Patent · US Expired

Moveable manhole cover

US5511898A · kind A · utility

2Cited by
1References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 11, 1994
Grant dateApr 30, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 11, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
  • CPC primaryE02D29/1418
  • WIPO fieldCivil engineering
  • WIPO sectorOther fields

Abstract

A manhole includes a carriage mounted on the underside of the cover that cooperates with a supporting guide channel located across the mouth of the manhole. the guide channel can be rotated to an incline so that the carriage can easily roll onto and from the supporting guide member. The free end of the guide channel is raised and lowered by a standard ratchet wrench inserted through the cover so that the operator need not lift any part of the cover manually. Once raised to the ready position, the operator simply pulls laterally on the cover handle to roll the cover slightly upward and laterally from the manhole opening. Once the cover clears the manhole, the guide channel can be rotated up and outward to provide access to the entire manhole area , if desired. To replace the cover, the guide channel is rotated to again extend across the manhole, the cover/carriage assembly is rolled laterally on to the guide channel until the cover edge contacts the ring edge. The channel is then lowered with use of the tool to seat the cover on to the manhole ring. The operator at no time manually lifts the cover. The guide channel precisely orients the cover when moved to the closed position.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.