Transfer systems for receiving and conveying material
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsBrandon Storm, Nathan Meyer, Gregory Anderson, Markus Terry, Joshua Seibert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Transfer systems for receiving and conveying material such as earthen slurries discharged from vacuum excavators are disclosed. The transfer system may include a holding tank and a conveyor such as a drag-slat conveyor that extends into the tank to remove and convey material from the tank. The transfer system includes a hatch. The hatch is moveable from a closed position in which vehicles travel over the hatch to an open position in which the holding tank is open to receive material from the vacuum excavator.
Claims22
A transfer system for receiving and conveying material from transport vehicles comprising:
- a holding tank;
- a hatch movable between a closed position in which a holding tank opening is covered and an open position in which the holding tank opening is uncovered, the hatch having a drive-over surface;
- one or more frame members that extend across the holding tank opening to support vehicles that move across the drive-over surface, the hatch being disposed above the one or more frame members;
- and
- a conveyor that extends into the holding tank to remove material from the holding tank, the conveyor having a top course and a bottom course, the conveyor top course and bottom course being disposed below the frame member.
A dumping station for receiving material from a transport vehicle, the dumping station comprising:
- a holding tank for receiving material discharged from a transport vehicle, the holding tank having a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the holding tank having a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the first and second sidewalls;
- a hatch having a drive-over surface disposed above the holding tank;
- a first frame member for supporting transport vehicles which move across the drive-over surface, the frame member being orthogonal to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a second frame member for supporting transport vehicles which travel over the drive-over surface, the second frame member being orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, the hatch being disposed above the first and second frame members.
A dumping station for receiving material from a transport vehicle, the dumping station having a longitudinal axis, the dumping station comprising:
- a holding tank;
- a hatch movable between a closed position in which a holding tank opening is covered and an open position in which the holding tank opening is uncovered;
- an actuator assembly for moving the hatch between the open position and the closed position;
- and
- a frame comprising:
- a first mount system for connecting the actuator assembly, the hatch moving in a first direction as it moves from the closed position to the open position when the actuator assembly is connected to the first mount system, the first direction being transverse to the longitudinal axis;
- and
- a second mount system for connecting the actuator assembly, the hatch moving in a second direction as it moves from the closed position to the open position when the actuator assembly is connected to the second mount system, the second direction being transverse to the longitudinal axis.
A dumping station for receiving material from a transport vehicle, the dumping station comprising:
- a holding tank;
- a hatch having a width, the hatch being movable between a closed position in which a holding tank opening is covered and an open position in which the holding tank opening is uncovered, the holding tank opening having a width created when the hatch is in the open position, the hatch moving within an area that extends vertically above the width of the holding tank opening as the hatch moves from the open position to the closed position, the area having a maximum height, a ratio of the maximum height of the area to the width of the hatch being less than about 0.33;
- and
- an actuator assembly for moving the hatch between the open position and the closed position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.