Patent Application
20240093460
The present disclosure relates generally to an improved securable temporary manhole or catch basin cover. More particularly the present disclosure relates to an improved cover attached to a tube, tire, tubeless tire, or some product not yet developed that attaches to the walls of a manhole or catch basin when the tire or device is inflated.
Under the ubiquitous metal lids that are found on almost every street in major cities across the country and elsewhere, there are manholes with access to the sewers. These manholes are constructed from stackable sections of precast concrete that extend from the main sewer at the bottom of a hole to, ultimately, the gravel underneath the street pavement. The manhole frame and lid sit on top of the uppermost section of precast concrete, which for sewer manholes and catch basins, is the shape of an eccentric cone.
During the construction of manholes or areas near open manholes, dirt, debris, and other construction byproducts tend to fall into the sections of stacked precast concrete and into the sewers below. Fallen debris may impede sewer flow and is generally deleterious to the functioning of the sewer. A manhole is installed to change the direction of a sewer or drain line. The base section with the pipe opening is the first section to install. The base section is usually backfilled and compacted one to two feet from the top of the section installed in the ground. Next, the upper concrete sections are installed and backfilled, like the first section, up to the cone section.
After placing the cone section, a large steel plate covers the round opening. The builders of the trough would remove the plate and construct the necessary troughs in the base of the manhole. It is easier to work without the manhole frame on the cone section. Notably, a catch basin has no troughs, only a sewer and drain manhole. Upon completing the trough, the steel plate is re-installed over the opening, and the necessary fill and gravel will be brought to the subgrade, followed by the asphalt binder course. Later, asphalt and gravel will be removed above and around the steel plate wide enough to install the necessary masonry and metal frame.
After cleaning and removing the steel plate, the manhole is open to the falling of debris, which may become lodged in the sewers below. The severity of this problem increases as the height of the stackable sections of concrete increases, with the problem being the most pronounced at the top of the uppermost eccentric cone section. This problem is also prominent in the construction of, and areas around, catch basins or drain manholes with troughs. Catch basins usually have 2′ or 3′ sumps, whereas drain manholes have a sump like a sewer manhole.
While solutions such as temporary manhole covers have been tried, none have proved to be effective, durable, or lasting solutions over time. Therefore, what is needed is an improved securable temporary manhole or catch basin cover having the following characteristics and benefits over the prior art.
The subject matter of this application may involve, in some cases, interrelated products, alternative solutions to a particular problem, and/or a plurality of different uses of a single system or article.
In one aspect, a device is disclosed. In this aspect, the device comprises a central segment having a top, a bottom, and a perimeter. Also in this aspect, the central segment has a taper and a lip around its perimeter, and the lip is attached to an inflatable tube or tire, which also encompasses the perimeter of the central segment. Finally, in this aspect, the top of the central segment comprises a handle.
In another aspect, a similar device is disclosed. In this aspect, the device comprises the central segment having a top, bottom, and perimeter. However, instead of an inflatable tube or tire attached around the perimeter of the device, this aspect comprises a first plurality of plates around the perimeter, wherein the first plurality of plates are attached to a plurality of tightening mechanisms on top of the central segment.
In yet another aspect, a method of using an improved securable temporary manhole or catch basin cover is disclosed. In this aspect, the cover comprises the same features as those disclosed in the aspect having an inflatable tube or tire. Also in this aspect, the method comprises the steps of: securing the cover to the top of an eccentric cone section of precast concrete; inflating the tube or tire until the cover is secured to the walls of a manhole, positioned within the approximate four inches of vertical space at the top of the eccentric cone section.
The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of the invention and does not represent the only forms in which the present disclosure may be constructed and/or utilized. It should be expressly understood that the various physical elements of the present disclosure summarized and further disclosed herein may be of varying sizes, shapes, or otherwise dimensions and made from a variety of different materials or methods of manufacture without straying from the scope of the present disclosure. The description merely sets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing and operating the invention in connection with the illustrated embodiments.
Generally, the present disclosure concerns an improved securable temporary manhole or catch basin cover. In one embodiment, the cover may comprise a central segment attached to an inflatable bladder, tube, or tire. When used herein, it should be expressly understood that the terms, “bladder,” “tube,” and “tire” may be considered synonymous when used to describe particular embodiments. While these terms may be synonymous, they may be understood as referring to separate structures when more than one of these terms are used alternatively in the claims. Turning back to the present disclosure, in most embodiments, the central segment and the inflatable tube may be generally circular in shape to correspondingly fit the shape of a manhole opening. In a preferred embodiment, the central segment is constructed from a plastic polymer, or carbon fiber material which is superior for its combination of durability and low weight. Similarly, in the preferred embodiment, the inflatable tube is constructed from a rubber material. While the combination of a plastic polymer, carbon fiber central segment attached to an inflatable rubber tube may provide for a superior product, the device disclosed herein may be made from any suitable material.
In another embodiment, the cover may comprise a central segment attached to a plurality of plates that may secure the cover to the walls of the manhole by applying pressure to the walls via a tightening mechanism. Each individual tightening mechanism may include at least one track and a second plate in addition to the first plate. The second plate may be attached to at least one internally threaded screw casing with a screw, which may extend through the casing. The tightening mechanism may cause the first plate to apply pressure to the wall via a tightening of the screw, which may cause the first to slide in an opposite direction from a stationary second plate until a maximum pressure is achieved.
The purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a solution to the problem of debris falling into the sewer system at the bottom of a manhole, particularly during the construction of a manhole. The problem is most pronounced at the top of the uppermost eccentric cone section of precast concrete because that is where it is most difficult to retrieve fallen debris. Similar solutions to the same or a similar problem have been tried, but these other solutions have proven ineffective over time.
One of the improvements offered by the present disclosure is the use of durable and lightweight composite material in the construction of the central segment of the cover, such as a composite material comprising a plastic polymer, carbon fiber, or other material. Other known solutions are constructed with a metal material, which is not preferred, due to its weight and rigidity. However, while the use of metal is not preferred, it may be utilized without straying from the scope of the present disclosure.
Another improvement offered by the present disclosure is that the cover and its various elements are extremely compact, being able to fit within three to four inches (3-4″) of vertical space, when fully inflated, and less than approximately 24″ or 30″ of horizontal space, when deflated, in preferred embodiments. When used herein to refer to the metric inches, the term “approximately” shall mean±1″. In addition to being heavy, other known solutions are also bulky, and thus not suited for insertion through the top of a manhole opening or frame. The improved cover disclosed herein may not only be inserted through the top of a manhole frame, but it may also be secured above the eccentric cone portion of the uppermost section of precast concrete, yet below the manhole frame. This positioning of the cover at the top of the manhole is superior to other known solutions because it allows for easy insertion and removal of not only the cover, but also the removal of debris that may fall on the cover during construction.
Moreover, yet another improvement offered by the present disclosure is the removal of sealing veins from the design of the inflatable tube embodiment. Other solutions have employed the use of sealing veins or flanges that purportedly served to enhance the efficiency of a friction seal forced between an inflatable tube and the walls of a manhole. However, sealing veins or flanges are unreliable and wear down from consistent use, thus causing the friction seal between the inflatable tube and the manhole walls to degrade over time. For these reasons, the cover disclosed herein does not comprise any sealing veins or analogous structures.
Turning now to
The various elements described immediately above are located on top of the central segment 7 of the cover 1. Notably, as shown in
Turning now to
Catch basin openings are 24″ in diameter, and sewer manhole openings are 30″ in diameter. In this embodiment, the diameter 16 at the top 12 of the eccentric cone 13 section of precast concrete is the same as the diameter 16 at the top 14 of the manhole frame 15, namely, 30″. In other embodiments, the diameter at the top 14 of the manhole frame 15 may be slightly larger (e.g., 30.5″); however, most manhole frame openings are approximately 30″ in diameter. When deflated, the tube 10 should not significantly impact the dimensions of the cover 1 in a way that may prevent a user from being able to insert or remove it from the manhole. Accordingly, it is only critical that the diameter 17 of the central segment 7 from rim to rim 9 be less than 30″. In another embodiment, where the cover is used to prevent the accumulation of debris in a catch basin, it is critical that the width or diameter of the cover be less than 24″ for reasons similar to those immediately stated above.
The second plate 21 is attached to the central segment of the cover 1, a flat plate. Four inner and outer curved pieces are connected to the second, curved plate 21. Inside each curved piece is an internally threaded section to receive the long bolt screw 23 with the tapered end. The threaded section is also externally threaded to accommodate two nuts. In addition, the threaded section is flexible within the second plate 21 to adjust to the outer diameter defined by the plurality of first plates 18. The first plate 18 consists of one long curved section with two open boxed areas to receive the long-tapered end bolt 23. The tracks 20 are attached to the first plates 18 and are free to slide in and out under the second plate 21 by a small section removed from the base of the second plate 21. The tracks 20 keep the outer section, namely first plates 18, from falling into the bottom of the concrete structure, and the track stopper 25 is meant to prevent the first plates 18 from separating from the disc of the cover 1 when it is out of a concrete structure, for example, for transporting the cover 1 to storage or another structure.
In other embodiments, such as the embodiment shown in
A method of using the embodiment of the cover shown in
Similarly, a method of the using the embodiment of the cover shown in
While several variations of the present disclosure have been illustrated by way of example in preferred or particular embodiments, it is apparent that further embodiments could be developed within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, or the inventive concept thereof. However, it is to be expressly understood that elements described in one embodiment may be incorporated with any other embodiment in combination with any other elements disclosed herein in the various embodiments. It is also to be expressly understood that any modifications and adaptations to the present disclosure are within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure, and are inclusive, but not limited to the following appended claims as set forth.
