Manway lift assist

Claim 2

An improved balancing aid for a pivotally mounted cover for a manhole comprising: means for hinging the cover relative to the manhole so the cover may be rotated about the hinge to expose and cover the manhole; and a spring retaining means comprising a rod pivotally secured to the cover, said rod being at least partially encased by a housing, said housing containing a compression spring means which is compressed when the cover is closed; wherein the improvement comprises securing the spring retaining means by an attachment means which may be removed only after the spring means is first removed.

Claim 3

The balancing aid of claim 1 wherein the hinging means, housing, rod and attachment means comprise stainless steel.

Claim 4

An improved balancing aid for a pivotally mounted manhole cover for a manhole comprising: a support bracket below the cover rigidly secured relative to the opening; said support brackets comprising two essentially parallel arms outwardly extending from the opening; dual essentially parallel pivot arms secured to the cover and outwardly extending therefrom and pivotally mounted to the parallel arms of the support bracket; a cross head pivotally mounted between the pivot arms, said cross head being mounted to the pivot arms at a position above the mounting of the pivot arms to the support bracket; a pull rod secured to the cross head, the longitudinal axis of the pull rod being essentially perpendicular to the cross head; a spring retaining yoke secured to the support bracket said yoke having an opening therein which allows the pull rod to move forward through the yoke; at least one compression spring surrounding the pull rod and retained thereon by the yoke, and a retaining means at an end of the pull rod such that closing the cover causes forward movement of the pull rod toward the manhole opening and compressing the spring against the yoke; wherein the improvement comprising securing the yoke to the support bracket by shoulder bearing pins connecting communicating holes in the yoke and support bracket wherein the pins are inserted from an interior portion of the yoke so that they may not be removed without first removing the spring.

Claim 5

An improved balancing aid for a pivotally mounted manhole cover for a manhole comprising: a support bracket below the cover rigidly secured relative to the opening; said support brackets comprising two essentially parallel arms outwardly extending from the opening; dual essentially parallel pivot arms secured to the cover and outwardly extending therefrom and pivotally mounted to the parallel arms of the support bracket; a cross head pivotally mounted between the pivot arms, said cross head being mounted to the pivot arms at a position above the mounting of the pivot arms to the support bracket; a pull rod secured to the cross head, the longitudinal axis of the pull rod being essentially perpendicular to the cross head; a spring retaining yoke secured to the support bracket said yoke having an opening therein which allows the pull rod to move forward through the yoke; at least one compression spring surrounding the pull rod and retained thereon by the yoke, and a retaining means at an end of the pull rod such that closing the cover causes forward movement of the pull rod toward the manhole opening and compressing the spring against the yoke; wherein the improvement comprising securing the yoke to the support bracket by shoulder bearing pins connecting communicating holes in the yoke and support bracket wherein the pins are inserted from an interior portion of the yoke so that they may not be removed without first removing the spring.

Claim 6

The balancing aid of claim 3 wherein at least a portion of the pull rod and spring are enclosed by a cover.

Claim 7

The balancing aid of claim 4 wherein the cover, yoke, shoulder bearing pins, pull rod, cross head, support bracket and pivot arms comprise stainless steel.