Manhole cover apparatus and method
OwnerKeith F. Solimarinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A manhole cover apparatus including a collar defining an opening with an inner perimeter is provided with a pivotally mounted cover having an outer perimeter greater than the inner perimeter of the collar. A seal is provided to seal between the cover and the collar. Closure structure is provided to secure the free end of the cover to the collar. A threaded bolt is provided to close the cover. A pivotally mounted lever arm is mounted to the bolt for turning of the bolt. An adjustable threaded hinge is provided to adjust the cover in a longitudinal direction relative to the collar. The manhole cover apparatus is useable on pressure containers, such as those used to pneumatically handle particulate material.
Claims22
A method of using a manhole apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- providing a cover, a collar defining a manhole opening into a pressure container, and hinge means pivotally mounting the cover to the collar;
- pivoting the cover toward the collar;
- positioning a threaded bolt pivotally mounted to the collar in a slot defined by the cover;
- rotating the threaded bolt with a lever arm pivotally mounted to the bolt to gradually and increasingly seal the cover to the collar;
- and
- once the cover is sealed to the collar, pivoting the lever arm toward the cover until the lever arm is engaged with a portion of the cover.
A manhole apparatus comprising:
- a collar having an inner perimeter defining an opening, the collar including a first portion and a second portion oppositely disposed on the collar;
- a cover having an outer perimeter greater than the inner perimeter of the collar, the cover including a first portion and a second portion oppositely disposed on the cover, the second portion of the cover including a projection defining a slot;
- a hinge disposed at the first portion of the collar connecting the first portion of the cover to the first portion of the collar, the second portion of the cover defining a free end pivotally movable relative to the second portion of the collar;
- a block pivotally mounted to the second portion of the collar, the block including a threaded opening;
- a rod member including an enlarged head and a shaft extending from the head, the shaft received by the slot of the cover, the head engaged with the projection of the cover, the shaft including a threaded portion disposed in the threaded opening of the block, the rod member further rotatable relative to the block to move the second portion of the cover relative to the second portion of the collar to close the cover to the collar;
- and
- a lever arm pivotally mounted to the head of the rod member for rotation thereof, the lever arm being devoid of cam means, whereby the cover is secured solely by threaded action of the rod member.
A manhole apparatus comprising:
- a collar having an inner perimeter defining an opening, the collar including a first portion and a second portion oppositely disposed on the collar;
- a cover having an outer perimeter greater than the inner perimeter of the collar, the cover including a first portion and a second portion oppositely disposed on the cover, the first portion of the cover including a projection defining an aperture an underside of the cover having an annular groove with a resilient gasket disposed therein engaged by the collar whereby the gasket biases the cover away from the collar and provides a seal therebetween;
- a block pivotally mounted to the first portion of the collar, the block including a threaded opening;
- a rod member including an enlarged head with a plurality of flat sides and a threaded shaft extending from the head, the threaded shaft passing through an aperture in the cover, the head engaged with the projection of the cover, the threaded shaft threadably engaged with the threaded opening in the block, the block axially spaced from the portion of the cover having the aperture therein to permit movement of collar along the shaft in the direction of the block when the cover is opened;
- a lock member carried by the cover and having a portion extending axially and threaded to engage one of the flat sides of the head of the rod member, the lock member engaged with one flat side when the cover is in a closed position, the lock member only movable away from the flat side when the cover is in an open position;
- and
- a closure arrangement selectively holding the second portion of the cover and the second portion of the collar from relative pivotal movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.