PIPE ENCASEMENT WHICH CAN BE CLOSED BY MEANS OF A COVER

Abstract: The invention relates to a pipe encasement (1,3,4) which can be closed by means of a cover (6), said pipe encasement (1,3,4) being intended for use with a pipe (9) extending upwards from an underground tank and being provided with upright walls (3,4) and a bottom (1) having a hole (2) for the passage of the upper end of the pipe (9). A sleeve (3), extending upwards from the bottom (1), joins the bottom near the hole (2), in order to surround the upper end of the pipe (9), whilst the sleeve (3) is surrounded by a jacket (12) to be fixed to the upper end of the pipe (9).

Description: The invention relates to a pipe encasement which can be closed by means of a cover, said pipe encasement being intended for use with a pipe extending upwards from an underground tank and being provided with upright walls and a bottom with a hole for the passage of the upper end of the pipe (see US-A-4 659 251). Such a pipe encasement is e.g. provided around the upper end of a so-called oil level pipe, into which a dipstick can be inserted with a view to measuring the quantity of fluid present in the tank. When the dipstick is pulled out of the pipe fluid will adhere to the dipstick and at least a certain quantity of fluid will drip from the dipstick into the pipe encasement. Since the conventional pipe encasements are not closed at their bottom sides the fluid thus landing in the pipe encasement will also permeate into the subsoil and cause pollution there. The object of the invention is to obtain a pipe encasement of the above kind which is suitable for catching spilt fluid, so that said spilt fluid will not permeate into the subsoil via the pipe encasement. According to the invention this can be achieved in that a sleeve, extending upwards from the bottom, joins the bottom near the hole, in order to surround the upper end of the pipe, whilst the sleeve is surrounded by a jacket to be fixed to the upper end of the pipe. When the construction according to the invention is used a pipe encasement can be obtained which has a simple construction and in which spilt fluid can be caught, so that pollution of the subsoil can be prevented. The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter, with reference to an embodiment of a pipe encasement according to the invention diagrammatically illustrated in the accompanying figures. Figure 1 is a perspective, partly elevational and partly sectional view of an embodiment of a pipe encasement according to the invention. Figure 2 is a cross-section of the pipe encasement illustrated in Figure 1. The pipe encasement illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a bottom plate 1, in the centre of which there is provided a hole 2. Near the hole 2 a sleeve 3, integral with the bottom plate and extending upwards therefrom, joins the bottom plate. Furthermore a casing 4 concentrically surrounding the sleeve 3 joins the bottom plate 1, said casing forming the upright walls of the pipe encasement. As is apparent from the Figures the diameter of the casing 4 thereby gradually increases in a direction remote from the bottom plate 1. An upper plate 5 extending parallel to the bottom plate joins the upper edge of the casing 4, in which upper plate there is provided an opening which can be closed by means of a cover 6. A rebate 7 is provided in the bottom plate for supporting the cover 6. Reinforcing ribs 8 are provided between the bottom plate 1 and the upper plate 5 for reinforcement, which reinforcing ribs extend radially from the outside of the casing 4 in the direction of the corner points of the bottom plate 1 and the upper plate 5 respectively. The pipe encasement thus formed may be effectively made of a suitable plastic material. As is furthermore illustrated in the figures the pipe encasement may be arranged such that the sleeve extends concentrically around the upper end of a vertical pipe 9, which is in communication with an underground tank (not shown). The upper end of such a pipe is usually provided with screw thread 10 for a cap 11 to be provided. The sleeve 3 is furthermore surrounded by a jacket 12 concentrically surrounding the sleeve, said jacket at its upper end joining a sealing wall 13 extending perpendicularly to the longitudinal axis of the casing 12 and being integral therewith, said sealing wall being provided with a hole having screw thread, so that the jacket 12 can be screwed on the upper end of the pipe 9 by means of the sealing wall 13,in the manner illustrated in the Figures. A further jacket 14 concentrically surrounded by the jacket 12 joins the sealing wall 13, whereby the construction is such that the jacket 14 is located inside the sleeve 3. On the upper end of the sleeve 3 there is furthermore provided a sealing ring 15 having a U-shaped section, which provides a seal between the upper end of the sleeve 3 and the facing wall surfaces of the jackets 12 and 14. For measuring the level of the fluid in the tank a dipstick may be inserted into the pipe 9 in a conventional manner, after the cap 11 has been removed. It will be apparent that when liquid drips from the dipstick when the dipstick is withdrawn, said liquid will be caught in the pipe encasement and may form a layer of fluid 16, which fluid cannot escape from the pipe encasement. Possibly an annular body 17, floating on the fluid, may be provided in the pipe encasement, said body possibly being hydroscopic, indicating to the personnel by its rise with the level of the fluid that the pipe encasement must be emptied at a certain moment, in order to prevent overflowing of the pipe encasement. Because the sleeve 3 and the jacket co-operating with said sleeve 3 can move telescopically relative to each other the pipe encasement can move along if the ground should subside, without the pipe encasement exerting any undesired forces on the upwardly extending pipe 9. Although hereinabove the use of the pipe encasement has been explained with reference to its application with an oil level pipe, it will be apparent that the pipe encasement may be used in a similar manner with a filling pipe for a tank or the like.

Claims: Pipe encasement which can be closed by means of a cover, said pipe encasement being intended for use with a pipe extending upwards from an underground tank and being provided with upright walls and a bottom (1) having a hole (2) for the passage of the upper end of the pipe, characterized in that a sleeve (3), extending upwards from the bottom, joins the bottom near the hole, in order to surround the upper end of the pipe, whilst the sleeve is surrounded by a jacket (12) to be fixed to the upper end of the pipe. Pipe encasement according to claim 1, characterized in that a sealing wall (13) joins the upper end of the jacket, said sealing wall being provided with a hole having screw thread for the jacket to be screwed on the upper end of the pipe. Pipe encasement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the jacket concentrically surrounds a second jacket (14), whereby the two jackets are arranged such that the sleeve extends between the two jackets. Pipe encasement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that sealing means (15) are provided near the upper end of the sleeve, said sealing means co-operating with the facing boundary walls of the two jackets co-operating with the sleeve. Pipe encasement according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a float (17) is provided in the pipe encasement. Pipe encasement according to claim 5, characterized in that the float is annular and extends around the jacket surrounding the sleeve.

Inventors: PETERS, PETER JUERGEN, VAN DE OEVER, IWAN CORNELUS, Peters, Peter Jürgen
Applicants: P.J. PETERS INDUSTRIEEL ONDERHOUD B.V.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B65D90
IPC codes: B65D90