Road structure – process – or apparatus – Pavement – Vault cover-closure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-24
2001-03-06
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Road structure, process, or apparatus
Pavement
Vault cover-closure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06196760
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to adjustment risers, and more especially to such risers which in use are matingly stacked to occupy a gap between a lower support structure and an upper frame assembly, especially in a manhole or catch basin. This invention further relates to an adjustment riser assembly; an assembly of a lower support structure an upper frame assembly and a stacked multiplicity of risers of the invention; and a method of inhibiting transmission of mechanical vibrations through an upper frame assembly to an adjacent lower support structure.
b) Description of Prior Art
Manholes which provide access to sewers or utility components, and catch basins for removal of rainwater, typically employ a lower support structure, for example, a concrete riser, a frame assembly typically of metal above the lower structure and a removable cover typically of metal to close and permit access to the lower structure and a conduit network communicating with the concrete riser.
A manhole typically has access steps to facilitate entry into the hole.
An adjustment riser is disposed between the lower structure, for example, a concrete riser and the frame assembly. The adjustment riser has two functions, first it occupies the gap between the lower structure and the frame assembly to complete the assembly of the manhole or catch basin, and secondly it absorbs mechanical vibrations developed above the frame assembly, such as by vehicles travelling over the metal cover when the hole is located in a road, and inhibits transmission of the mechanical vibrations to the lower structure, which mechanical vibrations would otherwise cause fractures or cracking in a concrete riser as the lower structure, shortening its life such that frequent repair or replacement becomes necessary.
In that the adjustment riser is to occupy a gap formed in part as a result of a lack of exactness in dimensions of components of the manhole or catch basin; and in part as a result of variations in requirements of different hole structures, such adjustment risers are fabricated in a variety of different thicknesses to accommodate different gap heights between the lower structure and the frame assembly in different holes. An adjustment riser of required thickness or a combination of thicknesses is then selected based on measured dimensions of the gap at a particular hole structure. Thick adjustment risers are heavy and difficult to handle.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of this invention to provide an adjustment riser for use in a manhole or catch basin.
It is a particular object of this invention to provide adjustment risers which matingly engage to form a vertical stack and wherein an appropriate number of the risers is employed to occupy the gap formed between a lower structure such as a concrete riser and an above-lying frame assembly.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such adjustment risers which matingly engage to provide lateral stability between adjacent mating risers.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide such adjustment risers which matingly, sealingly engage and are, more particularly self-sealing, thereby inhibiting leakage of water between the adjustment risers to the frame assembly or the lower structure.
It is yet a further object of this invention to provide an adjustment riser assembly comprising a multiplicity of the adjustment risers of the invention.
It is still another object of this invention to provide an adjustment riser assembly that inhibits the flow of sub-surface water by creating a seal between the lower structure and the frame assembly of a manhole or catch basin.
It is a further object of this invention to provide improvements in assemblies of lower structures, for example, concrete risers and above-lying frame assemblies, especially in manholes and catch basin structures.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide a method of inhibiting transmission of mechanical vibrations from a frame assembly, especially a metal frame to an under-lying structure, especially a concrete riser, in a manhole or catch basin structure.
In accordance with the invention there is provided an adjustment riser for use in a hole comprising: a molded body having an inner peripheral wall and an outer peripheral wall, said inner peripheral wall defining an orifice, first and second, spaced apart, opposed sealing faces extending between said inner and outer peripheral walls, at least one continuous, elongate rib extending outwardly of said first face and a corresponding number of continuous, elongate grooves in said second face, each at least one rib being in opposed relationship with a said groove and being matingly received by a corresponding groove in a mating riser having a similar molded body.
In accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention there is provided an adjustment riser assembly comprising a multiplicity of adjustment risers of the invention, the risers being matingly, vertically stackable, with the at least one rib of a lower riser matingly received in a corresponding groove in an adjacent upper riser.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided in an assembly of a lower structure and a frame assembly in which the frame assembly is exposed to vibration generating impacts, the vibrations being transmissible through the frame assembly to the lower structure and wherein an adjustment means is disposed between the frame assembly and the lower structure to absorb mechanical vibrations transmitted through the frame assembly and inhibit transmission of the vibrations to the lower structure, the improvement wherein the adjustment means comprises a vertical stack comprising a multiplicity of risers, each riser being an adjustment riser of the invention as described above, the adjustment risers being matingly stacked to occupy a gap between the frame assembly and the lower structure in which the at least one rib of a lower riser in the stack is matingly received in a corresponding groove in an adjacent upper riser in the stack.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of inhibiting transmission of mechanical vibrations through a frame assembly to a lower structure adjacent to the frame assembly comprising disposing a vertical stack comprising a multiplicity of adjustment risers between the frame assembly and the lower structure, the multiplicity absorbing mechanical vibrations transmitted through the frame assembly thereby inhibiting transmission of the vibrations to the lower structure, each riser of the multiplicity being an adjustment riser of the invention as described above, and the adjustment risers being matingly stacked such that a said at least one rib of a lower riser in said stack is matingly received in a corresponding groove in an adjacent upper riser in said stack.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The adjustment riser of the invention may be of any ring-like configuration, including circular, elliptical or rectangular, but preferably is formed as an annular molded body. While the adjustment riser may have a single, continuous, elongate rib, and a corresponding single, continuous, elongate groove, in preferred embodiments there are a plurality of parallel, spaced apart ribs and a corresponding plurality of parallel spaced apart grooves.
In the preferred embodiment in which the molded body is annular, the ribs are concentric as are the grooves. Most suitably there are 1 to 5, and preferably 2 to 5 ribs and the same number of grooves, in a particular riser.
The first and second faces of the adjustment riser will be parallel in many cases, however, it is also advantageous to have risers in which one of the first and second faces lies in a plane inclined at an acute angle to a plane containing the other of the faces, such that the riser is of a wedge shape.
Preferably each rib is convexly curved at its outer end, whereas each groove has a flat floor and opposed side walls extending perpendicularly of the flat floor.
H
Hartman Gary S.
Lillis Eileen D.
Swabey Ogilvy Renault
LandOfFree
Adjustment riser does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Adjustment riser, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Adjustment riser will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2482367