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US 10,808,377 B1Granted
Microtrencher having an improved vacuum system and method of microtrenching
AssigneeCciip LLC
InventorsAngleo J. Pino, Jr., Daniel Urban
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A microtrencher having a vacuum system configured to clean spoil from a microtrench having a side shroud and a suction nozzle. A method of using the microtrencher to cut a microtrench in a roadway and using the vacuum system to clean spoil from the roadway and microtrench.
Claims18
A microtrencher having a vacuum system configured for continuously cutting a microtrench in a roadway and cleaning spoil from the microtrench comprising:
- a motorized vehicle;
- a side-discharge cutting wheel connected to the vehicle and being configured to continuously cut through a roadway to create a microtrench in the roadway and deposit spoil removed from the microtrench along at least one side of the microtrench;
- a cutting wheel shroud covering at least a portion of the side-discharge cutting wheel;
- a vacuum device comprising a storage container configured to contain spoil vacuumed from a microtrench;
- and
- a first side shroud disposed on at least one side of the cutting wheel shroud, the first side shroud being connected to the vacuum device and being configured to vacuum the spoil from the at least one side of the microtrench to the storage container, wherein the first side shroud comprises at least one road seal configured to at least partially seal a side wall of the side shroud to the roadway.
3 more elements
A microtrencher having a vacuum system configured for continuously cutting a microtrench in a roadway and cleaning spoil from the microtrench comprising:
- a motorized vehicle;
- a side-discharge cutting wheel connected to the vehicle and being configured to continuously cut through a roadway to create a microtrench in the roadway and deposit spoil removed from the microtrench along at least one side of the microtrench;
- a cutting wheel shroud covering at least a portion of the side-discharge cutting wheel;
- a vacuum device comprising a storage container configured to contain spoil vacuumed from a microtrench;
- a first side shroud disposed on at least one side of the cutting wheel shroud, the first side shroud being connected to the vacuum device and being configured to vacuum the spoil from the at least one side of the microtrench to the storage container;
- and
- a suction nozzle configured to be inserted into the microtrench and being connected to the vacuum device, and the suction nozzle comprising an elongated body defining a hollow chamber with an opening at one end and a vacuum connector at an opposing end.
4 more elements
A microtrencher having a vacuum system configured for continuously cutting a microtrench in a roadway and cleaning spoil from the microtrench comprising:
- a motorized vehicle;
- a side-discharge cutting wheel connected to the vehicle and being configured to continuously cut through a roadway to create a microtrench in the roadway and deposit spoil removed from the microtrench along at least one side of the microtrench;
- a cutting wheel shroud covering at least a portion of the side-discharge cutting wheel;
- a vacuum device comprising a storage container configured to contain spoil vacuumed from a microtrench;
- a first side shroud disposed on at least one side of the cutting wheel shroud, the first side shroud being connected to the vacuum device and being configured to vacuum the spoil from the at least one side of the microtrench to the storage container;
- and
- a shroud positioner configured to connect the first side shroud to the cutting wheel shroud.
4 more elements
A method of continuously cutting a microtrench in a roadway comprising:
- providing a microtrencher comprising;
- a motorized vehicle;
- a side-discharge cutting wheel connected to the vehicle and being configured to continuously cut through a roadway to create a microtrench in the roadway and deposit spoil removed from the microtrench along at least one side of the microtrench;
- a cutting wheel shroud covering at least a portion of the side-discharge cutting wheel;
- a vacuum device comprising a storage container and configured to create a vacuum in the storage container and contain spoil vacuumed from a microtrench;
- and
- a first side shroud disposed on at least one side of the cutting wheel shroud, the first side shroud being connected to the vacuum device and being configured to vacuum the spoil from the at least one side of the microtrench to the storage container;
- cutting the microtrench in the roadway with side-discharge cutting wheel;
- depositing the spoil from the microtrench on at least one side the microtrench;
- and
- vacuuming the spoil through the first side shroud and into the storage container, wherein the first side shroud comprises at least one road seal configured to at least partially seal a side wall of the side shroud to the roadway and the method further comprises at least partially sealing the side wall to the roadway with the road seal.
8 more elements
A method of continuously cutting a microtrench in a roadway comprising:
- providing a microtrencher comprising;
- a motorized vehicle;
- a side-discharge cutting wheel connected to the vehicle and being configured to continuously cut through a roadway to create a microtrench in the roadway and deposit spoil removed from the microtrench along at least one side of the microtrench;
- a cutting wheel shroud covering at least a portion of the side-discharge cutting wheel;
- a vacuum device comprising a storage container and configured to create a vacuum in the storage container and contain spoil vacuumed from a microtrench;
- and
- a first side shroud disposed on at least one side of the cutting wheel shroud, the first side shroud being connected to the vacuum device and being configured to vacuum the spoil from the at least one side of the microtrench to the storage container;
- cutting the microtrench in the roadway with side-discharge cutting wheel;
- depositing the spoil from the microtrench on at least one side the microtrench;
- vacuuming the spoil through the first side shroud and into the storage container;
- and
- using a suction nozzle inserted into the microtrench and connected to the vacuum device to suction spoil from the microtrench.
9 more elements
A method of continuously cutting a microtrench in a roadway comprising:
- providing a microtrencher comprising;
- a motorized vehicle;
- a side-discharge cutting wheel connected to the vehicle and being configured to continuously cut through a roadway to create a microtrench in the roadway and deposit spoil removed from the microtrench along at least one side of the microtrench;
- a cutting wheel shroud covering at least a portion of the side-discharge cutting wheel;
- a vacuum device comprising a storage container and configured to create a vacuum in the storage container and contain spoil vacuumed from a microtrench;
- a first side shroud disposed on at least one side of the cutting wheel shroud, the first side shroud being connected to the vacuum device and being configured to vacuum the spoil from the at least one side of the microtrench to the storage container;
- and
- a shroud positioner configured to connect the first side shroud to the cutting wheel shroud and using the shroud positioner to connect the first side shroud to the cutting wheel shroud;
- cutting the microtrench in the roadway with side-discharge cutting wheel;
- depositing the spoil from the microtrench on at least one side the microtrench;
- vacuuming the spoil through the first side shroud and into the storage container.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.