Concealed gutter with sealing ring

Abstract

 The invention relates to a concealed gutter, a sealing ring (10) therefor, a pipe segment (1) therefor and a spigot part (12) therefor. The concealed gutter comprises at least two pipe segments (1) and coupling means for connecting the pipe segments (1) to one another. Each pipe segment (1) has a pipe slit (3) extending over the entire longitudinal direction of the pipe segment (1), which pipe slit (3) opens on one side at the outer periphery of the pipe segment (1) and on the other side into a pipe chamber (2) running in the pipe segment (1). The coupling means are provided at at least one end of each pipe segment (1). According to the invention the coupling means comprise a socket part (9) and a spigot part (12) that can be accommodated in the socket part (9), wherein a pipe channel has been made in the spigot part (12), which pipe channel, when the pipe segments (1) are coupled together, extends between the pipe chambers (2) of said pipe segments (1). In particular, a sealing ring (10) is provided between the spigot part (12) and the socket part (9) to produce a seal between said two parts. There is a sealing flange (18,19) between the facing end faces of two connected pipe segments (1). The sealing flange (18,19) and the sealing ring (10) are in particular made from a flexible, rubbery material. The pipe segment (1) is in particular made from concrete.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a concealed gutter comprising:

• at least two pipe segments, each pipe segment having a pipe slit extending over the entire longitudinal direction of the pipe segment, which pipe slit opens on one side at the external periphery of the pipe segment and on the other side into a pipe chamber running in the pipe segment;
• coupling means for connecting the pipe segments to one another, which coupling means are provided with at least one end of each pipe segment.

[0002] A concealed gutter of this type is known. Such concealed gutters are used in road building, at airports along the landing and take-off runways as well as the aprons, in industrial areas and in port areas as well as elsewhere. A concealed gutter essentially consists of pipe-shaped elements sunk into the ground that are provided at the top with an inlet for rainwater. The inlet here is usually a slit which extends over essentially the entire longitudinal direction of the pipe elements and on the inside opens into the channel-shaped space provided in the interior of the pipe element and on the other side opens at the top of the pipe element to allow rainwater to enter. The purpose of such concealed gutters is that they collect and drain off rainwater precipitated on a paved surface, so that no water remains on the pavement. If the concealed gutter is along the side of a paved zone, overloading of the areas adjoining the paved zone by rainwater that has fallen on the paved zone is counteracted by the concealed gutter.

[0003] In the case of use at airfields and industrial and port areas, very stringent requirements with regard to loading capacity are usually imposed on the concealed gutter. The result of this is, inter alia, that the pipe slit extending over essentially the entire length of the pipe element is locally provided with bodies or bridges - which thus, as it were, locally interrupt the slit - to prevent closing up of the slit under the influence of a heavy load. As far as the pipe segments of the concealed gutter according to the invention are concerned it is thus also the case that the pipe slit extending over essentially the entire length of the pipe segment can be locally interrupted by bridges or bodies.

[0004] In the case of concealed gutters it is extremely important that the end face joins of the pipe segments are watertight. If this is not the case surrounding ground material at the location of the end face joins will wash away as a result of the leaking water, which will then lead to subsidence of the surrounding pavement. The problem of a leak-tight join of two end faces of two pipe segments is solved in practice by providing rubber sealing strips between said end faces or sometimes also a strip of a paste-like material, such as a bituminous material. These sealing strips are in tight contact around the end faces of the pipe chamber in order to follow the shape thereof. It is true that a leak-tight connection between the pipe chambers of two pipe segments adjoining one another can be achieved with these sealing strips, but these sealing strips, in turn, again result in a gap between the end faces of the pipe segments adjoining one another. Just like a gap between two paving stones, this gap forms a discharge passage via which rainwater is able to disappear into the subsoil. Thus, this gap itself will again result in flushing away of ground material at the end face join of the pipe segments, which, in turn, can again lead to subsidence of the pavement. In order to overcome this latter problem it is known to place a U-shaped bitumen slab, with the opening facing upwards, around the transition zone between two pipe segments adjoining at their end faces and to bond this to these pipe segments. This seal by means of a bitumen slab is a good seal as such, but is a seal that is highly sensitive to external influences. The bitumen easily cracks should the pipe segments move somewhat relative to one another and the durability of the bitumen slab also leaves something to be desired.

[0005] A further disadvantage of this known method of sealing by means of (a) a sealing strip and (b) a bitumen slab is that very accurate alignment and positioning of the pipe segments is required if the sealing strip is to provide a good seal - for these reasons in practice a very great deal of care is taken with the preparation of the subsoil, called the bedding, on which the pipe segments are laid - and that the production of the seal with the bitumen slab requires an additional labour-intensive operation. All in all, the result is that laying a concealed gutter, or at least laying it well, is a task that is highly labour intensive and requires a great deal of skill.

[0006] The aim of the present invention is to provide an improved concealed gutter that overcomes the abovementioned problems and that is easier to lay with appreciably less work. Said aim is achieved according to the invention by two means, which two means can be employed independently of one another but preferably are employed in combination.

[0007] According to the first means of the invention, the abovementioned aim is achieved by providing a concealed gutter comprising:

• at least two pipe segments, each pipe segment having a pipe slit extending over the entire longitudinal direction of the pipe segment, which pipe slit opens on one side at the outer periphery of the pipe segment and on the other side into a pipe chamber running in the pipe segment;
• coupling means for connecting the pipe segments to one another, which coupling means are provided at at least one end of each pipe segment;

   characterised in that
   the coupling means comprise a socket part and a spigot part that can be accommodated in the socket part, wherein a pipe channel has been made in the spigot part, which pipe channel extends between the pipe chambers of said pipe segments when the pipe segments are coupled together.

[0008] According to the second means of the invention, the abovementioned aim is achieved by providing a concealed gutter comprising:

• at least two pipe segments, each pipe segment having a pipe slit extending over the entire longitudinal direction of the pipe segment, which pipe slit opens on one side at the outer periphery of the pipe segment and on the other side into a pipe chamber running in the pipe segment;
• coupling means for connecting the pipe segments to one another, which coupling means are provided at at least one end of each pipe segment;

   characterised in that
   the coupling means comprise a sealing flange made of a flexible, rubbery material, which sealing flange is located between the facing end faces of said pipe segments when the pipe segments are coupled together. These second means have been developed in the dependent Claim 7, which thus very clearly provides a basis for a divisional patent application. However, as stated, the second means is preferably employed in combination with the first means because it also has an important additional effect over and above the first means.

[0009] In the case of the concealed gutter that achieves the aim of the invention according to the first means, the coupling means comprise a socket part and a spigot part. This can be achieved in accordance with many variants. A pipe segment can be provided at one end with a socket part and at the other end with a spigot part that can be accommodated in the socket part, such as is widely used, for example, in sewage pipes. For connecting the pipe chambers in the pipe segments to one another, a pipe channel is made in the spigot part so that water collected in the one pipe segment is able to flow to the other pipe segment. In such a way the pipe segments can easily and quickly be coupled to one another and can also be connected to one another such that they are watertight. It is necessary only to insert the spigot part into a socket part. With this arrangement a mastic or grout or even mortar can then also be provided between the socket part and the spigot part. The alignment of the various pipe segments is ensured in a simple and reliable manner; this is in contrast to the conventional method by means of which concealed gutters are connected to one another.

[0010] According to the invention it is advantageous if the pipe segment is provided at each end with a socket part (or optionally spigot part) integrated with said pipe segment and if the spigot part (or optionally socket part) is a separate part for coupling socket parts (or optionally spigot parts) of two pipe segments to one another. What is achieved in this way is that the pipe segment is identical at both ends - equipped at both ends with either a socket part or a spigot part - and these pipe segments can thus be laid equally well in two directions without connection problems. If both ends of the pipe segment are provided with a socket part, the spigot part will be made as a separate component. This spigot part can then easily be inserted in the socket part of the one pipe segment and in the socket part of the other pipe segment so as thus to connect the two pipe segments together. According to the invention it is preferable to provide the pipe segments at both ends with a socket part and to make the spigot part as a separate component. The reason for this is that otherwise the pipe segments are provided at the ends with a relatively vulnerable spigot part. This could easily lead to damage when handling the relatively large, heavy pipe sections. However, it is pointed out that it is also very readily possible to provide the pipe segments with a spigot part at both ends and to construct the socket part as a separate component.

[0011] According to the invention it is furthermore advantageous if the socket part and/or the spigot part has/have a socket part slit or spigot part slit, respectively, running in the longitudinal direction, which slit opens on one side at the outer periphery of said respective part and on the other side into the interior of the respective part. What can be achieved in this way is that the so-called pipe slit continues at the location of the socket part and the spigot part, specifically by means of the socket part slit and spigot part slit, respectively.

[0012] According to the invention it is furthermore advantageous if the coupling means further comprise a sealing ring made of a flexible, rubbery material, which sealing ring, when the pipe segments are coupled together, on the one hand engages on the external peripheral surface of the spigot part and on the other hand engages on the internal peripheral surface of the socket part so as to produce a watertight seal between them. In this way a watertight seal can be ensured in a simple manner, without having to provide mastic or grout in an additional operation for this purpose. With this arrangement the sealing ring will also be incorporated in the socket or optionally on the spigot part during the production of the elements for the concealed gutter. Accommodation in the socket is preferred because the ring in the socket is then protected from the surroundings and is thus less likely to be accidentally damaged.

[0013] In this context, it is particularly advantageous according to the invention if the sealing ring is a radially cut-through open ring and if the radial cut-through is located in the extension of the pipe slit and preferably has a width approximately the same as the width of the pipe slit. This prevents the sealing ring from bridging the pipe slit and thus locally interrupting the pipe slit without functionality as reinforcement to prevent closing up of the slit. Because the sealing ring does not bridge the pipe slit this also prevents dirt and the like being able to remain on top of the sealing ring.

[0014] According to the second means of the invention, the coupling providing a seal between two pipe segments can be further improved if the coupling means furthermore comprise a sealing flange made of a flexible, rubbery material, which sealing flange, when the pipe segments are coupled together, is located between the facing end faces of said pipe segments and which sealing flange essentially covers the entire surface of the end face of the respective pipe segments. Because the sealing flange is made of a flexible, rubbery material, this can be clamped between the end faces of the pipe segments to produce a seal, so that the pipe segments are able to abut one another without a gap. As such, the sealing flange is also able to produce a coupling providing a good seal without spigot part and socket part. However, this will then be associated with very stringent requirements in respect of the accurate alignment of the pipe segments; after all, the pipe chambers in the pipe segments must be aligned straight with one another. By using the sealing flange in combination with the spigot part and socket part the mutual alignment of the pipe chambers is ensured in a simple manner. The higher the flexibility of the material from which the sealing flange has been produced, the greater are the possible tolerances in respect of the angle between the end face sections of the pipe segments with respect to one another - i.e. the pipe segments no longer have to be precisely aligned in line but may have a slight kink with respect to one another. This flexibility appreciably facilitates easy and rapid laying of pipe segments along a straight or deliberately curved or kinked line, considered projected in a horizontal plane.

[0015] According to the invention it is particularly advantageous if a said sealing flange is fixed to each end face of the pipe segment. A very reliable seal between the sealing flange and the end face of the pipe segment can then already be ensured during the production of the pipe segments, whilst two sealing flanges of a rubbery material positioned in contact with one another in turn ensure a very reliable, watertight connection. A further advantage is that if both end faces of the pipe segment are of identical construction, the pipe segment does not have a preferred orientation for the production of a good seal. This makes it appreciably easier to handle the pipe segments.

[0016] According to the invention it is furthermore advantageous if the sealing flange has a thickness of 8 to 12 mm. If the flange is made up of two parts provided on opposing end faces of pipe segments, the thickness per flange part will be approximately 4 to 6 mm. The sealing flange and sealing ring can, for example, be made of an oil-resistant rubber.

[0017] In the case of the concealed gutter according to the invention the pipe segments are made, in particular, of a pourable material, such as a concrete.

[0018] According to a further aspect, the invention relates to a sealing ring for a concealed gutter according to the invention, wherein the sealing ring is a radially cut through open ring, wherein the sealing ring is provided at the outer periphery with one or more undercut parts for anchoring in the socket part and wherein the sealing ring is provided at the inner periphery, on either side of the radial cut-through, with head parts that can be cut off, for holding the sealing ring in place on a mould core part before making a pipe segment with integral socket part with the aid of this mould core part. The non-closed sealing ring can be temporarily fixed by means of the head parts to the one mould core part around which the pipe segment with integral socket part is made. After a pipe segment has been made, the head parts can then be cut off in order to remove the mould core part, whilst the sealing ring with its undercut parts remains anchored in the interior of the socket. An alternative is indeed to make the sealing ring with a closed periphery, but to remove, for example cut out, a piece therefrom at the location of the pipe slit after the pipe segment has been made. To facilitate this the sealing ring can locally be provided with a weakened portion.

[0019] According to yet a further aspect, the invention relates to a pipe segment for a concealed gutter according to the invention. And according to yet a further aspect, the invention relates to a separate spigot part for a concealed gutter according to the invention.

[0020] The present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to examples shown diagrammatically in the drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a diagrammatic, perspective view with exploded parts of one end of a pipe segment and of a spigot part of a concealed gutter according to the invention;

Figure 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a connection between two pipe segments of a concealed gutter according to the invention; and

Figure 3 shows a front view of a sealing ring according to the invention before incorporation in the socket part of a pipe segment.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a pipe segment 1 made of concrete with, preferably, a concrete strength of at least B55. A pipe chamber 2, which essentially forms a channel, extends in the interior of this pipe segment 1, in the longitudinal direction thereof. A pipe slit 3 has been made in the pipe segment 1 at the top. This pipe slit 3 extends essentially over the entire length of the pipe segment 1, optionally locally interrupted by bridges or bodies bridging the pipe slit 3 for reinforcement. The pipe slit 3 opens on one side at 4 at the top, at the outer periphery of the pipe segment 1, and on the other side at 5 in the pipe chamber 2 running in the pipe segment 1. Thus, as is shown by arrows 9 in Fig. 4, water originating from the pavement surface 6 is able to flow into the concealed gutter.

[0022] As is indicated diagrammatically in cross-section in Fig. 4, the pipe segments 1 of the concealed gutter are on a so-called bedding 7 - usually consisting of compacted earth with or without a top layer hardened by means of cement or cement-like material. The pavement 6 can be of any known pavement material, but will usually comprise asphalt or concrete slabs. With this arrangement the pavement 6 is then usually on a pavement sub-base 8 for further foundation.

[0023] As can also be seen in Fig. 1, the pipe segment is provided at the end shown, but in a preferred embodiment also at the other end that is not shown, with a socket part 9. As is also illustrated in Fig. 2, the pipe chamber 2 is locally widened at the location of the socket part 9. A sealing ring 17 made of rubber is accommodated in the widened section. This sealing ring 10 has been cast into the concrete by means of three anchoring ribs 11 running in the peripheral direction of the sealing ring 10.

[0024] As is illustrated in more detail in Figs 1 and 2, the coupling between two pipe segments 1 is produced by means of a spigot part 12 that is inserted in the facing socket parts 9 of two pipe segments. This spigot part 12 is provided at the top with two ridges 13 that engage in the socket part slit 14. The socket part slit 14 is essentially a portion of the pipe slit 3 continued in the socket part 9. In this way it can be ensured that the spigot part 12 can be accommodated only in a predetermined position in the socket part 9. This is particularly useful if the spigot part 12, that is annular per se, is provided with a spigot part slit 15 between the ridges 13. This spigot part slit 15 will then be in the extension of the pipe slit 3 and thus ensures that rainwater is able to flow into the pipe chamber 2 in the bridging section between two pipe segments 1 as well.

[0025] It will be clear that when the spigot part 12 has been inserted in the respective socket parts 9 the rubber sealing ring 10 creates a watertight seal between, on the one hand, the internal peripheral surface 16 of the socket part 9 and, on the other hand, the external peripheral surface 17 of the spigot part 12. The sealing ring 10 will be partially compressed in this position. Such a method of sealing is known per se, for example for sewer pipes.

[0026] Depending on the flexibility of the sealing ring 10, the sealing ring 10 also allows some deviation in the precise alignment of axis 25 of the left-hand pipe segment in Fig. 2 and the axis 26 of the right-hand pipe segment 1 in Fig. 2. Both some mutual displacement of the axes 25 and 26 - where they thus could become just parallel - and some angular turning of the axes 25 and 26 - where the axes 25 and 26 thus cross or intersect one another - is thus possible.

[0027] In order to ensure that no precipitation and/or groundwater and seepage water and sand is able to flow in between the facing end faces of two pipe segments from above, from below or from the sides, a rubber sealing flange is provided between the facing end faces. This rubber sealing flange is made in separate parts, in the form of a rubber sealing flange 18 and a rubber sealing flange 19. The rubber sealing flanges 18 and 19 essentially cover the entire end face of each respective pipe section. The sealing flanges 18 and 19 are identical. The one flange 18 has already been fixed to the left-hand pipe segment 1 in Fig. 2 during production, by means of cast-in anchoring ribs 20. Flange 19 has already been fixed to the right-hand tube segment 1 in Fig. 2 during production by means of anchoring ribs 20 cast in the concrete.

[0028] Just as in the case of the sealing rings 10, the flexibility - compressibility - of the flanges 18 and 19 makes it possible for some variations about a precise alignment of the axes 18 and 19 to be possible.

[0029] With reference to Fig. 3, a front view of a sealing ring 10 is also shown before fixing thereof in a socket part 9. The sealing ring 10 is an open ring with a radial cut-through 23. The width of this radial cut-through 23 is approximately the same as the width of the pipe slit 3. What can be achieved in this way is that the pipe slit 3 and the continuation 14 thereof in the socket part 9 is not interrupted by the sealing ring 10. In order to be able to ensure, with a sealing ring 10 that is then open, that the latter can be fixed to a mould core - which when pouring a pipe segment 1 from concrete determines the pipe chamber 2 and the widened section thereof at the location of the socket part 9 - head parts 21 that can be cut off are attached to the inside of the sealing ring 10 at 22, on either side of the radial cut-through 23. These head parts make holding in place on the mould core part possible. After the pipe segment 1 has then been poured, the head parts 21 will be cut off at 22 and the mould core part can be removed from the pipe segment 1, leaving behind the sealing ring 10 in the socket part 9. Alternatively, instead of head parts 21, 22 a weakened bridging portion 28 can have been made in the radial cut-through 23. This weakened bridging portion is then simply cut out after making the concrete pipe segment with cast-in sealing ring.

Claims

1. Concealed gutter comprising:

• at least two pipe segments, each pipe segment having a pipe slit extending over the entire longitudinal direction of the pipe segment, which pipe slit opens on one side at the outer periphery of the pipe segment and on the other side into a pipe chamber running in the pipe segment;

• coupling means for connecting the pipe segments to one another, which coupling means are provided at at least one end of each pipe segment;

characterised in that
the coupling means comprise a socket part and a spigot part that can be accommodated in the socket part, wherein a pipe channel has been made in the spigot part, which pipe channel extends between the pipe chambers of said pipe segments when the pipe segments are coupled together.

2. Concealed gutter according to Claim 1, wherein the pipe segment is provided at each end with a socket part or spigot part integrated with said pipe segment and wherein the spigot part or socket part, respectively, is a separate part for coupling socket parts or spigot parts, respectively, of two pipe segments to one another.

3. Concealed gutter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the socket part and/or the spigot part has/have a socket part slit or spigot part slit, respectively, running in the longitudinal direction, which slit opens on one side at the outer periphery of said respective part and on the other side into the interior of the respective part.

4. Concealed gutter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling means further comprise a sealing ring made of a flexible, rubbery material, which sealing ring, when the pipe segments are coupled together, on the one hand engages on the external peripheral surface of the spigot part and on the other hand engages on the internal peripheral surface of the socket part so as to produce a watertight seal between them.

5. Concealed gutter according to Claim 4, wherein the sealing ring is a radially cut-through open ring and wherein the radial cut-through is located in the extension of the pipe slit and preferably has a width approximately the same as the width of the pipe slit.

6. Concealed gutter according to one of the preceding Claims 4 - 5, wherein the sealing ring is provided in advance in the socket part and is fixed therein by sinking the radial outside of the sealing ring in the internal peripheral surface of the socket part.

7. Concealed gutter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling means further comprise a sealing flange made of a flexible, rubbery material, which sealing flange, when the pipe segments are coupled to one another, is located between the facing end faces of said pipe segments.

8. Concealed gutter according to Claim 7, wherein the sealing flange essentially covers the entire end face of the respective pipe segments.

9. Concealed gutter according to one of Claims 7 or 8, wherein a said sealing flange is fixed to each end face of the pipe segment.

10. Concealed gutter according to one of Claims 7 - 9, wherein the sealing flange has a thickness of 8 to 12 mm.

11. Concealed gutter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe segments are made of a pourable material, such as a concrete-like material.

12. Sealing ring for a concealed gutter according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sealing ring is a radially cut through open ring, wherein the sealing ring is provided at the outer periphery with one or more undercut parts for anchoring in the socket part and wherein the sealing ring is provided at the inner periphery, on either side of the radial cut-through, with head parts that can be cut off, for holding the sealing ring in place on a mould core part before, with the aid of this mould core part, making a pipe segment with integral socket part made of a pourable material, such as concrete.

13. Pipe segment for a concealed gutter according to one of Claims 1 - 11.

14. Separate spigot part for a concealed gutter according to one of Claims 1 - 11.

Drawing