GULLY HOLE

Abstract: The invention relates to a gully hole (1) for catching and draining water into a sewer system, comprising a gully chamber (10) provided at its top end with a gully inlet (20) for receiving the water, and provided at a lower level with a gully outlet (30) which opens into the gully chamber (10) and which is connectable to the sewer system, and comprises a gully screen (40) fitted in and dividing the gully chamber (10) into a collecting compartment in communication with the gully inlet (20) and a discharge compartment in commnuication with the gully outlet (30). The gully screen (40) is a screen plate which extends almost over the entire height of the gully chamber (10), is mounted near the gully outlet (30), and abuts with at least its side edges and bottom edge to the walls of the gully chamber (10). Preferably the screen plate (40) is in a horizontal cross section curved and made from a flexible material, while being fitted under tension between the walls of the gully chamber (10) with the convex side facing the collecting compartment (50).

Description: Gully hole The present invention relates to a gully hole for catching and draining water into a sewer system, comprising a gully chamber provided at its top end with a gully inlet for receiving the water, and provided at a lower level with a gully outlet which opens into the gully chamber and which is connectable to the sewer system, and comprises a gully screen fitted in and dividing the gully chamber into a collecting compartment in communication with the gully inlet and a discharge compartment in com- munication with the gully outlet. Gully holes that are not provided with a gully screen are very commonly used in streets, pavements and in other places, for instance, for draining away rainwater. There are various kinds of gullies such as pavement, pave- ment/street and street gullies, but all these gullies drain away the water in the same manner. The gullies comprise a deep gully chamber which is provided, generally in the bottom part, with an outlet to the sewer system. In the gully chamber there is usually a stench screen pro- vided over said gully outlet, to prevent malodorous gasses forming in the sewer from escaping to the outside. This stench screen also serves to keep vermin such as rats inside the sewer system. The drain water running into the gully chamber via the gully inlet, which inlet may, for instance, be a gully cover, carries with it also leaves, street waste, sand, etc. This will also enter the gully chamber and settle in the space between the floor of the gully chamber and the lower side of the gully outlet, while the water drains via the gully outlet into the sewer system. This debris space has been provided especially for this purpose. A disadvantage of the commonly used gully hole without a gully screen is that the debris space may fill up after a short time, after which the gully outlet or the sewer system will block up with the debris which is no longer able to settle in the debris space. The result is that the water can no longer drain away via the gully. The water will be left on the street, with the possible result of flooding. To prevent this, the gully holes require regular cleaning before the debris has reached the lower side of the gully outlet. Generally this cleaning is carried out with the aid of a vehicle built and equipped especially for this purpose. The gully holes are then suction- vacated. This is accompanied by considerable costs resulting from man hours as well as considerable costs resulting from having and maintaining in operation the specially equipped vehicles . In order to keep the costs for cleaning the gullies as low as possible, cleaning is deferred for as long as possible. This may lead to a number of gully holes becoming blocked and result in water being left in the street. Also, the stench screen positioned over the gully outlet may become damaged during cleaning. The Swiss patent specification CH-A-613.245, upon which the preamble of claim 1 is based, discloses a gully hole whose gully chamber is provided with a gully screen in the form of a basket. Also, from the Swiss patent specification CH-A-113.513 a similar gully hole is known. In these known gully holes the debris is collected in the basket incorporated in the gully chamber. After some time the basket can be taken out of the gully chamber for the removal of the debris from the basket. However, in said known gully holes the shape of the gully chamber and the basket have to be specifically adapted to each other in order for the basket to fit into the gully chamber. In addition, the basket has a very large screen surface, which is not necessary for effective screening. Such a large surface is, however, very susceptible to damage which may affect the screening performance so that the debris can still reach the discharge compartment. Further, the manufacture of a basket-shaped gully screen is rela- tively intricate and requires a considerable amount of material. This makes the basket-shaped gully screen costly. Practice has shown that such a strainer basket is not used. J Φ rt rd H ti H H H • n rH 4-J β Φ J -H CJ -. -H J UH H MH Φ O Φ iH o d ε O TJ β rd • rH -i-! U -H r rt w o φ n O -H ti Φ ti N -H H rt -H m Φ A rH ti rd J Φ φ Φ rd ϋ 0 0 rd -β 4J φ ti β _β rt ti 0 £ o A D) -H 4-> ft Di -3 o rH 4-J ft -H ft CQ TJ cα rH rd ε cα A A MH s rd A CQ o ϋ -H Di ε In addition, it is extremely simple to introduce the screen plate into gully holes already installed in streets, pavements, etc. The debris may now accumulate in the collecting compartment up to virtually the entire height of the gully hole without hindering the drainage of water, as there will always be openings in the screen plate above the level of accumulated debris allowing the water to drain into the gully outlet. Compared with the generally employed gully holes that are not provided with a gully screen, the period of time between consecutive cleanings may be considerably prolonged, with the result of considerable economization in terms of man hours and equipment necessary for the cleaning activities. The cleaning activities now involve only the cleaning of the collecting compartment, which saves the stench screen provided over the gully outlet from being damaged. Such damage will result in the escape of stench from the sewer system. Repair is not easy and is accompanied by considerable expenditure. Thus the screen plate acts at the same time as a protection for the stench screen. Preferably the screen plate is in a horizontal cross section curved, with the convex side facing the collecting compartment. This shape prevents the screen plate from bending into the direction of the gully outlet due to pressure being exerted on the screen plate from water streaming through the openings of the screen plate and from the debris accumulated in the collecting compartment . In a preferred embodiment the screen plate is made from flexible a material and is fitted under tension between the walls of the gully chamber. In this manner the screen plate is fixed very simply in the gully chamber, so that the probability of the gully screen being displaced or falling over is very slight . Because if this should occur, then the debris could enter the discharge compartment and the screen plate would be ineffective. In a possible embodiment, fixing means are provided by which the screen plate is fixed in the gully chamber. This measure prevents, should the occasion arise, that the screen plate becomes displaced or falls over in the gully chamber. This could make the collecting compartment smaller or debris could find its way into the discharge compartment, rendering the screen plate ineffective. The fixing means may be provided in the gully chamber, on the screen plate or may be provided independently of either. It is also possible to use glue or cement. The fix-ing means may comprise insertion slots provided in the walls of the gully chamber, into which the edges of the screen plate can be inserted. In this way a screen plate can easily be fixed in the gully chamber. The fixing means may also comprise flexible strips which are attached to the edges of the screen plate abutting to the walls of the gully chamber, and which, when the screen plate is positioned in the gully chamber, abut under tension to said walls of the gully chamber. This tension produces a fixing force and the strips guarantee a tight fit of the screen plate against the walls of the gully chamber. Preferably the screen plate is removable from the gully hole. This has the advantage that, for instance, should the openings of the screen plate be clogged up, the screen plate can be cleaned outside the gully hole. It also allows a possibly damaged screen plate to be replaced very easily. The invention is also embodied in a method of improving an existing gully hole for catching and draining water into a sewer system, comprising a gully chamber provided at its top end with a gully inlet for receiving the water, and provided at a lower level with a gully outlet which opens into the gully chamber and which is connectable to the sewer system, characterized by the following steps : - elastically bending a bendable screen plate whose breadth in the released state is slightly larger than the inside width of the gully chamber, until the screen plate spans a breadth which is slightly smaller than said inside width; - inserting the elastically bent screen plate into the gully chamber until its bottom edge abuts to the floor of the gully chamber; and - releasing the screen plate until it at both sides presses against opposing inside walls of the gully chamber. The commonly used gully holes without a gully screen can, according to the method above, simply and efficiently be provided with a screen plate according to the invention, so that the above-mentioned problems with the gully holes commonly used in streets, etc., such as obstruction and the fast filling-up of the available space for debris in the gully hole, can also be avoided with the existing gully holes. Preferably the screen plate is inserted into the gully chamber with the convex side facing away from the gully outlet. In this way, any pressure being exerted on the screen plate from the accumulated debris in the collecting compartment and from the water streaming through the openings of the screen plate, will serve as an extra fixing force for the screen plate. The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which identical reference numbers indicate analogous parts, and in which: Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of a preferred embodiment of a gully hole according to the invention; and Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c show a cross section of various embodiments of a gully hole according to the invention. One preferred embodiment of a gully hole according to the invention is shown in Fig. 1 and is generally indicated by reference number 1. The gully hole 1 comprises a gully chamber 10 and is at its top side provided with a gully inlet 20, for instance, a gully cover or a grate, and is in one of its side walls provided with a gully out- let 30. The gully outlet 30 is positioned at a lower level than the gully inlet 20 and provides the connection to the sewer system. In the gully chamber 10 a stench screen 31 is placed over the gully outlet 30. This stench screen 31 prevents malodorous gasses or vermin, such as rats, escaping from the sewer system. In the embodiment shown, a plate-like screen wall is mounted vertically in the gully chamber 10 as a gully screen 40. The screen plate 40 extends from the bottom to the top of the gully chamber 10. The edges of the screen plate 40 thus abut to the walls of the gully chamber 10. This divides the gully chamber 10 into a collecting compartment 50 in communication with the gully inlet 20 and a discharge compartment 60 in communication with the gully outlet 30. Water to be drained away will run into the collecting compartment 50 via the gully inlet 20. This drain water will also carry with it debris such as street waste, leaves and sand, etc. After running into the collecting compartment, the water can via openings in the screen plate 40 reach the discharge compartment 60 and then the gully outlet 30 to drain into the sewer system. The water and the debris must be prevented from entering the discharge compartment 60 directly. The size of the openings in the screen plate 40 must be chosen such that the debris carried with the water, which could cause blocking of the gully outlet 30 or the sewer system, cannot pass through the screen plate. This filtered-out debris will stay in the collecting com- partment 50 and settle therein. Debris able to pass through the openings of the screen plate 40 such as, for instance sand, may safely enter the discharge compartment 60 without danger of the outlet 30 or the sewer system becoming blocked. The debris is allowed to accumulate in the collecting compartment 50 over virtually the entire height of the gully hole 1 without hindering the drainage of water to the discharge compartment 60. Above the level of the accumulated debris there are always openings available in the screen plate 40 for draining the water sup- plied from the collecting compartment 50 to the discharge compartment 60. The space now available for the accumulation of debris is considerably larger than the space available with a commonly used gully hole, because with a gully hole of that type said space is delimited by the bottom of the gully chamber and the lower side of the gully outlet 30. The shape of the openings in the screen plate 40 is not limited to any particular shape. The shapes may include circles, rectangles, ovals, slots, rhomboids, etc. However, the size of the openings in the screen plate 40 must be chosen such that debris that could cause obstruction of the gully outlet 30 or the sewer system, is filtered out. The openings in the screen plate 40 must not restrict the drainage of the water. To this end the draining surface area of the openings in the screen plate 40 must over a limited height directly above the level of the debris be at least equal to the cross-sectional surface area of the gully outlet 30. The screen plate 40 of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is positioned completely vertically in the gully chamber 10. It may, however, be advantageous to position the screen plate 40 in the gully chamber 10 at an angle. This will be the case if the gully inlet 20 extends, for instance, over the entire top side of the gully hole. The screen plate 40 may then be positioned at an angle in such a way that the top edge of the screen plate 40 abuts to the wall of the gully chamber 10. The top side of the screen plate 40 according to Fig. l would in that case have to be moved to the left. In this configuration no debris can get directly from the gully inlet 20 into the discharge compartment 60. This must be avoided because otherwise some of the debris would still be able to accumulate in the discharge compartment 60, thus possibly cau- sing obstruction. It is in this case also possible to fold the top side of the screen plate 40 above the discharge compartment 60 toward the wall of the gully chamber 10. By means of a separate plate-like screen the top side of the opening of the screen plate 40 positioned in the gully chamber 10 may also be covered, in order to prevent any debris finding its way into the discharge compartment 60 via this opening. The cross section of the gully hole according to the invention is not limited to any particular form. The Figs. 2a and 2b show rectangular cross sections, but cross sections of another form are quite feasible, such as round, shown in Fig. 2c, or oval. Figs. 2a, 2b and 2c show possible cross sections of the gully hole 1 which, in Fig. 1, is shown in longitudinal section. Fig. 2a shows a gully hole with a rectangular cross section, wherein the screen plate 40 is positioned parallel to the wall of the gully chamber 10 comprising the gully outlet 30. The embodiment of Fig. 2a comprises insertion slots 11 provided in the side walls of the gully chamber 10 into which the screen plate 40 can be inserted. This is a simple manner for fixing the screen plate 40 in the gully chamber 10 so that the screen plate 40 cannot shift or fall over. If no insertion slots 11 are provided it is possible, for instance, to affix vertical supporting strips to the screen plate 40, which supporting strips in this case rest against the side wall of the gully chamber 10 comprising the gully outlet 30 and the wall opposite thereto. Such a support does not need to be attached to the screen plate 40, but may also be provided otherwise. Those skilled in the art will know many different ways of fixing the screen plate in the gully chamber, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Fig. 2b shows a cross section of an embodiment of a gully hole according to the invention, in which the screen plate 40 is curved. In this embodiment the screen plate 40 is made from a flexible material such as, for instance, polyethylene or PVC. The screen plate 40 in this embodiment is positioned under tension between opposing side walls of the gully chamber 10, i.e. it is jammed between said opposing side walls. Said screen plate 40 is thus firmly positioned in the gully chamber 10 and can only be displaced by a considerable force. The curved form of the screen plate 40, with the convex side facing the collect- ing compartment 60, has also the advantage that a force from the collecting compartment 50 cannot bend the screen plate 40 into the direction of the gully outlet 30, which could damage or obstruct it . This force could come from water streaming from the collecting compartment 50 through 4J ε J TJ πj ft .3 4-1 ti A σ> 4J A -rl ti CO A Cn D 4-1 ft H ti rd Φ ft A J Di 5 Di ft e rd j CO -H O A o J rH CO £ J ε ti

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A gully hole for catching and draining water into a sewer system, comprising a gully chamber provided at its top end with a gully inlet for receiving the water, and provided at a lower level with a gully outlet which opens into the gully chamber and which is connectable to the sewer system, and comprises a gully screen fitted in and dividing the gully chamber into a collecting compartment in communication with the gully inlet and a discharge compartment in communication with the gully outlet, characterized in that the gully screen is a screen plate which extends almost over the entire height of the gully cham- ber, is mounted near the gully outlet, and abuts with at least its side edges and bottom edge to the walls of the gully chamber. 2. A gully hole according to claim 1, characterized in that the screen plate (40) is in a horizontal cross section curved, with the convex side facing the collecting compartment (50) . 3. A gully hole according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the screen plate (40) is made from a flexible material and is fitted under tension between the walls of the gully chamber (10) . 4. A gully hole according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that fixing means are provided by which the screen plate (40) is fixed in the gully chamber (10) . 5. A gully hole according to claim 4, characterized in that the fixing means comprise insertion slots provided in the walls of the gully chamber (10) , into which the edges of the screen plate (40) are inserted. 6. A gully hole according to claim 4 or 5, charac- terized in that the fixing means comprise flexible strips which are attached to the edges of the screen plate (40) abutting to the walls of the gully chamber (10) , and which, when the screen plate (40) is positioned in the gully chamber (10) , abut under tension to said walls of the gully chamber (10) . 7. A gully hole according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the screen plate (40) is removable from the gully hole (1) . 8. A screen plate for use in a gully hole according to any one of the preceding claims. 9. A method of improving an existing gully hole for catching and draining water into a sewer system, compris- ing a gully chamber provided at its top end with a gully inlet for receiving the water, and provided at a lower level with a gully outlet which opens into the gully chamber and which is connectable to the sewer system, characterized by the following steps: - elastically bending a bendable screen plate (40) whose breadth in the released state is slightly larger than the inside width of the gully chamber (10) , until the screen plate (40) spans a breadth which is slightly smaller than said inside width; - inserting the elastically bent screen plate (40) into the gully chamber (10) until its bottom edge abuts to the floor of the gully chamber (10) ; and - releasing the screen plate (40) until it at both sides presses against the opposing inside walls of gully chamber (10) . 10. A method according to claim 9, characterized in that the screen plate (40) is inserted into the gully chamber (10) with the convex side facing away from the gully outlet (30) .

Inventors: DEKKER HUIBERT CORNELIS, DEKKER, HUIBERT, CORNELIS
Applicants: DEKKER HUIBERT CORNELIS, GULLY STRAINER V O F, DEKKER, HUIBERT, CORNELIS, GULLY STRAINER V.O.F.
Application year: 1998
Main classification: E03F5
IPC codes: E03F5