CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[001 ] The present application claims the benefit of priority to US

Provisional Patent Application Serial Number 62/362,060, filed July 14, 2016, entitled "SEWAGE SHAFT COVER AND COVER ADAPTOR." The aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[002] The present invention relates to civil engineering and construction works.

BACKGROUND ART

[003] The present invention is implementable in the framework of sewage construction and fitting of covers to shafts of manholes and the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[004] The invention is herein described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating the relationships the structural elements in which the present invention is implemented.

Fig. 2 is a schematic depiction of a chamber of the prior art, with which the present invention deals.

Fig. 3 is a schematic depiction of the adaptor of the invention, in an upside down position.

Fig. 4A is a schematic isometric depiction of the adaptor of the invention showing the sealer/gasket.

Fig. 4B 4A is a schematic isometric depiction of the adaptor of the invention with the sealer/gasket didactically removed.

Fig. 5 is a schematic isometric depiction of the adaptor of the invention showing the sealer/gasket and anchorage studs.

Fig. 6A is an isometric depiction of a cover element in its functional direction (upside up), as viewed diagonally from beneath the cover.

Fig, 6B is an isometric depiction of a cover element in its functional direction (upside up), as viewed diagonally from beneath the cover.

Fig. 6B is an isometric depiction of a cover element in its functional direction diagonal view from above the cover, (upside up), showing non inserted optional tile.

Fig. 7 A is an isometric depiction of a of the adaptor of the invention with an additional sealer/gasket in another embodiment. Fig. 7B is an isometric depiction of an adaptor of the invention without the gasket at the free end, and conical aspect of the stem.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[005] The present invention is a two -part add on installable on the top part of a shaft of a manhole or any similar openings which are usually positioned upright, allowing for a person to access a deep - set infrastructure hollow element.

In Fig. 1 the structural principle of the present invention is described. Cover element 12, is installed on top of adaptor element 14, which itself fits onto the shaft of buried container. The entire assembly is to provide an easily installed, smell proof and robust cover for the buried container upward projecting shaft 16.

As can be seen in Fig. 2, chamber 22 includes a hollow container (tank) 24 and shaft 26, which is typically cylindrical. Opening 28 of the shaft 26 is an access port for people or tools to be brought and applied in the hollow container 24, (see arrow 30) typically for maintenance purposes. Note that Fig. 2 is schematic and in the commerce, the chamber and shaft can come in various sizes, relative sizes. In accordance with the present invention, a cover adaptor is used to insert as an intermediary between the chamber shaft and the cover of chamber shaft 26. Shaft 26 is empty, embracing a void also denoted by arrow 30. The adaptor

[006] Salient features of the adaptor of the invention are described schematically in Fig. 3. Adaptor 40 (shown upside - down with respect to its functional position) includes cover support 42 which bears an annular appendage 44 projecting away from the face of cover support 42, forming in its free end a far side. This annular appendage serves as limiter and gasket for the shaft of the container as will be explained below. Shaft 46 of adaptor 40 also projects from cover support 42, having a smaller diameter than annular appendage 34. Between the annular appendage 44 and shaft 46, there is an annular gap 48. Functionally, into this gap, the free end of the shaft 26 of the container can be pushed to form an airtight connection with the adaptor 40. Another annular gasket, namely gasket 50, surrounds the outside of shaft 46 at its free end. This gasket has a cross sectional form featuring a frustum of a cone tapering towards the free end of shaft 46. Void 52 is a through - void, which when the adaptor is installed, forms a continuum with void 30 of chamber 22 (see Fig. 2).

[007] In Figs 4A - 4B a view of the installed adaptor as it fits into the shaft 26 of chamber 22, (the chamber is shown only in part). In both figures the view is upside down as compared to the functional position in the real world. In Fig. 4A, shaft 46 is shown from the inside, having a front face 62. Gasket 50 is set around front face 52 of shaft 46, pressing against shaft 26 of chamber 22, from within. Shaft 26 is shown as a cut-out of entire chamber 22. Arc 50A appearing on the external face of shaft 26 demarcates an imaginary line showing the contact line between external shaft 26 and internal gasket 50. Hatched planar portion 66 demarcates the part of the cover support 42 or gasket or cover exposed at this view angle the details of which covering will be elaborated below. In Fig. 4B, gasket 50 and the imaginary arc 50A are not shown, in order to help understand the relationships between the two shafts. Shaft 26 is shown attached to cover support 42 inside of annular appendage 44 but in a functional product, shaft 26 is to fit snugly into annular appendage 44, so that the void inside the shafts is blocked away from the outside and thus annular appendage 44 functions as a seal around shaft 26 at its free end. In Fig. 5, adaptor 40, again shown upside - down, shows anchorage studs 62, projecting from the underside of cover support 42, the role of which is to anchor the adaptor in cement that is optionally applied around the adaptor as a final stage in its installation.

The cover

[008] As can be seen in Fig. 6A, looking from beneath, cover 72 includes square cover element (SCE) 74, to which a rather short stem 76 is connected. Seal/gasket 78 surrounds the stem at the free end of stem 76. In Fig. 6B SCE 74 is seen from above, Friction studs 80 on top of the SCE help prevent slippage and rim 82 is an optional addition. The role of rim 82 is to confine tile 84 when installed on top of the SCE from slipping sideways. After the cover is installed on top of the adaptor, tile 84 may be installed and fixed in place. This specific tile may be accompanied by additional tiles that when installed around tile 84 can form together an uninterrupted floor.

In order to enhance the attachment of the cover to the earth and infrastructure media in which it is embedded, in addition to the chamber 22 and shaft 26 thereof, some provisions can be made. In order that SCE 74 sticks better to the concrete or cement in which it may be embedded, and likewise enhances the attachment to adjacent tiles, surface processing is provided to the planar face of SCE 74. As can be seen in Fig. 6A, downwards looking plane of SCE 74 can be roughened such as by sand blowing, or a metallic sheet or foil or net can be embedded in the outside, or grains may be added to the plastic matrix out of which the cover is molded. In the same manner, the sides of the SCE 74 can be likewise processed. Additional embodiments

[009] In another embodiment, cover 72 has no gasket at the free end of its stem. Rather, gasket 90 which matches stem 76 is installed in the adaptor 40, as described in Fig. 7A, adaptor 40 is shown with two cutout sections. Gasket 50 surrounds the free end of shaft 26. In Fig. 7B, another embodiment is described, in this case, stem 76 is conical in shape. In another embodiment, cover 72 has no stem at all so it is laid flat against adaptor 40 with or without a gasket. In such a case, i.e. no stem present, the gasket typically assumes the form of a square (slab type gasket), compatible with support 42 and or SCE 74. A flat gasket can be used also when a stem exists, and for such a purpose, the flat slab gasket type has to have an hole in the middle.