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PRESS RELEASE
June 17, 2004
Contact:
Arthur A. Schrage
A. A. Schrage P.E., Inc.
1574 Devonshire
Troy, Michigan 48098
Phone: (248)641-0530
Email: aaschrage@sbcglobal.net
http://www.sewer1.com/manhole/
New Patented Manhole Cover Design
Improves Worker Safety and Homeland Security
Text Format Version
Manhole covers provide easy access to the sewer passages of our cities, but surprisingly, they remain largely unsecured. At the same time, many city workers yearly hurt their backs, bruise their shins, and smash their toes trying to remove these 150 pound covers.
According to Arthur A. Schrage, an experienced Sanitary Engineer from Detroit, Michigan, solving these manhole cover problems is more complex than it first appears.
Padlocks and even simpler locking mechanisms prove impractical for manholes that require frequent access, because workers bypass or omit the locks. Bolting the covers in place also presents a problem because the bolts become lost or are eliminated by workers.
Even unlocked manhole covers present problems because of their 150 pound weight. Workers typically remove manhole covers by inserting a pick axe in the center hole and lifting. Lifting heavy weight at such a distance causes back injuries.
In addition, cost-effective solutions for retrofitting existing manholes usually must consist only of changes to the manhole cover, not the encasement that holds the cover. Altering the encasement typically requires tearing up pavement, removing the encasement, and sending it to a machine shop.
Mr. Schrage’s patented Lift & Lock™ manhole cover design solves this complicated design problem.
Some highlights of the design:
Three to Four bolts hold the cover in place. You disengage the lock with a few bolt turns (you do not remove the bolts). The design can accept standard bolts, 5-sided bolts, or specially-keyed bolts, depending on your security requirements.
A hole in the cover allows workers to remove it with a standard pick. The hole is located off-center and at an angle to increase lifting leverage and reduce the chance of back injury.
The design can retrofit existing manholes without modifying the manhole itself.
To learn more about the design or to view a drawing, visit http://www.sewer1.com/manhole/. For a quotation on Lift & Lock Manhole Covers, please call Arthur A. Schrage at (248)641-0530 or email aaschrage@sbcglobal.net.
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