U.S. patent number 3,715,958 [Application Number 05/107,776] was granted by the patent office on 1973-02-13 for preformed manhole body.
Invention is credited to David D. Crawford, John W. Elvington.
United States Patent |
3,715,958 |
Crawford , et al. |
February 13, 1973 |
PREFORMED MANHOLE BODY
Abstract
A manhole body which is preformed of plastic or concrete and
reinforced to withstand the weight exerted by the ground and
outside sources of water, which manhole body may be of a size and
shape to fit on a sewer line of any size and depth, with the sleeve
extending to the surface so as to give access into the manhole body
which has a suitable cover therefor. The manhole bodies are of
unitary, tapered construction and are so designed as to fit in
telescoped relation to conserve room during shipping or storage.
Transverse semi-circular notches are formed in the lower side of
each manhole body so as to fit the upper contour of a sewer line,
so when a cementitious material, such as concrete, is poured to
seal the bottom and sides of the manhole, the top portion of the
sewer line, above the concrete, may be broken away to provide a
sewage outlet from the manhole body and access to the sewer line
admit cleaning tools.
Inventors: |
Crawford; David D. (Mineral
Wells, TX), Elvington; John W. (Wichita Falls, TX) |
Family
ID: |
22318414 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/107,776 |
Filed: |
January 19, 1971 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/21;
137/363 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E02D
29/12 (20130101); E02D 29/124 (20130101); Y10T
137/6991 (20150401) |
Current International
Class: |
E02D
29/12 (20060101); E02d 029/14 () |
Field of
Search: |
;94/34,31.1,31.3
;52/20,21 ;137/363,370,364 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Byers, Jr.; Nile C.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A unitary, reconstructed manhole body comprising;
a. a unitary body, which body is hollow and is formed of moldable
material,
1. said unitary body having a lower portion, the lower portion of
said unitary, hollow body being inclined upwardly and inwardly
throughout the entire length thereof,
2. the lower portion of said unitary, hollow body being open and
having opposed notched formed therein to straddle a pipe,
3. said unitary body having an upper portion, the lower end of
which is joined in unitary relation with the upper end of said
lower portion of said unitary, hollow body,
4. said upper, unitary hollow body portion converging upwardly and
inwardly from the juncture with said lower body portion,
b. the upper end of said unitary hollow body portion having a
hollow, cylindrical neck portion joined in unitary relation with
the upper end of said upper body portion,
1. said upper portion of said body being adapted to support a
fitting for a man hole cover,
c. an annular connecting ring fitted on the upper end of said
cylindrical neck portion,
d. a sleeve interfitted with said ring and extending upwardly to a
position near the surface of the terrain, and
e. a man hole cover flange fitted on the upper end of said
sleeve.
2. A unitary, preconstructed manhole body as defined in claim 1;
wherein
a. said lower body portion, said upper neck portion and said
converging portion between the lower body portion and the
cylindrical neck portion have reinforcing material therein.
3. A unitary, preconstructed manhole body as defined in claim 1;
wherein
a. said lower portion of said hollow body and said converging
portion between said lower body portion and said neck postion being
polygonal in cross section, with said lower body portion and said
converging portion adapted to receive other manhole body portions
in nested relation.
4. A unitary, preconstructed manhole body as defined in claim 1;
wherein
a. said unitary, molded, hollow body is molded of plastic
reinforced with fiber glass.
5. A unitary, preconstructed manhole body as defined in claim 2;
wherein
a. said unitary, molded body is of concrete.
6. A unitary, preconstructed manhole body as defined in claim 1;
wherein
a. a cementions material is filled into the lower end of said body
to form a fluid tight seal therewith and with said pipe, and
b. the pipe has an opening formed therein within the walls of said
body.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to manhole bodies, and particularly
to manhole bodies which may be molded or formed of unitary
construction, preferably at a factory, for shipment or distribution
to the point of use.
It is desirable to provide a manhole body which can be readily set
in proper position at the place of use with a minimum adaptation,
and which is simple and inexpensive in construction, yet sturdy and
reliable in operation and which will require a minimum of
maintenance.
It is difficult to construct, at the place of use, a manhole body
incorporating the above mentioned design characteristics. Prior
manhole bodies, for the most part, were constructed at the point of
use, usually of brick, which required brick masons who occasionally
had to work under adverse weather conditions and with cavey ground
conditions, and was dangerous to the life of the artisans working
below the surface of the ground, which made the building of manhole
bodies on location undesirable and expensive.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A manhole body as constructed in a mold or in a form so a
multiplicity of manhole bodies of the desired size may be
manufactured on a production type basis.
The manhole body is preferably constructed with an upwardly and
inwardly tapered end of plastic reinforced with fiber glass or
concrete reinforced with steel, such as wire mesh. The manhole
bodies, for the greater part of the length thereof, are in the
shape of a truncated polygonal pyramid or cone which tapers in to a
cylindrical ring so a sleeve may extend from the body to a point
near the surface of the terrain so a manhole cover can be fitted on
the upper end of the sleeve.
The invention, as shown in each form thereof, is so tapered as to
receive another manhole body thereinto for the greater portion of
the length, thereby enabling the storing or shipping of the manhole
bodies in a minimum of space.
Each of the manhole bodies has transversely arranged semi-circular
notches in the lower side thereof, which notches correspond in size
to the size of the sewer line on which the manhole body is to be
fitted. When the manhole body is fitted on a sewer line, a
cementitious material, such as concrete, is poured thereinto and
therearound to form a water tight closure in the bottom thereof,
covering approximately the lower half of the diameter of the sewer
line and concrete is poured around the manhole body so as to unite
with the cementitious material or concrete in the manhole body s o
as to anchor the manhole against movement.
One form of the invention is shown to be polygonal in shape, like a
truncated pyramid, and the other is shown to be round in shape like
truncated cone. Either can be made of fiber glass or either can be
made of concrete. The upper end of each manhole body is cylindrical
to receive an adapter ring so a sleeve may extend to a point near
the surface of the terrain, where a conventional manhole flange and
cover are installed.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the invention is to provide a preconstructed manhole
body for use on sewer lines, which manhole body may be readily set
in place on a sewer line without having to construct the manhole
body at the site of use.
Another object of the invention is to provide a manhole body which
is constructed of plastic, reinforced with fiber glass, which is
light in weight, easy to install with a minimum of workmen, and
which will withstand considerable external and internal
pressure.
A further object of the invention is to provide a manhole body
which is polygonal in shape and which tapers upwardly and inwardly
so that the angular construction gives rigidity and strength to the
manhole body.
Still a further object of the invention is to provide a manhole
body that tapers upwardly and inwardly and which is adapted to
receive a complementary manhole body thereinto in telescoped
relation to enable a multiplicity of manhole bodies to occupy a
minimum of space while being stored or shipped.
A further object of the invention is to provide a manhole body
which may be installed on a sewer line at any depth, and with which
a standardized sleeve may be used to connect with an adapter ring
at the upper end of the manhole body, thereby enabling the manhole
body to be used under a variety of conditions and at varying
depths.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
With these objects in mind and others which will become manifest as
the description proceeds, reference is to be had to the
accompanying drawings in which like reference characters designate
like parts in the several views thereof in which:
FIG. 1 is an elevational view of the manhole body with parts broken
away and shown in section, showing the manhole body installed
within the earth and as seated upon a sewer line, with the upper
end joining a sleeve which extends into close proximity to the
surface of the terrain, and showing a manhole flange and cover
fitted on the upper end of the sleeve;
FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the manhole body, as shown in FIG. 1,
the pavement and earth not being shown, to show the construction of
the manhole body;
FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, perspective view of an adapter flange for
the upper end of the sleeve with extends upwardly from the manhole
body;
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of an adapter ring, which
enables the joining of the manhole to a sleeve;
FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of FIG. 1, looking in
the direction indicated by the arrows;
FIG. 6 is a view of a plurality of manhole bodies, some in cross
section and some in elevation, on a reduced scale, to show how the
bodies will next in telescoped relation;
FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but of the modified form of the
invention, which utilizes a truncated conical, reinforced concrete
body;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 2, but of the form of the
invention as shown in FIG. 7;
FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9--9 of FIG. 7, looking in
the direction indicated by the arrows;
FIG. 10 is an elevational view, on a reduced scale, of a plurality
of concrete manhole bodies nested together in telescoped relation
with one being shown in elevation and two being shown in
longitudinal section; and
FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary view through the wall of one of
the concrete manhole bodies.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
With more detailed reference to the drawings, the numeral 1
designates generally a sewer line on which a manhole body 2 is
fitted in straddled relation, as will best be seen in FIG. 1. The
manhole body 2, which is preferably made of plastic reinforced with
fiber glass, converges, for the greater portion of its length,
upwardly and inwardly to a shoulder 4, which is made integral with
a portion 6 which converges and connects with a cylindrical neck 8
to form a manhole body which straddles over the sewer line so that
the notched openings 10 in the lower side of the manhole body will
fit the outer diameter of the pipe, preparatory to pouring a
cementitious bottom 12 therein. The bottom 12 is usually poured to
about half the diameter of sewer pipe 1, except at certain portions
around the wall, the cementitious material, which is usually
concrete, has a ridge-like portion 14 formed to cover the sewer
pipe 1, as will best be seen in FIGS. 1 and 5. The cement is
allowed to surround the exterior of the manhole body 2 so as to
form a liquid tight structure when the cementitious material has
set.
It is preferable to make the manhole body 2 of paneled sections 16,
with polygonal faces of sufficient width so that inlet sewer pipes
18 can be brought into the manhole body substantially perpendicular
to the face thereof.
Having the manhole body tapered slightly, enables the ready removal
of these from the molds, and furthermore enables the nesting of the
manhole bodies in multiple lots to enable the storage or shipment
of these in a minimum of space, as will be evident in FIG. 6.
An adapter ring or fitting 20 is of such size to be in close
fitting relation around manhole body neck 8 and which adapter ring
has a recess in the upper side thereof to receive a sleeve 22,
which sleeve may be made of a suitable material, such as metal,
plastic reinforced with fiber glass, or the like. A manhole flange
24 is fitted on the upper end of sleeve 22 and is adapted to
receive a complementary flange 26, which complementary flange is
recessed to receive a conventional manhole cover 28. These flanges
may be bolted together, as indicated at 30 and a pavement or
sidewalk 32 may be so poured as to be flush with the top of manhole
cover 28.
The manhole body 2 may be made in sizes to accommodate the needs of
any size sewer line, however, a few standardized sizes may be made
to cover a wide range of sewer line adaptations, and if one sewer
line is of greater depth than another sewer line, the length of the
sleeve 22 may be varied and still give the advantages of mass
production of manhole bodies without having to build these on the
job, under adverse weather conditions, and by skilled artisans. By
having a manhole body thus constructed, it can be readily set in
place and a cement 12 poured to cover the bottom and the outer
portions of the bottom of the manhole body, as will best be seen in
FIGS. 1 and 5, and when the cement is properly set, a hole 34 may
be broken in the sewer line within the manhole body, so as to
enable clean-out devices to be inserted therethrough. Also, the
sewage passing into the manhole body from lateral sewer lines 18
will pass out through this hole and down through the sewer line in
the same manner as in manhole bodies constructed on the job of
brick, concrete, or the like.
MODIFIED FORM OF THE INVENTION
A modified form of the invention, as shown in FIGS. 7 through 11,
is constructed of reinforced concrete and is adapted to seat on a
sewer line 41 in straddled relation in substantially the same
manner as the aforementioned form of the invention. However, the
body of the manhole generally designated by the numeral 42
converges upwardly and inwardly at a slight angle to a shoulder 44,
whereas the conical portion 46 converges inwardly more abruptly to
join with a cylindrical neck 48. Transversely notched openings 50
are provided in the lower side thereof and are substantially
semi-circular in shape so as to seat on sewer line 41 in close
fitting relation so a bottom of cementitious material, such as
concrete, as indicated at 52, may be poured into the bottom of the
manhole body 42 to fill the lower end thereof and cover the lower
portion of sever pipe 41, as will best be seen in FIGS. 7 and
9:
The cementitious material 52 flows outward and upward around the
lower end of the manhole body 42 so as to form a liquid tight seal
at the lower end thereof and the cementitious material covers the
sewer pipe 41 with a ridge of cementitious material 54 formed to
ensure tight sealing around the sewer pipe 41. The cylindrical body
of the manhole 42, which tapers upwardly and inwardly at a slight
degree, has reinforcing members 56 therein, as will best be seen in
FIGS. 1, 9 and 11, which enables these to be handled with a minimum
of breakage. These manhole bodies are tapered so as to nest, as
shown in FIG. 10, so a minimum of space is required for shipping or
storing.
Inlet openings into the sewer manhole body 42 may be readily cut in
face thereof to enable sewer inlet pipes 58 to be connected
therewith.
An adapter ring 60, which is annular in construction, has an
annular recess on each side thereof, one which recess fits on the
neck 48 of the manhole body and a sleeve 62 is adapted to fit
within the annular recess in the upper portion of the annular ring
60, which sleeve extends upward and interconnects with a flanged
ring 64 which is seated on the upper end of sleeve 62. In this
manner, the main sewer manhole body 42 may be seated on a sewer
line 41 at the desired depth and the sleeve 62 provided to enable
the flanged ring 64 to be seated on top thereof. A further flanged
ring 66 is fitted on flanged ring 64, which further flanged ring 66
is adapted to receive a manhole cover 68. The flanged rings 24 and
26 may be bolted together by bolts 70, if so desired, and the
entire structure made so as to be flush with the surface of a
pavement 32, or the like. After the manhole body is fitted in place
and the concrete or other cementitious material is set, a hole 74
may be broken in the upper portion of sewer pipe 41 within the
manhole body so as to admit sewage from inlet laterals 58 into
sewer 41. Further more, the hole 74 provides access for clean-out
tools to be run into the sewer line to maintain the sewer line in
open condition.
* * * * *