Vacuum system
AssigneeThe Charles Machine Works, Inc.
InventorCody L. Sewell
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A vacuum system for use in excavation operations. The system uses a tank having an open end that is closed by a door. The door is opened and closed by a door lifting assembly made up of an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm and a hydraulic cylinder. A socket is formed in the upper linkage arm, and a shaft housing is formed in the lower linkage arm. The shaft housing engages with the socket to latch the door closed. The upper linkage arm is attached to the door at a first pivot axis and is attached to the lower linkage arm at a second pivot axis. The lower linkage arm is attached to a side of the tank at a third pivot axis. When the door is open, the second pivot axis extends below a reference plane that contains the first and third pivot axis.
Claims20
A vacuum system, comprising:
- a tank having an open end and a closed end;
- a door secured to the tank by a hinge and configured to close the open end of the tank;
- and
- a door lifting assembly, comprising:
- a primary linkage arm, having a first end and a second end, in which the first end is pivotally secured to the door at a first pivot axis;
- and
- a secondary linkage arm, having a first end and a second end, in which the first end of the secondary linkage arm is pivotally secured to the second end of the primary linkage arm at a second pivot axis;
- in which the secondary linkage arm is pivotally secured to a first side of the tank at a third pivot axis disposed between the first end and the second end of the secondary linkage arm;
- and
- in which the second pivot axis is always positioned intermediate the third pivot axis and the hinge.
A vacuum system, comprising:
- a tank having an open end and a closed end;
- a movable door configured to close the open end of the tank;
- and
- a door lifting assembly, comprising:
- a first rigid link element having two and only two points for pivotal attachment, designated as first and second attachment points, the first link element pivotally secured to the door at the first attachment point;
- a second rigid link element having three and only three points for pivotal attachment, designated as a primary attachment point and first and second secondary attachment points, the second link element pivotally attached to the second attachment point of the first link element at the second secondary attachment point, the second link element pivotally attached to the tank at the primary attachment point, in which a minimum central angle defined by movement of the secondary attachment points about the primary attachment point is greater than 90 degrees;
- and
- a motive power source pivotally attached to the first secondary attachment point of the second link element.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.