WELL

Abstract: A well to be used e.g. in sewer or rainwater systems, the well comprising a frame (2), at least one inlet unit (3) and at least one outlet unit (4). At least one inlet unit (3) is arranged in connection with a joint inside the structure of the frame (2) of the well (1) such that the direction of the unit is changeable.

Description: WELL The invention relates to a well comprising a frame, at least one inlet unit and at least one outlet unit. Wells comprising at least one inlet unit and at least one outlet unit are used in rainwater and sewer systems, for example. The wells are used as inspection wells, for example, or the well can be used for changing the direction of a drain line. Furthermore, the wells are used at the intersection of three or more drain pipes, when, in the case of three pipes, for example, the well thus comprises two inlet units and one outlet unit. Since the pipes to be attached to the wells are rigid, it can be difficult to attach them to the fixed units of the well. If the angles between the units of the wells are implemented by using standard dimensioning, it may happen that the angles between the pipes do not match, in which case it is impossible to attach the pipes to the units. When a pipe is attached to a unit, a tolerance of two degrees is typically allowed, the tolerance usually being too small, however. Wells are also made to order, but typically no accurate designs exist on the piping, which may cause problems in the mounting process also in connection with a made-to-order well if the well is to be joined to an existing pipe line, for example. The pipes can be provided with angles or they can be attached to each other by means of angle joints or turnable joints; typically, however, no bends or angles is allowed in connection with drain pipes but the turning of the pipe line must take place at the well. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved well. A well of the invention is characterized in that at least one inlet unit is arranged in connection with a joint located substantially inside the structure of the frame of the well such that the direction of the unit is changeable. The idea underlying the invention is that the well comprises at least one inlet unit and at least one outlet unit, and at least one inlet unit is arranged in connection with a joint located substantially inside the structure of the well such that the direction of the unit is changeable. An underlying idea of a preferred embodiment is that the joint is a ball joint and a sealing is provided in connection with the ball joint. An underlying idea of another preferred embodiment is that means for preventing the joint from turning vertically are pro- vided in connection with the joint. An advantage of the invention is that a pipe can be attached to a well simply and easily. The mounting directions of the units and pipes can vary greatly, but the pipe can still be attached to the well in a reliable manner. The well can be joined to existing pipe lines although the accurate positions and directions of the pipes were not known in advance. Nor is there any need to construct several different wells; one well type will be suitable for use in many different situations. The invention will be described in closer detail in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic, cross-sectional top view of a well, and Figure 2 is a schematic, cross-sectional side view of a detail of the well. Figure 1 shows a well 1. The cross-sectional plane of Figure 1 is in the vicinity of the bottom of the well 1. The shape of the bottom of the well 1 can vary as necessary. Furthermore, in connection with the well 1 there may be provided ribs as desired. The cross-sectional shape of the well 1 may vary as desired above the cross-sectional plane of Figure 1. Most typically, however, the well 1 is circular in its cross section. The well 1 comprises a frame 2, inlet units 3 and an outlet unit 4. The inlet units 3 and the outlet unit 4 com- prise sleeves, and the pipes to be attached to the well can be attached to the units inside the sleeves thereof. The units may comprise ribs, for example, and the size and shape of the sleeves may vary as desired. The inlet units 3 are formed such that they can be turned with respect to the frame 2. Figure 1 shows that all inlet units 3 are turnable, but a most preferred embodiment would be, for example, such that the outermost inlet units 3 would be turnable and the middlemost inlet unit 3 would be fixed. Figure 1 shows that the outlet input 4 is fixed but, if desired, it could also be arranged to be turnable. It is, however, easier to arrange the section between the inlet unit 3 and the frame 2 in connection with the inlet unit 3 so as to pre- vent steps from occurring in the direction of flow which would block the flow. The turning of the inlet unit 3 is provided by attaching the inlet unit 3 to the frame 2 by a joint inside the structure of the frame 2, which is a ball joint 5 in Figure 1. The range of variation of the turning angle of the inlet unit 3 depends on the length of the diameter of the well 1 and on how many inlet units 3 are arranged in the well 1 and on how many of these inlet units are turnable. Typically, the inlet unit 3 is arranged to turn +11°, i.e. sideways from the centre-line 11° in both directions. If, for example, there are three turnable inlet units 3, the turning angle of one inlet unit is quite small. Even in such a case it is, however, preferably more than ±5°. On the other hand, the turning angle is then preferably less than ±15°. If, again, the well 1 is only used as an inspection well, i.e. it comprises only one inlet unit 3 and one outlet unit 4, the turning angle may also be more than ±15°, preferably about +25°. Thus, the ball joint 5 is formed such that a partly ball-shaped surface is arranged in the end facing the frame 2 of the inlet unit 3, and a corresponding ball-shaped space is arranged in the frame 2 for the end of the inlet unit 3. Furthermore, a sealing 6 is ar- ranged in connection with the ball joint 5. The sealing 6 may be made of rubber, for example. In Figure 1, a groove for the sealing is arranged in the frame 2, but the sealing groove may also be arranged in the ball-shaped part of the inlet unit 3 if desired. The well 1 can be constructed such that the frame part 2 is pro- duced by die-casting such that the frame 2 comprises no parts outside broken line A. Next, the sealing 6 is arranged in the frame 2, and the inlet unit 3 is locked in place by one or more additional pieces 2a. An additional piece 2a can be locked to the frame 2 by glueing, screwing or welding, for example. The material of the frame 2 can then be polyvinyl chloride PVC, for example. The frame 2 can also be die-cast such that it lacks the parts outside lines B. In such a case, the material of the frame 2 should be resilient, enabling the ball-shaped end of the inlet unit 3 to be forced inside the ball-shaped part of the frame 2, i.e. the frame 2 must yield. The material of the frame 2 can then be, for example, polyolefin, such as polyethene PE or polypropylene PP. The fact that the ball-shaped part of the inlet unit stays in place is at least partly caused by the memory effect of the material of the frame 2, i.e. the frame 2 has to be resilient enough for the ball-shaped part to fit in; however, the frame 2 then resumes its original shape and presses around the inlet unit 3. Next, the additional pieces 2a can be attached outside the point shown by lines B. The additional pieces 2a do not necessarily have to extend outside the inlet unit 3 in a circular manner but there can be several of them so as to clutch the inlet unit 3 in place. It is not necessary to use the additional pieces 2a; the frame 2 is then die-cast as one uniform part and the resilience of the material of the frame 2 is utilized in mounting the inlet units 3. The inlet units 3 thus stay in place by means of the memory effect of the material of the frame 2. The material of the inlet unit 3 can be the same as the material of the frame 2. In addition to rubber, the material of the sealing 6 can also be the same as the material of the frame 2, in which case the sealing 6 can be attached to the frame 2 by welding. If desired, the sealing 6 can thus also be used for welding the additional pieces 2a and the frame 2 together. The sealing 6 can also be equipped with a resistor wire, and by conveying electricity to the resistor wire, the sealing 6 becomes heated, after which the sealing 6 and the surrounding materials weld together. When the well 1 and the related pipes have been attached to each other, the inlet units 3 no longer have to be turned but the inlet units 3 and the sealing 6 can also be welded together. When the well 1 has been mounted in place and the pipes joined thereto have been attached to the units 3 and 4, in practice the well 1 can no longer move or the turnable units turn. The units 3 are prevented from turning vertically also during the mounting process in a manner shown in Figure 2, for example, wherein a guide 7 supported by the frame 2 is arranged above and underneath the inlet unit 3. In principle, even one guide 7 would suffice if placed inside the structure of the frame 2. Vertical turning can also be prevented by making, for example, the upper and/or lower surface of the inlet unit straight or otherwise different from the ball-shaped surface and by arranging the frame 2 in a similar manner along the section facing the particular point. The drawings and the related description are only intended to illustrate the idea of the invention. In its details, the invention may vary within the scope of the claims. The well 1 is suited preferably for use in rainwater or sewer systems as an inspection well, for example. The inlet units and the out- let units are most preferably arranged at the bottom of the well but, if desired, they can also be arranged at a higher position in the well. In such a case, it is possible, for example, to provide a well ring comprising a unit turnable according to the invention to be subsequently attached to an existing well.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A well comprising a frame (2), at least one inlet unit (3) and at least one outlet unit (4), c h a r a c t e r i z e d in that at least one inlet unit (3) is arranged in connection with a joint located substantially inside the structure of the frame (2) of the well (1) such that the direction of the unit is changeable. 2. A well as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the joint is a ball joint (5). 3. A well as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a sealing (6) is arranged in connection with the joint. 4. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that means are provided in connection with the joint for preventing the unit from turning vertically. 5. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet unit (3) is arranged to turn more than +5°. 6. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet unit (3) is arranged to turn less than +15°. 7. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the inlet unit (3) is arranged to turn about ±11 °. 8. A well as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the inlet unit (3) is arranged to turn more than +15°. 9. A well as claimed in claim 8, characterized in that the inlet unit (3) is arranged to turn about +25°. 10. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint is a ball joint (5) formed such that a ball-shaped space is arranged in the frame (2) and a ball-shaped end is arranged in the inlet unit (3), the ball-shaped end of the inlet unit (3) being arranged in the ball- shaped space of the frame (2) and locked in place by at least one additional piece (2a). 11. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, char- acterized in that the frame (2) is made of plastic. 12. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the joint is a ball joint (5) formed such that a ball-shaped space is arranged in the frame (2) and a ball-shaped end is arranged in the inlet unit (3), and the ball-shaped end of the inlet unit (3) is arranged to be lar- ger than the mouth of the ball-shaped space of the frame (2), whereby the ball-shaped end of the inlet unit (3) is arranged in the ball-shaped space of the frame (2) by enlarging the mouth of said space, and the mouth resumes its original size after the mounting process. 13. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, char- acterized in that the frame (2) is made of polyolefin. 14. A well as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the well (1) is arranged to be used in a sewer system or in a rainwater system.

Inventors: JAEPPINEN TERO, JAEPPINEN, TERO
Applicants: JAEPPINEN TERO, UPONOR INNOVATION AB, JAEPPINEN, TERO
Application year: 2001
Main classification: F16L41
IPC codes: E03F5, F16L41