Improvements in Hand-hole Doors or Plates for Boilers and the like, the Invention relating particularly to Means for Clamping Hand- hole Plates in Position.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hand-hole Doors or Plates for Boilers and the like,
the Invention relating particularly to Means for Clamping Hand-
hole Plates in Position.
We, HENRY GERHARD TIDEMANN, and EDWARD DANIEL MEIER, both Citizens
of the United States, residing at Bank of Commerce Building, City of St. Louis,
State of Missouri, United States of America, Boiler Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statements:-
This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like
symbols of reference refer to the same parts in the several figures, and wherein:
Figure 1 is a sectional view of our improved hand-hole plate, showing the
same clamped in position upon a section of a boiler or other vessel;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of our improved hand-hole plate, illu-
strating the initial position taken by the parts preparatory to removing the
same from a boiler or other vessel;
Figure 3 is a similar view with the parts adjusted to another position, illu-
strating the manner in which the hand-hole plate is removed from a boiler or
other vessel;
.
Figure 4 is a front elevational view of our improved hand-hole plate, showing
the same in a locked or clamped position upon a vessel;
:
Figure 5 is a similar view, illustrating a slight modification in the shape of
the yoke or clamping block;
Figure 6 is a front elevational view, on a reduced scale, of our improved
hand-hole plate, illustrating a slight modification wherein a suspension hook is
secured to the hand-hole plate, whereby said hand-hole plate may be suspended
within the vessel when the same is unclamped and removed from the hand-
hole which it previously covered;
Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the same in a clamped position;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of the same in an unclamped position,
illustrating the manner in which the hook, referred to in Figure 6, suspends the
hand-hole plate inside the vessel;
Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the clamping yoke, illustrating a slight
modification, wherein the suspending hook is formed integral therewith ;
Figure 10 is, in part, a front elevational view of a portion of a boiler or other
vessel, and, in part, a front elevational view of a hand-hole plate clamped in
position on said vessel, the construction of the yoke or clamping block and the
locking means being slightly modified with reference to the above;
Figure 11 is a sectional view on line 11--11 of Figure 12, the clamping block
being in an adjusted or initial position preparatory to removing the hand-hole
plate from the vessel;
Figure 12 is a vertical sectional view on line 12-12 of Figure 10, and
Figure 13 is a side elevational view of our improved hand-hole plate in an

page_text: unclamped position, the same being suspended within a vessel by a suitable
hook or projection formed on the locking lever.
This invention relates to a new and useful improvement in hand-hole plates,
or, more correctly speaking, to the manner in which hand-hole plates are
clamped in position, or removed from boilers or other vessels.
The objects of this present invention are to construct a simple, inexpensive
and reliable hand-hole plate provided with means whereby said hand-hole plate
may be readily clamped into position upon, and removed from, a boiler or other
vessel without necessitating the detachment of any of the parts, thus obviating
the loss or misplacement of any of said parts, and facilitating its adjustment
into and out of position; and to provide means attached to said hand-hole plate
for suspending the same away from the hand-hole when the plate is removed
from the opening of the boiler or other vessel.
With these objects in view, the invention consists, first, in the novel con-
struction of the plate proper, in combination with its carried shank, which may
be formed of separate parts or integral, as desired; second, in the novel con-
struction of the clamping yoke which is provided with a suitable slot, whereby
said yoke may be so adjusted as to permit the entire hand-hole plate to be
slipped into the hole in the vessel which it is designed to cover, said yoke being,
also, so constructed that its length in one direction is greater than the open-
ing with which it co-operates, and its breadth in another direction is less than
said opening, whereby, when adjusted in a clamped position, said yoke cannot
be forced into the opening of the hand-hole plate which it is intended to cover,
but, when adjusted to an unclamped position, its breadth being narrower than
said opening, it may be passed through said opening, this operation being
accomplished without detaching the parts; third, in the novel construction
employed, whereby the hand-hole plate may be supported or suspended within
the boiler or vessel when the same is not in position in the opening; and, finally,
the invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement, and combination
of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described, and afterwards pointed
out in the claims.
In the drawings, a indicates a portion of a boiler plate or the like, with a
hand-hole or opening b, for well known purposes.
c indicates the hand-hole plate which may be formed by casting, stamping,
or by drop-forging, as is obvious.
d indicates a shank secured to plate e in any well known manner, preferably,
however, by riveting, although when desired, this shank and plate may be formed
integral, which can be readily done by either casting or stamping or forging.
e indicates a yoke or clamping block provided with an elongated opening or
slot f. Through this slot f, shank d passes, and outside the yoke e, and co-
operating with the end of shank d, is the clamping means, which, as illustrated
in Figures 1 to S inclusive, is preferably in the form of a nut and washer
and h, respectively.
In the construction shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, we prefer to form
the yoke with an offset i, upon that part of its inner face which impinges against
the boiler plate a; this offset provides a shoulder j, which, when the yoke is in
a central or clamping position, extends a slight distance into the opening b,
whereby said yoke is easily adjusted to its proper position for clamping, as if
this face which rests against the boiler face were perfectly flat, care would have
to be taken in placing said yoke in position in order that a desirable symmetry
be produced.
indicates a gasket which is interposed between a flange on the plate c, and
the boiler plate a. By forming the plate e as shown in the drawings with a
reduced portion 7, which extends some distance into the opening b, the gasket
is prevented from being crowded inwardly and pressed into said opening,
furthermore, this portion 7 acts practically as a support and centering medium
for said gasket.

page_text: When our improved hand-hole plate is in position, covering the opening b,
in a boiler or the like, the flange of the plate c and the gasket k, contact with
the inner face of said boiler and the portion 7 extends some distance into the
opening b, as before stated, and its (the plate's) carried shank d, which, also
passes through said opening, protrudes outwardly, and, upon this protruding
portion is located the yoke e, that is, the shank passes through the slot f, and out-
side said yoke is secured the clamping means which is, as before mentioned,
preferably a washer and nut. It is now obvious that by tightening said nut,
the yoke and plate will be drawn together, firmly clamping the hand-hole
plate, as an entirety, to the boiler a, the gasket hermetically sealing the open-
ing b, as is usual.
To remove the hand-hole plate, all that is necessary is to unscrew the nut g,
a short distance, and slide the yoke until the end of the slot f, contacts with
the shank (see Figure 2), and then push or tilt the entire structure inwardly
(see Figure 3), whereupon it will be seen that the narrow width of the yoke
permits said parts to be forced through the opening b, they, the several parts, all
remaining together, and said hand-hole plate will be retained inside the vessel
until it is again desired to effect a closure, when the parts, by passing the same
from hole to hole, may be raised, as is the usual practice, until the proper open-
ing is reached, when it may be again restored to its proper closing position
by first inserting the nut and shank, together with the yoke, through the open-
ing, until the parts occupy the position shown in Figure 3, then the parts are
adjusted to the position shown in Figure 2, and then to position shown in
Figure 1, or, in other words, the movement of the parts being just the reverse
to that taken by said parts when the opening is being uncovered.
When it is desired to suspend the hand-hole plate inside the vessel after it
has been removed from its opening, we may employ a suitable hook m, secured
to the hand-hole plate, or any of its carried parts, the same being preferably
formed, and located, as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the latter of which
shows the manner in which this object is accomplished, or, if desired, we may
form the hook integral with any of the parts forming this hand-hole plate as
an entirety, as, for instance, at n in Figure 9.
In Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13, we have illustrated two slight modifications,
the first being in the manner in which the slot f is located, the same being so
arranged as to have one end of the slot form a limit of a movement of the yoke
in its central or clamped position, or, in other words, the slot f, starts from the
center of the yoke, and is elongated or extends toward one of its ends, whereby,
when the yoke is moved so as to occupy a central, or correct position, further
movement in that direction is impossible, as the ends of the slot will contact
with the shank. This construction obviates the necessity of forming the offsets
and shoulders i and j, respectively, referred to in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive. The
second modification of said Figures 10, 11, 12, and 13 illustrates a modified
form of locking means, wherein it will be seen that the outer end of the shank d,
is provided with an eye o, to which is pivoted a locking lever p, said locking
device being formed with a cam face g, adapted to impinge against, and co-
operate with, a flat facer of the yoke. This locking lever, is also provided
upon its free or outer end, with a hook like projections, whose purpose and
function is for suspending said hand-hole plate and its carried parts, inside a
vessel in substantially the same manner as does the suspending means m and n,
before described.
In boilers, or the like, wherein numerous hand-holes and their respective
plates are employed, it is desirable for economical and other well known reasons,
to form the hand-hole circular, and at various intervals, depending upon the
size of the vessel, and number of holes, are formed elliptic or elongated, for
the purpose of inserting into the vessel from the exterior the ordinary plates c,
should the same become broken, or out of order, said plates being of greater
diameter than their respective openings which would prevent their being

page_text: 0
inserted through these last-mentioned openings, and, when said plates care
inserted into said elliptic openings, they are then passed from hole to hole until
the proper position is reached, as is well understood. In this connection, we
have illustrated said elliptic openings t in Figure 10, the object of which illu-
stration being to show that our improved hand-hole plate as an entirety, with-
out detaching any of its parts, is susceptible of being passed through said open-
ings in like manner, and, for the same purpose as the ordinary hand-hole plate
before mentioned.
The illustration in Figure 5 is only for the purpose of showing that various
shapes of the yoke may be employed in carrying out our invention; as is shown,
three-bearing points are employed, though obviously the exact shape is imma-
terial as long as the essential proportions are adhered to.
With reference to the slot f, it may be stated that, if desired, instead of form-
ing the slot as shown in the drawings, the opening could as well be cylindrical,
of greater diameter than the shank, but of less diameter than the washer h,
which would perform the same function of permitting the adjustment of the
yoke.
We are aware that minor changes in the construction, arrangement, and com-
bination of the several parts of our device, can be made and substituted for those
herein shown and described, without in the least, departing from the nature
and principle of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same. is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is: -
1. In combination with a vessel formed with a circular hand-hole, or opening,
of a circular shaped hand-hole plate therefor, a shank rigidly secured to said
circular hand-hole plate, and means for clamping said hand-hole plate to said
vessel, said means being susceptible of being passed through the opening which
said hand-hole plate is designed to cover without necessitating the detachment
of any of said means from said hand-hole plate; substantially as described.
2. In combination with a hand-hole plate, of a shank carried thereby, a yoke,
a longitudinal slot formed in said yoke, and through which slot said shank passes,
thereby permitting lateral movement of said yoke relative to said shank, whereby
said yoke can be passed through the opening which said hand-hole plate covers,
and means for engaging said yoke and said shank for clamping said hand-hole
plate in position; substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
3. In combination with a vessel formed with a circular opening, of a circular
shaped hand-hole plate therefor, a shank secured to said hand-hole plate, a yoke,
a longitudinal slot formed through said yoke, said slot being designed to permit
said shank to pass therethrough, and by which construction lateral movement
of the yoke relative to said shank, is permitted, whereby said yoke can be passed
through the aforesaid circular opening which the hand-hole plate covers, and
means co-operating with said shank and said yoke for clamping the same in
position; substantially as, and for the purpose specified.
4. In a hand-hole plate, the combination with a shank, of a yoke, a longitu-
dinal slot formed in said yoke, said slot being for the purpose of permitting
said shank to pass therethrough and have a lateral adjustment relative to said
yoke, whereby when said yoke is thus laterally adjusted, the same can be passed
through the opening which said hand-hole plate is designed to cover, means for
centering said yoke, relative to the opening it spans, when in a clamped posi-
tion, or in a position ready to be clamped, and means co-operating with said
shank and yoke, for clamping said parts in position; substantially as described.
5. In a device of the character described, the following elements in combina-
tion; a hand-hole plate c, a shank d, a yoke e, having a longitudinal slot f
formed therein, a shoulder or inwardly extending portion j, and means
CO-

page_text: operating with said yoke and said shank for clamping said hand-hole plate and
said yoke in position; substantially as described.
6. In a device of the character described, the following elements in combina-
tion, a hand-hole plate c, a shank d, a yoke e, having a longitudinal slot f,
formed therein, a shoulder or inwardly extending portion j, and a nut g, which
co-operates with said shank, and said yoke, for clamping said hand-hole plate
and said yoke in position; substantially as described.
7. In combination with a vessel formed with a circular hand-hole, or opening,
of a circular shaped hand-hole plate therefor, a shank rigidly secured to said
circular hand-hole plate, means for clamping said hand-hole plate to said vessel,
said means being susceptible of being passed through the opening which said
hand-hole plate is designed to cover without necessitating the detachment of
any of said means from said hand-hole plate, and means for suspending said
hand-hole plate and its carried parts within said vessel when said hand-hole
plate is not in position in its opening; substantially as described.
8. In combination with a hand-hole plate, of a shank carried thereby, a yoke,
a longitudinal slot formed in said yoke, and through which slot said shank
passes, thereby permitting lateral movement of said yoke relative to said shank,
whereby said yoke can be passed through the opening which said hand-hole plate
covers, means for engaging said yoke and said shank for clamping said hand-
hole plate in position, and a hook arranged on said hand-hole plate or its carried
parts, for suspending said hand-hole plate and its carried parts within the vessel
when said hand-hole plate is not in position in its opening; substantially as
described.
9. In combination with a vessel provided with an opening or hand hole, of
a hand-hole plate, a shank, a yoke, a longitudinal slot formed through said yoke,
and through which slot said shank passes, a locking lever pivoted to the free
or outer end of said shank, a cam face formed on said locking lever for co-
operating with said yoke, and a hook like projection formed on the outer end
of said locking lever for suspending the structure as an entirety within said
vessel, when said structure is not in position in its opening, all of said parts
being so proportioned and arranged that they are susceptible of being passed
through the opening they are designed to cover without detaching any of said
parts; substantially as described.
Dated the 1st day of August 1800
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London, for the Applicants.