Improvements in Closing Manholes and like Openings in Tanks and other Vessels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1898-Accepted. 26th Nov. 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Closing Manholes and like Openings in Tanks and
other Vessels.
I, ALFRED HEWENS, of High Road, Hayes, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
This invention relates to improvements in closing manholes and other open-
ings in tanks, ships' tanks, cylinders and similar vessels, the object of the
invention being to provide ready and simple means for opening and closing the
manholes or other openings and for providing tight joints between the covers
and the said openings.
According to the invention I form the cover with a projecting flange or rim
designed when the cover is in position to rest upon the edges of the opening to
be closed, and I provide the said cover with a number of holes preferably formed
in lugs upon the said flange or rim, the said holes being adapted to receive the
projecting ends of studs secured to the tank or other vessel. The man or other
holes in the vessels or tanks may advantageously be strengthened by an iron
ring rivetted on to the underside of the plate in which case the said studs are
secured to this ring. Suitable means such as nuts or split keys can be employed
in connection with the studs for tightly securing the projecting flange or rim
of the cover against the edges of the manhole or other opening. The said pro-
jecting rim or flange is preferably channelled or grooved on its underside so as
to receive suitable rubber or other packing.
In some cases I recess or dish the tank or other vessel around the manhole
or other opening to be closed, the dished portion being of sufficient size to
receive the cover. In this case I may also, where necessary, provide a band of
iron around the underside of the dished portion for strengthening purposes.
With this construction no portion of the cover projects beyond the surface or
face of the tank or other vessel.
Covers made and applied as above described can be used on flat, convex or
concave surfaces.
Dated this 1141 J Dh
1007
Improvements in Closing Manholes and like Openings in Tanks and
other Vessels,
I, ALFRED HEWENS, Sanitary Engineer, of Hayes, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
[Price 8d.1

page_text: m
▼C68218.
provemanta ca toring HanNOIPS AND LIKE Openings in LA HOT
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:---
This invention relates to improvements in closing manholes and other open-
ings in tanks, ships' tanks, cylinders and similar vessels, the object of the
invention being to provide ready and simple means for opening and closing the
manholes or other openings and for providing tight joints between the covers
and the said openings.
In carrying the invention into effect I form the cover with a projecting rim
or flange designed when the cover is in position to rest upon the edges of the
opening to be closed and I form in the said cover a number of holes which are
preferably formed in lugs upon the said flange or rim the said holes being
adapted to receive the projecting ends of studs secured to the tank or other
vessel, the opening in the tank may be strengthened by an iron ring secured in
any suitable manner to the underside of the plate and to which ring, when such
is employed the studs aforesaid are secured for securing the cover to the plate,
nuts, keys or the like may be employed. The flange upon the cover is preferably
channelled upon its underside to receive a ring of rubber or other packing by
which a tight joint is insured.
In order that the invention may be the better understood drawings are
appended in which
Fig. 1 is a plan of a cover constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the cover applied to a manhole the top of the tank in this
case being dished around the opening so that the studs securing the cover do
not project above the plane of the top.
Fig. 3 is a section of the arrangement shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a section of the arrangement shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detailed view illustrating one method of
securing the cover to the tank or the like.
Fig. 6 is also an enlarged detailed view illustrating another method of securing
the cover.
Referring to Fig. 1 A is the top of the tank B, the cover having formed upon
its outer edge lugs or projections C, through which pass the studs D, also shown
in Fig. 3 and which studs are secured by means of a nut D¹ to the top of the
tank Å. The studs have formed upon them a collar E, serving to hold them rigid
when the nut D₁ is tightened. Running round the cover upon the underside
is a recess or channel F, adapted to receive the ring of rubber or other means G,
employed to secure a tight joint between the cover and the top of the tank and
which ring would upon the tightening of the nuts H, or alternative such as a
key H shown in Fig. 6 (and which key passes through the stud D slotted to
permit of its passage there through and bears against the top of the cover) cause
the said ring to be compressed effectually preventing any escape of the contents
of the tank I may in some cases employ a socket or chamber I cast integral with
and upon the upper surface of the cover B, see Fig. 5, and within which chamber
the top of the stud D, would project to receive the nut H and which chamber
when the nuts are screwed home may be filled with a fusion of metal or wax or
other substance which would serve to keep the nut tight and prevent any escape
of the contents of the tank.
The cover B, is also provided with an annular ring or flange J, which in
addition to strengthening the cover serves to ensure the proper alignment of
the holes for the studs H, when the cover is being placed in position.
In some cases the tank where the opening is formed may be dished as shewn
in Fig 2 and 4 the cover when secured presenting a flush appearance with the
top of the tank.
I do not confine myself to the precise arrangements shewn by the drawings
as I may, instead of the nuts and keys shown in Fig. 1 for securing the cover A,
employ four or more nuts only or any combination or combinations of the various
devices illustrated by the drawings.

page_text: 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:-
The improvements in closing manholes and like openings in tanks or other
vessels substantially as described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this First day of September 1898.
ALFRED HEWENS.