An Improvement in the Ventilation of Sewer Entrance Covers, and. other Covers for Drainage or other Works.
Year: 1895

page_text: An Improvement in the Ventilation of Sewer Entrance Covers, and.
other Covers for Drainage or other Works.
I, WILLIAM HOWARD MORGAN, Civil Engineer of Shiere, near Guildford,
Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in the method of using manhole covers,
lamphole covers, side entrance covers, and other covers, as ventilating, or non-
ventilating covers.
The object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the cover can be
utilized as a ventilator to allow accumulated sewer gas egress, or as a non-ventilator,
should such escape of gas from any cause be objectionable I effect this in the
following manner, and in order that the invention may be fully understood, I do
now describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings of which
Figs. 1 & 2. are views of one form of my improved construction in the matter of
ventilation of sewer entrance covers.
Fig. 1. shows a section through cover and dirt box.
The cover is of ordinary construction made of cast iron and with or without wood
blocks with a grating in the middle, the only difference from other covers is that
on the underside of the cover on the outer edge there is an annular projection
which fits into a corresponding annular recess in the frame which recess can be
filled with sand and therefore when cover is pressed into it it becomes a thoroughly
gas tight joint, B is a galvanized wrought iron circular box having an angle iron
ring rivetted on the top edge whereby the box can be supported upon the flange of
the frame of the manhole cover. E E. are two thumb catches rivetted on sides
of box to enable it to be easily lifted in and out.
The bottom of the box has a central hole cut out of it just large enough to allow
the inner dirt box C. to pass through it, the inner dirt box C is constructed of a
flat plate for the bottom, of a diameter larger than the diameter of the hole in the
bottom of the box B. and to this flat plate is fastened the round body C. by four
angle brackets H. H. H. but at a slight distance from the plate so as to allow a
of an inch clearance between the body and the bottom.
The body has likewise holes cut in the sides for the escape of mud slurry or
water when the lower outlet between body and bottom has been choked up-the
upper edge of dirt box C would preferably be wired as shewn, and have a round
bar F fixed near to the top to act as a handle.
The whole box is supported on four legs D. D. D. which rest on the bottom of
the box B.

page_text: handle F. the whole box C. can be pulled right out and turning it upside down
and taking hold of it by the legs D. D. lower it down again letting the body pass
through the hole in the bottom of box B. until the flat plate rests on the bottom B.
as shewn in Fig. II. The cover then becomes hermetically sealed against all sewer
gases and if very extra precautions are wished a sprinkling of dirt on the bottom
will effectually seal any small leaks between the two plates, but this event will in
the ordinary course of affairs happen quite soon enough without doing anything to
aid it, by reason of the mud and dirt that will fall through the grating of the cover
and quickly accumulate.
This form of ventilator
pressure from within.
impervious to any smoke test and will even resist
3RD. WHEN COVER ACTING AS A NON-VENTILATOR IS REQUIRED TO BE
CHANGED INTO A VENTILATOR.
In the same manner as before cover A must be removed and then insert a finger
in each hook E. E. and lift the whole apparatus bodily out, no doubt it will be
found half full of mud and dirt, in which case turn the box B upside down empty
out the mud and with it will come the box C. which can then likewise be cleaned,
meanwhile B. can be replaced, and then C is in its upright position as in Fig. 1.
when the cover will then act again as a ventilator.
The accompanying drawings and above description are merely intended as being
descriptive of the method I intend to employ, but at the same time I may vary the
form, shape size and material of the said apparatus as it seems necessary and
advisable, keeping only the general principle of same.
Dated this 5th day of December 1895.
WILLIAM HOWARD MORGAN.
An Improvement in the Ventilation of Sewer Entrance Covers, and
other Covers for Drainage or other Works.
I, WILLIAM HOWARD MORGAN, Civil Engineer of Shiere near Guildford
Surrey, 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 :---
My invention relates to an improvement in the method of using manhole covers,
lamphole covers, side entrance covers, and other covers, as ventilating, or non-
ventilating covers.
The object of my invention is to provide a means whereby the cover can be
utilized as a ventilator to allow accumulated sewer gas egress, or as a non-ventilator
should such escape of gas from any cause be objectionable I effect this in the
following manner, and in order that the invention may be thoroughly understood,
I do now describe the same with reference to the drawings left with Provisional
Specification, of which Figs. 1. & 2. are views of one form of my improved
construction in the matter of ventilation of sewer entrance covers.
Fig. 1 shows a section through cover and dirt box.
The cover is of ordinary construction made of cast iron and with or without wood
blocks with a grating in the middle, the only difference from other covers is that
on the underside of the cover on the outer edge there is an annular projection
which fits into a corresponding annular recess in the frame which recess can be
filled with sand and therefore when the cover is pressed into it, it becomes a
thoroughly gas tight joint, B is a galvanized wrought iron circular box having an

page_text: angle iron ring rivetted on the top edge whereby the box can be supported upon
the flange of the frame of the manhole cover. E. E. are two thumb catches
rivetted on the sides of the box to enable it to be easily lifted out.
The bottom of the box has a central hole cut out of it just large enough to allow
the inner dirt box C. to pass through it, the inner dirt box C. is constructed of a
flat plate for the bottom, of a diameter larger than the diameter of the hole in the
bottom of the box B. and to this flat plate is fastened the round body C. by four
angle iron brackets H. H. H. but at slight distance from the plate so as to allow
an inch or thereabouts clearance between the body and the bottom.
The body has likewise holes cut in the sides for the escape of mud slurry or
water when the lower outlet between body and bottom has been choked up.
upper edge of the dirt box C. would preferably be wired as shewn, and have a
round bar F. fixed near the top to act as a handle.
The whole box is supported on four legs D. D. D. which rest on the bottom of
D
water when the lower outlet between body and bottom has been choked up.
upper edge of the dirt box C. would preferably be wired as shewn, and have a
round bar F. fixed near the top to act as a handle.
The whole box is supported on four legs D. D. D. which rest on the bottom of
• box D.
Having now described the construction the action will be as follows:-
-
1ST. WHEN COVER IS TO ACT AS A VENTILATING COVER.
Then the dirt box C. will be in the position shewn in Fig. 1 and the gases will
be able to pass up through the bottom of the box B., round the sides of the box C.,
and then outwards through the grating A. to the air.
2ND. WHEN THE COVER IS TO ACT AS A NON-VENTILATOR.
To accomplish this the cover A must be removed and taking hold of the
handle F. the whole box C. can he pulled right out and turning it upside down
and taking hold of it by the legs D. D. D. lower it down again letting the body
pass through the hole in the bottom of the box B. until the flat plate rests on the
bottom B. as shewn in Fig. 2.
The cover then becomes hermetically sealed against all sewer gases and if very
extra precautions are wished a sprinkling of dirt on the bottom will effectually seal
any small leaks between the two plates, but this event will in the ordinary course
of affairs happen quite soon enough without doing anything to aid it, by reason of
the mud and dirt that will fall through the grating of the cover and quickly
accumulate.
This form of ventilator is impervious to any smoke test and will even resist
pressure from within.
3RD. WHEN COVER ACTING AS A NON-VENTILATOR IS REQUIRED TO BE
CHANGED INTO A VENTILATOR.
In the same manner as before cover A. must be removed and then insert a finger
into each hook E. E. and lift the whole apparatus bodily out, no doubt it will be
found half full of mud and dirt, in which case turn the box B. upside down, empty
out the mud and with it will come the box C. which can likewise be cleaned,
meanwhile B. can be replaced, and then C. in its upright position as in Fig. 1.
when the cover will again act as a ventilator.
The drawings and description are merely intended as being descriptive of the
method I intend to employ, but at the same time I may vary the form, size, shape,
& material of the apparatus as seems necessary, keeping only the general principle
the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. Constructing sewer entrance and other covers used in connection with

page_text: drainage work with an outer and inner dirt box the inner one supported on the
outer one and the outer one supported on the frame of the cover, so that when the
inner cover is placed in its upright position ventilation may take place through
the intervening space between the two boxes, and the grating in the cover, but
which by changing the position of the inner box, by inverting it within the outer
box, prevents ventilation substantially as set forth.
Second. That in whichever capacity the sewer entrance or other cover may be
acting either as ventilator or non-ventilator, there is always a dirt box or
receptacle beneath the grating of the cover to catch all foreign matter and prevent
it passing into the sewer.
Third. That by constructing the sewer entrance or other cover with an annular
(or other shape) excrescence and a corresponding depression in the frame and
filling same with sand oil or other suitable substance, and using the same in
.conjunction with the dirt boxes as set forth an absolutely hermetically sealed joint
.can be obtained that will even resist pressure from within.
Dated this 16th day of May 1896.
W. H. MORGAN.