Adjustable manhole cover

Abstract

A manhole cover assembly has an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder. An upper ratchet mechanism extends axially and circumferentially about an outwardly facing surface of the inner cylinder. A lower ratchet mechanism extends axially and circumferentially about an inwardly facing surface of the outer. The lower ratchet mechanism is configured to mesh with the upper ratchet mechanism at one of a plurality of distinct ratcheting positions. A cover plate is disposed on one of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. The cover plate is at a first elevation when the lower ratchet mechanism meshes with the upper ratchet mechanism at a first distinct ratcheting position. The cover plate is at a second elevation when the lower ratchet mechanism meshes with the upper ratchet mechanism at a second distinct ratcheting position. The first elevation is different from the second elevation.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for adjusting a manhole cover comprising:
 inserting a first tool into a first opening in a cover plate of an inner cylinder;   inserting a second tool into a second opening in the cover plate spaced from the first opening;   rotating the first tool and the second tool after insertion into the openings;   moving the inner cylinder axially in a first direction from a first position, wherein the moving includes lifting the first tool and the second tool to engage an undersurface of the cover plate and lifting the cover plate;   rotating the inner cylinder relative to an outer cylinder; and   moving the inner cylinder axially in a second direction opposite the first direction to a second position, wherein the first position is axially distinct from the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the first position provides a first elevation of the cover plate,   the second position provides a second elevation of the cover plate, and   the first elevation is different from the second elevation.   
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein
 the inner cylinder includes a first ratchet mechanism, and   the outer cylinder includes a second ratchet mechanism configured to mesh with the first ratchet mechanism at a plurality of distinct ratcheting positions.   
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the moving the inner cylinder axially in a first direction disengages the first ratchet mechanism from the second ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the moving the inner cylinder axially in a second direction reengages the first ratchet mechanism with the second ratchet mechanism. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , comprising:
 placing a retainer ring around an outer circumference of the cover plate;   providing filler around an outer surface of the retainer ring, such that the retainer ring is disposed between the cover plate and the filler; and   removing the retainer ring.   
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the retainer ring is tapered such that a thickness at an upper axial end of the retainer ring is greater than a thickness at a lower axial end of the retainer ring for ease of removal. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 6 , comprising:
 before the filler solidifies, smoothing out the filler with a smoothing tool including a first portion and a second portion spaced apart by a gap, the first portion includes a tapered portion, wherein the smoothing includes positioning the smoothing tool such that the retainer ring is received in the gap, and moving the smoothing tool about a circumference of the retainer ring to engage the tapered portion with the filler.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein
 the moving disengages the first ratchet mechanism from the second ratchet mechanism, and   the opening is a linear slot, wherein each of the first tool and the second tool includes a handle, a vertical member extending from the handle, and a horizontal member transverse to the vertical member, such that the inserting step includes inserting the vertical member and the horizontal member into the linear slot, the rotating the first tool and the second tool step includes rotating the vertical member and the horizontal member, and the lifting step includes engaging the horizontal member with the undersurface of the cover plate to provide a lifting force on the inner cylinder to disengage the first ratchet mechanism from the second ratchet mechanism.   
     
     
         10 . A method for adjusting a manhole cover comprising:
 inserting a first tool into a first opening in a cover plate of a first cylinder;   inserting a second tool into a second opening in the cover plate spaced from the first opening;   rotating the first tool and the second tool after insertion into the openings;   moving the first cylinder axially in a first direction from a first position, wherein the moving includes lifting the first tool and the second tool to engage an undersurface of the cover plate and lifting the cover plate;   rotating the first cylinder relative to a second cylinder; and   moving the first cylinder axially in a second direction opposite the first direction to a second position, wherein the first position is axially distinct from the second position.   
     
     
         11 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of the first tool and the second tool includes a handle, a vertical member extending from the handle, and a horizontal member transverse to the vertical member, such that the inserting step includes inserting the vertical member and the horizontal member into the opening, the rotating the first tool and the second tool step includes rotating the vertical member and the horizontal member, and the lifting step includes engaging the horizontal member with the undersurface of the cover plate to provide a lifting force on the first cylinder. 
     
     
         12 . The method as recited in  claim 11 , comprising
 placing a retainer ring around an outer circumference of the cover plate;   providing filler around an outer surface of the retainer ring, such that the retainer ring is disposed between the cover plate and the filler; and   removing the retainer ring.   
     
     
         13 . The method as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the retainer ring is tapered such that a thickness at an upper axial end of the retainer ring is greater than a thickness at a lower axial end of the retainer ring for ease of removal. 
     
     
         14 . The method as recited in  claim 13 , wherein
 the first cylinder includes a first ratchet mechanism, and   the second cylinder includes a second ratchet mechanism configured to mesh with the first ratchet mechanism at a plurality of distinct ratcheting positions.   
     
     
         15 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the first cylinder is an inner cylinder, and the second cylinder is an outer cylinder. 
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the first ratchet mechanism is a linear gear with teeth. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the cover plate in the second position is elevated relative to the cover plate in the first position. 
     
     
         18 . A method for adjusting a manhole cover comprising:
 inserting a first tool into a first linear slot in a cover plate integral with an inner cylinder;   inserting a second tool into a second linear slot in the cover plate spaced from the first linear slot, wherein each of the first tool and the second tool includes a handle, a vertical member extending from the handle, and a horizontal member transverse to the vertical member, such that the inserting step includes inserting the vertical member and the horizontal member into the linear slot;   rotating the first tool and the second tool after insertion into the openings, including rotating the vertical member and the horizontal member;   moving the inner cylinder axially in a first direction from a first position, wherein the moving includes lifting the first tool and the second tool to engage the horizontal member with the undersurface of the cover plate to provide a lifting force on the inner cylinder to disengage a first ratchet mechanism from a second ratchet mechanism and lift the inner cylinder and cover plate, wherein the inner cylinder includes the first ratchet mechanism and the outer cylinder includes the second ratchet mechanism;   rotating the inner cylinder relative to an outer cylinder; and   moving the inner cylinder axially in a second direction opposite the first direction to a second position, wherein the first position is axially distinct from the second position.   
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , comprising:
 placing a retainer ring around an outer circumference of the cover plate;   providing filler around an outer surface of the retainer ring, such that the retainer ring is disposed between the cover plate and the filler; and   removing the retainer ring, wherein the retainer ring is tapered such that a thickness at an upper axial end of the retainer ring is greater than a thickness at a lower axial end of the retainer ring for ease of removal.   
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the first ratchet mechanism is a linear gear with teeth.