example in [Fig.3] or 4 is circular in shape.

[0031] The base 312, which is integral with the cap 311, is, for example, tapped so that the end of the cylindrical rod 32, which has a thread, can be screwed into said tapped portion. Bonding the cylindrical rod 32 can also be considered in one embodiment.

[0032] In the embodiment illustrated, for example, in [Fig. 4], the stop foot 331, for example threaded, is mounted on the other end of the cylindrical rod 32 by screwing it in so as to form a fixed element. Any other means of attaching the stop foot 331 to the free end of the cylindrical rod 32 can also be considered. The cylindrical rod 32, the cap 311, and the stop foot 331 are mechanically fixed, particularly against rotation, once assembled.

[0033] The stop foot 331 advantageously has a rectangular parallelepiped shape.

[0034] The cap 311 and the base 312 are separated from the stop foot 331 by a spring 35 through which the cylindrical rod 32 passes. The spring 35 is for example in contact with the base 312 fixed to the cap 311 on the upper part of the cylindrical rod 32 and in blocked contact towards the lower part of the cylindrical rod 32 with a washer 36 of outer diameter greater than the width of the stop foot 331 and the outer diameter of the spring 35, but less than the length of said stop foot 331.

[0035] The washer 36 is for example mounted to slide freely on the cylindrical rod 32, as is the spring 35.

[0036] The composite material buffer 2 has a buffer orifice 21 which has the shape of the stop foot 331 and is of sufficient size in width and length so that the stop foot 331 can pass through said buffer orifice 21.

[0037] Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the buffer 2 and the removable connecting piece 3.

[0038] The buffer orifice 21 opens onto a stop zone 22, provided in the buffer 2 which allows the translational and rotational travel of the stop foot 331 to be stopped when the removable connecting piece 3 is engaged by translation turned a quarter turn in rotation in both directions of the axis of the cylindrical rod 32 to be locked to the buffer 2.

[0039] The stop zone 22 advantageously has a hollow shape provided with an internal rim or undercut allowing to retain a translation the stop foot 331 in the buffer 2, when the removable connecting piece 2 is engaged in said buffer 2 and turned a quarter turn.

[0040] When the stop foot 331 enters the buffer orifice 21, the washer 36 bears against the upper face of the buffer 2 or against a shoulder 22a provided in the stop area 22, compressing the spring 35. When the stop foot 331 is rotated a quarter turn, the spring 35 relaxes at least partially, allowing the stop foot to move slightly in the opposite direction to its initial engagement and to be held against a stop to prevent it from rotating. To secure the assembly, it is necessary to apply force to the removable mounting piece 3 for its assembly onto the buffer 2 and for its separation from said buffer 2, thus preventing said removable mounting piece from coming loose.

[0041] To proceed with the handling of the composite material pad 2, the magnetic plate lifter 1 represented by [Fig.5] by its magnetic end comes to rest on the cap 311 of the removable connecting piece 3 made of ferromagnetic material, thus causing a permanent contact between the two elements which will facilitate the handling of the composite material pad 2 without risk while respecting the correct gestures and postures.

[0042] To unlock the removable connecting piece 3, a slight downward push on the cap 311 of the removable connecting piece 3 compresses the spring 35 in contact with the washer 36, which is locked, for example, on the upper surface of the buffer 2. The cylindrical rod 32 descends with all the elements attached to the removable connecting piece 3. The stop foot 331 is then released by rotating the removable connecting piece 3 in the opposite direction to that during its attachment. The stop foot 331 is then positioned opposite the buffer orifice 21 in a direction that allows it to rise and pass through the buffer orifice 21.

[0043] Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the buffer 2 on which the removable connecting piece 3 is mounted. The plate lifting tool 1 has a magnetic end la, adapted to make a magnetic connection with said removable connecting piece 3. The plate lifting tool 1 is illustrated in a position in contact with the removable connecting piece 3. The magnetic end la is advantageously pivotally mounted on a lever 1b.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described but extends to any modification and variant obvious to a person skilled in the art, within the limits of the appended claims. Furthermore, the technical features of the various embodiments and variants mentioned above may be combined, in whole or in part.

Claims

Demands

1. Assembly comprising a pad (2), a handling means and a removable connecting piece (3), the removable connecting piece (3) for handling a pad (2) comprising an upper part (31) adapted to cooperate with the handling means, a lower part (33) adapted to cooperate mechanically with a pad (2), characterized in that the upper part (31) has magnetic properties, the lower part (33) comprising mechanical mounting elements for removably attaching to the pad (2) made of non-magnetic material, to facilitate the handling of the pad (2) made of non-magnetic material by means of a magnetic connection between said handling means and said removable connecting piece (3) attached to the pad (2).

2. Assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the handling means is a plate lifting tool (1) with a magnetic end (la).

3. Assembly according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the upper part (31) of the removable connecting piece (3) comprises a cap (311) intended to extend over an upper face of a pad (2) and a base (312) securely attached on the underside to the cap (311), the mechanical mounting members being on the one hand fixed to said base (312) and on the other hand intended to engage at least partially in the pad (2).

4. Assembly according to claim 3, characterized in that the mechanical mounting members comprise a cylindrical rod (32), which is partially engaged in the base (312) and fixed against rotation with one end and which has at the other end a stop foot (331) of substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and fixed against rotation on the cylindrical rod (32), said stop foot (331) being intended to fit into the buffer (2).

5. Assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that the mechanical mounting members comprise a spring (35) fitted onto the cylindrical rod (32) and extending between the base (312) and the stop foot (331) over at least a portion of the length of said cylindrical rod (32), a free washer (36) being engaged on the rod cylindrical (32) between the stop foot (331) and one end of the spring (35) in contact with the base (312) integral with the cap (311), said washer (36) serving as a support on the buffer (2) to compress the spring (35) when said removable connecting piece (3) is mounted on the buffer (2).

6. Assembly according to claim 5, characterized in that said removable connecting piece (3) is housed on the composite material pad (2) by a pad orifice (21) allowing the stop foot (331) attached to the cylindrical rod (32) to descend over a determined engagement stroke, then said removable connecting piece (3) is rotated a quarter turn around the axis of the cylindrical rod (32) to fit into a stop zone (22) in the pad (2) and immobilize the removable connecting piece (3) in translation.

7. Assembly according to claim 6, characterized in that the base (312) has a pin base orifice (313) into which is engaged by a pin screw (34) or a set screw to lock the cylindrical rod (32) in said base (312).

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