Roadway assembly and corresponding method

Abstract

The present invention relates to a roadway assembly, comprising a frame (22) of a roadway component (20), and a seating gasket (26) of the roadway component which is suitable for receiving a covering element (24), the frame comprising a sealing base (28) and a frame skirt (32). The roadway assembly (12) comprises first protection means (60) suitable for protecting at least one lower portion of the seating gasket from a sealing material flowing around the sealing base (28), and the first protection means are arranged on the seating gasket (26).

Description

[0001] TITLE: Road system and corresponding process

[0002] The present invention relates to a road assembly, comprising a frame of a road device, and a seat seal of the road device, adapted to receive a covering element, the frame comprising a sealing sole and a frame skirt.

[0003] The invention generally relates to a road device, in particular made of cast iron, comprising a frame intended to be sealed in the ground and a covering element intended to be placed on the frame. It applies in particular to devices for covering manholes or inspection shafts of an underground water network, such as road or sidewalk manholes, to devices for covering technical inspection chambers of an underground cable network, such as hatches, and to devices for covering manholes such as water absorption grids.

[0004] A road device is known from patent application GB2527541. This road device comprises an adjustment device adapted to adjust the vertical position of the frame on a supporting surface. Thus, the position of the frame on the supporting surface can be adjusted so that the sealing material flows unhindered around the frame base.

[0005] However, for various reasons related to the way in which the sealing was carried out, installations of known road systems often need to be redone. For example, in some installations, the base joint is partially embedded in the sealing material, the joint then no longer fulfilling its functions and / or deteriorating prematurely. Incorrect installation of the sealing material also impairs the possibility of articulating the covering element on the frame. In other cases, the thickness of the sealing material is insufficient between the frame and the chimney, leading to deterioration of the sealing material during repeated vehicle passage.In other installations, the sealing material is damaged during the laying of the final coating, particularly when the shoe of the mechanical tamper hits the frame just after the sealing material has set while it is still fragile, thus causing the beginnings of fracture in the sealing material which lead to defective sealing of the frame.

[0006] The aim of the invention is to remedy these drawbacks by proposing means and an installation method enabling the sealing of the road system to be optimized.

[0007] The invention aims to facilitate correct and fault-free installation of a road device.

[0008] To this end, the invention relates to a road assembly as indicated above, characterized in that the road assembly comprises first protection means adapted to protect at least a lower part of the base joint from a sealing material flowing around the sealing sole (28), and in that the first protection means are arranged on the base joint.

[0009] Alternatively, the invention disclosed in the present description may also have as its subject a road assembly as indicated above, in which the frame comprises a hinge recess delimiting hinge surfaces, the hinge recess being open on the side of the sealing sole, and the road assembly comprises second protection means adapted to protect the hinge recess from a sealing material flowing around the sealing sole. In this case, the road assembly may or may not be provided with the first protection means. The presence of the second protection means is therefore independent of the presence of the first protection means.

[0010] Alternatively, the invention disclosed in the present description may also have as its subject a road assembly as indicated above, in which the road assembly comprises a barrier adapted to oppose the flow of a non-solid finishing coating over an upper edge of the frame. In this case, the road assembly may or may not be provided with the first protection means and / or the second protection means. The presence of the barrier is therefore independent of the presence of the first protection means and / or the second protection means.

[0011] According to particular embodiments of the road system, it may include one or more of the following characteristics:

[0012] - the frame comprises a seat rib and the seat seal is arranged on the seat rib;

[0013] - the frame defines a minimum sealing level, and the first protection means are adapted to protect at least a lower portion of the seat joint from a sealing material extending to the minimum sealing level;

[0014] - the first protection means comprise a protection ring covering the seat seal, and the protection ring has a substantially “C”-shaped cross-section;

[0015] - the seat seal has a given rigidity, the protective ring has a rigidity lower than the rigidity of the seat seal and the protective ring is made of plastic, in particular recycled polyethylene, expanded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane, or cardboard;

[0016] - the road assembly further comprises an internal formwork element, in particular inflatable, in which the internal formwork element is applied by complementary shapes to the first protection means, in particular the internal formwork element extends axially from the base joint to below the sealing sole;

[0017] - the frame comprises a hinge recess defining hinge surfaces, the hinge recess is open on the side of the sealing sole, and the road assembly comprises second protective means adapted to protect the hinge recess from a sealing material flowing around the sealing sole;

[0018] - the second means of protection comprise a crumpled paper block, a bag filled with polystyrene beads, an inflatable element, and / or a synthetic foam block;

[0019] - the road assembly includes a barrier adapted to prevent the flow of a non-solid finishing coating over an upper edge of the frame;

[0020] - the barrier is arranged radially outside the frame skirt or the barrier is arranged radially inside the frame skirt;

[0021] - the barrier is a strip of rubber or bituminous material;

[0022] - the road assembly further comprises a position adjustment device, in particular provided with adjustment screws, adapted to adjust the vertical position of the frame on a support surface; and

[0023] - the road assembly comprises a road device which is provided with the frame, the base joint and a covering element associated with the frame.

[0024] The invention also relates to a method of installing a road assembly, characterized in that the road assembly is a road assembly as defined above, the method comprising the following successive steps:

[0025] - installation of the frame and the seat seal,

[0026] - covering the seat joint with the first protective means adapted to protect at least a lower part of the seat joint with a sealing material,

[0027] - pouring sealing material around the sealing sole to a minimum sealing level, and

[0028] - removal of the first means of protection from the seat seal.

[0029] The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example and with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

[0030] [Fig 1] Figure 1 shows an axial sectional view of an installation of a road assembly according to a first embodiment of the invention during an installation step;

[0031] [Fig 2] Figure 2 shows a view similar to that of Figure 1, of the installation of the road assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention during a subsequent installation step; [Fig 3] Figure 3 shows an axial sectional view of a part of an installation of a road assembly according to an installation variant of the first embodiment in a low configuration;

[0032] [Fig 4] Figure 4 shows a view similar to that of Figure 3, according to an alternative installation of the road assembly, the road assembly being in a high configuration;

[0033] [Fig 5] Figure 5 shows a partial view of the installation of the road assembly according to the first embodiment of the invention during an installation step; and

[0034] [Fig 6] Figure 6 shows a partial view of an installation of the road assembly according to a second embodiment of the invention during an installation step.

[0035] Figure 1 shows an installation of a road system according to a first embodiment, designated by the general reference 2.

[0036] The installation 2 comprises an underground structure 4, for example a manhole chimney, delimiting an access opening 6 and a support surface 8. The installation 2 further comprises a floor covering 10 arranged on the underground structure 4.

[0037] The access opening 6 is cylindrical, in this case with a substantially circular cross-section, and has a central access axis XX. The central access axis XX is in this case vertical.

[0038] The installation 2 comprises a road assembly 12. The road assembly 12 is equipped with a road device 20.

[0039] In the following, orientation terms such as "top", "bottom", "upper", and "lower" will be used with respect to the orientation of the access opening 6 and with respect to the position of the roadway device 20 in the installed state.

[0040] This road device 20 comprises a frame 22, a covering element 24 (shown schematically in Figure 1 and in detail in Figures 5 and 6) and a base joint 26.

[0041] The frame 22 is for example made of metal and preferably cast iron. The frame 22 extends around a central frame axis AA, which coincides with the central access axis XX. The frame 22 is provided with a sealing sole 28 adapted to anchor the frame 22 relative to the access opening 6 in sealing material 100 (see Figure 2). The sealing sole 28 comprises a sealing flange 30, which is in this case essentially in the form of a flat annular axis AA and extends perpendicularly to the central frame axis AA. The sealing flange 30 advantageously comprises sealing openings (not shown), which are through-openings of frame 22. The sealing sole 28 may have various shapes and for example comprise cells such as disclosed in patent application EP1826320A1.Frame 22 defines a minimum sealing level NSM which is a level of the minimum sealing material provided for a correct fixing quality of the frame in the sealing material.

[0042] The frame 22 is further provided with a frame skirt 32. The frame skirt 32 comprises a wall of substantially cylindrical shape around the central axis of frame AA and extends, in the installed state of the road device 20, from the sealing sole 28 upwards. In this case, seen along the central axis of frame AA, the frame skirt 32 is substantially circular.

[0043] Furthermore, the frame 22 has a seating rib 34 which, from the frame skirt 32, projects radially inwardly relative to the frame centerline AA.

[0044] The seat seal 26 is arranged on the seat rib 34. In this case, the seat seal 26 has a substantially “C”-shaped cross-section, radially open outwardly relative to the central frame axis AA. The seat seal 26 is adapted to receive the covering element 24. The covering element 24, in the closed position, rests on the seat seal 26. The seat seal 26 is for example made of synthetic material, such as elastomer. The seat seal 26 may also be made of a composite material, such as a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene or such as ethylene-vinyl acetate. Advantageously, the material of the seat seal 26 resists traffic stresses, crushing, abrasion and fatigue over a wide temperature range.

[0045] The seat seal 26 has the function of absorbing the mechanical stresses caused by the repeated passage of vehicles and thus of preserving the sealing of the frame relative to the structure on which the frame rests. The seat seal 26 also serves, if necessary, to center and stabilize the covering element 24 by enclosing a centering skirt 94 (see Figures 5 and 6) of this covering element 24. Thus, when the covering element 24 is in the closed position, any metallic contact between the covering element 24 and the frame 22 is avoided. The seat seal 26 therefore prevents the generation of noise when a vehicle passes. The seat seal 26 also opposes the suction of the covering element 24 generated by the passage of a vehicle.

[0046] The frame 22 comprises in this case a hinge recess 40 delimiting a hinge surface 42. The hinge recess 40 is open on the side of the sealing sole. The covering element 24 comprises a knuckle 44 provided with a hinge surface 46 which is complementary to the hinge surface 42.

[0047] The road assembly 12 advantageously comprises a position adjustment device 50 adapted to adjust the vertical position of the frame 22 on the support surface 8 (see Figure 1). In this case, this position adjustment device 50 is provided with one or more adjustment screws 52 and may be provided, for each adjustment screw, with an adjustment nut 54 into which the or one of the adjustment screws 52 is screwed. The adjustment nut 54 is fixed to the frame 22 by a fixing block 55 (Figure 2) which is part of the position adjustment device 50 and which extends over the sealing sole 28 on the side of the frame skirt 32. The position adjustment device 50 is preferably made of synthetic material, in particular nylon.

[0048] The road assembly 12 also comprises indication means 56 indicating the minimum sealing level NSM. In this case, these indication means 56 are formed by the position adjustment device 50, and in particular by a portion of the fixing block 55. More particularly, these indication means 56 are a front surface 58 of the fixing block 55. The front surface 58 is directed upwards.

[0049] The road assembly 12 comprises first protection means 60 adapted to protect at least a lower portion of the seat joint 26 from a sealing material 100 flowing around the sealing sole 28. The first protection means 60 are arranged on the seat joint 26. The first protection means 60 are temporary and removable protection means and are adapted to be removed from the seat joint 26 before the covering element 24 is placed on the seat joint 26 of the frame 22.

[0050] The minimum sealing level NSM is in this case above the lower part of the seat joint 26. In other words, in the absence of the first protection means 60, the sealing material 100 in the liquid or pasty state and poured up to the nominal sealing level NSM would coat a lower part of the seat joint 26.

[0051] The first protection means 60 are adapted to protect at least the lower part of the seat seal 26 from a sealing material extending or flowing up to the nominal sealing level NSM.

[0052] The first protection means 60 comprise in this case a protection ring 62 covering the seat seal 26. This protection ring 62 has a substantially “C” shaped cross section.

[0053] The seat seal 26 has a given rigidity. The protective ring 62 has a rigidity lower than the rigidity of the seat seal 26. The protective ring 62 is for example made of plastic, in particular recycled polyethylene, expanded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane, or cardboard. Thus, after the sealing material 100 has hardened, the protective ring 62 can be removed from the seat seal 26 without necessarily having to locally remove hardened sealing material.

[0054] The road assembly 12 comprises second protection means 70 adapted to protect the hinge recess 40 from a sealing material 100 flowing around the sealing sole 28. These second protection means 70 are temporary protection means and are adapted to be removed from the road device 20, after the sealing material 100 has hardened, without necessarily having to locally remove hardened sealing material. It should be noted that the term first means and second means only serves to differentiate the means from each other, but does not indicate a functional dependency.

[0055] The second protection means 70 comprise, for example, a synthetic foam block 72. Alternatively, the second protection means 70 comprise a crumpled paper block, a bag filled with polystyrene beads, and / or an inflatable element. It should be noted that the road assembly 12 may comprise the second protection means 70 independently of the presence of the first protection means and / or independently of the barrier 90 (see below). The road assembly 12 may therefore comprise the second protection means 70 but not comprise the first protection means 60 and / or the barrier 90.

[0056] Advantageously, the second protection means 70 are adapted to create or allow a passage cavity 74 (Figure 4) to remain in the sealing material 100, connecting the hinge recess 40 and the access opening 6. This passage cavity 74 can form a dirt evacuation channel located in the hinge recess 40. Advantageously, the passage cavity 74 allows the subsequent cleaning of the hinge recess 40 to remove stones and other dirt located therein.

[0057] The road assembly 12 further comprises an internal formwork element 80. The internal formwork element 80 is applied, advantageously by complementarity of shapes, on the first protection means 60. The internal formwork element 80 extends axially from the seat joint 26 to below the sealing sole 28. The internal formwork element 80 extends in this case axially in the access opening 6 and is applied in this access opening on the underground structure 4. Thus, the internal formwork element 80 forms a barrier opposing the flow of the sealing material 100 in the liquid or pasty state from the gap between the sealing sole 28 and the support surface 8 into the access opening 6. The internal formwork element 80 therefore closes this gap.

[0058] Advantageously, the formwork element 80 has an outer diameter DEC which is greater than the inner diameter DU of the seat joint 26 (Figure 2). Thus, the formwork element 80 fills the space which, in the assembled state of the road device 20, is occupied by the centering skirt 94 (see Figures 5 and 6). Unintentional contact between the centering skirt 94 and the sealing material 100 is therefore avoided. In this case, this inner formwork element 80 is inflatable and deflatable. In the inflated state, the inner formwork element 80 forms the aforementioned barrier. In the deflated state, the inner formwork element 80 can be removed from the road device 20.

[0059] In order to generate the passage cavity 74, the second protection means 70 advantageously extend to the interior formwork element 80 (Figure 2).

[0060] Furthermore, the road assembly 12 may comprise a barrier 90 adapted to prevent the flow of a non-solid finishing coating over an upper edge 92 of the frame 22. This finishing coating is advantageously identical to the ground covering 10 and is in particular a road covering such as bituminous coating or asphalt. The barrier 90 thus protects the covering element by preventing it from being soiled by the finishing coating when the latter is put in place. The upper edge 92 of the frame 22 is in this case formed by the frame skirt 32.

[0061] It should be noted that the road assembly 12 may comprise the barrier 90 independently of the presence of the first protection means 60 and / or the second protection means 70. The road assembly 12 may therefore comprise the barrier 90 but not comprise the first protection means 60 and / or the second protection means 70.

[0062] As illustrated in Figure 5, the barrier 90 may be disposed radially outwardly of the frame skirt 32 of the frame 22, relative to the frame center axis AA. In this configuration, when compacting the topcoat using a tamper, the barrier 90 protects the frame by preventing the tamper shoe from striking it while the sealant 100 is still somewhat fresh or insufficiently cured.

[0063] Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 6, the barrier 90 may be disposed radially inside the frame skirt 32 of the frame 22 relative to the frame center axis AA. In this case, the barrier 90 is disposed in a gap between the frame skirt 32 and the cover member 24.

[0064] The barrier 90 is, for example, a strip of rubber or bituminous material. Alternatively, this barrier 90 is advantageously produced in the form of a strip of steel sheet or plastic material.

[0065] In Figures 5 and 6, it can also be seen that the covering element 24 is provided with a centering skirt 94, which in the closed state rests against the seat seal 26.

[0066] Alternatively, the road device does not comprise a hinge recess 40 or a knuckle 44. In this case, the road assembly also does not comprise the second temporary protection means 70 adapted to protect the hinge recess from a sealing material flowing around the sealing sole. In a variant not shown, the indication means 56 indicating the minimum sealing level NSM are not formed by the position adjustment device 50 but comprise markings which are arranged directly on the frame 22 or which are integral with the frame 22. The indication means 56 are for example materialized by a lateral rib on the outside of the skirt of the frame, this rib serving as a reference mark to indicate the minimum sealing level NSM above the sole of the frame.

[0067] Alternatively, the inner formwork element is not inflatable and deflatable, but is made of a solid material, such as synthetic foam.

[0068] The sealing material 100 is for example a cement mortar.

[0069] A use of a road assembly disclosed above advantageously comprises the following successive steps.

[0070] The removable interior formwork element 80 is placed in the access opening 6 of the underground structure 4. The removable interior formwork element 80 is applied to the surface of the opening 6.

[0071] Then, the frame is placed on the underground structure 4, centering it on the access opening 6 and the height position of the frame 22 on the support surface 8 is adjusted. In this case, the height adjustment is carried out by the adjustment screws 52.

[0072] The leveling of the frame 22 using the adjustment screws 52 is carried out by leaving a minimum space between the frame 22 and the support surface 8. Thus, after sealing, the minimum thickness of sealing material recommended under the sealing sole 28 is obtained. For this purpose, each of the adjustment screws 52 is screwed into an adjustment nut 54 positioned under the support sole of the frame 22 and which defines a minimum thickness for the sealing material arranged under the sole of the frame.

[0073] Where appropriate, when the roadway device is provided with a hinge, the second protective means 70 are put in place. This is done for example by means of crumpled newspaper and introduced into the hinge recess 40 of the frame 22. Alternatively, as second protective means, it is also possible to use a bag filled with polystyrene balls, an inflatable means or a block of synthetic foam, such means being able to deform easily to be introduced into the hinge recess 40 and then to be removed after sealing the frame.

[0074] Then the first protection means 60 are put in place around the seat seal 26.

[0075] The removable interior formwork element 80 is then raised until it comes into contact with the first protection means 60. The sealing material 100 in a pasty or liquid state, in any case in a non-solid state, is poured outside the frame 22, ensuring that the sealing material flows under the sealing sole 28. Then the sealing material 100 flows back, if necessary through the cells provided in the frame, until it reaches the minimum sealing level NSM above the sealing sole 28 of the frame.

[0076] Then we wait for the sealing material to set.

[0077] Then the inner formwork element 80 and possibly the second protection means 70 are removed. The first protection means 60 are removed from the seat joint 26.

[0078] Then, the covering element 24 is placed on the frame 22.

[0079] If necessary, the outer barrier 90 is placed so as to match the profile of the frame. The barrier 90 is adapted to protect the frame 22 and the covering element 24 during the laying of the finishing coating, such as bituminous coating or asphalt. Its purpose is to prevent the shoe of a snow groomer from striking the frame 22 while the sealing material 100 is still fresh. Furthermore, it prevents the surface of the covering element 24 from being soiled by the finishing coating.

[0080] Finally the finishing coating is laid around the frame 22 and compacted, aligning it with the existing level of the surrounding ground, such as the roadway or sidewalk.

[0081] If the barrier 90 is made of bituminous material and the finishing coating is bitumen-based, the barrier could remain in place after tamping the finishing coating and possibly after cutting the barrier 90 at the height of the frame 22, thus making the space between the frame skirt and the finishing coating watertight. However, it will still be necessary to heat the barrier 90 with a blowtorch in order to obtain the desired watertightness.

[0082] The preceding description contains technical features of the invention. These technical features, although presented in a technical context and possibly in combination with other technical features, can be used individually in each case, without the other technical features, as far as this is technically possible.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. Road assembly, comprising a frame (22) of a road device (20), and a seat joint (26) of the road device, adapted to receive a covering element (24), the frame comprising a sealing sole (28) and a frame skirt (32), characterized in that the road assembly (12) comprises first protection means (60) adapted to protect at least a lower part of the seat joint from a sealing material flowing around the sealing sole (28), and in that the first protection means are arranged on the seat joint (26).

2. A road assembly according to claim 1, wherein the frame comprises a seat rib (34) and the seat seal (26) is disposed on the seat rib.

3. A road assembly according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the frame defines a minimum sealing level (NSM), and wherein the first protection means (60) are adapted to protect at least a lower portion of the base joint (26) from a sealing material (100) extending to the minimum sealing level.

4. A road assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first protection means comprise a protection ring (62) covering the seat seal (26), and wherein the protection ring has a substantially “C” shaped cross-section.

5. Road assembly according to claim 4, in which the seat joint (26) has a given rigidity, in which the protective ring (62) has a rigidity lower than the rigidity of the seat joint and in which the protective ring is made of plastic material, in particular recycled polyethylene, expanded polystyrene, expanded polyurethane, or cardboard.

6. Road assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5, in which the road assembly (12) further comprises an internal formwork element (80), in particular inflatable, in which the internal formwork element is applied by complementary shapes to the first protection means, in particular in which the inner formwork element extends axially from the seat joint (26) to below the sealing sole (28).

7. A road assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the frame comprises a hinge recess (40) defining hinge surfaces (42), wherein the hinge recess is open on the side of the sealing sole, and wherein the road assembly comprises second protection means (70) adapted to protect the hinge recess from a sealing material flowing around the sealing sole (28).

8. Road assembly according to claim 7, in which the second protection means (70) comprise a crumpled paper block, a bag filled with polystyrene beads, an inflatable element, and / or a synthetic foam block.

9. A road assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the road assembly (12) comprises a barrier (90) adapted to oppose the flow of a non-solid topcoat over an upper edge (92) of the frame (22).

10. A road assembly according to claim 9, wherein the barrier (90) is arranged radially outside the frame skirt or the barrier is arranged radially inside the frame skirt (32).

11. A road assembly according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the barrier is a strip of rubber or bituminous material.

12. Road assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the road assembly further comprises a position adjustment device (50), in particular provided with adjustment screws (52), adapted to adjust the vertical position of the frame (22) on a support surface (8).

13. Road assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 12, comprising a road device (20) which is provided with the frame (22), the seat seal (26) and a covering element (24) associated with the frame (22).

14. Method for installing a road assembly, characterized in that the road assembly is a road assembly according to any one of the preceding claims, the method comprising the following successive steps: - installation of the frame (22) and the seat seal (26), - covering the seat joint (26) with the first protective means (60) adapted to protect at least a lower part of the seat joint with a sealing material, - pouring sealing material around the sealing sole (28) up to a minimum sealing level, and - removal of the first protective means (60) from the seat seal (26).

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