Patent ID: 9725289
Date: 2017-08-08
CPC Classifications: B66F

Claim:
1. A lifting apparatus for lifting a manhole cover comprising: a first frame section having a first end assembly that supports a hook adapted to engage a corresponding lifting block on a manhole cover; a second frame section having a second end assembly that supports a hook adapted to engage a corresponding lifting block on the manhole cover, at least one of the first and second end assemblies being movable with respect to the other of the first and second end assemblies to change a distance between the hooks of the first and second end assemblies; a frame connection section including an elongated member, and a pair of tubes each having an outer wall coupled to a corresponding end of the elongated member and inner walls defining a space for receiving portions of the first and second frame sections; and an actuator configured to move at least one of the first and second end assemblies to increase the distance between the hooks such that the hooks engage with the lifting blocks on the manhole cover, wherein the first frame section is coupled to the second frame section during a lifting operation, and the first and second frame sections are selectively detachable from one another when not in use, wherein the frame connection section is configured to couple the first frame section to the second frame section by slideably receiving a portion of at least one of the first and second frame sections, and fixing positions of each of the first and second frame sections with respect to the frame connection section, wherein the pair of tubes include apertures through the outer and inner walls of each of the pair of tubes, the apertures arranged to receive fasteners for insertion through corresponding apertures and walls of the received portions of the first and second frame sections, and wherein the hooks of the first and second end assemblies are adapted to engage the corresponding lifting blocks on the manhole cover by being inserted under at least a portion of the lifting blocks.