Abstract: A sealing assembly for a liquid conveying system includes a first structure defining an aperture, such as a pipe receiving aperture. A second structure, such as a pipe is received in the aperture. And an annular seal is disposed within the aperture for radially sealing between the first structure and the second structure. The seal includes an outer radial portion embedded in the first structure and an inner radial portion in sealing engagement with the second structure. The inner radial portion defines an internal cavity containing a substantially incompressible fluid or gel that is movable within the cavity to provide a dynamic seal with the second structure.

Abstract: A gasket assembly includes a one-piece gasket that has a mounting end, for mounting to an associated enclosure body, and a pipe engaging end, for receiving an associated pipe. An intermediate section is located between the mounting end and the pipe engaging end. A mounting element is of one piece with one of the mounting end, the pipe engaging end and the intermediate section. A clamping member is used with the gasket. The clamping member is looped to assume an annular configuration. A retaining member extends through an aperture located in the mounting element and through the clamping member for retaining the clamping member to the gasket in a transport position of the gasket assembly.

Abstract: A gasket assembly includes a one-piece gasket that has a mounting end, for mounting in an opening of an associated enclosure body, and a pipe engaging end, for receiving an associated pipe. An intermediate section is located between the mounting end and the pipe engaging end. A clamp assembly is used on the pipe engaging end of the gasket. The clamp assembly is looped to assume an annular configuration. A retaining member, of one piece with the gasket, extends from a wall of the gasket, for retaining the clamp assembly to the gasket in a transport position.

Abstract: A gasket formed of an extruded elastomeric material which is joined at its ends to form a closed loop. The gasket has a cross-section defined by a T-shaped anchoring flange integrally joined to a substantially pear-shaped portion which tapers in the radially inward direction. An integral flange extends diagonally away from the radial direction and serves to significantly enhance the water-tight seal provided by the resilient gasket, as well as significantly increasing the range of pipe diameters capable of being accommodated by the gasket. Disc-shaped or cylindrical-shaped inserts insertable into cavities at angular intervals about the wall of the opening engage the gasket to center the pipe and to aid in reducing shearing forces.

Abstract: An expansion band having a spanning member whose free end is provided with a locking tab for cooperation with a locking surface having a plurality of selectable locking slots. A guide channel secured to the band cooperates with the band to define a guideway through which the spanning member extends thereby maintaining the spanning member and hence the free ends of the expansion band in alignment. During expansion of the expansion band the locking tab is free to snap out of each locking slot and into the next. Upon release of the expansion forces, however, the locking tab is prevented from snapping out of the locking slot in which it is presently inserted. A novel expansion unit comprised of a manual hydraulic pump operates a duck-bill type spreader which bears against associated bearing surfaces respectively provided on one end of the spanning member and one end of the guide channel to apply direct expansion forces to the expansion band.

Abstract: Apparatus for forming inverts in a manhole base comprising at least one adjustably positionable channel-forming member for forming an invert which communicates between associated sidewall openings of a manhole base. Flexible members join the ends of the invert form. The adjustability of the channel-forming assembly extends over a range of angles which are both greater than and less than 180 degrees.

Abstract: A resilient gasket having an outer flange positioned within a manhole opening and held by a compression band. The gasket has a central opening with an enlarged beaded periphery to encircle a pipe. A tapered intermediate section is joined to the outer flange and the beaded periphery. The intermediate section folds after insertion and clamping in an opening to form diagonally aligned annular portions defining a V-shaped yieldable gasket to maintain a watertight seal between opening and pipe, even when misaligned. A strap encircling the gasket next to the beaded periphery enhances the watertight seal between gasket and pipe. The clamping band has grooves which cooperate with projections of a piston cylinder assembly. The clamping band is formed of material impervious to the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A metallic clamping band of channel-shaped cross-section is arranged in a ring-shaped manner and has a discontinuity so as to define two adjacent free ends thereof. A curved channel-shaped insert has one of its ends welded to one end of said clamping band while the other of its ends is free to slidably engage the remaining end of the clamping band. The remaining end of the clamping band is provided with a plurality of openings arranged at spaced intervals along each of the sidewalls of the channel shaped member to define a plurality of pairs of openings. A locking pin is insertable into one of said pairs of openings to engage the free end of the insert portion and thereby maintain the clamping band in the expanded and locked position. The free end of the insert preferably has an extending tongue adapted to be positioned between the locking pin and the base of the clamping band when in the locked position.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing liners in manhole assemblies, which liner is comprised of a plurality of liner sections joined together to form the inner corrosion resistant surface of each manhole member. The liner section define the inner surface of the manhole member being molded. Cast material is poured into the mold and allowed to set. The liner surface engaging the cast material contains integral substantially T-shaped projections which anchor the liner sections to the cast member. The tops and bottoms of each liner section extend around the surface of the section engaging the next adjacent section joined thereto to prevent toxic materials from reaching a cast material. The liner sections are theroplastic vacuum formed whereby the sheet forming the liner section is drawn against substantially T-shaped strips arranged upon the mold member within the vacuum thermo-forming equipment to provide the aforementioned integral T-shaped anchoring projections.

Abstract: A clamping band for clamping a resilient gasket against an opening within a wall to provide a fluid-tight seal therebetween. The clamping band is generally circular-shaped and has an elongated slot extending inwardly from one free end of the clamping band and cooperates with an elongated projection of reduced cross section as compared with the nominal cross section of the clamping band and which is provided at the opposite end of the band. The projection is inserted into the slot, the clamping band is placed against the gasket arranged within the aforesaid opening and the gasket is expanded a predetermined amount by an hydraulic expander to exert the desired clamping pressure upon the resilient gasket. One surface of the projection is provided with a series of teeth. An opening communicating with said slot receives a wedge fitted into said opening and having several teeth along one surface thereof, which teeth conform to the teeth of said projection.

Abstract: A hollow, flexible, bendable, cylindrical-shaped, hat-like sleeve is water-tightly joined with the upper end of the riser section of a manhole structure. The free end of the sleeve is trimmed so that its upper edge fits beneath the shoulder of the frame supporting the manhole cover to prevent subsurface water from entering into the manhole interior through the regions between the manhole cover supporting frame and the top of the riser section, which is usually fitted with adjustment rings to bring the manhole cover frame up to grade. The sleeve is easily cut to any height to accommodate either a greater or lesser number of height adjustment rings. The sleeve flange is cast into the riser section. The sleeve may be folded into itself to significantly lower its profile to expedite handling, transportation and assembly. A plastic clamping band may be placed into the interior of the sleeve to water-tightly join the upper end of the sleeve to the manhole cover support frame.

Abstract: A top concrete section for a manhole assembly is cast with a plurality of bolt slot inserts each insert having a substantially inverted T-shaped hollow interior for slideably receiving a nut which may be moved to any desired position along the base of the insert for threadedly engaging a threaded rod employed to rigidly secure a cast iron cover frame to the top section.The method for casting a manhole top section comprises the steps of releasably mounting each insert within the mould assembly by means of a retaining slide which itself is slideably received within a pair of holding brackets provided on each of the inner and outer mould members, the insert being substantially fully closed on all sides thereof and having a top surface formed of a thin web which is easily fractured or cut away after the top manhole section is cast. The fully enclosed insert prevents any concrete from entering into the interior thereof.

Abstract: A resilient gasket having an outer flange positioned within a manhole opening and held by a compression band. The gasket has a central opening with an enlarged beaded periphery to encircle a pipe. A tapered intermediate section is joined to the outer flange and the beaded periphery. The intermediate section folds after insertion and clamping in an opening to form diagonally aligned annular portions defining a V-shaped yieldable gasket to maintain a watertight seal between opening and pipe, even when misaligned. A strap encircling the gasket next to the beaded periphery enhances the watertight seal between gasket and pipe. The clamping band has free ends which cooperate with projections of a piston cylinder assembly. The clamping band is formed of material impervious to the surrounding environment.

Abstract: A hollow, flexible, bendable, cylindrical-shaped, hat-like sleeve is water-tightly joined with the upper end of the riser section of a manhole structure. The free end of the sleeve is trimmed so that its upper edge fits beneath the shoulder of the frame supporting the manhole cover to prevent subsurface water from entering into the manhole interior through the regions between the manhole cover supporting frame and the top of the riser section, which is usually fitted with adjustment rings to bring the manhole cover frame up to grade. The sleeve is easily cut to any height to accommodate either a greater or lesser number of height adjustment rings. The sleeve flange is cast into the riser section. The sleeve may be folded into itself to significantly lower its profile to expedite handling, transportation and assembly. A plastic clamping band may be placed into the interior of the sleeve to water-tightly join the upper end of the sleeve to the manhole cover support frame.

Abstract: A system of modular precast encasement sections is provided to protect the outside drop of a manhole structure from damage due to weak ground support and to prevent leakage from said outside drop. Said precast encasement sections are stacked on top of a drop manhole base and on top of each other to a height sufficient to surround and support the outside drop tube. The stack of encasement sections is then capped off with a solid collar which has a circular opening of a diameter sufficient to receive the outside drop tube. This circular opening widens to form a shoulder which is adapted to receive and support thereon the lower most opening of a T-coupler for joining a supply line to the drop tube. The precast encasement sections, the solid collar, and the face of the manhole base which is to receive the stack of encasement sections are each provided with grooves on their upper faces and the solid collar and encasement sections are provided with coaligned projections along their lower faces.

Abstract: Concentric inner and outer molds define the walls of the manhole base to be cast. The top of the inner mold is provided with a stationary invert forming section and at least one swingable invert forming section swingably mounted upon a centrally located pivot pin. The invert forming mold member is provided with locating openings adapted to receive the pin within the swingable invert forming section to positively and accurately locate the swingable invert forming section. The open region between the fixed and movable sections is filled with a "knee" member in the form of a hollow curved shell which defines the central portion of the invert. The top of the inner mold may alternatively be provided with two or more swingably mounted invert forming sections.

Abstract: A hollow cylindrical-shaped, hat-like sleeve is water-tightly joined with the upper end of the riser section of a manhole structure. The free end of the sleeve is trimmed so that its upper edge fits beneath the shoulder of the frame supporting the manhole cover to prevent subsurface water from entering into the manhole interior through the regions between the manhole cover supporting frame and the top of the riser section, which is usually fitted with adjustment rings to bring the manhole cover frame up to grade. The sleeve is easily cut to any height to accommodate either a greater or lesser number of height adjustment rings. The sleeve flange may be cast into the riser section, or alternatively be placed upon the riser section and water-tightly sealed in place by gaskets. The sleeve flange may be replaced by a gasket-like water stop arranged about the lower end of the sleeve and joined thereto by a suitable waterproof rubber adhesive.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming inverts in the manhole base of a manhole assembly using a single pour technique. In the single pour technique, the invert is formed simultaneously with the formation of the manhole base through the use of apparatus including a mold member having a channel-shaped projection for defining the invert. Means are provided for simply, and yet precisely, aligning the mold member having the channel-shaped projection with the members forming the openings in the base member sidewalls by forming a base member whose invert is in precise alignment with associated sidewall openings. The apparatus utilized incorporates at least one adjustably positionable channel-forming assembly for forming an invert for communicating between associated sidewall openings each having a central axis whose intersecting central axes define an angle different from 180.degree..

Abstract: A resilient gasket having an outer annular flange positioned within a manhole opening and maintained thereagainst under compression by means of a compression band. The gasket is provided with a central opening defined by an enlarged beaded periphery having an elasticity adapted to tightly encircle the outer periphery of the pipe. A folded intermediate section is arranged between and integrally joined to the outer flange and the beaded inner periphery, the intermediate section is comprised of first and second diagonally aligned annular portions integrally joined along a fold to define a V-shape which imparts a yieldability enabling the gasket to maintain a watertight seal between the manhole opening and the pipe, even in the presence of a significant misalignment therebetween. A strap is positioned about the intermediate section of the gasket adjacent the inner beaded periphery to enhance the watertight seal between the gasket and the pipe.