The present invention relates to a locking device applicable preferably to covers or gratings with hinged opening which are mounted on the frame of a drainage channel for collecting and channeling rain water or other liquids, or is likewise foreseen for housing electric wiring.
The object of the invention is a simple and robust locking device constituted essentially by a swivel handle which facilitates the operations of opening and closing in an effective manner, comprising a latch or bolt which engages in a groove or mortise defined in the frame of the channel, and also forming part of this invention is the means used to guarantee the closed position of the handle consisting essentially in a resillent plate which provides a spring effect maintaining the handle depressed and consequently the latch introduced in the groove thereby avoiding the accidental opening of the handle and consequently of the cover.
The drainage gutters or channels located in roadways for collection of rain water or other liquids comprise a cover or grating through which the liquid penetrates and is channeled toward the channel, the gratings being usually fixed on the channel by means of screws.
When the grating is disassembled, it is firstly necessary to unscrew the screws and next lift the grating up and extract it manually, resulting in an excessively tedious operation as a consequence of the difficulties that arise from unscreiwing screws usually affected by corrosion and from the excessive weight of the grating.
In another alternative solution to the employment of screws, mention is made of the French patent FR 1599317 which discloses a grating with extraction handles which extends underneath in bolts which once rotated disengage from the frame of the channel. Once the handles have been disengaged, if it is intended to gain access to the interior of the channel it will be necessary to proceed to the total extraction of the grating with the inconveniences which this operation involves, particularly for the excessive weight of the said grating.
With the object of facilitating the manipulation and closing of pipe gratings, the applicant of the present invention has developed a drainage channel with a hinged grating or cover, which constitutes the object of the European Application EP 98941430.5 and which resolves the aforementioned problem satisfactorily facilitating in a simple manner the assembly and renoval of the grating. Contrary to other systems, it provides the possibility of being hinged between the horizontal closed position and an open position of approximately 135° guaranteeing accessibility to the interior thereof, as well as incorporating means of closing consisting essentially of an horizontal pin or bolt which is inserted in a hole defined in the frame of the channel. A locking device according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in US-A-3 201 161.
The frame of the channel has a stepped configuration with a wing projected inwardly which together with a hinge stop define a space through which the axle of the hinge of the grating is introduced, which can only be extracted or inserted in the frame of the channel when the grating is positioned vertically upward. For any other orientation of the grating between the closed horizontal position and the position of maximum opening at 135° the hinge of the grating cannot be extracted from the frame.
Moreover it has to be pointed out that this type of hinged gratings incorporates in some cases locking devices which are not suitable for all applications, since for example when they are set in airports, the extra pressures produced in their surroundings by aircraft turbines can cause the undesired opening of the locking device and therefore the detachment of the gratings from the channel.
The development of a locking device mechanism, of special application for hinged gratings which assures reliably the closed position of the grating with respect to the channel is made feasible by the invention which is disclosed below.
The locking device for securing a cover to a frame which constitutes the object of the present invention facilitates in a simple and effective manner the engagement between the cover or grating and the frame of a drainage channel in the closed position, by means of incorporating in the grating a swivel handle which has a lower latch or bolt which engages in a groove or mortise provided in the frame of the channel, with the special particularity of incorporating an a resilient angular plate fixed to the grating by a vertical wing and placed over the handle to avoid the accidental disengagement of the handle and assuring the closed position.
The drainage is of the type comprising a back frame intended to receive the hinge of the grating which will swivel around this, and a front frame provided with a groove or mortise in which the latch of the handle is inserted in its closed position.
The handle is configured by means of a body of elongated general configuration which is placed in a housing provided in the upper surface of the grating, said housing comprising a rear transversal recess in which are supported corresponding lateral projections which extend from the front end of the body of the handle, and also the handle comprises in its middle sector, corresponding protuberances which extend to both sides and which together with the lateral projections constitute the surface supporting the handle on the housing of the grating in its closed position, with its lower latch inserted in the groove defined in the frame of the channel.
For the purpose of assuring the closure of the handle, the latter comprises a resilient angular plate which produces an spring effect, the vertical wing of which fits in a slot, which is extended underneath from the base of the rear transversal recess described above.
From the vertical wing of the plate, an horizontal wing extends over the body of the handle preventing the swivelling of the handle and therefore the latch from disengaging out of the groove of the frame avoiding its accidental opening.
When it is intended to open the grating, the handle must therefore be pushed upward by its foremost end endeavouring to overcome the resistance presented by the horizontal wing off the plate until the disengagement of the groove is achieved, so that once the latch is released from the groove of the frame, it will allow the grating to swivel.
To complete the description that is being made and for the purpose of assisting in a better understanding of the characteristics of the invention, in accordance with a preferred example of practical embodiment of the same, said description is accompanied, as an integral part thereof, with a set of drawings which illustrates in a no limitative form the following:
As shown In the figures the locking device is of preferred application for covers or gratings (1) with hinged opening which swivel with respect to a rear frame (2) which delimits above next to a front frame (3) a drainage channel (4) to conduct water or also foreseen to house electric wiring.
The locking device consists in a handle (5) of elongated body, located in a housing (8) defined in the grating (1), comprising a lower latch (6) which engages in a groove (7) provided in the front frame (3) of the channel (4), and also it comprises an resilient angular plate (9) fixed by a vertical wing (15) to the grating (1) and from which projects a horizontal wing (10) which extends over the handle (5) which prevents the undesired opening of the handle (5) presenting a resistance to the lifting of the handle (5) during the disengagement of the latch (6) from the groove (7) for subsequent opening of the grating (1).
The handle (5) incorporates two lateral projections (11) on its frontal end which engage in a rear transversal recess (12) defined in one end of the housing (8) of the grating (1), and also it comprises protuberances (13) on both sides of the body in its middle area, which protuberances (13) rest on the walls of the housing (8) in their horizontal closed position.
In the aforementioned rear recess (12) of the housing (8) of the grating (1), is provided an slot (14) which is prolonged underneath the base of the recess (12) in correspondence with the front wall which delimits said recess (12), for housing the vertical wing (15) of the resilient plate (9).
The handle (5) moreover shows a rear projection (17), from which the inferior surface of the body is prolonged, curved in order to facilitate the insertion of a finger for the purpose of lifting the handle (5).
The horizontal wing (10) of the resilient plate (9) comprises an slightly upwardly inclined rim (16) for the purpose of facilitating the progressive inclination of the handle (5) in contact with the resilient plate (9) during the swivelling movement corresponding to the opening operation.
Also the resilient plate (9) incorporates in its vertical wing (15) individual holes (18) intended to receive mounting means (19) for the fixing to the grating (1).