Manhole adjustment ring removal assembly and method

A manhole adjustment ring removal assembly includes a frame. A pair of legs is pivotally coupled to the frame. Each of the legs has an upper end and a lower end and each end has one of a pair of the plates attached thereto. The plates each have an outer edge extending outwardly away from a corresponding one of the legs. The outer edges taper to point and are extendable between an adjustment ring and a cone base. A drive assembly is mounted on the frame and is mechanically coupled to the legs. The drive assembly is actuated in a first direction moving the lower ends away from each other and in a second direction moving the lower ends toward each other. A lift ring is attached to the frame to be engaged with a cable to lift the frame when the plates are positioned under the adjustment ring.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

Devices to assist a person in removing an adjustment ring from a manhole aperture.

The prior art relates to devices used to dislodge objects from each other.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a frame. A pair of legs is pivotally coupled to and extends downwardly from the frame. Each of the legs has an upper end and a lower end and each end has one of a pair of the plates attached thereto. The plates each have an outer edge extending outwardly away from a corresponding one of the legs. The outer edges taper to point and are extendable between an adjustment ring and a cone base. A drive assembly is mounted on the frame and is mechanically coupled to the legs. The drive assembly is actuated in a first direction moving the lower ends away from each other and in a second direction moving the lower ends toward each other. A lift ring is attached to the frame to be engaged with a cable to lift the frame when the plates are positioned under the adjustment ring.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference now to the drawings, and in particular toFIGS. 1 through 6thereof, a new manhole adjustment ring removal device embodying the principles and concepts of an embodiment of the disclosure and generally designated by the reference numeral10will be described.

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 6, the manhole adjustment ring removal assembly and method10generally comprises a frame12, or housing, comprising a perimeter wall14. The perimeter wall may have a rectangular shape and include a first end member16, a second end member18, a first lateral member20and a second lateral member22. The frame12will have a length and width each typically between 1.5 feet and 3.0 feet.

A pair of legs24is pivotally coupled to and extends downwardly from the frame12. One of the legs24is positioned adjacent to the first end member16and while the other one of legs24is positioned adjacent to the second end member18. Each of the legs24has an upper end26and a lower end28. More specifically each of the legs24may include a pair of posts30that are vertically orientated and are laterally spaced from each other. The posts30each have a proximal end32and a distal end34relative to the frame12. The posts30are pivotally coupled to the frame12as can be seen inFIG. 3. It should be understood that instead of a pair of posts30, the legs24may each comprise one continuous panel or wall extending downwardly from the frame12. A lower member36is attached to and extends between the posts30. The lower member36is positioned adjacent to the distal ends34and facilitates rigidity between the attached ones of the posts30.

A pair of plates38is provided. Each of the lower ends28of the legs24has one of the plates38attached thereto. The plates38each has an outer edge40extending outwardly away from a corresponding one of the legs24. That is, the plates38extend in opposite directions with respect to each other as opposed with extending toward each other. The outer edges40taper to point or bladed edge. The outer edges40are configured to be extended between an adjustment ring42of a manhole cover holder and a cone base44on which the adjustment ring42is positioned. Each of the outer edges40includes a pair of outer sections46and an inner positioned48between the outer sections46. The outer sections46extend farther outwardly from an associated leg24than a corresponding one of the inner sections48. This shape ensures that the inner section48does not first engage the adjustment ring42as the adjustment ring42has a tubular shape. The outer sections46first engage the adjustment ring42and the inner section48will thereafter engage the adjustment ring42. As can be seen inFIG. 1, each of the posts30is aligned with one of the outer sections46.

A drive assembly50is mounted on the frame12and is mechanically coupled to the legs24. The drive assembly50is actuated in a first direction moving the lower ends28away from each other and is actuated in a second direction moving the lower ends28toward each other. The drive assembly50may include a cylinder52that is mounted on the frame12. As is shown inFIG. 3, a support54is mounted on the frame12from which the cylinder52extends. A piston56is mounted in the cylinder52and is pneumatically or hydraulically moved between an extended position and a retracted position. Air or fluid lines58are therefore fluidly coupled to the cylinder52. Generally, the piston56moves downwardly from the frame12when it is being extended. A linkage60is attached to each of the legs24and to the piston56. The linkage60moves the legs24away from each other when the piston56extends from the cylinder52. More particularly, the linkage60may include a pair of arms62each having a first end64and a second end66. The first ends64are pivotally coupled together and to the piston56. Each of the legs24has one of the arms62attached thereto and, more particularly, the second ends66are attached to the lower member36of each of the legs24.

A lift ring68is attached to the frame12. The lift ring68is configured to be engaged with a cable70to lift the frame12when the plates38are positioned under the adjustment ring42. The lift ring68may be attached to and extend upwardly from the support54. The support54may include a horizontal member72attached to the perimeter wall14such that it traverses an area bound by the perimeter wall14. A vertical member74attached to the horizontal member72is coupled to the cylinder52while buttresses76extend from the vertical member74to the perimeter wall14.

In use, the fame12is moved downwardly through a manhole cover support until the plates38are positioned horizontally level with a juncture of an adjustment ring42and the cone base44. The drive assembly50is actuated to bias the plates38outwardly such that they pry between the adjustment ring42and the cone base44to dislodge the adjustment ring42from the cone base44. At this point, the adjustment ring42is resting on top of the plates38. A cable70, attached to the lift ring68, is then retracted to lift the frame12and engaged adjustment ring42upwardly away from the cone base44.