Gully covering device

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for covering a gully (1), comprising pads (5) arranged on the side walls (2) of the gully (1). A first pad (51) comprises, at a first end (9), a lock (12) having a rotor (15) connected to a shaft (17) that can co-operate with a key. The rotor comprises a bolt (14) having a catch (21). At a second end of a second pad (52), a striker (13) is adapted to co-operate with the bolt (14) of the first pad (51). The rotor (15) of the first pad (51) can be actuated with the key between an unlocked position, in which the first pad (51) can be lifted, and a locked position in which the bolt (14) is placed under a lug (28) of the striker (13) of the second pad, thereby preventing the first pad (51) from being lifted and causing the catch (21) to engage with a stop that prevents the pads from being separated.

Description

[0001] Gutter cover device

[0002] TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003]

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of covers for covering a gutter.

[0004]

[0002] It relates in particular to a drainage channel cover device, adapted for use especially on channels intended to receive conduits or cables.

[0005]

[0003] The present invention thus relates to a gutter cover intended to secure the gutter, in order to prevent, for example, malicious acts such as the theft of electrical cables.

[0006] STATE OF THE ART

[0007]

[0004] Roadways or other road or urban infrastructure as well as railway infrastructure commonly feature gutters, that is to say a channel generally made of masonry which is intended to receive conduits or cables.

[0008]

[0005] The term "conduit" means any pipe, tube, or sheath adapted for the flow of a fluid. The term "cable" means any set of insulated wires or fibers used for the transmission of electricity or data, including electrical cables and optical fibers.

[0009]

[0006] One of the preferred applications of the present invention relates to the channels located along railway tracks, in which a multitude of cables are installed, for communication or power supply to railway equipment.

[0010]

[0007] These channels often have a general U-shape, with a horizontal bottom and two vertical side walls. One or more internal longitudinal partitions may optionally be formed in the channel. These channels are generally made of concrete.

[0011]

[0008] To protect the cables in these cable trays and restrict access to them, it is known to cover a cable tray with a series of cover elements in the form of slabs, generally made of concrete, which rest on the vertical outer walls of the tray. This solution provides good protection for the conduits and cables against external elements and is generally sufficient to prevent damage that could be caused by people without the necessary equipment to lift the cover elements. However, this type of cover element can be easily lifted by inserting a crowbar between the cover element and the wall of the tray, then sliding it across to gain access to the inside of the tray. Thus, this protection is insufficient against the risks of intentional damage and cable theft.

[0012]

[0009] Some systems for securing grates on gutters are known.

[0013]

[0010] For example, document EP4065788 and document EP1468148 disclose channel or gutter grates with fixing systems allowing the grate to be locked against the walls of the channel.

[0014]

[0011] However, these systems require that the channel walls have a shape specifically adapted for locking the grate. These solutions are therefore complex to implement and cannot be used to equip existing channels and / or channels with a simple shape. Furthermore, these systems ensure that a grate is securely held in place on a channel, thus preventing the channel from unexpectedly moving the grate. However, these systems allow for opening with bare hands or with a very simple tool (such as a crowbar).

[0015]

[0012] There are also known documents disclosing gutter cover elements, particularly grates, which have features at their longitudinal ends (in the general direction of gutter extension) that allow for cooperation between adjacent grates. This is the case, for example, in document KR161035444. This cooperation prevents a cover element from being lifted without also lifting the adjacent element. However, it generally does not prevent two adjacent cover elements from being pried apart with a simple crowbar, and then the cover element from being lifted. If the gaps between the adjacent elements are insufficient, it is necessary to remove all the cover elements (or a large number of cover elements) to access a given area of ​​the gutter.

[0016]

[0013] The solutions for securing a channel, in particular a long channel, known in the prior art are therefore imperfect, either in that they provide insufficient security, or in that they are complex to implement or that they cause inconveniences for carrying out maintenance or control operations in the channel.

[0017] STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0018]

[0014] The present invention thus aims to propose a gutter cover solution solving all or part of the problems mentioned above.

[0019] The present invention relates to a channel cover device, the channel having two lateral walls and extending along a longitudinal direction. The cover device comprises a series of rectangular pads, each having a first pad and a second pad adjacent in the longitudinal direction. Each pad is configured to rest on the lateral walls of the channel, and each pad has an upper face and a lower face. The transverse direction is conventionally defined as the direction in the plane of the pad perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the vertical direction as the direction perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transverse directions.

[0020]

[0015] The first buffer comprises, on its lower face, at a first longitudinal end of the buffer, a lock having a rotor mounted to rotate relative to the buffer about a longitudinal axis and a shaft extending longitudinally and rigidly connected to a first end of the rotor, the shaft being adapted to cooperate with a key to be actuated in rotation and drive the rotor in rotation, the rotor having a second end having a bolt, said bolt having a catch

[0021]

[0016] The second buffer has, on its lower face, at a second longitudinal end of the buffer, a strike plate adapted to cooperate with the bolt of the first buffer.

[0022] The rotor of the first buffer can be operated in rotation with the key between: an unlocked position in which the bolt is disengaged from the strike plate of the second buffer, so that the first buffer can be freely lifted, in the vertical direction, opposite the second buffer, and a locked position in which the bolt is placed under a lug of the strike plate of the second buffer, which prevents the first buffer from being lifted opposite the second buffer, and in which the cleat mechanically interferes with a stop of the lug, preventing longitudinal separation between the first buffer and the second buffer.

[0023]

[0017] The cover device according to the present invention thus makes it possible to secure a channel, in particular a long channel such as a cable protection channel. Each cover can only be detached from the adjacent covers using a suitable tool, namely a key. In particular, unlike known linking devices between several cover elements, the proposed device not only prevents lifting between two covers but also prevents them from being separated longitudinally. Nevertheless, it remains possible, with the suitable key, to access the inside of the channel at the level of a cover by unlocking the lock of the cover in question and that of the preceding cover. As a result, when the locks of the cover device are locked, the covers are joined together and cannot be separated.A tampon cannot be lifted individually, and the weight of the tampon combined with the tampons surrounding it prevents it from being lifted.

[0024]

[0018] The first and second pads are two adjacent pads in the pad sequence of the cover device. They can be located at any point in the pad sequence.

[0019] All the pads in the pad sequence can be identical. In this case, each pad has a latch at its first longitudinal end and a strike plate at its second longitudinal end.

[0025]

[0020] The second end of each pad may have a tab on which the first longitudinal end of an adjacent pad is superimposed.

[0026]

[0021] The tab may be a curved tab, and the first longitudinal end of the adjacent pad may have a bulge which fits into a concavity formed by the curved tab.

[0027]

[0022] The first longitudinal end of the adjacent pad may then include a hook that is positioned under the tab (whether curved or not). Thus, in some embodiments, the curved tab of the pad is positioned between the bulge and the hook of the adjacent pad.

[0028]

[0023] Each pad may include lateral wings intended to cover an upper portion of the lateral walls of the channel.

[0029]

[0024] The buffers are advantageously metallic, for example cast iron.

[0030]

[0025] The shaft and the rotor can be one piece.

[0031]

[0026] The shaft can be brought back to the rotor to which it is fixed, for example, by fitting, screwing, or welding.

[0032]

[0027] The swaging can be made from material with each pad.

[0033]

[0028] The lock may include a return device tending to bring the rotor into the locked position.

[0034]

[0029] The return device may be a torsion spring.

[0035]

[0030] Each pad may have an opening adapted for the passage of the key and allowing the rotation of said key in contact with the shaft to turn the rotor between the locked and unlocked position and vice versa.

[0036]

[0031] The opening can be in an "L" shape on the upper face.

[0037]

[0032] Each pad can have a length, measured in the longitudinal direction, of between 30 cm and 2 m, such as 50 cm or 1 m.

[0038]

[0033] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a U-shaped channel having a bottom and two substantially vertical side walls and a cover device as described above placed on the side walls of said channel.

[0039] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0040]

[0034] Other advantages, purposes and particular features of the present invention will become apparent from the following non-limiting description of at least one particular embodiment of the devices and methods of the present invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0041] • Figure 1 presents, according to a schematic three-dimensional view, a gutter comprising a cover device conforming to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0042] • Figure 2 represents two pads of a covering device according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[0043] • Figure 3 is a partial view of two adjacent pads of a cover device according to an embodiment of the invention, mounting in particular a lock that can be used within the framework of the invention, this lock being in the unlocked position;

[0044] • Figure 4 is a partial view of two adjacent pads of a cover device according to an embodiment of the invention, mounting in particular a lock that can be used within the framework of the invention, this lock being in the locked position;

[0045] • Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the lock in Figure 4;

[0046] • Figure 6 is a partial view of the upper surface of two adjacent pads in one embodiment of the invention;

[0047] • Figure 7 shows, according to a schematic three-dimensional view, two adjacent buffers that can be used in one embodiment of the invention;

[0048] • Figure 8 shows, in a three-dimensional cross-sectional view, a detail of the connection between the two buffers of Figure 7.

[0049] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0050]

[0035] The present description is given as a non-limiting example of an embodiment.

[0051]

[0036] Figure 1 shows a channel cover device designed to fit securely onto a channel 1 having two side walls 2 and a bottom 3 and extending along a longitudinal direction L. This channel can thus be considered to have a cross-section substantially in the shape of a "U". This type of channel can therefore be designated as a "U-shaped" channel.

[0052]

[0037] This type of drainage channel, which is generally made of concrete, is commonly used to protect conduits or electrical cables. For example, these channels are found along railway lines. The invention is also applicable to drainage channels for the flow of a fluid (for example, water) having a similar configuration.

[0053]

[0038] In the example shown here, the channel 1 has a longitudinal internal partition wall 4. This wall is not necessary for the implementation of the present invention.

[0039] The cover device, as seen in Figure 1 and Figure 2, comprises a series of rectangular pads 5 arranged successively in the longitudinal direction L of the channel 1. Each pad 5 is configured to rest on the lateral walls 2 of the channel 1.

[0054]

[0040] Each pad has an upper face 6, seen by the user, and a lower face 7 which faces the inside of the channel 1.

[0055]

[0041] The buffers 5 being aligned and abutted (with overlap, as explained below) along the longitudinal direction L, the transverse direction T is defined as the direction in the plane of the buffer (for example the plane of the upper surface 6) and perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L.

[0056]

[0042] The vertical direction V is defined as being perpendicular to both the longitudinal and transverse directions

[0057]

[0043] The buffers 5 are generally oriented so that their longer sides run parallel to the longitudinal direction L of the channel, and their shorter sides are oriented along the transverse direction T.

[0058]

[0044] The buffers 5 are advantageously metallic. They can, for example, be made of cast iron.

[0059]

[0045] The pads 5 may, for example, have a length (i.e., their dimension in the longitudinal direction L) of between 30 cm and 2 m. Their length may be, for example, 1 m or approximately 1 m, or 50 cm or approximately 50 cm. By approximately, we mean plus or minus 20%. The width (dimension in the transverse direction) of the pads may, for example, be between 30 cm and 1 m. Such dimensions make each pad sufficiently heavy (individually or in combination with the pads to which it is connected, directly or indirectly) to be difficult to move, but still manageable by one or two operators, or with conventional lifting equipment.

[0060]

[0046] Since the manhole covers generally all have the same dimensions, or are selected from a predefined range of manhole covers with predefined dimensions, a gap of varying length may remain at the end of the channel. In this case, an end plate can be placed on the end of the last manhole cover to cover this gap and prevent the final manhole cover from being lifted by pushing against the remaining gap at the end of the channel. The end plate is fixed, for example screwed onto a fixed element connected to the channel (end wall, channel structure itself), so that it cannot be removed without tools (or even removed at all, if it is sealed, for example).

[0061]

[0047] In the example shown here, the covers 5 have, at their longitudinal edges, lateral wings 8. The wings 8 are substantially vertical flaps, which cover the top of the lateral walls 2 of the channel 1 when the cover 5 is in place, resting on said lateral walls 2.

[0062]

[0048] This increases the safety and efficiency of the cover. In particular, it prevents the cover from being lifted as could be done in the absence of the wings 8 by inserting a crowbar between the cover and the upper edge of the channel.

[0063]

[0049] Figure 2 represents in particular a first buffer 51 and a second buffer 52. The first buffer 51 and the second buffer 52 are adjacent, and therefore correspond to two successive buffers of the cover device.

[0064]

[0050] The connection which is made between the first buffer 51 and the second buffer 52 is described below with reference to figures 3 to 6.

[0065]

[0051] Such a connection is nevertheless made, in certain embodiments, between all the adjacent buffers of the device.

[0066]

[0052] Each buffer 5 has a first end 9 and a second end 10 longitudinally opposed.

[0067]

[0053] The first pad 51 is joined longitudinally to the second pad 52, the first end 9 of the first pad 51 nevertheless overlapping and bearing on a tab 11 formed at the second end 10 of the second pad 52. The upper surface of the tab 11 is level with the lower surface of the second pad 52, so that the lower surface of the first pad 51 rests on the tab 11, and the upper surface of the first pad is in line with the upper surface of the second pad, without any difference in level. As an alternative to a flat tab, a curved tab can be used as described below with reference to Figure 7 and Figure 8.

[0068]

[0054] Figure 3 shows the lower face 7 of the first pad 51 and the second pad 52. According to the present invention, each pad is connected to the adjacent pad(s) to prevent the pad from lifting vertically relative to the adjacent pad. The connection between each pair of adjacent pads also aims to prevent separation in the longitudinal direction L between the pad and the adjacent pad.

[0069]

[0055] In other words, the aim is to secure, in particular, the first buffer 51 vis-à-vis the second buffer 52, both in the vertical direction V and in the longitudinal direction L.

[0070]

[0056] For this purpose the first buffer 51 has, at its first end 9 in the longitudinal direction L, a lock 12. The second buffer 52 has at its second end 10 in the longitudinal direction L a strike plate 13 adapted to cooperate with a bolt 14 of the lock.

[0071]

[0057] In particular, the lock 12 comprises a rotor 15, which is rotatably mounted relative to the first buffer 51 along a longitudinal axis (L1). The rotation of the rotor 15 relative to the buffer can be guided by a support 16 which, in the example shown, is formed from the same material as the first buffer 51, and which forms a bearing or a bearing support for the rotor 15.

[0072]

[0058] The lock 12 includes a shaft 17 which extends longitudinally and which is rigidly connected to a first end of the rotor 15. In the example shown, the connection between the shaft 17 and the rotor 15 is made using a screw 18 and a nut 19, this screw 18 forming a key.

[0073]

[0059] The shaft 17 is thus securely attached to the rotor 15. Alternatively, the shaft and the rotor can be one piece or the shaft can be fixed to the rotor by various alternative or complementary means such as fitting, screwing, and welding.

[0074]

[0060] The tree 17 has at its other end an imprint 20, visible in figure 5.

[0075] This non-circular recess allows the shaft 17 (and therefore also the rotor 15 to which the shaft 17 is connected) to be rotated about the longitudinal axis L1 using a suitable tool called a wrench. Specifically, the tool has a tip with a corresponding shape. In the example shown, the recess is approximately square, so the suitable wrench has a tip with a square cross-sectional cavity, the same size as the recess except for a functional clearance, which can be engaged with the recess 20.

[0076]

[0061] The rotor 15 has the bolt 14 at its second end. The bolt 14 is substantially shaped like a portion of a hollow cylinder whose main axis coincides with the longitudinal axis L1. The bolt 14 has a stop 21 at its end. The stop 21 consists here of an extension of the bolt 14, along a portion of its arc and over a limited length of the bolt 14 from its end. More generally, the stop 21 may constitute a projecting protrusion from the rest of the bolt, which forms a bearing surface 22 perpendicular to the longitudinal axis L1.

[0077]

[0062] In the unlocked position of the bolt 14 and the corresponding lock 12, shown in Figure 3, the first buffer 51 can be lifted. The bolt 14 does not interfere with the strike plate 13 and can escape through a notch 23 formed at the second end 10 of the second buffer 52, opposite the bolt 14 when it is in the unlocked position.

[0078]

[0063] In Figure 4 and Figure 5, the lock 12 and the bolt 14 are shown in the locked position. As can be seen in Figure 5, the lock 12 may include a spring 24 (or any equivalent means), advantageously a torsion spring, which tends to return and hold the lock 12 in the locked position. Thus, the lock 12 can only be unlocked by turning the shaft 17 with a key.

[0079]

[0064] The bolt 14 moves from the unlocked position to the locked position by rotating it a quarter turn (or approximately a quarter turn) relative to the unlocked position.

[0065] This rotation is achieved by rotating a complementary key in the recess 20. For this purpose, the key is inserted into an opening 25 formed in the buffer 5 (see Figure 6). The opening 25 advantageously has an "L" shape on the upper surface 6 of the buffer 5. This shape guides the movement of the key to unlock the buffer's lock. The key is inserted through a first arm 26 of the opening 25 at a certain angle to the upper surface 6 and is engaged with the recess 20 by a longitudinal movement. This brings the key into contact with the second arm 27 of the "L" formed by the opening 25. The key can then be pivoted into the second arm 27.The key cannot be removed while it is in the second branch 27, so it is necessary to return the lock to the locked position in order to remove the key.

[0080]

[0066] Obviously, many other opening configurations allowing the lock to be operated are conceivable.

[0081]

[0067] The strike plate 13 has a lug 28. When the lock is brought into the locked position, as shown in Figure 4 and Figure 5, the bolt comes to be positioned under the lug 28, which it covers (viewed from inside the channel).

[0082]

[0068] Thus, it is impossible to lift (i.e., to move upwards, vertically) the first edge 9 of the first buffer 51 vis-à-vis the second edge 10 of the second buffer 52.

[0083]

[0069] Furthermore, the lug 28 forms a stop 29. If one seeks to separate the first buffer 51 and the second buffer from each other, in the longitudinal direction, while the lock 12 and the bolt 14 are in the locked position, the stop 21 opposes this separation by mechanical interference with the stop 29. In particular, the bearing surface 22 of the stop 21 bears against a surface opposite the stop 29, which prevents two adjacent buffers from being separated.

[0084]

[0070] It should also be noted that in both the locked and unlocked positions, the locking of the bolt 14 in the strike plate 12 prevents relative lateral movement between two adjacent buffers. In practice, when the buffers have wings 8, such lateral movement is also rendered impossible by interaction between the wings 8 and the walls 2 of the channel 1.

[0085]

[0071] Figure 7 shows the assembly of two adjacent pads that can be implemented within the framework of the present invention. Figure 7 does not focus on the connection achieved using the lock described above, but on the fact that cohesion can be obtained between two adjacent pads by means of elements located at the ends of the pads. In this embodiment, each pad 5 comprises a curved tab 30 in place of the flat tab 11 described above. The curved tab 30 is thus formed at the second end 10 of each pad 5. At its first end 9, each pad has a bulge 31, designed to bear against the curved tab 30 of an adjacent pad, in the concavity it forms. At the first end 9, each pad also comprises at least one hook 32.The hook 32 is positioned under the curved tab of the adjacent cover when two covers are butted together, as shown in Figure 8. Once the covers are butted together and placed on the channel to be protected, they are held vertically relative to each other because the curved tab 30 is interposed between the hook 32 and the lower face 7 of the adjacent cover. They are also held longitudinally relative to each other by the interaction between the bulge 31 and the curved tab 30. Thus, two adjacent covers 5 can only be butted together and separated from each other by pivoting them relative to each other, in order to disengage the curved tab 30 from the hook 32 and the bulge 31 of the adjacent cover.

[0086]

[0072] This configuration thus makes it possible to equip only certain covers in the series of covers that cover the channel to be protected with a lock, for example, every other cover, every third, every fourth, or every five, or even more. This limits the overall cost of covering the channel. However, to work under a particular cover, it is then necessary to remove the cover with a lock that is closest to the cover under which access is desired, and then remove as many adjacent covers as necessary to reach the cover under which access is desired.

[0087]

[0073] Since each cover of the cover device (with the obvious exception of the end covers) is linked to the two adjacent covers, both vertically and longitudinally, it is not possible to remove a cover without unlocking the lock of a cover equipped with one and, if applicable, the lock of the adjacent cover located towards the other end of the cover to be removed. Although the cover device is not fixed to the channel, but merely resting on it, the cumulative weight of the series of interconnected covers prevents any attempt to lift the covers.

[0088]

[0074] Finally, some channels may be formed of several straight sections, which follow one another at a certain angle. In this case, an angled gap is formed between the two covers located on either side of the angle. These two covers cannot therefore be joined together, either by the locking and latch system described above, or by cohesion between a curved tab and a bulge (or other similar elements) as explained above. In this case, an angle plate can be interposed between these two covers. The angle plate is a plate forming an angle corresponding to the angle between the two channel sections, or an assembly of several plates hinged to form the same angle as the two channel sections.The plate has an element beneath its surface (such as a U-shaped flange) into which the end of the adjacent cover (i.e., the end of one of the covers located on either side of the angle formed by a channel) can be inserted. The cover and the plate are thus vertically secured. The covers located on either side of the angle formed by the channel cannot therefore be lifted independently of the corner plate and the other covers of the cover system.

[0089]

[0075] The channel cover device thus developed allows for the secure covering of long channels, as access to the inside of the channel is only possible with the appropriate tool. The protected channel can be a standard U-shaped channel, which does not require any special equipment or shape for attaching the covers.

[0090]

[0076] Nomenclature:

[0091] • 1 - Gutter

[0092] • 2 - Side walls of the gutter

[0093] • 3 - Bottom of the gutter

[0094] • 4 - Internal longitudinal partition wall of the gutter

[0095] • 5 - Stamp

[0096] • 6 - Top surface (of the stamp)

[0097] • 7 - Underside (of the tampon)

[0098] • 8 - Side wings (of the buffer)

[0099] • 9 - First end of the buffer

[0100] • 10 - Second end of the buffer

[0101] • 11 - Tab

[0102] • 12 - Lock

[0103] • 13 - Strike plate

[0104] • 14 - Bolt

[0105] • 15 - Rotor

[0106] • 16 - Support

[0107] • 17 - Tree

[0108] • 18 - Screw

[0109] • 19 - Nut

[0110] • 20 - Footprint

[0111] • 21 - Cleat

[0112] • 22 - Support surface

[0113] • 23 - Notch

[0114] • 24 - Spring

[0115] • 25 - Opening

[0116] • 26 - First branch of the opening

[0117] • 27 - Second branch of the opening

[0118] • 28 - Spur • 29 - Stop

[0119] • 30 - Curved tongue

[0120] • 31 - Bulge

[0121] • 32 - Hook • 51 - First stamp

[0122] • 52 - Second stamp

[0123] • L - Longitudinal direction

[0124] • L1 – Longitudinal axis of the rotor

[0125] • T - Transverse direction • V - Vertical direction

Claims

Demands 1. A channel cover device (1), said channel having two lateral walls (2) and said channel extending along a longitudinal direction (L), the cover device comprising a succession of rectangular covers (5), comprising a first cover (51) and a second cover (52) adjacent in the longitudinal direction (L), each cover (5) being configured to be placed on the lateral walls (2) of the channel (1), each cover (5) having an upper face (6) and a lower face (7), and wherein the transverse direction (T) is defined as the direction in the plane of the cover (5) perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L), and the vertical direction (V) as the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction (L) and to the transverse direction (T), characterized in that the first cover (51) has on its inner face at a first longitudinal end (9),a lock (12) comprising a rotor (15) rotatably mounted relative to the buffer (5) about a longitudinal axis (L1) and a shaft (17) extending longitudinally and rigidly connected to a first end of the rotor (15), the shaft (17) being adapted to cooperate with a key to be actuated in rotation and to drive the rotor (15) in rotation, the rotor (15) comprising a second end comprising a bolt (14), said bolt (14) comprising a catch (21), and the second buffer comprising, on its lower face (7) at a second longitudinal end (10), a strike plate (13) adapted to cooperate with the bolt (14) of the first buffer, and in that the rotor (15) of the first buffer (51) can be actuated in rotation with the key between:, - an unlocked position in which the bolt (14) is disengaged from the strike plate (13) of the second buffer (52), so that the first buffer (51) can be freely lifted, in the vertical direction (V), opposite the second buffer (52), and - a locked position in which the bolt (14) is placed under a lug (28) of the strike plate (13) of the second buffer, which prevents the first buffer (51) from being lifted in relation to the second buffer (52), and in which the catch (21) mechanically interferes with a stop (29) of the lug (28), preventing a longitudinal separation between the first buffer (51) and the second buffer (52).

2. Covering device according to claim 1, wherein all the pads (5) of the pad succession are identical to each other.

3. Cover device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the second end of each pad has a tab (11) on which the first longitudinal end (9) of an adjacent pad is superimposed.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the tongue is a curved tongue (30), and wherein the first longitudinal end (9) of the adjacent pad has a bulge (31) which fits into a concavity formed by the curved tongue.

5. Device according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the first longitudinal end (9) of the adjacent pad further comprises a hook (32) which is positioned under the tab (11, 30).

6. Cover device according to any one of the preceding claims, in which each cover (5) has lateral wings (8) intended to cover an upper portion of the lateral walls (2) of the channel (1).

7. Cover device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the pads (5, 51, 52) are metallic, for example made of cast iron.

8. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shaft (17) and the rotor (15) are one piece, or wherein the shaft (17) is attached to the rotor (15) to which it is fixed by fitting, screwing, or welding.

9. Covering device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the strike plate (13) is made of material with each pad (5).

10. A recovery device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the lock (12) includes a return device tending to bring the rotor into the locked position.

11. Recovery device according to claim 10, wherein the return device is a torsion spring (24).

12. Cover device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each pad (5) has an opening (25) adapted for the passage of the key and allowing the rotation of said key in contact with the shaft (17) to turn the rotor (15) between the locked and unlocked position and vice versa.

13. Cover device according to claim 12 wherein the opening (25) is L-shaped on the upper face (6).

14. Cover device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein each pad (5) has a length, measured in the longitudinal direction, of between 30 cm and 2 m, such that 1 m.

15. Assembly comprising a U-shaped channel (1) having a base (3) and two substantially vertical side walls (2) and a cover device according to any one of the preceding claims placed on the side walls (2) of said channel (1).

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