# US 12,005,551 B2 · Adjustable pivot bolt for a sealed manhole clamp > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,551 B2 - Document ID: US12005551B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/873,236 - Filed: 2020-03-02 - Published: 2020-09-10 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-07 - Applicants: David E Sisk; Peter Kemp; Jason Husky - Inventors: David E Sisk; Peter Kemp; Jason Husky - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005551B2 ## CPC - B25B 5/04: with pivoted jaws - B25B 5/08: using cams - B25B 5/10: using screws - B25B 5/145: {for plates} - B61D 5/08: {Covers or access openings; Arrangements thereof} - B61D 17/16: Hatches in roofs - B65D 90/10: Manholes; Inspection openings; Covers therefor - B25B: TOOLS OR BENCH DEVICES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, FOR FASTENING, CONNECTING, DISENGAGING, OR HOLDING - B61D: BODY DETAILS OR KINDS OF RAILWAY VEHICLES (vehicles in general B60; adaptation of vehicles to special systems B61B; underframes B61F) - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract A sealed manhole clamp securing a manhole cover to a weld ring, including a lever assembly, the lever assembly having a lever arm and a cam, a pivot bolt, the pivot bolt having a cylindrical upper portion, and a lower portion, the lower bolt portion threadedly engages upwardly within the cylindrical upper portion of the pivot bolt, the cylindrical upper portion being pivotally pinned to the lever arm, the lower bolt portion being pivotally mounted to a seal ring, wherein since the lower bolt portion threadedly engages within the cylindrical upper portion, the entrance of any debris, dust, or moisture is prevented from entering the region of this threaded engagement of the pivot bolt components. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An adjustable pivot bolt for a sealed manhole clamp for use in a vertically upright orientation for securing a manhole cover to a weld ring upon an upper opening of a tank trailer, dry bulk trailer, or other conveying vehicle, the adjustable pivot bolt comprising: a cylindrical upper portion having internal threads inside an internally threaded channel and a boss having an aperture; a lower bolt portion positioned vertically below the cylindrical upper portion and having a length having a threaded portion with the threaded portion positioned inside the internally threaded channel and engaging with the internal threads in the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion and a bottom having a boss having an aperture; and the threaded portion of the lower bolt portion is completely contained within the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion and the threaded portion of the lower bolt portion does not extend outside the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 1 wherein the lower bolt portion further comprises a smooth surface portion along the length of the lower bolt portion and adjacent the threaded portion of the lower bolt portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical upper portion has a downward open end at a bottom of the cylindrical upper portion for receiving the threaded portion of the lower bolt portion extending upward through the downward open end and into the internally threaded channel. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 1 wherein the threaded portion of the lower bolt portion extends along a portion of the length of the lower bolt portion between an upper end of the lower bold portion and an adjacent smooth surface of the lower bold portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical upper portion has a length and the internally threaded channel extends along a portion of the length of the cylindrical upper portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 1 wherein the aperture formed in the boss of the cylindrical upper portion is adapted to receive a pivot pin and the aperture formed in the boss of the lower bolt portion is adapted to receive another pivot pin. ### Claim 7 An adjustable pivot bolt for use in a vertical orientation for securing, the adjustable pivot bolt comprising: a cylindrical upper portion having internal threads inside an internally threaded channel, a boss having an aperture, and an internal groove adjacent the internal threads; an O-ring positioned within the internal groove and adjacent the internal threads; a lower bolt portion positioned vertically below and extending upward into the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion, the lower bolt portion having a length with the length having a threaded portion, the threaded portion of the length engaging with the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion and the lower bolt portion having a bottom having a boss having an aperture; and the threaded portion of the length of the lower bolt portion is positioned completely within the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 7 wherein the lower bolt portion further comprises a smooth surface portion along the length of the lower bolt portion, the smooth surface portion being adjacent the threaded portion of the length of the lower bolt portion, and the O-ring biasing against the smooth surface portion of the length of the lower bolt portion for providing a seal against the smooth surface. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 7 wherein the lower bolt portion further comprises a smooth surface portion along the length of the lower bolt portion; and the O-ring engages against the smooth surface portion adjacent the threaded portion of the length of the lower bolt portion. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 7 wherein the cylindrical upper portion has an open end receiving the threaded portion of the length of the lower bolt portion extending upward through the open end. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 7 wherein the threaded portion of the lower bolt portion extends along a portion of the length of the lower bolt portion positioned above the O-ring. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 7 wherein the cylindrical upper portion has a length and the internal threads inside the internally threaded channel extend along a portion of the length of the cylindrical upper portion above the internal groove. ### Claim 13 (depends on 7) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 7 wherein the aperture formed in the boss of the cylindrical upper portion is adapted to receive a pivot pin and the aperture formed in the boss of the lower bolt portion is adapted to receive another pivot pin. ### Claim 14 An adjustable pivot bolt for use in a vertical orientation for securing, the adjustable pivot bolt comprising: a cylindrical upper portion having internal threads inside an internally threaded channel and a boss having an aperture; a lower bolt portion positioned vertically below the cylindrical upper portion and having a length having a threaded portion with the threaded portion positioned inside the internally threaded channel and engaging with the internal threads in the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion, a smooth surface positioned adjacent and below the threaded portion of the length of the lower bolt portion, and a bottom having a boss having an aperture; the cylindrical upper portion having a bottom end being contoured inwardly and close tolerance against the smooth surface of the lower bolt portion with the bottom end acting as a scraper for removing any product buildup from the smooth surface of the lower bolt portion when the adjustable pivot bolt is adjusted; and the threaded portion of the lower bold portion is contained completely within the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 14 wherein the cylindrical upper portion has an open bottom end for receiving the threaded portion of the lower bolt portion extending upward through the open bottom end. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 14 wherein the lower bolt portion has a smooth surface and the threaded portion of the lower bolt portion extends along a portion of the length of the lower bold portion above the smooth surface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The adjustable pivot bolt of claim 14 wherein the threaded portion of the length of the lower bolt portion engaging with the internally threaded channel of the cylindrical upper portion is contained completely inside the internally threaded channel.