Adjustable inspection chamber assembly

Abstract

An adjustable frame adapter (1) is positioned lying inside a chamber riser (2) and with other component parts such as a frame (3) and lid (4) shown before assembly. The adapter can be fitted inside a

Description

fig fig 6 ADJUSTABLE INSPECTION CHAMBER ASSEMBLY Technical Field This present invention relates to an Adjustable Inspection Chamber Assembly incorporating an adapter which can be inserted into an inspection chamber riser so that the frame and associated lid which it supports can move up and down as well as being able to tilt at an angle in order to lie at the finished ground level which may not be at right angles to the vertical wall of the chamber riser. Background A system exists which permits foul and surface water inspection chambers to be formed using interlocking cylindrical sections (risers) of different lengths and various available diameters which are joined with flexible sealing rings which can be terminated at the ground level where a frame and lid is required. A problem encountered with such prior art systems is that the interlocking risers arranged vertically to build the chamber do not always correspond to the exact height required and have to be cut to length. This removes the connecting spigot and seal at the end of a riser which is normally attached to a corresponding recess or groove in the frame supporting the lid. Without the connecting spigot and seal, the joint between the top riser and recess or groove in the frame cannot engage properly. A further problem with the aforementioned prior art is where the ground level is not at a right angle to the vertical wall of the riser and there is a need to cut the ribbed surface of the riser to the required length but also at an angle parallel to the ground level. As in the previous example the top surface of the riser cannot engage with the recess or groove in the frame supporting the lid and so the assembly is not seated correctly and unable to form a seal. There also exists a concern that a ground worker cutting a riser at an angle and where a suitable holding device is not available to prevent movement as the cut is being made might result in safety being compromised. An object of this invention is to provide a simple and effective means of positioning a frame and associated lid which is required to lie against a finished ground surface which may not be level and at right angles to the vertical wall of the riser, wherein the assembly can be placed in an adjustable association with the internal surface of the top riser which is cut to the required height but is not necessarily level with the lie of the ground. Summary of the Invention The adapter may further comprise a cylindrical portion extending axially from the spherical surface portion. The cylindrical portion may form a spigot to engage with a corresponding circumferential recess or groove in the underside of a frame (discussed below). The adapter can incorporate a sealing ring mounted on the external spherical surface thus effecting a seal with the internal surface of a riser which may be required for foul or sewage system applications. A seal may also aid positioning when adjustments are made to the height and angle required for the eventual position of the frame which the adapter supports, An alternative arrangement for sealing may be achieved with several sealing rings arranged around the spherical external aspect of the adapter. A seal may also be provided by a coating of suitable sealing material around the spherical aspect of the adapter such as a mastic or other flexible or resilient material which deforms when the adapter is inserted into the riser. An alternative arrangement provides for a cylindrical sealing insert to lie against the internal surface of a riser thus obviating the need for a separate seal to be incorporated into the spherical surface of the adjustable frame adapter and where the cylindrical insert includes a flange at one end to engage with and locate against the end of the riser. This sealing arrangement may also be effected where the sealing material comprises a coating on the internal surface of the riser. An alternative arrangement for positioning and adjusting the assembly may be effected by the inclusion of a number of separate locating pads fixed to the external spherical surface of the adapter and positioned equidistant and extending in a vertical aspect. The pads may be formed of a flexible or resilient material to achieve an interference fit while allowing for both axial and circumferential movement. The adapter may also be manufactured in such a manner that the diameter of the external spherical aspect corresponds to the internal diameter of the riser so that an interference fit is achieved without the need for any sealing element which may be sufficient for positioning and for surface water applications. The adapter may also be manufactured so that the spherical surface portion is provided with gaps where complete sealing is not necessary or where air movement is required, provided that the remaining spherical portion still retains sufficient surface area to maintain axial and circumferential contact with the riser. The internal surface of the adapter is nominally cylindrical but may otherwise be shaped if required for ease of manufacture as long as this does not affect the co-operation between the adapter and the riser. The assembly further comprises a frame configured to receive an inspection chamber cover. The frame may be provided with a circumferential recess or groove to receive the adapter and to provide a substantially sealed joint between the frame and the adapter. Alternatively the frame may be integral with the adapter. The adapter may be provided with a spigot to engage with a recess in the underside of the frame having the same dimensions as that which permits several risers to be connected together in the assembly. Preferably the adjustable inspection chamber frame adapter is made from the same or similar plastic material as the interlocking chamber risers but could be manufactured from other stronger materials such as steel or cast iron if the frame and associated lid is required to support heavier loadings imposed by the passage of vehicle traffic. Sealing rings supplied to fit inside a chamber riser or on the external spherical surface of the frame adapter can be made from rubber, plastic or other suitable material which will deform and provide a seal between the external surface of the adapter and the inside face of a chamber riser. Brief Description of the Drawings A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 shows a cut away 3D view of the adjustable frame adapter. FIGURE 2 shows an exploded and cut away view of the adjustable frame adapter (1) lying inside a chamber riser (2) and with a frame (3) and lid (4) positioned above with the adapter tilted at an angle to represent an aspect of use where the ground is not level. FIGURE 3 shows a side elevation of the adjustable frame adapter with associated frame and lid components lying relative to a sectional view of a chamber riser with the adapter positioned perpendicular to the chamber sides and representing an aspect of the assembly application where the ground is level. FIGURE 4 shows a detail as in fig 3. and where the adjustable frame adapter is tilted at an angle to represent an aspect of use where the ground is not level. FIGURE 5 shows a detail as in fig 3. with the addition of a circular flexible sealing ring inserted in the chamber section to effect a seal with the frame adapter and which regulations may require for foul sewer applications. FIGURE 6 shows a detail as in fig 3. with the addition of a flexible sealing ring located on the external spherical surface of the adapter to effect a seal with the internal surface of a chamber riser and which regulations may require for foul sewer applications. FIGURE 7 shows a detail as in fig 6. with the frame adapter tilted at an angle to represent an aspect of use where the ground is not level. As shown in Figure 1. the adjustable frame adapter comprises a moulding, casting, pressing, spun or other suitably manufactured device with a spherical external surface with a radius matching the inside diameter (and allowing for the thickness of any required sealing device) of a selected chamber riser with a cylindrical upper section of smaller diameter extending to form a supporting spigot for attaching to a socket in a frame with associated lid. As shown in Figure 5, a flexible sealing ring may be located on the internal surface of the inspection chamber riser to effect a seal with the external spherical surface of the cover frame adapter. As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a flexible sealing ring may be located on the external spherical surface of the frame adapter to effect a seal with the internal diameter of the inspection chamber riser. An inspection chamber is constructed with the required number of interlocking chamber risers to the required height for the desired location. If the resulting assembly of risers extends beyond ground level, then the top riser can be cut to slightly below the proposed ground level which allows the adjustable frame adapter to be inserted and located at the desired ground level and inclination to enable the frame to be positioned level with the ground surface. The spherical external surface of the adjustable frame adapter enables positioning to be carried out regardless of the level of the ground surface, eliminating the need to cut a ribbed chamber riser at an angle. When a ground worker is operating in unfavourable conditions this could pose an unacceptable risk of an accident with the cutting device employed.

Claims

1. An assembly for an inspection chamber, the assembly comprising a riser and an adapter, wherein the riser comprises a hollow cylinder having a cylindrical internal surface and wherein the adapter comprises a hollow cylinder configured to fit at least partially inside the riser, the external surface of the adapter comprising a spherical surface portion extending substantially around the circumference of the adapter configured to contact the internal surface of the riser substantially around a circumference of the spherical surface portion, wherein the riser and adapter are configured to move in an axial direction relative to one another and wherein the adapter is configured to rotate about a diameter of the riser, while maintaining the circumferential contact between the spherical surface portion of the adapter and the internal surface of the riser.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises a cylindrical portion extending axially from the spherical surface portion.

3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the cylindrical portion forms a spigot.

4. The assembly of any preceding claim, further comprising a sealing material to form a seal between the spherical surface portion of the adapter and the riser internal surface.

5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the sealing material is provided on the spherical surface portion of the adapter.

6. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the sealing material comprises a coating on the spherical surface portion of the adapter.

7. The assembly of claim 5, wherein the sealing material comprises one or more sealing rings on the spherical surface portion of the adapter.

8. The assembly of any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the sealing material is provided on the internal surface of the riser.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the sealing material comprises a coating on the internal surface of the riser.

10. The assembly of any of claims 4 to 9, wherein the sealing material comprises a seal which is inserted between the riser and the spherical surface portion of the adapter.

11. The assembly of claim 10, wherein the seal comprises a cylindrical insert.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the cylindrical insert includes a flange at one end to engage with and locate against the end of the riser.

13. The assembly of any of claims 4 to 12, wherein the sealing material is formed of a resilient material.

14. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the riser is provided with a circumferential recess or groove at one end which is adapted to receive another riser and to provide a substantially sealed joint between the risers.

15. The assembly of any preceding claim, wherein the assembly further comprises a frame configured to receive an inspection chamber cover.

16. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the frame is provided with a circumferential recess or groove to receive the adapter and to provide a substantially sealed joint between the frame and the adapter.

17. The assembly of claim 15, wherein the frame is integral with the adapter.

18. The assembly of any of claims 15 to 17, further comprising a cover configured to locate within the frame.

19. The assembly of claim 18, wherein the cover and frame have an interlocking or sealing arrangement to provide a substantially sealed joint between the cover and frame.

20. An inspection chamber comprising the assembly of any preceding claim.

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