Patent Application
20250109828
It is common in many industrial situations to have a manway in which a tool such as an air mover or light needs to be supported. In many such situations, placing the tool on the floor or on a floor mounted support poses additional complications, such as the tool being a tripping hazard, the tool or tool mount damaging the floor, negative effects on the coverage area of the tool, etc.
This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In general, in one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a system for supporting a tool in a manway. The system includes a tool holding device. The tool holding device includes a holder plate, a hinge attached to the holder plate, a holder arm attached to the hinge, a clamp attached to the holder arm, and a resting arm attached to the clamp. The holder plate includes a first connector. The hinge permits swinging the tool holding device into and out of a manway. A second connector is included on the manway to be compatible with the first connector.
In general, in one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a system for supporting a tool in a manway. The system includes a tool holding device. The tool holding device includes multiple resting arms, and a clamp attached to the resting arms. The resting arms are positioned radially around the clamp and reach across the manway.
In general, in one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a method for using a tool holding device to support a tool in a manway. The tool holding device includes a holder plate, a hinge attached to the holder plate, a holder arm attached to the hinge, a clamp attached to the holder arm, and a resting arm attached to the clamp. The holder plate includes a first connector. The hinge permits swinging the tool holding device into and out of a manway. A second connector is included on the manway to be compatible with the first connector. The method includes attaching the holder plate of the tool holding device to an edge of the manway and clamping the tool in the clamp.
Other aspects and advantages of the claimed subject matter will be apparent from the following description and the appended claims.
In one aspect, embodiments disclosed herein relate to a system for supporting a tool within a manway by providing a clamp mounted to an edge of the manway. As used herein, the term “manway” refers to an opening or passage designed to allow a person to traverse from one space to another space. For example, the space may be a confined space, such as a tank or vessel, and the manway allows entry and exit of personnel into and out of the confined space. In such situations, it is often necessary to provide fresh air to the confined space for the safety of anyone working inside. However, when tools, like an air mover, lights, or the like, are positioned in the manway, it may be difficult to enter or exit the manway. Accordingly, embodiments disclosed herein include features that permit such tools to be quickly moved out of the path of the manway. Additionally, the tool may be held be the clamp between a central location in the manway and swung fully clear of the manway.
Embodiments of the present disclosure may provide at least one of the following advantages. The ability to swing a mounted tool out of a manway provides unrestricted entrance and egress through a manway. Also, the ability of the device to hold a tool, such as a conical air mover, centrally within a manway can provide increased coverage for the effect of the tool compared to that same tool being mounted or disposed on an edge surface. Mounting a tool to an exterior surface of a vessel, as opposed to the floor of said vessel can minimize surface damage within the vessel.
The first connector 110 may serve to allow the tool holding device to be connected to a surface 135 in which a manway 130 exists. Thus, a tool may be held in position in the manway. To provide additional support and stabilization, the resting arms 125 may comprise magnets that interact with ferromagnetic materials that may be present in the surface surrounding the manway 130. The one or more resting arms 125 may be telescopically extendable to span a variable size of manway, allowing the tool holding device to be used for a variety of manways. The holder arm 115 may also be telescopically extendable to reach at least from an edge to a middle of the manway. In one or more embodiments, the tool holding device may be made of a “safety material,” i.e., a material that is non-sparking, durable, and/or lightweight so as to improve the safety factor of the device.
The system described herein may also be used in a vertical manway, optionally without the hinge 105, first connector 110, holder plate 101, and/or holder arm. This configuration may rely on gravity to hold the tool holding device 100 in place in the manway 130. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that latches or other locking mechanisms may also be included in order to maintain the tool at a particular position within or outside of the manway.
Although only a few example embodiments have been described in detail above, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that many modifications are possible in the example embodiments without materially departing from this invention. Accordingly, all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of this disclosure as defined in the following claims. In the claims, means-plus-function clauses are intended to cover the structures described herein as performing the recited function and not only structural equivalents, but also equivalent structures. Thus, although a nail and a screw may not be structural equivalents in that a nail employs a cylindrical surface to secure wooden parts together, whereas a screw employs a helical surface, in the environment of fastening wooden parts, a nail and a screw may be equivalent structures. It is the express intention of the applicant not to invoke 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) for any limitations of any of the claims herein, except for those in which the claim expressly uses the words ‘means for’ together with an associated function.
