Portable Manway Cover Hinge Using Existing Bolts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manway cover handling devices are bulky, complex, and require multiple parts, making them difficult to attach and remove, especially in confined spaces, and often necessitate welding, which can compromise equipment integrity.
Innovation Solution
A portable manway cover hinge device with elongated hinge members, support members, and linkage members that use existing bolts as pins for secure attachment without welding, allowing for easy installation and removal of manway covers in various sizes and materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If existing manway cover handling devices are used, then manway covers can be handled, but the devices are bulky and complex requiring multiple parts
Solution Approach 1:
The device is divided into separate hinge members that can be independently attached to the manway cover and flange, allowing for easier assembly and disassembly compared to monolithic structures. Each hinge member can be secured using existing bolts, simplifying the attachment process.
Solution Approach 2:
The hinge device uses existing bolts from the manway cover and flange as pins, making the device universal and adaptable to different manway sizes and materials without requiring specialized components or welding operations.
2Reliability
If existing manway cover handling devices are used, then manway covers can be handled, but welding is required which compromises equipment integrity
Solution Approach 1:
The device replaces welding operations with a purely mechanical attachment system using existing bolts as pins. This eliminates the need for welding while maintaining secure attachment, thereby preserving equipment integrity and avoiding the risks associated with welding operations.
3Adaptability or versatility
If bulky handling devices are used, then manway covers can be handled, but they are difficult to use in confined spaces
Solution Approach 1:
The hinge device consists of multiple smaller hinge members that can be independently positioned and attached, allowing the device to adapt to confined spaces where a single large structure would be impossible to install or operate.
Data Source
AI summary
A manway cover-manway flange separating kit and method for use with a manway cover handling device includes at least one extended length cover supporting rod having end stops at each end of the cover supporting rod wherein at least one of the end stops is removable and wherein the cover supporting rod is adapted for positioning within one of a plurality of manway cover bolt openings exposed by the removal of a plurality of manway cover bolts and for maintaining alignment of the manway cover and the manway flange when the manway cover is a predefined distance away from the manway flange, and a flange separator including a separator component having a threaded rod and a pair of elongated flange plates, the pair of elongated flange plates rotatably connectable on a first flange plate end to the threaded rod wherein at least one of the pair of elongated flange plates has a threaded opening at the first flange plate end transverse to the flange plate that receives the threaded rod to provide translational movement of the flange plate along the threaded rod.