Improvements in and relating to Plates or Covers, and to the Yokes or Bridges for Man and other Holes in Steam Boilers, Tanks, and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
COMT DDID
Improvements in and relating to Plates or Covers, and to the Yokes
or Bridges for Man and other Holes in Steam Boilers, Tanks,
and the like.
I, JAMES PETER ROE, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at
721 King Street, in the City of Pottstown, County of Montgomery, State of
Pennsylvania, one of the United States of America, Mechanical Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates, generally, to plates or covers and to the yokes or bridges
for the man-holes, hand-holes, and sludge-holes of steam boilers, tanks and the like,
and, particularly, to wrought iron or steel plates or covers and yokes or bridges
for such holes, said plates and bridges being made of a single piece of such metal
pressed or stamped the desired shape and said plates being formed with means for
securing the retaining bolts thereto without penetration of the metal of the plate
or cover, and it has for its object to provide such a plate or cover and yoke or
bridge at the least possible cost of manufacture, to reduce their weight without
reducing their strength, and otherwise to produce such a plate or cover and yoke
or bridge of simple construction, and great durability, and which will do away with
all possibility of leakage at the points where the bolts are secured to the plate or
cover, and which will produce a much lighter yoke or bridge and it consists of the
parts and combination of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in
the claims.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this Specification,
Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of my improved plate;
Fig. 2 a vertical section on the line to-, Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 a plan view of a modified form of plate;
Fig. 4 a vertical section on the line -, Fig. 3;
Fig. 5 a plan view of another form of plate adapted for one or more bolts ;
Fig. 6 a vertical section on the line y-y, Fig. 5;
Fig. 7 a plan view of another form of plate adapted for two bolts;
Fig. 8 a vertical section on the line, Fig. 7;
Fig. 9 a modified form of securing the bolt to the plate;
Fig. 10 a sectional view of a cover showing a modified form of recess;
Fig. 11 is a side elevation of one form of my improved yoke or bridge;
Fig. 12, a vertical section on the line -, Fig. 11;
Fig. 13 a side elevation of another form of yoke or bridge;
Fig. 14 a vertical section on the line y-y, Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 a side elevation of still another form of yoke or bridge;
Fig. 16 a vertical section on the line -, Fig. 15;
Fig. 17 a vertical section through a man-hole cover or plate showing my improved
yoke or bridge, in cross section in position on a steam boiler, tank, or other
vessel; and
Fig. 18 a vertical section of a man-hole cover or plate showing my improved
yoke or bridge in longitudinal section in position on a steam boiler, tank or other
vessel.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout all the views.
As is well known the covers or plates for man-holes, hand-holes, sludge-holes
and the like for steam boilers, tanks, and other purposes, have usually been made

page_text: of cast iron or cast steel having perforations formed therein either when cast, or
afterward, by drilling. to receive the bolt or bolts by which they are secured in
position thus weakening the plates and rendering them liable to leak about the
bolt holes. To obviate the annoyance occasioned by the leakage in such plates or
covers cast iron plates have been cast solid and with recessed lugs projecting
therefrom to receive the hends of the bolts therein, which lugs add to the weight
and consequent cost without increasing the strength of the plate and as the entire
strain of supporting the plates, which are made very heavy in order to stand the
pressure to which they are subjected when in use, falls on the lugs there is a liability
of their breaking at most inopportune times.
Also yokes or bridges for man-hole covers or plates have been made of a solid
casting of iron or steel thickened at the point where the bolt passes through them
to form a hub. Such yokes or bridges if made of cast iron are made very heavy
in order to give them the strength necessary to enable them to withstand the
powerful pressure to which they are subjected thereby rendering them difficult
to handle and costly of manufacture and, if made of steel, cast solid, what is
gained in lightness of weight over cast iron is offset by the greater cost of the
material.
In order to obviate these objectionable features in plates or covers and yokes or
bridges for the purposes named form them of wrought iron or steel, pressing or
stamping them into the desired shape and with menus for securing the bolt or bolts
firmly, but removably, in place without adding materially to the weight of the
plates or covers, and without weakening the same by perforations, thereby materially
reducing the cost of manufacturing the plates and yokes and increasing their
durability, and lessening the labor involved in fitting them in position and in
removing them therefrom.
Referring to the drawings A represents a plate or cover for man-holes, hand-
holes and the like purposes, which is, as is usual, of an oblong or elliptical shape
having a peripheral flange a formed thereon whereby it may be seated on the shell
of the boiler or tank at the man-hole therein with any suitable packing interposed
as is customary. The plate or cover is made of a single piece of wrought iron or
steel pressed or stamped into shape and in all the views is represented with the
flange a, which may extend horizontally, as shown, or may incline or conform to
the shape of the boiler shell or the tank or other vessel on which it may be used,
the construction of the plates or covers in the different figs. of the drawings
varying only as to the shape or form given the central or body portion thereof as
will be described.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a recess is stamped or pressed
in the center and in line with the conjugate axis of the plate, snid recess forming
a groove the ends of which are widened or flared, as at r, and the remaining or
central portion of which is of dove-tail form in cross section. as at d, Fig. 2. As
shown in Fig. 1 the plate is formed with a depression or cavity e, at each side of
the recess, of somewhat dished shape the adjacent edges of which form the edges
of the mouth of the recess b. At the ends of the recess the bottom thereof
inclines to the surface of the plate or cover and at the center of the recess a rounded
projection is formed or struck up in the bottom for the purpose to be described.
With this form of plate but one bolt 13 is used. In Figs. 3 and 41 show a plate
having an elliptical shaped depression, extending around the central portion of
the plate and a circular recess formed central therein, the mouth of said recess
being formed by the inner edges of depression, e, and of less diameter than its
bottom portion, which as clearly shown in Fig. 4, flares outwardly at all sides. To
this form of recess the projection is not required.
While have shown but one bolt in the plates illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 just
described, it is evident two or more recesses may be formed therein if desired to
receive two or more bolts in which event a corresponding number of depressions e
may be formed in the plate one for each recess of the shape shown but of less

page_text: diameter, but it will be understood that the recess or recesses may be formed in the
plate without the depressions which, while convenient, are not absolutely necessary
to the result I attain.
In Figs. 5 and 6 is shown a plate formed to receive two or more bolts, the
recess in this instance being substantially of the same shape as that in Figs. 1
and 2 but of a greater length and is arranged on the transverse axis of the plate
and with two or more projections formed on its bottom according to the number
of bolts to be used, instead of one as in said figs. The plate, in this instance, is
formed with but one depression e which is elongated, but two such depressions may
be made in the plate or it may be formed, as shown to the right hand in said
Figs. 5 and 6, without depressions.
In Figs. 7 and 8 are shown, two forms of plates adapted to receive two bolts, in
which figs. two recesses are shown as stamped or pressed in the plate parallel to
its conjugate axis, the space intervening between said recesses being either dished
or depressed as shown to the left hand in said figs. or left undisturbed and in the
same plane as the upper surface of the plate as shown to the right hand in said figs.,
as found most convenient or as desired.
All the different forms and arrangements of the recesses described have the same
object in view, namely, to provide a simple and secure means for attaching the
bolts B to the plates or covers without forming perforations in said plates, and this
is accomplished in the form of recesses shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, and 8, by
forming the bolt 13 with a tapered head, which may be four sided, adapted to
tightly or smugly fit within the recess, said head being inserted from either end of
the recess and forcibly driven under the edges thereof, the elasticity of the metal
The heads
of the plate permitting this to be done without fear of damage thereto.
of the bolts for the recesses in the plates shown in the figs. named are formed with
a.concavity m adapted to fit over the projections in the bottoms of the recesses
when driven into said recesses and thus prevent lateral movement of the bolt.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the recess is formed to receive a round headed bolt into which
said bolt is forcibly driven, the metal yielding as in the other forms to permit of
the entrance of the head of the bolt and springing back over the same after it has
been driven fully into the recess. As the bolt is supported at all sides by the walls
of the recess in this form of construction the projection used in the other forms
described for the purpose of preventing lateral movement is not necessary.
In Fig. 91 show in detail a method of securing a bolt having a tapering or
conical head in a recess of a similar form but large enough to permit of the
ready insertion of the bolt head without the use of force, said head being secured
firmly in place by Babbit or other metal filling the recess surrounding the head.
In Fig. 101 show a modified form of making the bottom of the recess so as to
obviate the use of the projection in the recesses and the concavity in the head of
the bolts shown in Figs. 1, 2, 5, 6, 7 and 8, in which view a depressions is shown
formed in the bottom of the recess to receive the head of the bolt and prevent its
lateral movement.
Referring to the drawings, C, represents my improved yoke or bridge which, in
all the views, is represented in the usual arched shape in outline, the difference
between the several yokes or bridges shown being best illustrated in the sectional
views.
Referring now to Figs. 11 and 12 it will be seen that the yoke or bridge is
formed by pressing, stamping or rolling with the depending side-langes D thus
making it substantially of an inverted U-shaped in cross section, and with a flat
seat E, for the nut F which holds the bolt in position, to bear on, a perforation or
opening being formed in the yoke or bridge through which the bolt extends. The
side flanges D extend from end to end of the yoke or bridge and decrease in depth
gradually from the center toward each end of the yoke or bridge, thus providing
the greatest depth of flange at the point where the greatest strain is exerted on the
yoke or bridge.

page_text: In Figs. 13 and 141 show a yoke or bridge which is also of an inverted
U-shape in cross-section, whose depending side flanges D are bent at right angles,
outwardly, to form the lateral flanges H. thus providing an increased bearing
surface for the ends of the yoke or bridge. The bridge or yoke shown in these
figs. is also perforated at its crown for the bolt, and may or may not be formed
with a seat for the nut.
In Figs. 15 and 16 I show the yoke or bridge U-shaped in cross section, forming
a channel by turning the side flanges D upwardly instead of down, in the bottom of
which the perforation is formed for the bolt. Immediately above the perforation I
commect the edges of the two side flanges by the bar Khaving a perforation therein
which corresponds to and registers with or is in line with the perforation formed in
the channel bottom. The bar K is secured to the yoke or bridge by forming
grooves to correspond with the curvature of the yoke or bridge therein into which
the edges of the side flanges extend.
In Figs. 17 and 18 1 show the form of yoke or bridge illustrated in Figs. 11
and 12 applied to a man-hole cover or plate A in position on a boiler or tank L
from which the arrangement of the parts when in use may be readily understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A plate or cover, A, for the man-holes, hand-holes, or sludge-holes of steam
boilers, tanks and for other purposes, consisting of a wrought iron or steel sheet or
plate pressed or stamped to shape and formed with a recess in its onter face
adapted to receive and hold a bolt rigidly in a plane at right angle to said plate or
cover, substantially as described.
2. In a plate or cover, A, for the man-holes, hand-holes, and sludge-holes of
steam boilers, tanks and the like. formed of wrought iron or steel pressed or
stamped the desired shape and having a dove-tailed recess, &, stamped or pressed
therein and a bolt having a tapering head p adapted to fit within said recess,
substantially as described.
3. In a plate or cover, A, for the man-holes, hand-holes, and sludge-holes of
steam boilers, tanks and the like, formed of wrought iron or steel pressed or
stamped into shape and having a recess stamped or pressed therein, a bolt having
a bead adapted to fit within said recess, and means for preventing lateral movement
of said bolt in snid recess, substantially as described.
4. In a plate or cover, A, for the man-holes, hand-holes, and sludge-holes of
steam boilers, tanks, and the like, formed of wrought iron or steel pressed or
stamped the desired shape, having a recess stamped or pressed therein, and
formed with a projection in its bottom, and a bolt having a head adapted to fit
within said recess and formed with a concavity in to fit over said projection,
substantially as described.
5. In a plate or cover, A, for the man-holes, hand-holes and sludge-holes, of
steam boilers, tanks and other similar vessels or receptacle, of wrought iron or
steel pressed or stamped in the desired shape and having a recess & stamped or
pressed in said plate, a bolt having a head adapted to enter said recess, and means
for securing said bolt rigidly in said recess in a plane at right angles to the plate,
substantially as described.
6. A yoke or bridge C for man-holes, hand-holes, shalge-holes and the like,
consisting of wrought iron or steel sheet or plate stamped, pressed or rolled the
desired shape with side flanges. D, substantially as described.
7. A yoke or bridge for man-holes, band-holes, sludge-holes and the like,
consisting of a wrought iron or steel sheet or plate, stamped, pressed, or rolled the
desired shape and with side flanges D and with Interal flanges, H, substantially as
described.
8. A yoke or bridge C for man-holes, hand-holes, sludge-holes and the like,

page_text: consisting of a wrought iron or steel sheet or plate, stamped, pressed, or rolled into
a channel form and having a bar K connecting the edges of said channel, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this 19th day of June 1894.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.