# US 2014/0196817 A1 · Vapor plate > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196817 A1 - Document ID: US20140196817A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/742,177 - Filed: 2013-01-15 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-15 - Assignees: Emco Wheaton, Inc. - Applicants: Emco Wheaton Corp. - Inventors: William W. VALICEK - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196817A1 ## CPC - B65B 3/18: Controlling escape of air from containers or receptacles during filling - B65B 1/28: Controlling escape of air or dust from containers or receptacles during filling - B65B 57/005: {Safety-devices (B65B57/18 takes precedence)} - B65D 45/025: {Closure members opened by lever action and maintained closed by spring action (B65D45/04 takes precedence)} - Y10T 29/49826: Assembling or joining - B65B: MACHINES, APPARATUS OR DEVICES FOR, OR METHODS OF, PACKAGING ARTICLES OR MATERIALS; UNPACKING (bundling and pressing devices for cigars A24C1/44; devices for tensioning and securing binders adapted to be supported by the article or articles to be bound B25B25/00; applying closure members to bottles, jars or similar containers B67B1/00-B67B6/00; concurrent cleaning, filling and closing of bottles B67C7/00; emptying bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels or similar containers B67C9/00) - 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 - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A vapor plate for covering a manhole of a cargo transport tanker, the vapor plate including a plate member and one or more push rod assemblies. Each push rod assembly includes a guide tube extending through said plate member and a push rod extending through the guide member. A rod of the push rod moves linearly and rotationally within said guide tube. An adjustable collar of a resistance mechanism may be fixed to the rod so that the collar engages a spring allowing a user to generate a resistive clamping force by pushing downward on the push rod. A user may clamp the rim of a manhole between a lower handle of the push rod and the plate member with the resistive force by positioning the lower handle underneath the rim after generating the resistance force. The push rod assembly is sealed to prevent vapor leakage. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vapor plate for covering a manhole of a cargo transport tanker, the vapor plate comprising: a plate member having a cargo passage opening; one or more push rod assemblies, each of said one or more push rod assemblies comprising: a guide tube extending through said plate member and coupled thereto; a push rod journaled for linear and rotational travel within said guide tube; a resistance mechanism that can be selectively engaged to resist linear travel of said push rod relative to said guide tube; and a substantially gas-resistant seal disposed between said guide tube and said push rod. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vapor plate of claim 1 wherein said plate member further includes a sealing member. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vapor plate of claim 1 wherein said guide tube comprises a tube section, an upper ring plate, and a lower ring plate, wherein one of said upper ring plate and said lower ring plate includes a bushing that carries one or more O-rings, and wherein said substantially gas-resistant seal comprises said one or more O-rings engaging said push rod. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vapor plate of claim 3 wherein said push rod includes a rod, a top handle, and a lower handle, wherein said top and lower handles are timed. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The vapor plate of claim 4 wherein said resistance mechanism comprises a spring. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vapor plate of claim 5 wherein said resistance mechanism includes a collar that is above said spring, said collar configured to be selectively fixed in a position along a length of said rod. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vapor plate of claim 6 wherein said vapor plate is configured to be secured to a rim of a tanker, said rim having a height, and wherein said length of said rod allows said vapor plate to be secured to rims having different heights. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The vapor plate of claim 6 wherein said collar is a quick release clamp. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vapor plate of claim 1 further comprising a supply pipe coupling connected to said plate, said supply pipe coupling being in fluid communication with said cargo passage opening. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vapor plate of claim 1 further comprising a vapor recovery opening in said plate. ### Claim 11 A vapor plate for covering a manhole of a cargo transport tanker, the vapor plate comprising: a plate member having a sealing member adhered thereto; a plurality of push rod assemblies, each of said plurality of push rod assemblies comprising: a guide tube extending through said plate member and coupled thereto, said guide tube comprising a tube section, an upper ring plate, and a lower ring plate, wherein one of said upper ring plate and said lower ring plate includes a bushing that houses one or more O-rings; a push rod including a rod having a length, a top handle, a lower handle, said rod journaled for linear and rotational travel within said guide tube, said handles coupled to respective ends of said rod, said handles being timed; a spring positioned between a collar and said upper ring plate; wherein a position of said collar is adjustable along said length of said rod and said collar may be selectively fixed at a position on said rod to engage said spring, wherein said spring resists linear travel of said push rod relative to said guide tube in at least one direction once said spring is engaged by said collar fixed to said rod; and wherein said O-rings engage said rod of said push rod providing a substantially gas-resistant seal between said guide tube and said push rod. ### Claim 12 A method for attaching a vapor plate to a manhole of a tanker comprising: setting a plate of said vapor plate on a top edge of a rim of a manhole of said tanker; pushing down on a spring loaded resistance mechanism of a push rod assembly of said vapor plate with a force; contacting a lower handle of said push rod with a bottom edge of said rim of said manhole with a force in an opposite direction as the downward force; and providing said force in said opposite direction with said spring loaded resistance mechanism. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12 wherein said pushing down step includes applying a downward force on a top handle of said push rod wherein said push rod is displaced a distance relative to said plate such that said lower handle is below said bottom edge of said rim, thereby compressing a spring of said resistance mechanism. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13 wherein said setting said plate on said top edge of said rim of a manhole step further comprises rotating a top handle of said push rod so that said top handle extends inward relative to a center of said plate, wherein said top and lower handles are timed thereby resulting in both handles facing inward; said contacting said lower handle with said bottom edge step further comprises rotating said top handle of said push rod so that said top and lower handle extend radially outward wherein said lower handle extends under said bottom edge of said rim of said manhole.