Method and apparatus for adjusting the elevation of manhole covers

A method of raising the elevation of a circular manhole cover relative to a manhole frame, in which the manhole frame has a circular opening for receiving a cover therein, including the steps of:

• (a) forming an annular elevating ring split at one point on its periphery to form a predetermined size gap between a pair of spaced end portions of the ring;
• (b) placing the elevating ring within the circular opening of a manhole frame;
• (c) placing an adjustable link at an inclined position in the gap between the spaced end portions of the ring and in engagement with said end portions;
• (d) forcing the adjustable link vertically downwardly from an inclined position to a generally horizontal position to expand the ring outwardly, forcing the ring into abutting clamping engagement with the manhole frame;
• and
• (e) installing a spring-biased keeper between the spaced end portions of the ring to assist in maintaining the link in position between said spaced end portions.

A method of raising the elevation of a circular manhole cover relative to a manhole frame, in which the manhole frame has a circular opening for receiving a cover therein, including the steps of:

• (a) forming an annular elevating ring split at one point on its periphery to form a predetermined size gap between a pair of spaced end portions of the ring;
• (b) applying restraining means on the split ring to radially compress said ring;
• (c) placing the compressed elevating ring within the circular opening of a manhole frame;
• (d) removing the restraining means permitting the ring to expand outwardly into abutting engagement with the manhole frame;
• (e) placing an adjustable link at an inclined position in the gap between the spaced end portions of the ring and in engagement with said end portions;
• and
• (f) forcing the adjustable link vertically downwardly from an inclined position to a generally horizontal position, forcing the ring into abutting clamping engagement with the manhole frame.

Apparatus for adjusting the elevation of a manhole cover within a manhole frame including:

• (a) circular ring means having inwardly projecting manhole cover supporting ledge means and upstanding flange means, said ring means being split at least at one point on its periphery forming a gap between a pair of spaced end portions;
• (b) a recess formed in one of the spaced end portions of the ring means;
• (c) adjustable link means adapted to be forcibly placed within the gap and extend between the spaced end portions of the ring means to expand the ring means outwardly to force the ring means into abutting engagement with the manhole frame;
• (d) the link means including a sleeve having inner and outer ends with said outer end being formed with a chisel-like point and with an internally threaded, axially extending opening being formed in the sleeve and communicating with the inner end, and a bolt threadably engaged in said opening and extending axially therefrom, said bolt having a rounded outer end adapted to be removably seated within the recess of said one spaced end portion of the ring means;
• and
• (e) the outer end of the sleeve and the bolt each engaging a respective spaced end of the ring means.

Apparatus for adjusting the elevation of a manhole cover within a manhole frame including:

• (a) circular ring means having inwardly projecting manhole cover supporting ledge means and upstanding flange means, said ring means being split at least at one point on its periphery forming a gap between a pair of spaced end portions;
• (b) adjustable link means adapted to be forcibly placed within the gap and extend between the spaced end portions of the ring means to expand the ring means outwardly to force the ring means into abutting engagement with the manhole frame;
• (c) the link means including a sleeve having inner and outer ends with an internally threaded axially extending opening communicating with the inner end, and a bolt threadably engaged in said opening and extending axially therefrom;
• (d) the outer end of the sleeve and the bolt each engaging a respective spaced end of the ring means;
• and
• (e) spring-biased keeper means operatively engaged with the spaced end portions of the ring means and link means to assist in maintaining said link means between said spaced end portions.