Talk:Manhole cover

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I altered the text to remove the suggestion that most manholes are round because this is not the case in most countries I have been to outside of North America. Also removed suggestion that they are made of steel as this contradicts the later assertion that most are made of cast iron. Added section on political correctness. --Ali@gwc.org.uk 08:08, 5 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I'm surprised at your statement - I've traveled in 35 countries in my life, and while I can't say I have studied manhole covers I never recall seeing a non-round one! Where have you seen non-round manhole covers? - DavidWBrooks 22:36, 5 Sep 2004 (UTC)
Rectangular covers are common in the UK. http://www.saint-gobain-pipelines.co.uk/watersewer/telecom/mc_shdbriton.cfm Bobblewik  (talk) 11:34, 6 Sep 2004 (UTC)
Indeed, I don't recall ever seeing a round one in the UK... Whilst I don't claim to pay much attention to them, I don't recall seeing many round ones anywhere in Europe. --Ali@gwc.org.uk 20:32, 6 Sep 2004 (UTC)

>> In reality, there is little danger of lids falling through the hole with any shape of manhole because small shelves, or lips, are built into the hole to help hold up the cover, effectively reducing the hole's diameter.

This wasn't quite right as it stood. There's a ledge because the cover has to sit on something, and one has to be pretty clumsy in the first place to let it slide diagonally. But when it happens there's a difference between round and square and the ledge plays no big role in it. Femto 18:39, 7 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I have moved the Feynman quote to the external links, because it isn't a quote but a made-up "what if" skit. If we include satirical content we also have to put in Andrei Codrescu: "In a fight, a round shield is better than a square one. The circle is also a symbol of infinity, which is why church domes are also round. The principle of 'as above as below' reminds pedestrians that they live in a divine world." ...Makes you think, doesn't it? Femto 18:39, 7 Sep 2004 (UTC)

I had included the now removed sentence about diagonally parted covers because of what appears near the bottom of http://www.pavingexpert.com/drain05.htm. Any reason not to mention those? Femto 12:46, 9 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Only that it was very hard to understand. I tried to rewrite it and made it worse, and ended up deleting it, which was perhaps not the best move. - DavidWBrooks 13:38, 9 Sep 2004 (UTC)
I feel your pain here. If anybody thinks they succeed in explaining it in a simple wording, be our guest then. Femto 14:02, 9 Sep 2004 (UTC)

Contents

[edit] Machining of manhole covers

I have added the sentence about machining manhole covers. It is nearly impossible to machine the bearing surface of a rectangular frame in the corners. Turning is far easier. M Pulver

[edit] What the hell?

It looks like User:Sonjaaa is engaging in political correctness run amok. I just ran a Google search for "maintenance cover" and nearly all hits use it as a shorthand for "maintenance coverage contract." While I am well aware of the need to use gender-neutral language, Wikipedia is subject to the no original research policy. Making up a gender-neutral term that no one actually uses is "original research." If Sonjaaa has a cogent argument that "manhole cover" should be replaced by "maintenance cover," she can go make the argument to the appropriate professional organizations for whomever works in manholes. When they change their official terminology, then Wikipedia can follow the change. Also see the guideline on naming conventions at Wikipedia:Naming conventions (common names), which states that Wikipedia should use common names as much as possible. Manhole cover is the common name. Like it or not, "maintenance cover" is not the common name. --Coolcaesar 04:43, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

I agree that the article should be put at Manhole cover to reflect prevalent usage. As far as I know, there is no WP policy on using gender-neutral language that over-rides this primary axiom of the naming conventions. Either way, a non-trivial move like this one should have been preceded by talk-page discussion first. Aquilina 11:52, 11 May 2006 (UTC)

Besides, "man" is already a gender-neutral term when used in the generic sense. See http://www.onelook.com/?w=man . 209.208.77.86 21:41, 1 July 2006 (UTC)

I agree. Manhole, and manhole cover, are gender-neutral in my mind. I would not be surprised if there are people who want to eliminate "man" from as many words as they can, but I don't think "maintenance cover" is as meaningful to native English speakers as "manhole cover" is. But maybe I'm just perpetuating the patriarchal hegemony. UltraNurd 16:40, 23 August 2006 (UTC)

Hilariously, the only Google hits for "maintenance hatch cover" reference this article, and copies of it. I call "original research" on that, and have removed the section, which was not supported by any citation. If it's restored, I will drown it in {{Fact}} tags. -- Rogerborg 23:44, 2 January 2007 (UTC)

On further searching, I can't find any references for "maintenance cover" or "maintenance hole" anywhere, and have removed uses of these terms from this article. I'm fairly sure that there will be uses of them, but until we see the citations, out they go. -- Rogerborg 12:45, 3 January 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Requested move

maintenance cover → manhole cover

  • Support Femto 12:21, 11 May 2006 (UTC)
  • Support if only because such a move shouldn't be made without discussion. - DavidWBrooks 16:43, 11 May 2006 (UTC)
  • Support for the reasons I have articulated above. --Coolcaesar 17:03, 11 May 2006 (UTC)
  • Support for reasons detailed above Aquilina 17:14, 11 May 2006 (UTC)
  • Support ~ trialsanderrors 09:00, 12 May 2006 (UTC)
  • Support. Convention applicable here calls for us to use the most common name, which is Manhole cover. -Hit bull, win steak(Moo!) 16:37, 13 May 2006 (UTC)
Done. —Nightstallion (?) 07:16, 16 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Race cars and manholes

If memory serves correctly, ground effects were banned in F1 for safety concerns, so the statement that F1 cars can (implying currently) lift manhole covers is inaccurate. I don't want to make the change without some discussion. Does anyone know another sort of car that can currently do this? - JaKaL! 01:01, 26 May 2006 (UTC)

The incident in Montreal in 1990 was not a F1 car but Group C sport prototype. Group C prototypes were running on the same track as the Formula 1 grand prix on the same weekend.

[edit] Microsoft

according the this article on h2g2 IBM has been asking that question since the sixties. http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/A10607087#footnote1 Scatterkeir 20:32, 22 September 2006 (UTC)

[edit] Vapor coming out of manholes

Have you guys ever seen, especially in downtown areas, where vaporous stuff resembling steam or smoke comes out of the sewer manholes? What is this??? JustN5:12 01:04, 20 February 2007 (UTC)

It's probably just steam leaking from district heating mains.