Patent ID: 6952996

Claim:
A control unit for automatically opening and closing a manhole cover to a storage unit; said manhole cover including a lid mounted on said tank and being moveable between an open position and a closed position, a locking assembly moveable between a locked position in which said lid cannot be opened and an unlocked position in which said lid can be opened; and an inflatable/deflatable seal which is moveable between an inflated state to form a fluid tight seal between said lid and said storage unit when said lid is closed and a deflated state; said seal being in communication with a source of pressurized air; said control unit including: a cover actuator operably connected to said lid to move said lid between its opened and closed positions; a lock actuator operably connected to said locking assembly to move said locking assembly between its locked and unlocked positions; a seal valve in communication with said seal and moveable between a first position in which said seal can be inflated and a second position in which said seal is deflated; a control unit including a CPU in communication with said actuators and seal valve to operate said actuators and seal valve and a switch; said switch which, when activated begins an open cycle in which said actuators and seal valve are operated to deflate said seal, move said locking assembly to its unlocked position, and to move said cover to its open position or a close cycle in which said actuators and seal valve are operated to move said cover to its closed position, to move locking assembly to its locked position, and to inflate said seal.