Hydraulic manhole cover lifter

A compact, portable lifter for lifting metal manhole covers, which comprises:

• a frame adapted to straddle a manhole;
• said frame including opposite pairs of spaced-apart upright members with top and bottom ends, transverse and cross members interconnecting the top ends of the upright members, and foot plates interconnecting the bottom ends of each pair of upright members;
• wheels mounted on the foot plates of said frame to support said frame for movement;
• a mounting plate secured to the transverse members of said frame;
• a generally C-shaped handle with opposite ends pivoted to said frame;
• a cylinder mounted on said mounting plate, said cylinder including a depending movable rod;
• a magnet secured to the rod of said cylinder and adapted for engaging a cover in the manhole;
• a clevis coupled between said magnet and the rod of said cylinder;
• and
• manually-actuated pump means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to said cylinder for lifting and lowering said magnet into and out of engagement with the cover.

A portable device for handling metallic manhole covers, which comprises:

• a mobile frame adapted to straddle a manhole, said frame including spaced apart upright portions interconnected by a raised transverse portion;
• a generally c-shaped handle with opposite ends pivoted to said frame;
• a cylinder mounted on the transverse portions of said frame, said cylinder including a depending movable rod;
• an electromagnet secured to the rod of said cylinder and adapted for engaging a cover in the manhole;
• means for connecting said electromagnet to a power source;
• a clevis coupled between said magnet and the rod of said cylinder;
• and
• manually-actuated pump means for selectively supplying pressurized fluid to said cylinder for lifting and lowering said electromagnet into and out of engagement with the cover.