Four parts manhole enabling an easy install and height adjustment

Abstract

A manhole comprised of four parts is provided. The manhole is comprised of an outer-manhole pipe, an inner-manhole pipe, a manhole cover, and a support pipe. Pluralities of concave arc band shape blades are horizontally developed along the inner surface of the outer manhole pipe. Same number of convex arc band shape blades is horizontally developed along the outer surface of the inner manhole pipe. The inner-manhole pipe is inserted into the outer-manhole pipe vertically when the two kinds of arc shape blades aligned to make pass way for each other. When a desired height is reached, workers rotate the inner-manhole pipe 60 degrees horizontally and put down the inner-manhole pipe. Then the two kinds of blades are overlapped and fix the height of the manhole cover. A support pipe, comprised of two pieces of equal hemi-pipe connected one end, is engaged between the top flange of the inner-manhole pipe and top end of the outer manhole pipe to hold and support the distance between them.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION

Current application is related with a road installing manhole, especially related with an easy installation and height adjustable manhole comprised of four parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most of manhole is comprised of one main steel pipe and one cover. Once the manhole is installed on the street over sewage line and many other facilities for city life, the position of the manhole cover from the base of the pavement or from the outer surface of the huge construction of a sewage line is fixed. However, due to the severe weather conditions such as extreme temperature change and rains, there develop creeks between the manholes and the road surface surrounding them. Those creeks are not only very dangerous for cars and pedestrians passing by the area. Most local authorities spend lots of their budget to cover up those creeks. The best way is to pave the whole road of that area and paint the lines. But, as the pavements are repeated, the surface of the road reaches well above the cover of the manhole. To avoid such situation, road workers must dig out the whole manhole structure and re-install it based on the new surface of the road.

Many kinds of height adjustable manholes and manhole covers are introduced. Most of those height adjustable manholes utilize screw type support and/or male screw threads developed on the outer surface of the inner pipe combined with female screw threads developed on the inner surface of the outer pipe or support.

However, due to the environment of the places where the manholes are located, it is not an easy procedure to install and re-adjust the height of those screw shape manholes. First of all, the workers must align both of the male and female threads in correct position, engage them and turn the manhole pipe to the desired position. Contaminants, such as sand and metal can stuck between the screw threads make it hard to turn the manhole pipe. Once a manhole is installed on the road, it usually takes at least from couple of months to many years. The moistures from the under ground water and surface water easily corrodes the screw threads and make them stick together. Then it needs extra effort to eliminate the corrodes from the threads.

It is purpose of the current application to provide a manhole that can adjust a height from the cover to the road surface without not only digging out the whole structure from the place where it was buried, but also without extra effort of turning the inner manhole until the desired position is reached. The structure of the manhole of current application enables an easy installation and easy adjustment of the height of the manhole cover from the basin structure of sewage treatment system buried underground.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,973 and 6,179,518 to Suatac illustrates an adjustable manhole cover frame assembly suitable for mounting on a manhole basin upper section has an outer ring, capable of resting on the top surface of the upper section, and an inner ring engaging the outer ring by screw threads and having support for a manhole cover. It is like screw cap.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,311,433 to Zdroik illustrates an adjustable manhole/catch basin structure includes a mounting base, adjustable tube, and protection sleeve. The adjustable manhole (1) is installable only onto a concrete lateral (100) by fixing the position with mortar (102).

U.S. Pat. No. 5,095,667 to Ryan, et al. illustrates a telescopic manhole or storm drain installation includes a riser assembly provided with an upper section and adjacent lower section the former of which comprises a side wall defining an inverted frustoconical configuration while the latter provides a vertically disposed member having external threads cooperating with a stationary threaded collar.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,075,796 to Cuozzo illustrates a manhole consists primarily of a cast and internally threaded main body, which receives a cast and internally threaded sleeve, which may be raised to different pavement levels by means of a removable spanner wrench. It includes a pair of diametrically opposed and slidable locking plates, which have pin means on the underside for being received within openings on the upper interior of the sleeve, and the upper portion of the plates projects outwards of the sleeve, so as to lock the sleeve and cover within the main body, thus preventing rotation thereof, the plates when the sleeve is lowered or elevated, serving as a means of rendering the sleeve and cover stationary at various pavement levels.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,629,981 to Mc Caffery illustrates an adjustable height assembly for supporting a cover over a subterranean access opening wherein a cylindrical frame structure having interior coaxial acme threads is adopted to be permanently located in non-rotatable submerged position.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,199 to Pickett illustrates a manhole structure comprising a first substantially cylindrical frame member adapted to be disposed underground structure and a second substantially cylindrical frame member adjustably and telecopy disposed with respect to the first frame member adapted to extend upwardly an adjustable distance to the surface of the ground.

None of the prior art teaches to provide a height adjustable manhole system that enables an easy installation and height adjustment without utilizing screw threads system shown in the present application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The manhole of current application is comprised of an outer-manhole pipe, an inner-manhole pie, a manhole cover, and a support pipe. Three concave arc band shape blades are horizontally located along the inner surface of the outer-manhole pipe in one layer. Five layers of concave arc shape blades, placed with same distance, are aligned to form three vertical columns of blades. Three convex arc band shape blades are horizontally located along the outer surface of the inner manhole pipe. Five layers of convex arc shape blades, placed with same distance, are aligned to form three vertical columns of blades. Size of all the arc band blades is the same. The size of the space between the two neighboring concave blades is the same as the size of a convex blade. When a space between the two neighboring concave blade is occupied by a convex blade, the inner-manhole pipe can move vertically freely. Once a desired vertical position of the inner-manhole pipe is reached, workers turn the inner-manhole pipe horizontally 60 degrees and put down the pipe. Then the concave and convex arc shape blades overlap each other. To separate the two pipes, lift up the inner-pipe slightly, turn 60 degrees horizontally and pull up the inner-pipe. The support pipe is engaged between the top flange of the inner-manhole pipe and top end of the outer manhole pipe to hold and support the distance between them. The structure of the manhole of current application enables an easy installation and easy adjustment of the height of the manhole cover from the basin structure of sewage treatment system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a height adjustable manhole of the current application.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a manhole cover with handle cam lock for the height adjustable manhole of the current application.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a handle cam lock of the manhole cover when handle is in upward position and is in down position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner-manhole pipe equipped with a flange.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a section ‘A’ in FIG. 1, showing arrangement of the convex arc band shape blades.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outer- manhole pipe showing the inner surface of the pipe.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section ‘B’ in FIG. 6, showing arrangement of the concave arc band shape blades.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a support pipe.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support pipe installed on the outer- manhole pipe.

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view of the height adjustable manhole of the current application assembled.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a height adjustable manhole (1) of the current application. The manhole (1) is comprised of an outer-manhole pipe (2), an inner-manhole pipe (3), a manhole cover (4), and a support pipe (5).

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a manhole cover (4) with handle cam lock (6) for the height adjustable manhole (1) of the current application. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cam lock (6) of the manhole cover (4). FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an inner- manhole pipe (3) equipped with a flange (7). The flange (7) has an opening (8) to receive cam shaft (9). When the handle (10) of the cam lock (6) is vertically upward, the cam shaft (9) is placed in down part of the cylindrical cam hole (11) due to the shape of cam (12). When the handle (10) of the cam lock (6) is laid down and inserted into the cam lock box (13), the camshaft (9) is placed in the upper part of the cam hole (11).

To close the manhole cover (4), a worker picks up the handle (10) in up right position to the cover (4) and insert the cam shaft (9) through the opening (8). Turn the cover 90 degrees horizontally to move the cam shaft (9), which is now located under the cover (4), to a position perpendicular to the opening (9). Press down the handle (10) into the cam lock box (13). Then the cam shaft (9) moves up ward in the cam hole (11) and lock the manhole cover (4) by adhering the shaft (9) to the underneath side of the flange (7). Rubber packing may be installed between the manhole cover (4) and the flange (7).

FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 show the inner-manhole pipe and the arrangement of convex arc band shape blades (14). The arc band shape blades are prepared from annular plates of same size. The inner diameter of the annular plate is equal to the outer diameter of the inner-manhole pipe (3) and outer diameter of the annular plate is 1 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the outer-manhole pipe (2). Each annular plate is divided into six pieces of same size. On a circular plane, center of each piece of the convex arc band shape blade (14) locates 60 degrees apart from the neighboring blade's (14′) center. A small protrusion (14-1) is developed at the center of the lower surface of each convex arc band shape blades (14). As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, three pieces of convex arc band shape blades (14) are horizontally located along the outer surface of the inner manhole pipe (3) in one layer. Each blade (14) is located with same space (15) from the neighboring blade. The size and shape of the space between the neighboring blades (14) are same as the blade. Three to five layers of convex arc shape blades (14), placed with same distance (16), are aligned to form three vertical columns (17) of blades. Size of all the arc band blades is the same. The size of the space (15) between the two neighboring convex blades is the same as the size of a convex blade. When a space between the two neighboring convex blade is occupied by a concave blade, the inner-manhole pipe can move vertically freely.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the outer-manhole pipe showing the inner surface of the pipe. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a section ‘B’ in FIG. 6, showing arrangement of the concave arc band shape blades. The inner diameter of the annular plate is 1 mm larger than the outer diameter of the inner-manhole pipe (3) and outer diameter of the annular plate is equal to the inner diameter of the outer-manhole pipe (2). On a circular plane, center of each piece of the concave arc band shape blade (18) locates 60 degrees apart from the neighboring blade's (18′) center. As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, three pieces of concave arc band shape blades (18) are horizontally located along the inner surface of the outer manhole pipe (2) in one layer. A groove (18-1) to guide the protrusion (14-1) of the convex arc band shape blade (14) is developed along the upper surface of each concave arc band shape blade (18) and a dimple (18-2) of the similar size of the protrusion (14-1) is developed at the center of the groove (18-1) to hold the position of the protrusion (14-1) when the arc shape blades of the inner-manhole pipe and outer manhole pipe are overlapped.

Each blade (18) is located with same space (19) from the neighboring blade. The size and shape of the space (19) between the neighboring concave arc shape blades (18) are same as the blade. Three to five layers of concave arc shape blades (18), placed with same space (19), are aligned to form three vertical columns (20) of concave arc shape blades. The size of the space (19) between the two neighboring concave blades (18) is the same as the size of a convex blade. When a space between the two neighboring concave blade (18) is occupied by a convex blade (14), the inner-manhole pipe can move vertically freely. A flange (21) with pluralities of flange holes (22) is developed at the middle of the outer-manhole pipe (2) along the outer surface thereof to fix the pipe to the ground or to a structure underneath of the manhole (1).

When a worker installs a manhole, he/she aligns the blades of the inner-manhole pipe (3) and outer-manhole pipe (2) to be positioned in sequence on an imaginary circular plane that is parallel to the horizontal surface. Then push down the inner-manhole pipe (3) to the depth of desired and rotate the inner-manhole pipe 60 degrees horizontally. The grooves (18-1) developed on the concave arc band shape blades (18) guide the protrusions (14-1) to rotate steadily in a circular motion. In this position, the concave arc band shape blade (18) and convex arc shape band blades (14) overlap each other. The protrusions (14-1) and the dimples (18-2) meet. Push down the inner-manhole pipe (3) to engage the protrusions (14-1) to the dimples (18-2).

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a support pipe (5) for the manhole (1) of the current application. The support pipe (5) is comprised of two equal hemi-pipe (25). One end of each hemi-pipes (25) are connected by two male connectors (26) and two female connectors (27) developed on each other hemi-pipe. The other ends of the hemi-pipes (25) are connected by a key (28) and key hole (29).

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the support pipe (5) installed on the outer-manhole pipe (2). The height (24) of the support pipe (5) is tailored to the distance between the top of the outer-manhole pipe (2) and the bottom of the manhole cover (4). The role of this support pipe (5) is preventing soil from getting into the space between the top of the outer-manhole pipe (2) and the bottom of the manhole cover (4) to stick between the concave arc band shape blade (18) of the outer-manhole pipe (2) and convex arc shape band blades (14) of the inner-manhole pipe (3).

FIG. 10 is a vertical cross sectional view of the height adjustable manhole (1) of the current application assembled showing how the four parts are assembled. The outer-manhole pipe (2) with flange (21) received the inner-manhole pipe (3). The concave arc band shape blades (18) of the outer-manhole pipe (2) and the convex arc band shape blades (14) are over-lapped and engaged each other via the protrusion (14-1) of the convex arc band shape blades (14) and the dimple (18-2) of the concave arc band shape blades (18). The support pipe (5) is installed between the top of the outer-manhole pipe (2) and the bottom of the flange (7) of the inner-manhole pipe (3). The handle (10) of the cam lock of the manhole cover (4) is in open position.

The noble structure of the height adjustable manhole comprised of four major part of the current application an easy installation and height adjustment of a manhole buried on a road surface. Many kind of variation is possible based on this disclosure.

Claims

1. A height adjustable manhole comprised of;

a manhole cover with handle cam lock that is comprised of a handle, a cam, a cam shaft, and a cam lock box; and

an outer-manhole pipe equipped with pluralities of concave arc band shape blades of same size, whose outer diameter is equal to the inner diameter of the outer pipe and inner diameter is 1 mm larger than the outer diameter of the inner pipe and center of each piece of the concave arc band shape blade locates 60 degrees apart from the neighboring concave arc band shape blade's center and a groove to guide a protrusion of a convex arc band shape blade is developed along the upper surface of each concave arc band shape blade and a dimple of the similar size of the protrusion is developed at the center of the groove to hold the position of the protrusion when the arc shape blades of an inner-manhole pipe and outer manhole pipe are overlapped and a flange with pluralities of flange holes is developed at the middle of outside thereof; and

an inner-manhole pipe equipped with a flange that has an opening to receive the cam shaft and pluralities of convex arc band shape blades of same size, whose inner diameter is equal to the outer diameter of the inner-manhole pipe and outer diameter of the annular plate is 1 mm smaller than the inner diameter of the outer-manhole pipe and center of each piece of the convex arc band shape blade locates 60 degrees apart from the neighboring blade's center and a small protrusion is developed at the center of the lower surface of each convex arc band shape blades; and

a support pipe that is comprised of two equal hemi-pipes, one end of each hemi-pipe is connected by two male connectors and two female connectors developed on each other hemi-pipe and the other ends of the hemi-pipes are connected by a key and a key hole and is installed between the top of the outer-manhole pipe and the bottom of the flange of the inner-manhole pipe.

2. A height adjustable manhole of claim 1, wherein three pieces of convex arc band shape blades of same size are horizontally located along the outer surface of the inner manhole pipe in one layer and three pieces of concave arc band shape blades are horizontally located along the inner surface of the outer manhole pipe in one layer.

3. A height adjustable manhole of claim 1, wherein the inner-manhole pipe move vertically freely when a space between the two neighboring convex arc shape blade is occupied by a concave arc shape blade,