Manhole cover support resistant to water infiltration

Claim 2

A manhole cover support adapted for accommodating a layer of paving around its outer perimeter and a manhole cover therewithin while raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure, the existing receiving structure having a manhole cover sill and an inside shoulder surface ascending therefrom, the manhole cover support comprising: a body that has at least one adjustable joint equipped with spreader means for rendering the cover support adjustable in its outer perimeter dimension, the spreader means being capable of creating a gap in the base upon expansion of the body; a plurality of deformable seal elements comprising synthetic or natural resin-containing material; and compressible plug means for each said adjustable joint, the plug means comprising synthetic and/or natural resin-containing material, the body including a base having a ledge for supporting the manhole cover, the ledge having a lateral cover keeper arising therefrom, the base having an outer wall, at least part of which is adapted to react around its periphery against said shoulder surface upon expansion of the body with the spreader means, one of the seal elements being disposed on the ledge and at least one other of the seal elements being disposed substantially around the outer perimeter of the body including at least the outer wall of the base thereof, the seal element around the outer wall of said base being sufficiently thick for obtaining continuity of contact between said outer wall and said shoulder surface, the continuity being interrupted only by the gaps in the base, the minimum thickness of the seal element around the outer wall of the base being between 8 and 9 mils, the maximum about 600 mils, the coefficient of static friction of the seal element around said outer wall with respect to said shoulder surface substantially exceeding the coefficient of static friction obtainable directly between said outer wall and said shoulder surface, the plug means being adapted to interact with the seal elements at the gaps to block substantial infiltration of surface water into the manhole.

Claim 3

The cover support of claim 1 which has elevating means to adjust it in height.

Claim 4

The cover support of claim 1 wherein the body is in the form of a split ring with a joint that can be spread apart and drawn together.

Claim 5

The cover support of claim 1 wherein the body is in the form of a plurality of joined segments that can be spread apart and drawn together.

Claim 6

The cover support of claim 1 wherein the body and the receiving structure are substantially of ferrous metal, and the thickness of the seal element around the outer wall of the base is at least about 20 mils.

Claim 7

The cover support of claim 1 wherein said seal elements comprise a polymer having Shore A hardness of at least about 20.

Claim 8

The cover support of claim 1 wherein said seal elements comprise a foamed elastomer.

Claim 9

The cover support of claim 1 wherein said seal elements comprise a cured plastisol.

Claim 10

The cover support of claim 1 wherein said seal elements comprise polyurethane.

Claim 11

The cover support of claim 1 wherein said seal elements comprise epoxy resin.

Claim 12

The cover support of claim 1 wherein at least a part of one of said seal elements is bonded to the body.

Claim 13

The cover support of claim 1 wherein at least one of said seal elements is in the form of a band or an O-ring that is not bonded to the body.

Claim 14

The cover support of claim 1 wherein each joint is provided with a sealing fitment as the deformable plug means.

Claim 15

The cover support of claim 1 wherein the exposed part of the body is mainly a flexible polymer, and it is stressed by an expansible metal body frame.

Claim 16

The cover support of claim 14 wherein the exposed part of the body is a filled elastomer, and it is built with reinforcing plies of cloth, wire and/or cords.

Claim 17

The cover support of claim 14 wherein an exposed part of the body perimeter has a coefficient of static friction to steel of at least about 0.4 and acts as an integral retention component against the shoulder of the existing manhole cover receiving structure.

Claim 18

The cover support of claim 14 wherein the exposed part of the body perimeter reacting against the shoulder of the existing manhole cover receiving structure is overlaid with a flexible retention component and seal element that is bonded to body, said component and seal element having a coefficient of static friction to steel of at least about 0.4.

Claim 19

The cover support of claim 14 wherein the exposed part of the body perimeter reacting against the shoulder of the existing manhole cover receiving structure is overlaid with a flexible retention component and seal element that is not bonded to the body, said component and seal element having a coefficient of static friction to steel of at least about 0.4.

Claim 20

The cover support of claim 1 wherein a seal element disposed around the outer perimeter of the body is a gas-filled tube.

Claim 21

The cover support of claim 16 wherein an exposed part of the body surface acts as the ledge for support of the cover as well as an integral seal element for the cover placed thereover.

Claim 22

A manhole cover support adapted for accommodating a layer of paving around its outer perimeter and a manhole cover therewithin while raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure, the existing receiving structure having a manhole cover sill and an inside shoulder surface ascending therefrom, the manhole cover support comprising: a body that has at least one adjustable joint equipped with a spreader for rendering the cover support adjustable in its outer perimeter dimension and a base with a ledge for supporting the manhole cover, the body consisting essentially of an expansible metal frame with polymeric material over it, the spreader being capable of creating a gap in the base upon expansion of the body, the ledge having a lateral cover keeper arising therefrom, the base having an outer wall, at least part of which is adapted to react around the outer perimeter of the base against said shoulder surface upon expansion of the body as a result of spreader operation; a plurality of deformable seal elements integral with the polymeric material of the body, said seal elements comprising elastomer and having Shore A hardness of 20-70, one of the seal elements being disposed on the ledge and at least one other of said seal elements being disposed around the outer perimeter of the body including at least the outer wall of the base thereof, the seal element around the outer wall of said base being sufficiently thick for obtaining continuity of contact between said outer wall and said shoulder surface, the continuity being interrupted only by the gaps in the base, the minimum thickness of the seal element around the outer wall of the base being about 20 mils, the maximum about 600 mils, the coefficient of static friction of the seal element around said outer wall with respect to said shoulder surface substantially exceeding the coefficient of static friction obtainable directly between said outer wall and said shoulder surface; a compressible plug for each said adjustable joint, the plugs comprising synthetic or natural resin-containing material and being interactable with the seal elements at the gaps to block the substantial infiltration of surface water into the manhole.

Claim 23

A manhole cover support adapted for accommodating a layer of paving around its outer perimeter and a manhole cover therewithin while raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure, the existing receiving structure having a manhole cover sill and an inside shoulder surface ascending therefrom, the manhole cover support comprising: a body that has at least one adjustable joint equipped with a spreader for rendering the cover support adjustable in its outer perimeter dimension and a base with a ledge for supporting the manhole cover, the body consisting essentially of an expansible metal frame with polymeric material over it, the spreader being capable of creating a gap in the base upon expansion of the body, the ledge having a lateral cover keeper arising therefrom, the base having an outer wall, at least part of which is adapted to react around the outer perimeter of the base against said shoulder surface upon expansion of the body as a result of spreader operation; a plurality of deformable seal elements integral with the polymeric material of the body, said seal elements comprising elastomer and having Shore A hardness of 20-70, one of the seal elements being disposed on the ledge and at least one other of said seal elements being disposed around the outer perimeter of the body including at least the outer wall of the base thereof, the seal element around the outer wall of said base being sufficiently thick for obtaining continuity of contact between said outer wall and said shoulder surface, the continuity being interrupted only by the gaps in the base, the minimum thickness of the seal element around the outer wall of the base being about 20 mils, the maximum about 600 mils, the coefficient of static friction of the seal element around said outer wall with respect to said shoulder surface substantially exceeding the coefficient of static friction obtainable directly between said outer wall and said shoulder surface; a compressible plug for each said adjustable joint, the plugs comprising synthetic or natural resin-containing material and being interactable with the seal elements at the gaps to block the substantial infiltration of surface water into the manhole.

Claim 24

A manhole cover support adapted for accommodating a layer of paving around its outer perimeter and a manhole cover therewithin while raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure, the existing receiving structure having a manhole cover sill and an inside shoulder surface ascending therefrom, the manhole cover support comprising: a body that consists essentially of ferrous metal, has at least one adjustable joint equipped with a spreader for rendering the cover support adjustable in its outer perimeter dimension and has a base with a ledge for supporting the manhole cover, the ledge having a lateral cover keeper arising therefrom, each spreader being capable of creating a gap in the base upon expansion of the body; a plurality of deformable seal elements bonded to the body, said seal elements comprising elastomer and having a Shore A hardness of 20-70, one of the seal elements being disposed on the ledge and at least one other of the seal elements being disposed substantially around the outer perimeter of the body including at least the outer wall of the base thereof, the seal element around the outer wall of said base being sufficiently thick for obtaining continuity of contact between said outer wall and said shoulder surface, the continuity being interrupted only by the gaps in the base, the thickness of the seal element around the outer wall of the base being about 60-400 mils; the coefficient of static friction of the seal element around said outer wall with respect to said shoulder surface substantially exceeding the coefficient of static friction obtainable directly between said outer wall and said shoulder surface; and a plug comprising a sealant for each said adjustable joint, the plugs being interactable with the seal elements to block the substantial infiltration of surface water into the manhole.

Claim 25

A manhole cover support adapted for accommodating a layer of paving around its outer perimeter and a manhole cover therewithin while raising the effective grade of an existing manhole cover receiving structure, the existing receiving structure having a manhole cover sill and an inside shoulder surface ascending therefrom, the manhole cover support comprising: a body that consists essentially of ferrous metal, has at least one adjustable joint equipped with a spreader for rendering the cover support adjustable in its outer perimeter dimension and has a base with a ledge for supporting the manhole cover, the ledge having a lateral cover keeper arising therefrom, each spreader being capable of creating a gap in the base upon expansion of the body; a plurality of deformable seal elements bonded to the body, said seal elements comprising elastomer and having a Shore A hardness of 20-70, one of the seal elements being disposed on the ledge and at least one other of the seal elements being disposed substantially around the outer perimeter of the body including at least the outer wall of the base thereof, the seal element around the outer wall of said base being sufficiently thick for obtaining continuity of contact between said outer wall and said shoulder surface, the continuity being interrupted only by the gaps in the base, the thickness of the seal element around the outer wall of the base being about 60-400 mils; the coefficient of static friction of the seal element around said outer wall with respect to said shoulder surface substantially exceeding the coefficient of static friction obtainable directly between said outer wall and said shoulder surface; and a plug comprising a sealant for each said adjustable joint, the plugs being interactable with the seal elements to block the substantial infiltration of surface water into the manhole.