Method and apparatus for sealing manholes
 A method and apparatus for sealing manholes which includes the installation of a donut-shaped seal structure in the chimney, cone or base of a manhole at a selected distance from the manhole cover and seating a dish-shaped manhole insert in an opening provided in the seal structure to define a manhole seal. The seal structure element of the manhole seal is installed by initially mounting a flexible form base to the chimney, the concentric or eccentric cone or the base of a manhole by means of anchor bolts and masonry anchor plugs. A flexible form is then seated on the form base and concrete is poured in the annulus between the form base and the chimney wall, in order to define the seal structure. A manhole insert seal may then be seated in the top surface of the seal structure for receiving the flange or rim of the manhole insert component of the manhole seal. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a lift strap and plug are provided in the dish of the manhole insert and these elements are fitted with floats for locating both the lift strap and the plug when the manhole insert and the manhole above the manhole seal are filled with water. The plug can be pulled to drain the manhole insert and the lift strap then used to remove the manhole insert from the seal structure. 
E
E02D
inventional
David L.
Neathery