EP3170954B1 - Support plate, manufacturing process of such a plate and outdoor equipment comprising such a plate - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a soleplate, designed to be interposed between an outdoor equipment base and an anchoring base of this base in the ground. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such a sole and an external equipment comprising such a sole.

The invention relates to outdoor equipment. "Outdoor equipment" means any equipment intended to be installed outdoors, in urban or rural areas, and whose base forms, for example, a post, an upright, a mast, or more generally an elongated body rising from the soil, preferably vertically. By way of non-limiting example, the base of the outdoor equipment may be a foot lamp for public or private lighting, an electric traffic signal pole of the kind tricolor, a road sign support, or a panel support indication, signaling, or advertising.

The anchor is generally formed by a mass of concrete or cement poured directly into the ground, or by a mass of precast concrete and implanted in the ground. The anchoring block serves as a base for the base of the external equipment in order to rigidly and securely anchor the latter in the ground. The base is most often kept fixed on the anchor by means of nuts screwed on threaded rods protruding from the anchor.

EP-A-0447326 describes a compressible midsole, which is interposed between a base and an anchor, the midsole being provided with penetrations through which the threaded rods. This compressible midsole makes it possible to adjust the verticality of the base: it is indeed possible to partially compress this midsole by adjusting the tightening of the nuts, so as to change the orientation of the base relative to the anchor. The intermediate element also comprises a central opening for the passage of electrical supply cables from the inking unit to the base.

This known midsole has the disadvantage, when installed on a prefabricated solid mass, whose upper surface has grooves separating the threaded rods, flowing locally downwards towards the inside of these grooves. In addition, because of its deformable nature, the intermediate element can be difficult to thread on the threaded rods.

Accordingly, the invention aims to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art mentioned above, by proposing a new sole which, while being particularly easy to use, has a particularly low risk of unwanted creep.

The invention relates to a soleplate, designed to be interposed between a base of an external equipment and a massive anchor of the base in the ground. According to the invention, the sole comprises a plurality of elastic shoes made of a first material, the elastic pads each having an upper support side and a lower support side opposite the upper support side, each resilient pad being provided with a passage opening which passes through the elastic pad from the upper support side to the lower support side and a support frame of the elastic pads, the frame being made of a second material distinct from the first material and having a higher rigidity to that of the first material.

Thanks to the invention, the sole has a generally rigid structure thanks to the frame and locally elastic thanks to the elastic pads. The presence of the frame prevents any risk of undesirable deformation of the sole even in the presence of grooves in the upper surface of the solid, while facilitating the mounting of the sole on the threaded rods. The frame being more rigid than the elastic pads, it makes it possible to limit at least partially the creep of the elastic pads. The sole of the invention is particularly strong and durable. Despite the rigidity of the frame, the elasticity of the elastic soles allows the adjustment of the orientation of the base of the outer element relative to the compression anchor mass of one or more of the elastic pads.

• Le cadre comprend :
  • ∘ des supports de fixation des patins élastiques, chaque patin élastique étant fixé sur l'un des supports,
  • ∘ des bras de raccord, qui relient chacun rigidement deux supports entre eux, les bras de raccord étant agencés pour encadrer une ouverture centrale du cadre autour de laquelle les supports sont répartis.
• Chaque support forme un rebord annulaire à partir duquel deux des bras de raccord s'étendent, chaque patin élastique comprenant une gorge périphérique qui s'étend entre le côté d'appui supérieur et le côté d'appui inférieur du patin élastique, chaque patin élastique étant fixé au support par complémentarité de formes de sa gorge périphérique avec le rebord annulaire du support correspondant.
• Quatre patins élastiques sont prévus, quatre supports sont prévus, et quatre bras de raccord sont prévus, de sorte que le cadre présente une forme générale de rectangle dont les côtés sont formés par les bras de raccord et dont les sommets sont formés par les supports.
• Le premier matériau est un élastomère, de préférence un caoutchouc synthétique, de préférence encore un EPDM, et le deuxième matériau est un métal ou un matériau thermoplastique, de préférence un PEHD.
• Au moins le côté d'appui inférieur ou le côté d'appui supérieur d'au moins l'un des patins élastiques comprend des nervures d'appui.
• Au moins deux des bras de raccord sont de longueur réglable.

According to other advantageous and non-obligatory features of the invention, taken separately or in combination:

• The frame includes:
  • ∘ supports for fixing the elastic pads, each elastic pad being fixed on one of the supports,
  • Bras connecting arms, which each rigidly connect two supports together, the connecting arms being arranged to frame a central opening of the frame around which the supports are distributed.
• Each support forms an annular rim from which two of the connecting arms extend, each elastic pad comprising a peripheral groove which extends between the upper bearing side and the lower bearing side of the elastic pad, each elastic pad being attached to the support by complementarity of forms of its peripheral groove with the annular rim of the corresponding support.
• Four elastic pads are provided, four supports are provided, and four connecting arms are provided, so that the frame has a general shape of rectangle whose sides are formed by the connecting arms and whose vertices are formed by the supports.
• The first material is an elastomer, preferably a synthetic rubber, more preferably an EPDM, and the second material is a metal or thermoplastic material, preferably HDPE.
• At least the lower support side or the upper support side of at least one of the elastic pads comprises supporting ribs.
• At least two of the connecting arms are of adjustable length.

The invention also relates to a base and an anchor base of the base in the ground, and a sole as described above, the sole being interposed between the base and the anchor.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sole, as defined above, wherein the frame and the elastic pads are first made separately, and then fixed each elastic pad on the frame.

Finally, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing a sole as defined above, in which the sole is produced by bi-injection of the elastic pads and the frame in a common mold, or by overmolding the elastic pads on the frame.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective éclatée d'une semelle conforme à l'invention ;
• Les figures 2 et 3 sont des vues en perspective, selon deux orientations différentes, d'un patin élastique appartenant à la semelle de la figure 1 ;
• La figure 4 est une vue de côté d'un équipement extérieur équipé de la semelle de la figure 1 ; et
• La figure 5 est une vue en perspective partielle de l'équipement extérieur de la figure 4.

The invention will be better understood on reading the description which will follow, given solely by way of nonlimiting and non-exhaustive example and with reference to the drawings in which:

• The figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a sole according to the invention;
• The Figures 2 and 3 are views in perspective, in two different orientations, of an elastic pad belonging to the sole of the figure 1 ;
• The figure 4 is a side view of an outdoor equipment equipped with the sole of the figure 1 ; and
• The figure 5 is a partial perspective view of the outdoor equipment of the figure 4 .

In what follows, the terms "superior" and "high" refer to a direction directed towards the top of the figure 4 , the terms "inferior" and "low" refer to an opposite direction.

The sole 1 shown in figure 1 is designed to be interposed between a base 3 of an external equipment EE and an anchoring mass 5 of this base 3 in the ground, as illustrated in FIGS. figures 4 and 5 . On the figure 5 , we failed to represent the base 3 to make the sole 1 visible when it is mounted on the anchor 5. On the figure 4 , the base 3 is shown cut in its upper part for reasons of simplification of the figure.

The anchoring mass 5 is intended to be buried in the ground, at least partially, to support and secure the base 3 to the ground. The anchoring mass 5 comprises an upper surface 7 intended to receive the sole 1 in support, and to support the base 3 via this sole 1, the base 3 itself bearing on this sole 1.

The anchoring mass 5 comprises four threaded rods 9, which protrude from the upper surface 7 by being directed upwards. The four threaded rods 9 are arranged in quadrilateral and are oriented parallel to each other.

The anchoring mass 5 illustrated in the figures is a prefabricated solid mass, that is to say it is intended to be buried in the solid state and not cast on site. The prefabricated mass 5 has grooves 11 formed in the upper surface 7, between the threaded rods 9, for the passage of power cables EE outdoor equipment. The anchoring mass 5 also comprises a lifting hook 13 disposed at the bottom of the grooves 11. Even if it is not shown, the sole 1 is adapted to be put in place on a non-prefabricated anchor, that is to say, for example cast on site during the installation of outdoor equipment EE. In general, the sole 1 is adapted to any other anchoring support of the base 3 in the soil which has an upper surface.

The base 3 illustrated forms the base of a post 15 whose cross section is for example circular, the post 15 defining a main axis X3 of the base 3 which is intended to be vertical when the base 3 is fixed on the solid 5. Partly lower part of the post 15, the base 3 is provided with a flange 17 for mounting the base 3 on the solid mass 5, the collar 17 projecting from the post 15, radially with respect to the main axis X3, over the entire periphery 15. The flange 17 has at least four through holes to accommodate the four threaded rods 9.

The base 3 is designed to be clamped against the sole 1, which is then pressed against the anchoring mass 5. For this, the external equipment EE comprises clamping elements 19 screwed onto the threaded rods 9 so as to implement compression collar 17 against the sole 1, itself compressed between the flange 17 and the surface 7. The clamping elements 19 of each threaded rod 9, visible at the figure 5 , Include for example a washer 192 in contact with the collar 17, a nut 194 clamping the washer against the flange 17 and a lock nut 196 to retain the nut 194. Protection caps 21, only one is shown to the figure 5 , are fitted on the free end of each of the threaded rods 9 to cover and protect the clamping elements 19.

The sole 1 mainly comprises four elastic shoes 23, one of which is shown alone to Figures 2 and 3 , and a frame 25 on which the elastic pads 23 are mounted, this frame 25 being visible to figures 1 , 4 and 5 .

Each shoe 23 is made of a first material which gives it a certain elasticity, this material being, for example, an elastomer, of the synthetic rubber type, for example an EPDM (ethylene-propylene-diene monomer). Each shoe 23 has an initial geometry, illustrated in FIGS. Figures 2 and 3 , and is able to be elastically deformed to modify this initial geometry in a reversible manner.

The frame 25 is made of a second material, for example a metallic material of the steel type, or a thermoplastic material such as HDPE (high density polyethylene), so as to give the frame 25 some rigidity.

In practice, the term "rigid" and "elastic", the material constituting the pads 23 is more elastic and / or more flexible than the material constituting the frame 25. The material constituting the frame 25 is, meanwhile, more rigid and less flexible than the material of the pads 23. The rigidity is an inverse property of the elasticity for a given material and can, for example, be measured by the Young's modulus. Thus, the second material has a Young's modulus higher than that of the first material. The frame 25 thus forms a rigid support for the pads 23, which are provided to elastically deform by compression between the flange 17 of the base 3 and the upper surface 7 of the solid 5. The first material is chosen to be elastically deformable in the normal conditions of use of the external equipment, the second material being chosen to be rigid under these same conditions.

The elastic pads 23 each form a piece in one piece, for example made by molding.

Alternatively, each pad 23 may be formed by several separate pieces.

Each resilient pad 23 includes a main body having an upper support side 27 and a lower support side 29 which is opposed to the upper support side 27. As illustrated in FIGS. figures 4 and 5 , the upper bearing surface 27 is intended to bear against the flange 17 of the base 3, while the lower bearing surface 29 is intended to bear against the upper surface 7 of the anchor block 5.

Each elastic pad 23 is also provided with a through hole 31 which passes through the main body from one side to the other, from the upper bearing side 27 to the lower bearing side 29. This passage opening 31 is intended for be traversed by one of the threaded rods 9 when the sole 1 is in place on the solid mass 5, as visible in FIG. figure 5 . The sole 1 is thus traversed by the four threaded rods 9, which pass through the elastic pads 23. The upper bearing side 27 and the lower bearing side 29 extend in planes parallel to each other.

The upper bearing side 27 and the lower bearing side 29 are preferably provided with supporting ribs 33 through which they are intended to rest against the flange 17 and the surface 7 respectively. These support ribs 33 give a flexible character to the bearing of the upper bearing side 27 and the lower bearing side 29 respectively against the flange 17 and the upper surface 7. Indeed, because of their geometry, the ribs 33, deform more easily than a solid skate body with rectangular section. In the example of the figures, each support side 27 and 29 of each resilient pad 23 has five bearing ribs, three of which are interrupted by an outlet rim of the through-hole 31, two others forming ribs. lateral support 33 extending on either side of the orifice 31.

As is particularly visible in Figures 2 and 3 , the upper bearing sides 27 and lower 29 resilient pads 23 are identical, or at least globally identical. In practice, each pad 23 has a plane of symmetry P23, which forms a median plane of each elastic pad 23, disposed between the bearing sides 27 and 29, parallel to them. In addition, each elastic pad 23 comprises a second plane of symmetry P24, which is orthogonal to the plane P23, and which is aligned with the median support rib 33 of the sides 27 and 29 of each pad 23. The plane P24 thus passes through passage opening 31.

The frame 25 comprises four supports 35 for fixing the elastic pads 23, so that each elastic pad 23 is fixed on one of the supports 35. On the figure 1 , three of the elastic pads 23 are fixed on their support 35, the fourth elastic pad 23 being shown separated from its support 35, which is left free.

Each support 35 forms an annular rim 37 which surrounds the elastic pad 23 at its plane of symmetry P23 in order to keep it fixed on the frame 25. In this case, each elastic pad 23 comprises a peripheral groove 39 which extends over the entire periphery of the shoe 23 in the plane of symmetry P23, between the upper bearing side 27 and the lower bearing side 29, each elastic pad 23 being fixed to its corresponding support 35 by complementary shapes of its peripheral groove 39 with the annular flange 37 of the support 35 concerned. The fixing of each pad 23 on its support 35 is performed by interlocking the peripheral groove 39 with the annular flange 37. The rigidity of the annular flanges 37 advantageously limits the creep of the pads 23, under the pressure of the surface 7 and the flange 17, in directions parallel to the main plane P25.

The frame 25 defines a main plane P25 in which the supports 35 and in particular the annular flanges 37 extend. Thus, when the elastic shoes 23 are fixed on the supports 35, their plane of symmetry P23 is coplanar with the main plane P25. of the frame 25. In this way, in their initial undeformed geometry, the upper bearing sides 27 of the pads 23 together define an upper support plane and the lower bearing sides 29 of the pads 23 together define a plane of lower support, the upper support plane and the lower support plane being parallel to each other and to the main plane P25, while being located on either side of the main plane P25. The deformation of at least one of the pads 23 causes a change in the mutual orientation of the bearing planes, as described below. The upper and lower bearing planes are defined by the upper and lower bearing ribs 33, respectively. When the shoes 23 are not deformed, at least a portion of the edges of the upper and lower support ribs 33 are coplanar with the upper support plane and the lower support plane, respectively. In general, it is understood that the skids 23 protrude above and below the frame 25, that is to say that they protrude on both sides of the plane P25, so that the frame 25 is not in contact with the base 3 or the anchor 5 when the sole 1 is interposed between the solid 5 and the base 3, as visible in the figure 4 .

The frame 25 also comprises four connecting arms 41. Each connecting arm 41 rigidly connects the supports 35 to each other. As can be seen in FIGS. figures 1 and 5 two connecting arms 41 extend from each annular flange 37, on either side of the support 35 concerned. The connecting arms 41 are thus arranged to frame a central opening 43 of the sole 1, which is centered on the main axis X3, or at least traversed by the latter, when the sole 1 is in place. within the EE outdoor equipment, as shown in figure 5 . The supports 35, and their associated elastic pad 23, are evenly distributed around this central opening 43. Electric cables supplying the base 3 are advantageously passed through the sole 1 via the central opening 43.

The connecting arms 41 extend in the main plane P25 and are rectilinear. Alternatively, they may have a curved shape. The connecting arms 41 are parallel in pairs, so that the frame 25 has a general shape of rectangle whose sides are formed by the connecting arms 41 and whose vertices are formed by the supports 35 associated with the elastic pad 23. In practice, the connecting arms 41 have the same width and the frame 25 is square. It is understood that the number of supports 35, the number of connecting arms 41 and the number of elastic pads 23 can be modified, as long as the number of supports 35 is equal to the number of elastic pads 23, that each connecting arm 41 connects between them two supports 35, and preferably only two of the supports 35, and as long as the connecting arms 41 frame a central opening 43 of the frame 25 around which the supports 35 are distributed. In a variant that is not illustrated, the soleplate 1 comprises, for example, three supports 35 on which three elastic shoes 23 are fixed respectively, and comprises three connecting arms 41 each connecting two supports 35 to each other.

The annular rim 37 of each support 35 and the peripheral groove 39 of each shoe 23 are shaped so that only one orientation of the elastic pad 23 relative to the frame 25 is possible when the pad 23 is mounted on the support 35.

For each elastic pad 23, the passage opening 31 has an oblong shape oriented radially with respect to the axis X3 when the elastic pad is in place on the anchor block 5. In this case, the oblong shape of the orifices 31 of two pads 23 opposite is directed along a diagonal of the frame 25. In other words, the largest dimension of the oblong cross section of each orifice 31 is directed radially relative to the central opening 43, or is aligned on one of the diagonals of the frame 25, the latter having a rectangle shape. The positioning of the sole on the threaded rods 9 is thus facilitated, insofar as the oblong shape of the orifices 31 allows an adjustment of the position of the sole according to the arrangement of the rods 9.

The support ribs 33 are oriented radially relative to the central opening 43 when the pads 23 are fixed on the latter. The support ribs 33 are thus at least approximately radial with respect to the main axis X3. Alternatively, the supporting ribs 33 are parallel to each other, at least approximately, and directed towards the center of the frame 25.

The frame 25 is preferably obtained by plastic molding or sheet metal stamping. In the embodiment illustrated in the figures, the frame 25 forms a piece in one piece, the supports 35 being integral with the connecting arms 41.

According to a variant not shown, at least two of the opposite connecting arms 41 are of adjustable length. By adjusting the length of the arms 41, the geometry of the frame, and in particular the distance between two consecutive shoes 23, can therefore be modified, to adapt the sole 1 to the arrangement of the threaded rods 9 of the anchoring mass 5, and In practice, the adjustment of the length of the connecting arms 41 makes it possible to adjust the distance between the orifices 31 of the pads.

In the case where some or all the connecting arms 41 are of adjustable lengths, the frame 25 is made of several distinct parts: each arm 41 is for example formed by two parts that can be removably assembled in several configurations, to form together the arm 41, each configuration corresponding to a length distinct from the arm 41.

In order to manufacture the sole 1, the frame 25 and the elastic shoes 23 are first produced. The frame 25 and the elastic shoes 23 are manufactured separately, that is to say independently of one of the other. In a second step, each elastic pad 23 is fixed on one of the supports 35 of the frame 25 by interlocking the flanges 37 in the grooves 39.

Alternatively, it is possible to make the sole 1 by bi-injection of the elastic pads 23 and the frame 25 in a common mold.

Alternatively, the resilient pads 23 are overmolded directly on the supports 35 of the frame 25, after having previously made the frame 25.

Other methods of fixing the elastic pads 23 on the frame 25 may be envisaged, as long as the first material constituting the pads 23 is different from the second material constituting the frame 25 and less rigid than the latter.

To implement the sole 1, the latter is threaded onto the threaded rods 9 of the solid mass 5, until the lower bearing sides 29 of the shoes 23 are pressed against the surface 7 of the solid mass 5. The base is then positioned. 3 on the solid 5, by threading the flange 17 on the threaded rods 9. After this, the base 3 is tightened against the upper bearing sides 27 of the shoes 23, by placing the clamping elements 19 on the four rods 9. By adjusting the tightening of the clamping elements 19, the inclination of the axis X3 of the base 3 is adjusted with respect to the solid mass 5 implanted in the ground, so that this inclination is the closest to the vertical possible. Alternatively, the X3 axis is given a desired inclination different from the vertical. Indeed, according to the clamping force applied by the clamping elements 1 on the shoes 23 via the collar 17, it is possible to impart different compressive forces on each pad, which then each have a different thickness by elastic deformation, which allows adjust the orientation of the axis X3 relative to the solid 5. The clamping force imparted by the clamping means 19 allows to change the orientation of the upper bearing plane relative to the lower bearing plane by deformation of the skids 23.

The embodiments and variants described in the foregoing may be combined to create new embodiments, according to the following claims.

Claims (10)

1. Base (1), designed to be interposed between a pedestal (3) of a piece of external equipment (EE) and an anchor block (5) for anchoring this pedestal in the ground, the base (1) being characterised in that it comprises:

   - a plurality of resilient shoes (23) made of a first material, the resilient shoes each having an upper contact side (27) and a lower contact side (29) facing away from the upper contact side, each resilient shoe being provided with a through-orifice (31) which passes through the resilient shoe from the upper contact side to the lower contact side, and

   - a support frame (25) for the resilient shoes, the frame being made of a second material different from the first material and exhibiting rigidity greater than that of the first material.
2. Base (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that the frame (25) comprises:

   - fastening supports (35) for the resilient shoes, each resilient shoe being fastened to one of the supports,

   - connecting arms (41), which each rigidly join two supports together, the connecting arms being arranged so as to surround a central opening (43) in the frame, around which the supports are distributed.
3. Base (1) according to claim 2, characterised in that each support (35) forms an annular rim (37) from which two of the connecting arms (41) extend, each resilient shoe (23) comprising a peripheral groove (39) which extends between the upper contact side (27) and the lower contact side (29) of the resilient shoe, each resilient shoe being fastened to the support by mating of shapes of its peripheral groove with the annular rim of the corresponding support.
4. Base (1) according to either one of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that four resilient shoes (23) are provided, four supports (35) are provided, and four connecting arms (41) are provided, such that the frame (25) has the overall shape of a rectangle, the sides of which are formed by the connecting arms and the corners of which are formed by the supports.
5. Base (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the first material is an elastomer, preferably a synthetic rubber, more preferably EPDM, and in that the second material is a metal or a thermoplastic material, preferably HDPE.
6. Base (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterised in that at least the lower contact side (29) or the upper contact side (27) of at least one of the resilient shoes (23) comprises bearing ribs (33).
7. Base (1) according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterised in that at least two of the connecting arms (41) have an adjustable length.
8. Piece of external equipment comprising a pedestal (3) and an anchor block (5) for anchoring the pedestal in the ground, and a base (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the base being interposed between the pedestal and the anchor block.
9. Method for manufacturing a base (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein first of all the frame (25) and the resilient shoes (23) are manufactured separately, and then each resilient shoe (23) is fastened to the frame (25).
10. Method for manufacturing a base (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the base is manufactured by bi-injection moulding of the resilient shoes (23) and the frame (25) in a common mould, or by overmoulding the resilient shoes (23) on the frame (25).

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