Industrial vault

• US 6,401,400 B1
• Filed: 03/15/2000
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Oldcastle Precast Incorporated (CRH PLC)
• Original Assignee: Newbasis LLC
• Inventors: Elliott, Thomas P.
• Primary Examiner(s): CALLO, LAURA ANTOINETTE
• Application Number:
  US09/525,800
• Time in Patent Office: 818 Days
• Field of Search: 52/20, 52/21, 52/365, 52/366, 525/76, 525/77, 522/208, 52/791, 52/797, 52/798, 52/799, 52/791.1, 52/791.2, 52/791.4, 521/241, 521/242, 521/254, 521/696, 527/450.1, 526/491, 526/497, 526/498, 174/37, 174/38, 285/64
• US Class Current: 52/20
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/12 Manhole shafts; Other inspection or access chambers; Accessories therefor for underground tanks B65D90/10; for sewerage E03F5/02 ; climbing irons or ladders E06C9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 9/10 in cable chambers, e.g. in manhole or in handhole

Abstract

This invention comprises reinforced industrial vaults with segmented knock-outs having a variety of shapes and orientations. The invention also comprises vaults having cast-in cable racks. The cable racks can be electrically connected to the reinforcing elements during manufacture, providing electrical grounding of electronic equipment placed in the vault. Cable channels can be installed at desired locations by selecting a knock-out, removing the knock-out and installing a terminator plate having cable conduits. Cable conduits can have diaphragms that can be removed to provide additional choices for locating cable channels. Cable channels can be provided in a vault in the field, even if the vault has been already installed.

Claims

1. An industrial vault having a cable rack comprising:

a U-shaped portion affixed to the industrial vault and having a longitudinal axis, a back and two sides, said sides defining a cable rack channel, and

a first end having a flat bar attached to a portion of said cable rack channel at approximately a right angle relative to said longitudinal axis, said bar having an alignment hole.

2. An industrial vault according to claim 1, further comprising a beveled second end.

3. An industrial vault according to claim 2, further comprising at least one rebar support mounting bracket.

4. An industrial vault according to claim 3, wherein said rebar support mounting bracket is connected to said cable rack and at least one reinforcing member of said industrial vault.

5. An industrial vault according to claim 1, wherein said back has one face within said cable rack channel and another face having a foam backing.

6. An industrial vault including a terminator plate and an opening, said terminator plate comprising:

an inside terminator plate having a flange sealably abutting an interior surface of a wall of said vault;

a conduit port adapted to be positioned in the opening; and

an exterior seal plate sealably abutting a beveled surface of a reinforced rib.

7. An industrial vault according to claim 6, wherein said inside terminator plate further comprises a sealant injection port.

8. An industrial vault according to claim 6, wherein said inside terminator plate further comprises a sealant injection port for injecting a sealant into a space defined between the opening and said terminator plate.

9. An industrial vault according to claim 6, wherein said inside terminator plate further comprises a sealant vent port.

18. A terminator plate assembly as recited in claim 6, further comprising an injection port formed in said inside terminator plate for allowing entry of said flowable material into said space.

10. An industrial vault including a terminator plate and an opening, said terminator plate comprising:

an inside terminator plate having a flange sealably abutting an interior surface of a wall of the vault;

a conduit port adapted to be positioned in the opening; and

an exterior seal plate sealably abutting beveled surfaces of a plurality of reinforced ribs.

11. A method for forming a cable channel in an installed vault, comprising the steps of:

installing a vault having a plurality of knock-outs;

selecting at least one location for entry of a cable into said vault;

accessing a knock-out at or near said location;

removing said knock-out forming a hole;

inserting an inside terminator plate having at least one conduit port into said hole, thereby creating said cable channel;

engaging the inside terminator plate with an exterior seal plate; and

injecting an at least temporarily flowable material into a space defined by said inside terminator plate, said exterior seal plate, and an inner surface of said hole.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said at least temporarily flowable material comprises a polyurethane foam.

13. A method for manufacturing a cast-in cable rack in a wall of an industrial vault, comprising the steps of:

providing a form for casting a vault, said form having an interior surface and an alignment pin,

providing a cable rack having an alignment hole,

placing said cable rack along the interior surface of said form, wherein an alignment hole engages said alignment pin; and

casting said vault.

14. A method for manufacturing a cast-in cable rack of claim 13, wherein said form comprises a base portion having a positioning block near the interior surface of said form defining a slot between said block and said interior surface;

further comprising the step of placing said cable rack along the interior surface of said form, wherein an end of the pin is placed in said slot.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of applying foam backing between said cable rack and said form.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said foam comprises polyurethane.

17. A terminator plate assembly for affixing one or more cables in a sealing relation to an opening of an industrial vault, the terminator plate assembly comprising:

an inside terminator plate adapted to sealably abut an interior surface of a wall surrounding the opening;

an exterior seal plate adapted to sealably abut an exterior surface of the wall surrounding the opening, at least one of said inside terminator plate and said exterior seal plate defining a central aperture for receiving the one or more cables, and said inside terminator plate, said exterior seal plate and the opening defining a space surrounding said central aperture; and

an at least temporarily flowable material for filling said space.

19. A terminator plate assembly as recited in claim 17, further comprising a vent port formed in said inside terminator plate for allowing fluid to exit said space.

20. A terminator plate assembly as recited in claim 17, said flowable material comprising a polymer.

21. A terminator plate assembly as recited in claim 17, said flowable material comprising a polyurethane foam.

22. An industrial vault, comprising:

a knock-out formed by a thin-walled section of the industrial vault; and

a terminator plate, including;

an inside terminator plate having a flange sealably abutting an interior surface of a wall of said vault,

a conduit port adapted to be positioned in an opening formed by removal of said knock-out, and

an exterior seal plate sealably abutting a beveled surface of a reinforced rib.

23. An industrial vault, comprising:

a knock-out formed by a thin-walled section of the industrial vault; and

a terminator plate assembly for fitting in an opening formed upon removal of said knock-out, said terminator plate assembly capable of affixing one or more cables in a sealing relation to said opening, the terminator plate assembly comprising;

an inside terminator plate adapted to sealably abut an interior surface of a wall surrounding the opening,

an exterior seal plate adapted to sealably abut an exterior surface of the wall surrounding the opening, at least one of said inside terminator plate and said exterior seal plate defining a central aperture for receiving the one or more cables, and said inside terminator plate, said exterior seal plate and the opening defining a space surrounding said central aperture, and

an at least temporarily flowable material for filling said space.

24. An industrial vault including a rib having a beveled surface, comprising:

at least one knock-out, a knock-out of said at least one knock-out located adjacent the beveled surface of the rib; and

a terminator plate adapted to be positioned in an opening created by removal of said knock-out, said terminator plate including;

an inside terminator plate having a flange sealably abutting an interior surface of a wall of said vault,

a conduit port for receiving a conduit, and

an exterior seal plate sealably abutting the beveled surface of the rib.

25. An industrial vault as recited in claim 24, said knock-out comprising a thin-walled section of the vault capable of being removed.

26. An industrial vault as recited in claim 25, said at least one knock-out comprising a plurality of knock-outs to provide flexibility in the location of the terminator plate.