GB2125489A

GB2125489A - Improvements relating to standpipes

Info

Publication number: GB2125489A
Application number: GB08218817A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher John Fox
Original assignee: G F P ENGINEERING Ltd
Current assignee: G F P ENGINEERING Ltd
Priority date: 1982-06-29
Filing date: 1982-06-29
Publication date: 1984-03-07
Also published as: GB2125489B

Abstract

A standpipe assembly comprises a housing (10) which has been fitted about a standpipe (11). The housing comprises an outer casing (12) and a layer of insulating material (13) between the casing and the standpipe. The assembly may be constructed by pouring the insulating material into the space between the standpipe and casing, allowing the material to set and then transporting the assembly to a site for connection to a mains water supply. The housing comprises a lid (17) which can be pivoted to cover the tap (14), in which position the lid can be locked. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to standpipes Description of Invention The invention is concerned with improvements relating to standpipes of the kind as are used to provide a supply of water.

A conventional standpipe assembly comprises a standpipe (which normally consists of an upright length of conduit connected or adapted to be connected at its low end to a mains supply, and having a tap at its upper end) and a housing to protect the standpipe against damage.

Conventionally, such a standpipe assembly is assembled in situ by connecting the standpipe to a mains water supply, wrapping one or more layers of a flexible insulation material around the standpipe, and then mounting a casing about the standpipe and insulating material by securing together two or more elements (which may be of wood or metal) of the casing.

According to a first aspect of this invention, there is provided a prefabricated standpipe assembly comprising a housing comprising a casing within which a standpipe is secured, and an insulating material around the standpipe within the casing.

In this manner, the assembly may be produced to a higher standard than is possible by erection in situ, and may readily be connected to a mains supply despite incommodious environmental conditions.

Preferably the insulation material is introduced into the casing after securing of the standpipe to the casing, advantageously by a pouring operation. The material may be a settable composition or a grannular material, and is preferably a polyurethane.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of providing a standpipe assembly which is connected to a mains supply, wherein a housing is fitted around a standpipe, and the assembly of housing and standpipe is then transported to a site where said assembly is connected to the mains supply.

Preferably, the housing for use in the method of the invention comprises a casing which is formed of a single piece of material, which material may, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, be glass reinforced plastic. The casing can, suitably, be formed by a process of pultrusion or by folding a sheet of material and ultrasonically welding together edge portions of the sheet.

The housing may be fitted around the standpipe by first securing the standpipe in the casing, and then pouring polyurethane foam into the casing around the standpipe.

The polyurethane then solidifes in the casing to form an insulating layer around the standpipe.

Both polyurethane and glass reinforced plastic are lightweight materials. Accordingly, when a housing in accordance with the invention is fitted about a standpipe off site, the assembly may then easily be transported and manoeuvred into position when on site.

An example of a method of providing a standpipe assembly for use will now be described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing which shows a housing of the assembly in partial cross-section with a stand pipe contained therein.

The drawing shows a housing 10 which has been fitted about a standpipe 11. The standpipe extends upwardly from an inlet part 1 5 which is connected to a mains water supply and which, in the illustrated example, is below ground level, to a tap 14. The standpipe is of the kind which is commonly found outside houses wherein an end portion of a hose may be fitted on the tap. The standpipe extends through the centre of the housing with the inlet part protruding through an aperture of the housing at the bottom end portion thereof, and the tap protruding through an aperture on the opposite side of the housing at the top end portion thereof. The housing comprises an outer casing 1 2 and a layer of insulating material 1 3 between the casing and the standpipe.

The casing 1 2 is an elongate hollow, openended sleeve which defines a substantially square cross-section. It will be appreciate.d that other embodiments of casing may define cross-sections of various shapes incuding a circular cross-section. The casing is formed of a single piece of glass reinforced plastic which is preferably less than 5mm thick and, in the illustrated example, is approximately 3mm thick. Such a casing may, conveniently, be formed by a process of pultrusion or by various other suitable processes, for example by folding and ultrasonic welding together of edge portions of a sheet of glass reinforced plastic.

The insulating material 1 3 is a rigid polyurethane foam, which material fills the space inside the casing which is not occupied by the standpipe. The insulating material is in contact with an outwardly facing surface of the standpipe and inwardly facing surfaces of the casing.

When the housing is to be fitted about the stand pipe, the standpipe is placed inside a casing by relative longitudinal movement of the casing and standpipe along a common axis. The tap and inlet part are fitted at respective ends of the stand pipe to extend through respective apertures in the casing.

One open end of the casing is then sealed with a cap 20 and the insulating material in the form of fluid polyurethane is poured into the casing so as to fill the space between the casing and the standpipe. When the insulating material has been allowed to set, the material improves the securement of the stand pipe in the casing. The assembly may then be transported to a site for connection to a mains water supply.

The housing 10 comprises anchoring elements which protrude laterally from the bottom end portion of the casing below the ground level to assist anchoring of the standpipe assembly in the ground. The illustrated example comprises a pair of anchoring elements 16, one of which is visible in the drawing, which are of hollow cylindrical form and of a length which is greater than the width of the main part of the casing.

At the top end portion of the housing assembly, there is provided a lid 1 7 in a hinged connection with the housing, which is shown in an open position. The lid may be pivoted to cover the tap 14, in which position the lid may be locked to prevent unauthorised tampering with the tap. The housing may be modified to enable an anti-vacuum device to be utilised on the standpipe and to be readily accessible on the standpipe at the top end portion thereof, inside the housing and adjacent to the tap. Such an anti-vacuum device comprises a one-way valve for preventing water from being siphoned back into the standpipe and mains supply.

Claims

1. A prefabricated stand pipe assembly comprising a housing which comprises a casing within which a standpipe is secured, and an insulating material around the standpipe within the casing.

2. An assembly according to Claim 1 wherein the casing is formed of a single piece of material.

3. An assembly according to either preceding claim wherein the casing is formed of glass reinforced plastic.

4. An assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the house comprises a lid which can be moved to a closed position to cover a tap of the standpipe.

5. An assembly according to Claim 4 where the lid can be locked in the closed position.

6. A method of providing a standpipe assembly which is connected to a mains supply, wherein a housing is fitted around a standpipe, and the assembly of housing and standpipe is then transported to a site where said assembly is connected to the mains supply.

7. A method according to Claim 6 wherein the housing comprises a casing and an insulation material is introduced into the casing after securing the standpipe to the casing.

8. A method according to Claim 7 wherein the insulation material is introduced into the casing by a pouring operation.

9. A method according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the insulation material is a settable composition.

10. A method according to Claim 7 or Claim 8 wherein the insulation material is a granular material.

11. A prefabricated stand pipe assembly substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.

1 2. A method of providing a standpipe assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

1 3. Any novel feature or novel combination of features disclosed herein and/or in the accompanying drawing.