US 12,123,165 B1Granted

Method and apparatus for excavating a soil containing mass

OwnerMichael A. Fesi, Rohn Rhodes, Jr.inventors

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Abstract

A method and apparatus for digging and removing excavated material from a selected site provides a mobile device having a chassis that is movable or self-propelled. The mobile device has an elongated, preferably articulated boom with a free end portion having a digging implement that can include a digging tool, excavating tool or jetting tool. The boom preferably comprises at least three sections. The boom sections are foldable to a storage position on the chassis wherein one boom section stacks upon or is aligned with another boom section. The vacuum line is supported upon the boom wherein the vacuum line extends between the free end portion of the boom and the chassis. The boom attaches to the chassis at a base that can include a rotary or pivotal connection. The vacuum line supported by the boom extends along the boom and above the earth's surface. A selected material is excavated with the excavating implement (e.g., jetting tool or digging tool). The excavated material is vacuumed with the vacuum line into a collection vessel or tank that can be a part of a wheeled vehicle thus enabling transport to a disposal site. A separate vacuum truck can provide a vacuum to a selected collection tank.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method of excavating a mass of selected material, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a primary mobile device having a primary chassis that is movable or self-propelled;
b) mounting on the primary mobile device an elongated articulated boom with a boom lower end section mounted on said primary chassis and a boom free end section, said boom comprising at least three sections and wherein said sections are foldable to a storage position on said primary chassis, wherein in said storage position, one boom section stacks next to another boom section;
c) wherein the boom sections include said boom lower end section, said boom free end section and one or more middle boom sections in between the said boom lower end section and said boom free end section;
d) wherein during use the boom sections form an arch;
e) supporting a primary vacuum line upon said boom wherein the primary vacuum line extends between said free end section and the primary chassis, the primary vacuum line supported by the boom and extending along the boom and above the earth's surface;
f) excavating soil containing material with one or more digging implements at a selected location near the primary chassis and boom;
g) vacuuming the excavated soil containing material of step “f” with the primary vacuum line, wherein the excavated soil containing material travels via the primary vacuum line to the primary chassis and vacuum source;
h) transferring the vacuumed soil containing material of step “g” to one or more separate collection vessels via one or more secondary flow lines;
and
i) wherein each said separate collection vessel is able to travel to or from the primary mobile device as when disposing of excavated soil containing material of step “g”.

7 more elements

An excavation system comprising:

a) a primary mobile device having a chassis that is movable or self-propelled;
b) the primary mobile device having an elongated articulated boom that includes a lower chassis boom section and at least three boom sections connected end to end at boom joints;
c) wherein the boom sections include said boom lower chassis section mounted on said chassis, a boom free end section and one or more middle boom sections in between the lower chassis boom section and the boom free end section;
d) wherein during use the boom sections form an arch;
e) wherein said boom is foldable to a storage position on said primary mobile device chassis, said boom having a free end portion and a base end portion at said base;
f) a digging implement for excavating a selected material to be removed;
g) a primary vacuum line supported upon said boom wherein the primary vacuum line extends between the free end portion of the boom and the lower end portion, the primary vacuum line supported by the boom and extending along the boom and above the earth's surface;
h) a vacuum source on said chassis and in communication with the primary vacuum line for enabling a vacuuming of excavated material that is excavated with the digging implement;
i) one or more secondary vacuum lines;
j) one or more separate mobile collection vessels;
k) wherein each secondary vacuum line enables a transmission of said excavated material to a said separate collection vessel via said secondary vacuum line;
and
l) wherein said one or more separate collection vessels are mobile and able to travel independently of the primary mobile device.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/574,135Filed 12 Jan 2022 · continuation
Priority: 15 Dec 2017
Granted: 22 Oct 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

E02F 5/003
Dredgers or soil-shifting machines for special purposes: for uncovering conduits
E02F 3/301
With a dipper-arm pivoted on a cantilever beam , i.e. boom: with more than two arms , e.g. two-part boom with additional dipper-arm
E02F 3/8825
Mobile land installations: wherein at least a part of the soil-shifting equipment is mounted on a dipper-arm, backhoes or the like
E02F 3/905
Component parts , e.g. arrangement or adaptation of pumps: manipulating or supporting suction pipes or ladders; Mechanical supports or floaters…