CA1208025A - Manhole base - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A novel manhole base is provided herein formed of a suitable casting material. The manhole base includes a base portion and a hollow cylindrical shaped sidewall extending upwardly from the base portion, the sidewall having at least first and second openings. An annular shaped sealing gasket is arranged in each opening. An invert is formed in the surface of the base portion and extends between the first and the second sidewall openings, the invert having a substantially semi-circular shaped cross-section. Clearance grooves are provided in the base portion between the outer ends of the invert adjacent the associated openings. Each of these clearance grooves extends into the interior of the base portion from the interior sidewall by an amount which is sufficient to facilitate insertion of a coupling pipe into each opening by providing sufficient clearance for the end of the pipe extending into the interior of the manhole assembly and even in the event that the coupling pipe is oriented at an angle of up to 15° during insertion of that pipe into the manhole assembly.

Description

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The present invention relates to manhole assemblies and the like and more particularly to a novel manhole base.
This application is a division of application Serial No. 386,774 filed September 28, 1981.
Manhole assemblies are typically comprised of a manhole base, an intermediate or riser section and a top section normally designed to receive the manhole cover. The base section is comprised of a substantially flat base portion and a cylindrical shaped sidewall extending upwardly therefrom and integral therewith. Openings are arranged in the sidewall, each being adapted to receiv~ the end of a pipe for selectively introducing a liquid flow into the invert or removed a liquid flow therefrom. Manhole assemblies are provided whenever a change in slope or angular orientation is encountered from one pipe run to the next. The openings receiving the pipes are arranged in accordance with the pipe runs connected thereto, the invert extending bet-ween the side-wall openings may, for example, define a straight line, right angle configuration, or a Y-configuration (in the case of a base member having three openings designed for merging two incoming pipe runs and feeding the combined flow therefrom to a~single outgoing pipe run). It is extremely ad-vantageous to maintain a smooth flow through the invert of the base member thence turbulence resulting from misalignment of the invert relative to the incoming and outgoing pipes significantly increases the development of odious and toxic gases as a result of such turbulent conditions. In addition, a smooth fluid flow also serves to maximize flow rate through the manhole base.
Heretofore, manhole bases have typically been formed in two stages, the manhole base absent the invert being formed at the factory and the invert being formed at the job site after positioning the manhole base in the ground, usually five (5) to fifteen (15) feet below surface. Usually at least one or more workmen descent into the manhole base and set up the channel forming assemblies. The casting material, typically concrete, is also transported to .~;
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~ Z08VZ5 the job site and dropped into the base member frorn ground level through the manhole assembly and into the bottom of the manhole base, dropping a distance of the order of 15 feet or more before reaching the floor of the manhole base The workmen encounter cramped working conditions within the manhole assembly and are constrained to stand upon the channel forming apparatus during the time that the casting material is being poured, and while the casting material is setting. The workmen must also support themselves upon the channel forming apparatus in order to form the sloping surfaces in the interior of the man-hole base adjacent to the invert being formed. The nature of the method steps necessary for forming an invert in accordance with the above-mentioned conven-tional technique in the manhole assembly base member is such that the operation is tedious, complex and time-consuming and also fails to provide accurate alignment between the invert and the sidewall openings to assure smooth flow through the manhole base and to maximum the flow rate through the manhole base.
It is therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a manhole base provided with recesses arranged between each sidewall opening having a sealing gasket and the adjacent end of an invert for facilitating insertion of a pipe in sealing relation.
The present invention provides a manhole base which is completely, simply and rapidly formed at the factory through the use of either a single pour technique (provided by the above identified parent application) or a double pour technique (provided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewith) using method and apparacus for forming an invert in a manhole base of a manhole assembly.
~ y a bro~d aspect of this invention, a manhole base is provided formed of a suitable casting material, the manhole base comprising: a base portion and a hollow cylindrical shaped sidewall extending upwardly from the base portion, the sidewall having at least first and second openings; an an-nular shaped sealing gasket arranged in each opening; an invert formed in the ~z~ 5 surface of the base portion and extending between the first and second sidewall openings, the invert having a substantially semi-circular shaped cross-section; and a clearance groove provided in the base portion between the outer ends of the invert and its associated sidewall opening, each of said clearance grooves extending into the interior of the base portion from the interior sidewall of the manhole base by an amount which is sufficient to facilitate insertion of a coupling pipe into each opening by providing sufficient clearance for the end of the pipe extending into the interior of the manhole assembly and even in the event that the pipe ~ 10 is oriented at an angle of up to 15 during insertion of the pipe into the manhole assembly, The recesses preferably are substantially semi-circular shaped recesses having inner diameters greater than the inner diameter of the invert to facilitate the insertion of a pipe at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the invert. It is also preferred that each of the sidewall openings have an inner tapered portion which tapers outwardly away from the gasket and which substantially merges with the outward radial end of its associated recess. Still further, the in-terior surface between the invert and the sidewall slopes downwardly from the sidewall of the manhole base towards the invert to cause liquid matter on the interior surface to return to the invert.
Each of the gaskets preferably has a substantially T-shaped cross-section portion embedded in the casting material and having a resilient portion ^exEending radially inward from the T-shaped cross-section and yieldable to receive an end of a pipe, and forming a water-tight seal with the exterior surface of the pipe.

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The single pour technique is preferably utili~ed in one embodiment of the invention provided by the above identified parent application to form inverts of the most typically used designs,thereby lending itself to mass production techniques. Base members are formed using the single pour method by employing mold members which form and define the base and sidewall of the manhole base. Ring-shaped gasket holder assemblies are arranged within the aforesaid mold members to form and define the openings in the manhole base sidewall into which the gaskets held thereby are integrally cast. The manhole ~"' - 3 a -:lL20~1~2~i base is cast in an ~upside-down" fashion. The mold member forming part of the mold assembly is provided with a channcl shaped projection for forming and defining the invert and is provided with flange portions each defining a recess arranged between the outer end of the invert and its associated sidewall opening, which recesses facilitate insertion of a connecting pipe. The mold member having the channel shaped projection is provided wlth reciprocally mov-able registration pins insertable into associated locater openings provided in the ring shaped gasket supports so that, when the aforesaid mold member is in position and the registration pins are inserted into their associated locater holes, precise alignment of the invert with the associated sidewall openings is thereby assured. The casting material is then poured into the molding apparatus.
When thc cast member has set, the mold mcmbers, including the mold member utilized to form the invert, are separated from the cast member. The registration pins are withdrawn from the locater openings to facilitate removal of the invert forming mold member. The ring-shaped gasket holders are like-wise disassembled and removed, thereby forming a manhole base having sidewall openings integrally formed with pipe sealing gaskets and having an invert whose longitudinal axis is precisely in coaxial alignment with the central axis of the adjacent side wall opening. The recesses arranged between the outer ends of the invert and the adjacent sidewall opening provide for either misalignment of a pipe extending therethrough to facilitate insertion of a pipe as well as allowing for misalignment of the pipe relative to the longi-tudinal axis of the invort which may, for example, occur due to settling of the earth about the manhole asscmbly, as well as other natural phenomena.
The gaskets provide ancxccllcnt water-tight seal between the pipe and the manhole base sidewal], once the pipe is inserted while at the samc time being sufficiently resilient to facilitate simple and yet rapid initial insertion of the pipe end.

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Thc most widcly used manhole base is comprised of a lincar invert which is coaxial with an imaginary diameter of thc base membcr, and as a result, it is practical to produce a mold member which defines the aforesaid invert due to the large number of base members normally produced through the use of such a mold member. However, a significant number of base members frequently require inverts extending between openings which are arranged to be in alignment with imaginary radii which cooperatively form an angle of other than 180 . It is thus cost-prohibitive to produce a mold member which defines an invert for each such invert configuration. As a result, the inven-tion provided by the above identified parent application in another aspect further incorporates a mold member having a main body portion and a first channel-forming projection integrally formed on the main body portion and a first channel-forming projection which is releasably secured to the main body portion. A flexible connector extends between the integral and movable channel-forming projections. Reciprocating registration pins, as were described here-inabovc, are provided in the mold member and are arranged to be extended radially outward for insertion into locater openings in the gasket supporting rings to assure precise alignment between the channel-forming projections and the sidewall openings in the manhole base. The movable member of channel forming mold member may be oriented at any desired angle relative to the integral channel-forming member over a range from 90 to 270, for example, thereby enabling the formation of a wide variety of base members having two side wall openings. Automatically operable suction means is arranged within the movable channel-forming member to releasably secure thc movablc mcmber to the main body portion, the vacuum condition being releasable upon complction of the casting and setting of the manhole base. Pneumatic means may also be providcd as shown in one preferred cmbodiment, for operating thc registration pins in a reciprocating manner.
The invention further teaches method and apparatus for forming invcrts in manhole asscmbly basc membcrs utilizing a two-pour techniquc pro-lZ(~8~'~5 vided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewith in whichthe manhole assembly base is formed and cast in a first pour when the sidewall openings having an integrally mounted gaskets and wherein a flat interior floor is formed in the base member during the first pour. Thereafter, two or more channel-forming projection members and cooperating alignment rings are inserted into the manhole assembly base member by the alignment rings cooperate with clamping members to secure the channel-forming members to the base member at each sidewall opening and further assuring precise axial align-ment between each sidewall opening and its associated channel-forming member.
Once the channel-forming members are so mounted, they are generally axially aligned along imaginary radii of the manhole assembly base member. Each channel-forming member is provided with a planar top surface having an upwardly extending elongated projection. Clamping bars are provided to clamp the in-wardly directed ends of the channel-forming members to one another to assure precise angular alignment therebetween and further to assure alignment of the channel-forming members to that their longitudinal axes lie in a common imaginary pLane. The clamping bars may be comprised of a pair of operating clamping members arranged so tht the first ends of the clamping bars cooperate with fastening means to arrange the clamping bar members at any desired angle therein. The clamping members, once arranged to obtain the desired angle, are then clamped to projections on respective ones of the channel-forming members for securement thereto, whereupon the "second-pour" of the casting operation is then initiated, the casting material being poured into the in-terior of the manhole assembly base member and about the channel-forming mem-bers. ~fter the casting material is poured, but before it is set, the operators slope the floor of the base member on opposite sides of the invert. Once the casting material is set, the channel-forming projections and clamping members may then be removed, completing the two pour operation.

~f~ 25 The two pour operation provided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewith is ideal for use in forming manhole assembly base members having two or more openings and cooperating inverts. In manhole bases in which at least two sidewall openings are provided, the channel-forming members for forming two of the invert portions are preferably joined with an intermediate flexible member, as was described hereinabove. The two pour method provided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewitth is especially advantageous for use in forming inverts in manhole assembly bases having one or more sidewall openings, especially three such openings, the channel-forming members being adapted to be arranged in any desired angle thereby to form associated invert portions which are in precise axial align-ment with their adjacent sidewall openings to assure smooth, non-turbulent flow through the base member.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of the molding apparatus employed for forming a manhole assembly base member provided by the present divisional application in accordance with the single pour technique of an embodiment of the invention provided by the above identified parent application.
Figure la shows a perspective view of the channel-forming member showing the gasket supporting rings, inner cylindrical mold member and wire frame of Figure 1 assembled upon the bottom plate.
Figure 2a and 2b show perspective views of the top and bottom sides respectively of the channel-forming member of Figure la.
Figure 2c shows a sectional view of a portion of the channel-forming member looking in the direction of arrows 2c-2c in Figure 2a.
Figure 3a shows a top plan view of a manhole assembly base member provided by the present divisional application formed through the use of the single pour technique provided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewith and employing the apparatus of Figure 1.

~Z(~ 5 Figure 3b shows a perspective view of the manhole assembly base member of Figure 3a with a portion thereof being removed for purposes of ex-posing the interior construction.
Figure 3c shows a sectional view of one of the sidewall openings of Figure 3b looking in the direction of arrows 3c-3c.
Figure 3d shows a top plan view of still another manhole base pro-vided by the present divisional application.
Figure 4 shows an exploded perspective view of the molding apparatus employed for forming a manhole assembly base member provided by the present divisional application in accordance with the two pour technique of an embodi-ment of the invention provided by a first divisional appliation filed of even date herewith.
Figure 5 shows a perspective view, partially sectionalized of the manhole assembly base member provided by the present divisional application cast through the use of the apparatus of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the apparatus employed for forming a portion of the invert in the base member provided by the present divisional application of Figure 5.
Figure 6a shows an exploded perspective view of an alternative clam-ping bar assembly which may be employed in place of the clamping bar shownin Figure 6.
Figure 6b shows a sectional view of the adjustable portion of the clamping bar assembly of Figure 6a.
Figures 7a and 7b are front and sectional views respectively of the positioning ring of Figure 6.
Figures 8a and 8b are perspective and front elevational views res-pectively of the channel-forming member of Figure 6.
Figure 9 is a perspective view showing channel-forming assemblies of the type shown in Figure 6, fully assembled within a base member provided ~208(~;~5 by the present divisional application in readiness for the second pour of the two pour method provided by a first divisional application filed of evèn date herewith.
Figure 10 shows a perspective view, partially sectionalized, of the base assembly provided by the present divisional application of Figure 9 after the invert has been cast and set.
Figure 11 is a perspective view of an assembly for forming an invert within a manhole assembly base member in accordance with the two pour technique of an embodiment of the invention provided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewith for use in base members having large diameter sidewall openings.
Figure 12 is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the invert forming mold member of Figure 1.
Figure 12a shows a sectional view of a portion of the invert forming mold member of Figure 12 looking in the direction of arrows 12a-12a.
Figure 12b shows a sectiona] view of a portion of the invert forming mold member of Figure 12 looking in the direction of arrows 12b-12b.
Figure 12c shows an elevational view, partially sectionalized, of the invert forming mold member of Figure 12.
Figure 13 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment for the invert forming mold assembly of Figure 6 employed for forming base members provided by the present divisional application in accordance with the two pour technique of an embodiment of the invention provided by a first divisional application filed of èven date herewith.
Figure 13a is a perspective view of one of the invert forming members of Figure 13 showing the manner in which a clamping bar is arranged thereon.
Figure 13b shows a sectional view of a portion of the invert forming assembly of Figure 13 looking in the direction of arrows 13b-13b.
Figure 14 shows a perspective vicw, partially sectionalized, of a manhole assembly base of the present divisional app]ication and showing the _ 9 _ ~S)8~)Z~i manner in which an invert forming assembly of the type shown in Figurc 13 is mounted cherein preparatory to casting the invert within the manhole base provided by the present divisional application.
Figure 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the molding apparatus 10 employed for forming a manhole assembly base member in accordance with the single pour technique of an embodiment of the invention provided by the above identified parent application. The molding apparatus 10 is comprised of a disc-shaped member 22 having an outermost periphery 22a adapted to be received within the interior of the lower edge of sidewall 12a of the outer cylindrical mold member 12. The outer cylindrical mold member 12 defines the exterior wall of the manhole base. The manhole base is cast "upsidedown" as will be described in detail hereinbelow. Outer cylindrical mold member 12 is provided with a pair of collars 15, 15 swingably mounted to the exterior of outer cylin-drical mold membcr 12 by fastening pins 13, 13. Collars 15, 15 are each pro-vided with a short section of chain 15a, 15a to receive hooks (not shown) from an overhead crane, for example, for lifting and rotating the molding apparatus 10 as will be more fully described.
Cy~indrical shaped inner mold member 18 is provided with a hinge assembly 19 for respectively increasing or reducing the diameter of the cylin-drical inner mold member 18 for a purpose to be more fully described. Thehinge assembly 19 is initially arranged to increase the diameter of the cylin-drical inner mold member properly to position member 18 upon member 22, so that the cylindrical periphery 22e extends into the interior of mold member 18 and engages the inner periphery thereof~ whereby lower edge 18a rests upon surface 22d of member 22.
The wire reinforcement frame 20 is arranged bctween inner mold mem-ber 18 and outer mold member 12 so that its lower edge rests upon surface 22d.
Frame 20 is comprised of a plurality of vertically arranged wires 20a and horizontally aligned circular-shaped wire loops 20b which define the wire frame 20 to form a reinforcing frame which is mo]ded into the interior of the cast manhole base, as will be more fully described. The wire frame 20 is bent to form openings 20c and 20d for receiving the gasket retainer assemblies 16, 16.
The mold member 14 which forms and defines the invert in the manhole base provided by the present divisional application is comprised of a main body portion 14a having sloping surfaces 14b and 14c arranged on opposite sides of the generally cylindrical shaped invert forming projection 14b.
Flange-like portions 14e and 14f arranged at the ends of a substantially cylindrical shaped projection 14b form recesses within the interior of the manhole base provided by the present divisional application to facilitate in-sertion of connecting pipes, as will be more fully described. Registration pins 14g and 14h reciprocally mounted within the body of member 14 are arranged to be respectively Moved so as to extend outwardly from the ends of projection 14b or to be drawn inwardly for purposes to be more fully described.
Figures 1 and 2a through 2c show the invert forming mold member, which is provided with a guideway 14j slidably receiving and mounting regis-tration pin 14h. An elongated projection 14k is integrally joined to the inner end of registration pin 14h. Projection 14k extends downwardly through an elongated slot 141 provided in the underside 14m of body member 14a. A
similar slot 14n is provided for projection 14p which is integrally joined to the inner end of registration pin 14g. Projections 14k and 14p are recip-rocally movable as shown by double-headed arrows A1 and A2, in order to res-pectively extend and withdraw their associated registration pins 14h and 14g.
Projections 14q and 14r, extending downwardly from the underside of mold member 14, serve as alignment means for aligning member 14 upon the inner cylindrical mold member 18.
Figure la shows a sub-assembly of the casting apparatus 10 of Figure 1 wherein the inner cylindrical mold member 18 is shown having its lower edge _ 11 --1;~086~ZS

suppc)rtecl upon disc-shaped member 22. The reinforcing frame 20 has its lower edge supported upon disc-shaped member 22 and surrounds inner cylindrical mold member 18. The projections 14k and 14p, which extend downwardly and into the interior of inner cylindrical mold member 18, are moved radially out-ward so that their associated pins 14h and 14g extend outwardly from the end surfaces 14f-1 and 14e-1 of the mold member 14. The registration pins 14h and 14g extend into the openings 16b, 16b of the gasket retainer ring assemblies16, 16. The gasket retainer assemblies are comprised of inner and outer ring members 16a, 16b, arranged to sandwich a gasket 17 therebetween. Note espe-cially the left-hand ring assembly of Figure 1. The aforesaid gasket 17 is also shown in Figure 3c in sectional fashion. Ring members 16a, 16b have been shown in dotted fashion in Figure 3c. As can best be seen from the last-mentioned figure, the inner or substantially D-shaped portion 17a of the gasket 17 is sandwiched between inner and outer ring members 16a and 16b. The substantially T-shaped portion 17b of gasket 17 extends radially outward from the ring members 16a and 16b and is adapted to be embedded within the casting material, as will be more fully described. Releasable fastening means (not shown for purposes of simplicity) are utilized to secure ring members 16a and 16b to one another and to firmly secure gasket 17 thereto.
The outer cylindrical mold member 12 is then lowered upon the sub-assembly of Figure la, thereby completing the assembly of the mold members utilized to cast a manhole assembly base. The casting material is then depo-sited into the inner upper end of outer cylindrical mold member 12, the casting material being deposited by gravity so as to fall in the direction of arrow A3 shown in Figure 1, thereby filling the region defined by the lower inner periphery of mold member 12 and the outer periphery of mold member 18 to form the sidewalls of the cast member and further being deposited upon the upper surface of mold member 14. The mold assembly 10 is filled to a level substantially flush with the top edge 12c of outer cylindrical mold member )8025 12, and is thcreaftcr allowcd to set. In ordcr to reduce the time required for the casting matcrial, which is prcferably concrcte, to set, the entire casting apparatus 10 of Figure 1 is enclosed within a shroud or housing (not shown) and steam is introduced into the casting material and thereby speed up the casting operation.
The gasket mouting assemblies 16, 16 are pressed against the interior wall of outer cylindrical mold member 12 and against a portion of the outer periphery of the inner cylindrical mold member 18 in order to form and define the sidewall openings.
After casting material has been set, the entire assembly is lifted by coupling a pair of hooks (not shown) from an ovcrhead crane (not shown) to the chains 15a, 15a, and the entire assembly is partially lifted off the ground and is rotated about collars 15, 15, so as to turn the entire assembly upside-down, after which the disc-shaped member 22 and the outer cylindrical mold member 12 are lifted upwardly and away from the cast manhole base. The clamping assembly 19 is manipulated to cause the martinal portions of the vertical ends 18b and 18c to overlap one another in order to reduce the outer diameter of inner cylindricai member 18 to be lifted out of the interior of the cast manhole base.
Thereafter, the elongated projections 14k and 14p are moved radially inwardly, i.e. toward one another, in order to withdraw the pins 14h and 14g from the gasket retaining assemblies, 16, 16. The mold member 14 is then lifted out from the interior of the cast manhole base.
Thereafter, the fastening means (not shown for purposcs of simplicity) securing the ring-shaped halves 16a and 16b of each gasket rctainer assembly 16, are loosened and then disassembled in ordcr to remove the gasket retainer assemblies 16, 16 from the sidewall openings formed thereby. The gasket sup-porting assembly and gaskct employcd in aspects of the invention provided by the above identificd parent app]ication and provided by a first divisional ~- ~ZO~ 5 application filed of even date herewith arc described in U.S. Patent Nos. 3, 796,406; 3,813,107; and 3,832,438, the aforesaid patents being assigned to the assignee of the present invention and issued on March 12, 1974, May 28, 1974 and August 27, 1974 respectively.
Figures 3a through 3c show the cast manhole base 30 provided by the present divisional application resulting from the casting operation employing the apparatus 10 of Figure 1, the cast manhole base 30 being comprised of a base portion 31 and an integral, upwardly extending cylindrical shaped sidewall 32 terminating in a step-like ledge 33.
. 10 The sloping surfaces 14b and 14c of mold member 14 form the sloping interior surfaces 34a and 34b of base member 30, the surfaces sloping downwardly toward invert 35 formed by the substantially cylindrical shaped ~rojection 14d, forming an integraL part of mold member 14. Surfaces 14b and 14c cause liquids on surfaces 14b and 14c to run back into invert 35.
Flange portions 14e and 14f form and define the recesses 36a and 36b which are substantially semi-circular shaped recesses arranged between the outer ends of invert 35 and the associated sidewall openings 38 and 39.
As can best be seen in Figure 3c, sidewall opening 38 has a tapered portion 38a which tapers inwardly toward gasket 17, and a tapered portion 38b which tapers outwardly away from gasket 17 and which substantially merges with the outward radial end 36a-1 of recess 36a. The D-shaped portion 17a of gasket 17 can be seen to have a hollow interior portion 17a-1~ which enables the gasket to be compressed upon insertion of a connecting pipe. The gasket 17 serves as a pipe-to-manhole seal. Joint assembly is quick and easy. The end 41a of pipe 41, as shown in dotted fashion in Figure 3a, is coated with a suitable lubricant and is pushed into the sidewall opening 38a. The gasket 17 provides a compression-type joint with no moving parts and the simplicity of the joint assembly eliminates both human error and the problems inherent in rigid joints.
The retainer rings 16, 16 hold the gaskets 17, 17 in a shape which precisely ~zv~ s conforms to the curvaturc of the openings 38 and 39. Gaskets 17 provide a positive watertight seal and, together with its associated recess, for example recess 36a, provide at least 10 of omni-directional deflection of pipe 41 relative to the longitudinal axis 43 of the manhole base 35 provided by the present divisional application. As is typical in the installation of the pipe 41, the end of the pipe 41 remote from end 41a is coupled to an adjacent pipe after Eirst installing end 41a into manhole base 30. The pipe 41 is typically arranged at an angle 0 relative to longitudinal axis 43 until its end 41a is moved into sidewall opening 38 by an amount sufficient to cause its end remote from end 41a to clear the end of the pipe (not shown) to which it is to be subsequently joined, whereupon the pipe 41 may then be moved so that its longitudinal axis 44 is brought into coincidence with longitudinal axis 43.
Thus, the recesses 36a and 36b provide the valuable function of facilitating insertion of each pipe, e.g. pipe 41, into its associated sidewall opening, e.g. opening 38.
The registration pins 14g and 14h which cooperate with the central openings 16c in the gasket retaining assemblies 16, 16 assure precise align ment between sidewall openings 38 and 39 and invert 35, thereby assuring smooth,non-turbulent flow of liquid matter as the liquid matter transfers from the incoming pipe 41 to the invert 35 and from the invert 35 to the outgoing pipe 45. The casting operation described hereinabove also enables the manhole base 30 provided by the present divisional application and the invert 35 to be formed in a single operation and at the same site, preferably the factory site, thereby significantly increasing productivity and reducing production costs, as well as providing a more uniform product.
The casting apparatus described hereinabovc in connection with Figures 1 through 3c is cxtrcmely advantageous for use in standardi~ed manhole bases. For example, the manhole base 30 provided by the prescnt divisional application shown in Figures 3a-3c has a linear invert 35 cxtcnding along an ~2V~
imaginary diameter 43 of the manhole base 30 provided by the present divisional application. This invert configuration 35 is utilized in a vast majority of applications making it practical to design and produce a mold member of the type shown as mold member 14. However~ in situations where manhole bases having non-standard sidewall openings and accompanying inverts are required on a less frequent basis or in small quantities which do not warrant the above mass production techniques, but nevertheless should be of the same accuracy and precision design, an alternative design may be used in conjunction with all of the techniques as will be described hereinbelow.
In order to form manhole bases provided by the present divisional application in accordance with the single-pour technique provided by the above identified parent application in which sidewall openings may be arranged at angular orientations other than that shown in Figure 3b, the mold member 50 shown in Figures 12 through 12c may be used in place of the mold member 14 shown in Figures 1 and 2a through 2c.
Mold member 50 is comprised of body portion 52 having sloping side-walls 52a and 52b similar to the sloping sidewalls 14b and 14c of mold member 14 shown, for example, in Figure 2a. The invert forming projection of mold member 50 is comprised of a stationary portion 54 integrally joined to body portion S2 and having a recess forming flange 56 at its outer end, flange 56 being substantially the same as flange 14f shown, for example, in Figure 2a.
The invert forming projection is further comprised of a movable invert portion 58 of substantially cylindrical shape and having an outward radial end provided with a recess forming flange 60 which is substantially the same as flange 14e shown, for example, in Figure 2a. Flanges 56 and 60 are designed to form the recesses such as, for example, thc recesses 36b and 36a of manhole base 30, shown in Figures 3a-3d. Registration pins 62 and 64 are reciprocally mounted in a manner similar to registration pins 14g and 14h of mold member 14 shown, fcr examplc, in Figures 2a and 2b and are operated in 12~B~

a manner to be more fully describcd.
A sectional view of invert forming member 58 is shown in Figure 12a and this invert forming member can be seen to be hollow and has a substantially semi-oval shape. The lower edges 58a and 58b are positioned just above the top surface of body member 52. Channel-shaped resilient sealing gaskets 66, 66, are fitted about the lower edges 58a, 58b, to provide a resilient mount for supporting edges 58a, 58b on the top surface of body member 52 and to prevent casting material from entering into the region between projection 58 and the top surface of body member 52. A supporting assembly comprised of brackets 68a, 70, 72 and 74 have their outer ends secured to the interior surface 58c of invert forming portion 58 and have their opposite ends secured by suitable fastening means 76, 78 to a vacuum grip assembly 80 comprised of a resilient, compressible, substantially bell-shaped member 82 and a pumping assembly 84 having a reciprocating, manually manipulatable operating button 86 which, when repeatedly depressed and released, draws a vacuum in the interior region defined by bell-shaped member 82 and the top surface of body portion 52, thereby firmly mounting invert forming member 58 upon the surface of body member 52. The movable invert forming member 58 can thereby be seen to be capable of being positioned at any suitable angle relative to invert forming portion 54 and is capable of being swung about an imaginary central axis rep-resented by dotted line 88, in either the clockwise or counter-clockwise direction, as shown respectively by arrows A5 and A6. When it is desired to release the invert forming portion 58 from body portion 52, release arm 90 of vacuum grip assembly 80 is depressed, rotating arm 90 in the clockwise direction, as shown by arrow A6 about pivot pin 91, causing the vacuum condi-tion to be interrupted and allowing air at atmospheric pressure to be intro-duced into the hollow region between bell-shaped member 82 and the top surface of body portion 50, thereby releasing the vacuum grip assembly 80 and hence the invert forming portion 58 from body portion 52.

l~U~25 A sectional vicw of the invert forming portion 54 looking in the direction of arrows 12b-12b, as shown in Figure 12b. The lower edges 54a and 54b are secured to the top surface of body portion 52 for example, by weld-ments W, W. A flexible invert forming portion 94 is arranged to span between invert forming portions 54 and 58 as can best be seen in Figures 12 and 12c, and is preferably formed of a rugged cloth or cloth-like material 96 which may be in the form of a wide band wrapped in an overlapping helical fashion so as to embed a preferably continuous, helically-wound supporting wire 98, to form flexible ducting 94 which, in most applications, is typically provided with a circular cross-sectional configuration. The flexible ducting assembly 94 used in an embodiment of the invention provided by the above identified parent application or provided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewith, however, is provided with a substantially D-shaped cross-sec-tional configuration defined by a generally semi-circular portion 94a and a linear surface portion 94b, shown best in Figure 12b.
Both ends of flexible ducting assembly 94 are reinforced by D-shaped reinforcing frames 100 and cooperating straps 102. Since both reinforcing arrangements at both ends of flexible ducting 94 are substantially identical, only one has been shown for purposes of simplicity. As shown in Figure 12b, rigid D-shaped reinforcing frame 100 is positioned within the interior of flexible ducting assembly 94 and ad~acent the right-hand end thereof (relative to Figure 12). A linear strap 102 is positioned along the exterior surface of planar surface portion 94b. Strap 102 and D-shaped reinforcing member 100 are retained in position by fastening assemblies 103 and 104 which secure member 100 to member 102 and which sandwich the planar portion 94b of flcxible ducting assembly 94 therebetween. The right-hand end 94c of flexible ducting assembly 94 is preferably force-fittingly inserted into the hollow region defined by the interior of the left-hand end 54d oE invert forming portion 54 and the top surface of body portion 53. As was described hereinabove, the ~. .

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left-hand end 94d of flexible ducting assembly 94 is provid~d with a similar D-shaped reinforcing member 100 and strap 102 and similarly is preferably force-fittingly inserted between the interior surface of invert-forming portion 58 and the top surface of body portion 52. Obviously, if it is desired to permanently secure flexible ducting portion 94 to invert forming portions 54 and 58, this may be accomplished for example, by providing suitable fastening means.
Figure 12c shows an arrangement in which the registration pins 62 and 64 and the vacuum grip assembly 80 may be operated from a remote source.
As shown in Figure 12c, the manually operable vacuum grip assembly 80 is rep-laced by a vacuum grip assembly 80' secured to the interior of invert forming portion 58 by similar bracket means for example, by bracket member 68. Bell-shaped member 82 is coupled to a remote vacuum/pressure source, (not shown for purposes of simplicity) by means of conduit 107 to draw a vacuum in the interior region defined by bell-shaped member 82 and the top surface of body portion 52. The vacuum condition is selectively released by introducing air of at least atmospheric pressure into the aforesaid hollow interior region when it is desired to reposition invert forming portion 58.
~egistration pins 62 and 64 may be reciprocally operated to be selec-tively moved in the directions shown by double headed arrows A8 and A9 bymeans of piston assemblies 110 and 112, each communicating with a remote vacuum/pressure source (not shown) by means of a common conduit 114 communi-cating with piston cylinders 110 and 112 by means of branch conduits 114a and 114b.
By introducing air under pressure into conduit 114, the piston members llOa, 112a, are moved in the outward radial direction causing the piston rods, which in actuality are registration pins 64 and 62, to move radially outward for insertion into the cooperating central openings in the gasket rctaining assemblies 16, 16 shown, for example, in Figure 1.

lZ08~'~5 By coupling conduit 14 to a vacuum source, pistons 110a, 112a may may be drawn radially inwardly and toward one another to draw pins 64 and 62 into the interior of the invert forming portions 58 and 54, thereby automating these operations.
A manhole base provided by the present divisional application is formed in accordance with the single-pour technique of an embodiment of the invention provided by the above identified parent application and utilizing the mold forming member 50, in a manner substantially similar to the technique described in connection with the apparatus 10 of Figure 1 except that the movable invert forming portion 58 is positioned at the desired angle relative to invert forming portion 54. Flexible ducting assembly 94 is adapted to flex and form a smooth curved portion intermediate the inner ends of invert forming portions 54 and 58 thereby forming a continuous invert forming assembly defined by portions 54 and 58, and the flexible ducting 94 arranged therebetween.
Once moveable invert forming member 58 is properly positioned, a vacuum condition is drawn by the vacuum grip assembly 80, or 80', to firmly secure invert forming portion 58 in the proper angular alignment relative to stationary invert forming member 54.
Thereafter, the invert forming member 50 is positioned upon the inner cylindrical mold member 18 shown in Figure la. in place of the mold forming member 14. Obviously, the horizontally aligned wires 20b are bent in the manner shown in Figure 1 at the proper angular orientations so as to coincide with the positions occupied by the outer ends of invert forming mem-bers 54 and 58. Thereafter, all of the mold forming steps are identical to those described hereinabove in connection with Figure 1 to form a manhole base provided by the present divisional application utilizing the single pour tech-nique provided by the above identified parent application. The invert formed thereby will be provided with two substantially linear invert portions 35' and 35" and a curved, intermediate portion 35 " ', as shown best in the manhole _ 20 -~ZO~Z5 basc 30' provided by the present divisional application of Figure 3d. The remaining advantagcous fcatures and characteristics of manhole basc 30' pro-vided by the present divisional application are substantially identical to those described in conncction with the manhole base 30 provided by the present divisional application of Figures 3a through 3c.
The two pour techniquc provided by a first divisional application filed of evcn date herewith may be employed in place of the single pour tech-niquc provided by the above identified parent application and is further uniquely advantageous for use in forming manhole bases provided by the present divisional application having more than two sidewall openings. The first stage of the two pour technique provided by a first divisional application filcd of even date herewith is performed through the utilization of the casting apparatus 10' of Figure 4 which is substantially identical to the casting apparatus 10 of Figure 1, except that the mold member 14 provided in the apparatus 10 of Figure 1 is not used in the two pour technique provided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewith. More particularly, outer cylindrical mold member 12 is shown positioned upon disc-shaped member 22. Inner cylindrical mold member 18, although shown in exploded fashion, is also supported upon disc-shaped member 22 and is further provided with a closed top surface 18d. Wire reinforcing frame 20 is likewise positioned upon disc-shaped member 22 and the horizontally aligned wires 20b are bent to form openings 20c and 20d to receive the gasket retaining assemblies 16, 16.
In the absence of the mold member 14, gasket retaining asscmblies 16, 16, are properly positioned and secured in the desired position by threaded members T1, T2, which extend through openings 12d and 12e in outer cylindrical mold member 12, in order to threadedly engage openings 16c, 16c which are tappcd to provide a threaded engagement with threaded fastening members T1 and T2. The threaded fastening members are providcd with cnlarged flangc s portions Tla and T2a which rest against the exterior surface of outer cylin-drical mold member t2 so that when tightened, the threaded ~asteners T1 and T2 cause the adjacent edges of retainer members 16a, 16a, to be firmly urged against the interior surface of outer cylindrical mold member 12. Once the above-mentioned mold members of casting apparatus 10' are fully assembled, the casting operation is begun. The manhole base is cast "upside-down". The hollow interior region between the exterior surface of inner cylindrical mold member 18 and the interior surface of outer cylindrical mold member 12 form and define the sidewalls of the manhole base. The remaining interior region between the closed end 18d of mold member 18 and the mdld member 12 extending thereabove form and define the bottom of the manhole base.
After the casringmaterial has been poured into the mold apparatus, the casting material is allowed to set. To facilitate the setting of the casting material, the molding apparatus 10' may be covered with a housing or shroud (not shown) for purposes of simplicity). Steam under pressure is then introduced into the shroud to raise the temperature level of the casting material and thereby accelerate the setting of the casting material.
Once the casting material has been set, hooks (not shown) coupled to an overhead crane (not shown) are connected to chains 15a, 15a, to lift the entire casting apparatus 10'. The apparatus 10' is lifted a distance above the ground sufficient to allow the entire casting apparatus to be turned "rightside-up", the casting apparatus being swung about the central axis of collars 15, 15. After being turned over, the casting apparatus 10' is then set upon the ground and threaded fasteners T1 and T2 are removad. The inner and outer mold members are then removed and the fastening means (not shown) coupling the gasket retaining members 16a and 16b of each gasket retaining assembly 16 are removed to remove member 16a and 16b from each of the sidewall openings which they form and define, thereby completing the casting operation.

_ 22 -~Ithough the example of Figure 4 shows a molding apparatus for forming a manhole base provided by the present divisional application having two side-wall openings, it should be understood that three or more sidewall openings may be formed throught he use of the apparatus 10' of Figure 4, and through the use of additional gasket retaining assemblies 16 and threaded fastening members T, as well as appropriate openings provided in the sidewall of outer cylindrical mold member 12 to position and secure the gasket retaining members at desired locations.
Figure 5 shows a manhole base 120 provided by the present divisional application formed through the use of the molding apparatus tO' shown in Figure 4, and being comprised of a bottom portion 122 and integral upwardly extending sidewall 124 having openings 126 and 128, each provided with a resi-lient compressible gasket 130 and 132, respectively. The step-like upper edge 134 is designed to receive and support a complementary step-like lower edge of an intermediate or riser member of a manhole assembly (not shown), as is conventional in manhole assembly technology.
The interior floor 136 of manhole base 120 is substantially flat and is positioned well below the lower ends of the sidewall openings 126, 128.
The second phase of the two pour technique provided by a first divisional application filed of even date herewith, i.e. the formation of the invert, is performed through the use of the apparatus 140 shown in Figures 6 through 8b and comprised of an invert forming member 142 having a substantially cylindrical shaped portion 142a, a planar upper surface 1~2b, having an elon-gated flat bar 144 integrally joined thereto and having a substantially semi-circular shaped recess forming Elange portion 142c provided at one end thereof and adapted to form the recess arranged between the outer end of the invert and the adjacent sidewall opening, such as for example the recesses 36a and 36b shown in Figure 3a, and the recesses to be described hereinbelow in con-nection with Figure 10.

~Z~ 25 Flange portion 142c has a planar end surface 142d provided with a tapped opening 142e which is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of semi-cylin~
drical portion 142a.
Dish-shaped registration member 146 forming part of the invert for-ming assembly 146a and an integral flange 146b sloping outwardly therefrom.
The disc-shaped central portion 146a has a curvature conforming to the cur-vature of gasket 17. A centrally located opening 146c is provided in disc-shaped central portion 146a has a curvature conforming to the curvature of gasket 17. A centrally located opening 146c is provided in disc-shaped por-tion 146a.
Dish-shaped registration membcr 146 is press-fitted into opening 126, so that the cxterior surface of flange 146b rests upon tapered surface 126a of opening 126 and so that the marginal portion of disc-shaped central portion 146a rests against the right-hand surface 17f and conforms with the curvature of gasket 17.
An elongated threaded rod 148, also forming part of the invert for-ming apparatus 140, is extended through opening 146c and threadedly engages tapped opening 142e. The left-hand end of threaded rod 148 extends through an elongated slot 150a in rigid elongated plate 150 which is positioned to span opening 126 and rest against the exterior surface of sidewall 124. Elon-gated threaded rod 148 has a length sufficient to extend through elongated slot 150a. A butterfly fastener 152 is threaded on to the left-hand end of rod 148 and is adequately tightened an amount sufficient to cause dish-shaped registration member 146 to be pressed firmly against gasket 17 and to cause invert forming member 142 to be tightly drawn against dish-shaped rcgistration member 146.
Opening 146c is located along an imaginary axis 154 which is precisely aligned with and passes through the center of opening 126, which is also the center of gasket 130. Opening 142e in mcmber 142 is also coincident with ~LZ~ ;Z5 imaginary axis 154 which coincides with the longitudinal axis of the invert forming portion 142a. By interconnecting all of the components of thc inv~rt forming assembly 140 shown in Figure 6, precise alignment between the portion of the invert formed by member 142 and sidewall opening 126 is simply and yet positively assured.
An assembly substantially identical to the invert forming assembly 140 of Figure 6 is secured in place in each of the sidewall openings 126 and 128. Obviously in embodiments in which three or more sidewall openings are provided, an apprpriate number of assemblies 140 is provided for each such sidewall opening.
Figure 9 shows a manhole base 120' substantially similar to the man-hole base 120 of Figure 5 and having three sidewall openings, each having an invert forming assembly 140, 140' and 140 " mounted thereto in the manner described hereinabove in connection with Figure 6.
In order to be assured that each of the assemblies 140 through 140 "
have their interior ends in the proper angular orientation and to further assure that the invert forming members 142, 142' and 142 " are horizontally aligned, i.e~. have their upper surfaces 142b, 142b' and 142b " lying in a common imaginary horizontal plane, elongated rigid bars are clamped in place to obtain such alignment. For example, Figure 6 shows an elongated rigid bar 156 bent at 156a so that two straight portions 156b and 156c Erom an angle which angle is precisely the desired angle to be formed between the invert forming portions so joined. Straight portion 156b is placed against elongated projection 144 and with its lower edge 156b-1 resting against planar top sur-face 142b. SuitabLe clamping means, such as, for example, the clamping means C1 and C2, are utillzed to retain the portion 156b of bar 156 in position relative to elongated projection 144 and hencc member 142. The remaining half 156c of bar 156 is placed against projection 14~l' of assembly 140' and resting on surface 142b' and is similarly clamped into place by clamping members C3 iZ(~8~ 5 and C4. This technique assures that the top surfaces 142b and 142b' of mcmbcrs 142 and 142' lic in a common horizontal plane, further assuring precise align-ment and accurate registration as between the invert to bc formed thercby and the associated sidewall openings in the manhole base 120'.
Precise alignment and orientation of invert forming assembly 140 "
is accomplished in a similar manner by utilization of a bent bar 156' having its linear portion 156a' clamped toprojcctio~ 144 " by clamping means C5 and C6 and having its linear half 156b' clamped to projection 144' by clamping means C4.
When the assemblies shown in Figure 9 are fully assembled and inter-connected to one anotherin the manner described hereinabove, the casting material is poured into the interior of manhole bsae 120 provided by the present divisional application to fill the interior thereof to the proper height. The sloping surfaces surrounding the invert are manually shape and formed by operators as the casting material is poured into manhole base 120' provided by the present divisional application. The center portion 160d of the invert in the region of the gap G between the inner ends of the invert forming assemblies 140, 140' and 140 " is manually formed by the operators during the casting operation. After the casting material has been poured and allowed to set, the assemblies 140, 140' and 140'' are disassembled and removed from manhole base 120' provided by the present divisional application.
The completed manhole base 120 " provided by the present divisional application is shown in Figure 10 as having an invert defined by three invert portions 160a, 160b and 160c. The flanges such as, for example, the flange portion 142c of Figures 6 and 8a, form the recess portions 162, 164 and 166 positioned between the outer end of each invert portion 160a, 160b and 160c and the associatcd sidewall openin~ 168, 170 and 172 respectively.
Figures 6a and 6b show a clamping bar assembly 180 which may be substituted for the clamping bar 156 shown, for example, in Figure 6. Thc lZl~ 3;2~

clamping bar assembly 180 is comprised of cooperating members 182 and 184, each being comprised of an clongated bar 182a, 184a and a dlsh-shaped coupling member 182b, 184b respectively, each such cup-shaped member being provided with a central opening 182b-1, 184b-1 for receiving fastening member 186 in the form of a threaded bolt adapted to threadedly engage nut 188. The exterior diagonally aligned surface portion 182b-2 of dish-shaped member 182b is knurled or otherwise roughened and the interior diagonally aligned surface 184b-3 of dish-shaped member 184b is likewise knurled or roughened and cooperates with knurled surface 182b-2 to lock the dish-shaped members 182b and 184b together when fastening members 186, 188 are suitably tightened. The dish-shaped members 182b, 184b and hence the bars 182a, 184a, may be arranged at any desired angular orientation in order to coincide with the angular orientation of the invert forming members such as, for example, member 142 in order to clamp the invert forming members at the proper angle. If desired, a marker 190 may be provided on dish-shaped member 182b and cooperating indicia may be placed about the exterior diagonally aligned surface 184b--2 to cooperate with marker 190 in order to facilitate setting of arms 182a, 184a at the desired angular orientation.
Figure 11 shows a typical assembly 200 similar to the assembly 140 of Figure 6 and which may be employed to form an invert in a relatively large size manhole base provided by the present divisional application, the assembly 200 of Figure 11 preferably being formed of a plastic material to minimize production costs, aLthough any other suitable material mayhe employed if desired. The most prevalent size manhole base typically is designed to acco~mo-date a concrete pipe having an outer diameter of 2 feet or more. The invert forming assembly 200 is designed to form an invert of a very large size dia-meter and, as a result, is provided with a pair of dish-shaped registration members 202, 204 each adapted to be positioned within the interior half of a sidewall opening and having surfaces 202a, 204a arranged to rest against - 27 _ 3L21~B~

the tapered interior surface 126a of sidewall opening 126 (see Fig. 6) while the outer marginal portion of surfaces 202b, 204b are designed to rest against the surface 17f of gasket 17. As was described hereinabove, and especially due to the large diameter of the sidewall opening, each sidewall opening, e.g.
sidewall opening 126, for example, has a curvature conforming to thc radius of curvature of the manhole base gasket which conforms to the radius of cur-vature of the manhole base sidcwall, such radius of curvature being measured in a horizontal plane which is perpendicular to the sidewall of the manhole base.
The invert defining members 206 and 208, similar to the invert defining member described in connection with Figure 6, are each provided with a planar top surface 206a, 208a having an elongated linear projection 210, 212 and having the outer ends thereof provided with flange portins 206a, 208a for forming the aforementioned recesses arranged between the outer ends of the invert and the associated sidewall opening. The substantially semicircular shaped peripheries 206c, 208c form and define asssociated portions of the invert within the manhole base provided by the present divisional application.
The invert fprming assembly 200 is mounted within a manhole base provided by the present divisional application of the type shown in Figure 9 in a manner substantially the same as and utilizing substantially the same apparatus as the invert forming assembly shown in Figure 6. More specifically, cach dish-shaped registration member 202, 204 is provided with a central opening 202c, 204c and, although not shown, the outer cnds of invert forming members 206 and 208 are likewise providcd with cooperating tapped openings Eor receiving a threaded rod such as, for example, the threadcd rod 148 of Figure 6. Open-ings 202c, 204c are coincident with the ccnter of the openings 126, 128 in sidewall 124 (see Figure 5). The openings (not shown) provided in members 206 and 208 are coincident with the longitudinal axis of the invert to be formcd. These centers arc simply and rapidly brought into prccise axial align-3~

ment when the assembly 200 is mounted within manhole base 120 provided by the present divisional application and Eixedly secured in place through the additional means of the rigid plate 150 and fastener 152. As was described hereinabove, the gap G between the inner ends of members 206 and 208 is formed during the casting operation to conform to the shape of the invert by operators who remove sufficient casting material to provide the desired shape of the invert at the intermediate portion thereof. Similarly, the operators also move and/or shape the casting material in the region on opposite sides of the invert being formed to form surfaces 161a, 161b, 161c (see Figure 10) which slope downwardly toward the invert in order to assure that any liquid falling upon such sloping surfaces flows downwardly along the sloping surfaces to be returned to the invert.
The horizontal alignment of the assembly 200 is obtained through the use of a clamping member 180 and clamping assemblies C9 and C10, by clam-ping member 180 to projections 210 and 212 in a manner described hereinabove in connection with the embodiment of Figure 6. Forming the assembly 200 as shown in Figure 11 of a suitable plastic material, e.g., synthetic polyester, for example, greatly reduces production costs for producing assemblies 200 and yet provides apparatus which is sufficiently durable to withstand repeated use.
As was the case with the mold structure employed in the single-pour apparatus provided by the above identified parent application, the apparatus shown, for example, in Figures 6 and 11 may be modified to provide an inter-mediate flexible connector similar to that employed with the single-pour mold forming apparatus provided by the above identified parent application shown in Figure 12 and provided for use in conjunction with the two-pour technique.
For example, Figures 13 through 13b show invert forming apparatus 300 similar to that shown in Figures 6 and 11 and comprised of invert defining members 302 and 304 having planar top surfaces 302a, 304a; substantially semi-cylindrical invcrt forming surfaces 302b, 304b; elongated projcctions 302c, 304c; and recess forming flanges 302d, 304d. The invert forming members 302 and 304 are preferably hollow. Noting, for example, Figure 13a, a portion of invert ~orming membcr 304 is shown therein and is providcd with an open inner end 304e. A portion 304a-1 of top surface 304a is removed in order to accommodate the intermcdiate flexible coupling 306 comprised of a rugged and yet bendable material such as a rugged fabric 306a which is wrapped in a substantially helical fashion about a substantially helically wound wire reinforcement 306b to form a flexible duct having a planar top surface 306c and a substantially semi-cylindrical bottom surface 306d. The flexible ducting 306 is reinforced in the same manner as the flexible ducting 94 shown, for example, in Figure 12b in that a D-shaped reinforcing duct 306. A strap 310 is placed along the exterior surface of the planar portion 306d and fastening means 312 are util-ized to secure D-shaped reinforcing frame 308 and plate 310, with the planar section 306c of flexible ducting 306 sandwiched therebetween. Figures 13 through 13b show the manner in which the right-hand end of flexlble duct 306 is positioned within the left-hand end of member 304, with clamping plate 310 being positioned within the cutaway portion 304a-1 of planar top 304a. The flexible 306 is preferably force-fitted within the interior of member 304 and is further retained in place when clamping bar 314, which is arranged to engage projection 304c and to rest upon the top surface 304a of member 304 also over-]ies the top surface 306c of flexible ducting 306 and is clamped in position, as shown for example, in Figure 13a so that bar 314 rests upon the surface of plate 310 and thereby serves to retain thc Elexible ducting 306 in position.
The left-hand end of Elexible ducting 306 is positioned within member 302 in a similar manner, plate 316 being positioned within a cutaway portion of top surface 302a. The invert forming assembly 300 of Figure 13 is utili~cd in conjunction with dish-shaped registration members such as, for example, the dish-shaped members 320, 322 and 324, shown in Figure 14 as being arrangcd within an associated sidewall opening within manhole base 326 providcd by the prescnt divisional application. A threadcd rod of thc type shown as rod 148 in Figure 6 extends through central openings (not shown) provided within each of the dish-shapcd registration members 320, 322 and 324 and threadedly en-gages tapped openings (not shown) in the outcr ends of members 302 and 304, which tapped openings are similar to the tapped openings 142e, for exas~nple, shown in Figure 6. Clamping bars such as, for example, the clamping bar 328 is provided along the exterior surface of the manhole base sidewall 326a and at each sidewall opening. Fastening means, such as, for example the fastening member 152 shown in Figure 6 threadedly engages the aforementioned threaded rod 148 and is tightened to firmly urge each dish-shaped registration member 320, 322 and 324 against the gasket 17 (see Figure 6) within the associated side-wall opening. Figure 14 shows a manhole base 326 having three sidewall openings and receiving assembly 300 shown in Figure 13 as well as an additional assembly comprised of member 32 which is substantially identical to the mem-bers 302 and 304.
A clamping bar 330 bent at the proper angular orientation is posi-tioned upon ~lanar surfaces 302a and 304a so that it rests against projections 302c and 304c respectively. Clamping members, which have been omitted from 20 Figure 13 for purposes of simplicity, are utilized to secure clamping bar 330to projections 302c and 304c. A second clamping bar 334 which is bent at the proper anglc is p]aced upon planar surfaces 304a and 332a o~ invert forming members 304 and 332 and so that it rests against projections 304c and 332c.
Clamping bar 334 is likewise secured to projections 332c and 304c by suitable clamping members of the type shown, for example, in Figure 11. The assemblies 300 and 332 shown in Figure 14 assure formation of an invert whose longitudinal axis is in precise alignment with the center of each associated sidcwall opening.
I-lorizontal alignment of the membcrs 302, 304 and 332 is assurcd by the use of the clamping bars 330 and 334, sccurcd in placc by thc atorementioned clamping members such as, for example, the clamping members C9 and C10 shown in Figure 11. When the invert forming apparatus is fully assembled, the casting material is poured into the interior of manhole base 326 to a levcl sufficient to form the substantially T-shaped invert (160a, 160b, 160c - see Figure 10) defined by members 302, and eliminates the need for removing casting material in the region between the inner ends of members 302 and 304. Thus, when an invert having three branchcs of the type shown in Figure 14 is to be formed (not also Figure 10), casting material need only be removed in the gap region G between the inner end of invert forming 332 and the adjacent sides of members 302 and 30~ and flexible ducting 306. The casting material is then allowed to set.
In order to expedite the setting operation, a shroud (not shown) may be placed over the base member 326 and steam of a predetermined temperature and pressure may be introduced into the shroud to elevate the temperature of the casting material thereby expediting thesetting operation. ~uring casting, operators move and shape the casting material to form sloping surfaces on opposite sides on each of the invert portions to cause any liquid falling upon the sloping surfaces to drain into the invert.
On,ce the casting material is set, the fasteners 152 (see Figure 6) are removed to disassemble the invert forming assemblies which are then removed from the manhole base 326 provided by the present divisional application, yielding a manhole base provided by the present divisional application whose invert is precisely aligned with the sidewall openings in the base member.

Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A manhole base formed of a suitable casting material, said manhole base comprising:
(a) a base portion and a hollow cylindrical shaped sidewall extending upwardly from said base portion, said sidewall having at least first and second openings;
(b) an annular-shaped sealing gasket arranged in each opening;
(c) an invert formed in the surface of said base portion and extending between said first and second sidewall openings, said invert having a substantially semi-circular shaped cross-section; and (d) a clearance groove provided in said base portion between the outer ends of said invert and its associated sidewall opening, each of said clearance grooves extending into the interior of said base portion from the interior sidewall of said manhole base by an amount which is sufficient to facilitate insertion of a coupling pipe into each opening by providing sufficient clearance for the end of a pipe extending into the interior of said manhole assembly, and even in the event that said pipe is oriented at an angle of up to 15° relative to the longitudinal axis of the invert during insertion of the pipe into the manhole assembly.

2. The manhole base of Claim 1 wherein each of said clearance grooves is a substantially semi-circular shaped recess having an inner diameter greater than the inner diameter of said invert, to facilitate the insertion of a pipe into a sidewall opening and at an angle relative to the longitudinal axis of the invert.

3. The manhole base of claim 2 wherein each of said sidewall openings has an inner tapered portion which tapers outwardly away from said gasket and which substantially merges with the outward radial end of its associated recess.

4. The manhole base of Claim 1 wherein the interior surface of the manhole base between said invert and the interior surface of said sidewall slopes downwardly from the interior surface of the sidewall of the manhole base towards said invert to cause liquid matter in the interior of said manhole base to flow into said invert.

5. The manhole base of claim 1 wherein the end of the pipe projecting into said manhole opening extends over said clearance groove and has its axis aligned with the central axis of said sidewall opening.

6. The manhole base of claim 1 wherein each of sid annular-shaped sealing gaskets has a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional portion embedded in the casting material and having a resilient portion extending radially inward from said T-shaped cross-sectional portion and yieldable to receive an end of a pipe, and forming a water-tight seal with the exterior surface of said pipe.