Manhole casting setting fixture

A method of installing a manhole casting, comprising the steps of:

• providing:
• a pair of elongated spaced substantially parallel frame rails;
• a plurality of spaced substantially parallel struts extending substantially transversely between and secured to said frame rails;
• a plurality of handles disposed on upper surfaces at opposite ends of said frame rails to facilitate manual transportation and positioning of said fixture;
• a pair of clamping blocks secured substantially centrally in juxtaposed relation to bottom surfaces of said frame rails;
• a pair of lead screws extending through substantially coaxial threaded apertures in said clamping blocks;
• a pair of arcuate clamping jaws rotatably secured on inner ends of said lead screws between said frame rails and said clamping blocks, each of said clamping jaws having a concave cylindrical outer surface dimensioned for engagement with a cylindrical inner side wall of a manhole casting;
• and
• a pair of handles secured to outer ends of said lead screws for moving said clamping jaws independently into clamping engagement with a manhole casting and to allow lateral positioning of said manhole casting between said frame rails;
• clamping a manhole casting between said clamping jaws;
• moving said fixture and said attached manhole casting to an intended installation site;
• positioning said fixture such that said frame rails span a hole in a road surface in which said manhole casting is to be installed;
• applying a paving material around said manhole casting;
• and
• unclamping said fixture from said manhole casting and removing said fixture.

A method of installing a manhole casting, comprising the steps of:

• securing a fixture to a manhole casting at a remote location by clamping engagement with only an interior side wall surface of said manhole casting;
• transporting said fixture and attached manhole casting to an intended installation site;
• positioning said fixture to span a hole in a road surface in which said manhole is to be installed;
• applying a paving material around said manhole casting;
• and
• releasing said manhole casting from said fixture and removing said fixture.

A manhole casting setting fixture for supporting a manhole casting during installation in a hole in a roadway surface on a mounting structure to which the manhole casting is to be mounted, comprising:

• a frame;
• clamping means including two releasable clamping jaws having arcuate surfaces dimensioned or engagement with interior cylindrical sidewall portions of the manhole casting for temporarily securing the manhole casting to said frame during installation of the manhole casting and means for moving said arcuate surfaces of said clamping jaws into engagement with the interior cylindrical side wall surfaces of the manhole casting;
• and
• support means on said frame for supporting said fixture and the attached manhole casting in mounted position on the mounting structure at an intended installation site without contact of said fixture with the mounting structure to which the manhole casting is to be mounted.

A manhole casting setting fixture for supporting a manhole casting during installation in a hole in a roadway surface on a mounting structure to which the manhole casting is to be mounted, comprising:

• two elongated frame members;
• a pair of releasable clamping jaws secured to said frame members for temporarily securing the manhole casting to said frame members during installation of the manhole casting, said clamping jaws including concave cylindrical surfaces;
• and
• means for moving said concave cylindrical surfaces of said clamping jaws into clamping engagement with the interior cylindrical side wall surfaces of the manhole casting and for independently adjusting said clamping jaws laterally with respect to said frame members for engagement with interior cylindrical side wall surfaces of the manhole casting to allow selective lateral positioning of the manhole casting with respect to said frame members and for supporting the manhole casting in mounted position on the mounting structure at an intended installation site without contact of said fixture with the mounting structure to which the manhole casting is to be mounted.