MANHOLE COVER HINGE ASSEMBLY

• US 20100012671A1
• Filed: 07/15/2008
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: East Jordan Iron Works Incorporated (EJ Group Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: East Jordan Iron Works Incorporated (EJ Group Incorporated)
• Inventors: Fuller, David E., Vrondran, Kevin S., Johnson, Jeremy I.
• Granted Patent: US 8,206,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/810
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/14 Covers for manholes or the like; Frames for covers gully gratings E03F5/06
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 29/1463 Hinged connection of cover to frame
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/223 Manhole covers specially adapted for armoured or fighting vehicles

Abstract

A manhole cover assembly includes a frame defining an access opening, first and second mounting posts extending from the frame, and a cover for covering the access opening. The cover includes first and second mounting recesses that pivotally receive the first and second mounting posts respectively, such that said cover is movable between an open position and a closed position by rotating the recesses about the posts. At least one of the recesses includes a locking groove that aligns with the post when the cover is moved to an open position to lock the cover in the open position.

Claims

1. A manhole cover assembly comprising:

a frame having a peripheral wall defining an access opening;

first and second frame extensions adjacent said peripheral wall, said first and second frame extensions each including a sidewall and a floor;

a first cover mount post extending from said sidewall of said first frame extension and a second cover mount post extending from said sidewall of said second frame extension, said first and second cover mount posts positioned above said floors of said first and second frame extensions such that said posts are sealed from said access opening;

a manhole cover including first and second mounting tabs, said first mounting tab defining a recess receiving said first cover mount post, said second mounting tab including a recess receiving said second cover mount post, said first and second mounting tabs rotating about said first and second cover mount posts between a closed position covering said access opening and an open position providing access to said access opening; and

locking means on said first mounting tab and said first cover mount post for locking said cover in said open position when said cover is rotated to said open position.

2. The manhole cover assembly of claim 1 wherein said locking means includes a locking groove extending from said first mounting tab recess, said first cover mount post sliding into said locking groove when said cover is moved to said open position.

3. The manhole cover assembly of claim 2 wherein said first cover mount post includes an outer surface having opposing parallel surfaces extending in a first direction, said first direction being parallel to said cover in said open position.

4. The manhole cover assembly of claim 3 wherein said locking groove includes opposing, sides extending generally in said first direction.

5. The manhole cover assembly of claim 4 including a cover flange extending inwardly from said peripheral wall, said cover flange supporting said cover in said closed position, said cover flange connected to said floor of said first frame extension.

6. The manhole cover assembly of claim 5 wherein said first and second mounting tab recesses each include a slot opening positioned and sized to permit insertion and removal of said cover mount posts in said recesses when said cover is in said open position.

7. The manhole cover of claim 6 wherein said floor of said first frame extension includes an upper surface opposite said access opening, and a protrusion extending upwardly from said upper surface, said protrusion extending into said slot opening of said first mounting tab when said cover is in said open position to prevent rotation of said cover to said closed position.

8. A manhole cover assembly comprising:

a frame defining an access opening;

a cover for covering said access opening;

first and second mounting posts extending from one of said frame and said cover; and

first and second recesses defined in the other of said frame and said cover, said first and second recesses pivotally receiving said first and second mounting posts respectively such that said cover is movable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said first recess includes a first portion and a second portion, at least a portion of said first mounting post aligning with at least a portion of said second portion when said cover is in said open position, said first mounting post moving from said first portion into said second portion when said cover is moved to said open position, said second portion of said first recess and said first mounting post shaped to prevent further rotation of said cover when said first mounting post is in said second portion.

9. The manhole cover assembly of claim 8 wherein said frame includes an upwardly extending peripheral wall, and first and second frame extensions extending from said peripheral wall and having an inner surface and a floor, said first and second mounting posts extending from said inner surface above said floor, said floor preventing contaminants from entering said access opening through said frame extension.

10. The manhole cover assembly of claim 9 wherein said second portion of said recess is a locking groove extending from said first portion, said locking groove including at least one generally flat wall, said first mounting post including at least one generally flat wall, said generally flat wall of said locking groove and said generally flat wall of said mounting post aligning when said cover is in said open position.

11. The manhole cover of claim 10 wherein said first mounting post includes opposing parallel surfaces that align with said locking groove when said cover is in said open position.

12. The manhole cover of claim 11 wherein said recess of said first mounting tab includes a slot opening opposite said locking groove and a protrusion extending upwardly from said floor, said protrusion extending into said slot opening when said cover is in said open position.

13. The manhole cover of claim 12 wherein said recess of said second mounting tab includes a generally circular portion and a slot opening, said slot openings of said first and second mounting tabs cooperating to permit removal of said cover from said frame when said cover is in said open position.

14. The manhole cover of claim 13 wherein said recesses of said first and second mounting tabs face each other, and wherein said recesses do not extend completely through said first and second mounting tabs.

15. A manhole cover assembly comprising:

a frame including a peripheral wall defining an access opening, said frame including first and second frame extensions extending from said peripheral wall, said first and second frame extensions each including a sidewall defining a frame extension opening, a mounting post extending from said sidewall, and a floor completely filling said frame extension opening to separate said mounting post from said access opening; and

a cover including first and second mounting tabs pivotally mounted on said first frame extension post and said second frame extension post respectively, whereby said cover is pivotable between a closed position covering said access opening and an open position providing access to said access opening, said first mounting tab defining a locking groove that aligns with and receives said first frame extension post when said cover is moved to said open position, whereby said first frame extension post moves into said locking groove to hold said cover in said open position.

16. The manhole cover assembly of claim 15 wherein said first and second mounting tabs each define a recess receiving said first and second frame extension posts respectively, said locking groove extending from said recess of said first mounting tab.

17. The manhole cover of claim 16 wherein said recesses each include a slot opening permitting removal of said frame extension posts from said recesses when said cover is in said open position.

18. The manhole cover of claim 17 wherein said cover is movable to a use position different from said closed position and said open position, said cover providing access to said access opening in said use position.

19. The manhole cover of claim 17 wherein said slot opening of said first mounting tab is positioned opposite said locking groove.

20. The manhole cover of claim 15 wherein said frame includes a cover receiving flange extending from an inner surface of said peripheral wall, said cover receiving flange directly connected to and extending upwardly from said floors of said first and second frame extensions.