Cover for a manhole

a manhole and cover technology, applied in the field of manhole covers, can solve the problems of exacerbated problems, difficult lifting of covers, trapped people remaining in underground passageways,

Inactive Publication Date: 2009-08-13
R & S GRATING
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The solution provides secure access to manholes while enabling trapped individuals to open the cover in emergency situations, overcoming jamming issues and ensuring authorized access.

Problems solved by technology

A problem with prior covers is that once they are securely located in a closed positioned anyone remaining within the underground passageways is trapped as they are not able to access and release the fastener, where installed, and subsequently lift and remove the cover from within the manhole.
Even if the fastener is in a released position the cover is still very difficult to lift.
This problem is exacerbated by the fact that covers are also prone to jamming against the surrounding frame structure due to thermal expansion during hot weather.
In addition, dirt and girt can become wedged between the cover and the surrounding frame structure, particularly if the cover has not been opened in a long while.
A further problem with prior covers, particularly those which are not secured in place by some form of fastener, is that immense pressure within an underground passageway due to an explosion, burst water pipe, etc, could be sufficient to inadvertently separate the manhole cover from the surrounding frame structure.

Method used

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  • Cover for a manhole
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  • Cover for a manhole

Examples

Experimental program
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Effect test

Embodiment Construction

[0028]With reference to the accompanying drawings there is shown a cover assembly for a manhole. The cover assembly includes a frame structure I having side walls defining a central opening therethrough. The frame structure 1 being attachable to the manhole. The cover assembly further includes a cover 3 pivotally mounted with respect to the frame structure 1 such that the cover 3 is rotatable between a closed and fully open position. The cover 3 includes a cover member, which is preferably in the form of a cover panel 5, that is planar and dimensioned to fit within the central opening with a bottom surface 7 of the cover panel 5 facing towards the interior of the manhole. The cover panel 5 further includes a top surface 9 which faces away from the manhole. A peripheral edge 11 of the cover panel 5 is adjacent to the side walls of the frame structure 1 when the cover 3 is in a closed position. When the cover assembly is installed over a manhole the top surface 9 of the cover panel 5 ...

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PUM

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Abstract

A cover (3) for mounting on a frame structure (1) associated with a manhole, the frame structure (1) having side walls defining a central opening there through, the cover (3) including: a cover member dimensioned to fit the central opening with a bottom surface of the cover member facing towards an interior of the manhole and a top surface (9) of the cover member facing away from the manhole, the cover member being moveable with respect to the frame structure (1) between a closed position, whereby the central opening is covered, and an open position, a lock mechanism for releasably locking the cover member in the closed position, the lock mechanism including one or more locking members (13) engagable with the frame structure (1) to thereby retain the cover in the closed position and a lock actuator connected to the locking members (13) for engaging and disengaging each locking member (13) with the frame structure (1), the lock actuator being accessible from the top surface of the cover member, the lock mechanism further including a restraining means for preventing actuation of the locking members (13) by the lock actuator, and a release actuator accessible from the bottom surface of the cover member for overriding the restraining means such that the locking members (13) can be disengaged from the frame structure (1) by operation of the release actuator

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates to a cover for a manhole. More particularly the present invention relates to a cover for a manhole in a ground opening.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Manholes are used to permit authorized persons to access underground passageways which contain installations such as electrical and communication lines, natural gas lines, water pipes, sewage systems and the like. A manhole cover is usually placed over the entrance to a manhole and seats in a surrounding frame structure located around an edge of the manhole. In most instances a top surface of the surrounding frame structure and cover lie flush with the surrounding ground surface. The frame structure is usually secured to the edge of the manhole with concrete, asphalt, fasteners or the like.[0003]In order to prevent unauthorised persons from easily accessing the underground passageways manhole covers are typically made of thick steel and concrete to ensure that they are extreme...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & AuthorityApplications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): E02D29/14H04W28/06H04W64/00H04W72/12
CPCH04L1/0026H04L1/1812H04W64/006H04W28/06H04L1/1887H04L1/1841
InventorHOCKHAM, STEPHEN
OwnerR & S GRATING