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US 12,276,080 B2Granted
Vacuum excavation apparatus having a deceleration vessel and methods for excavating a site
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsAndy Strobel, Corey Lanoue, Daniel Hofland, Adam Bates, David Gift, Tayte Askelsen, James W. Skinner, Nathan J. Meyer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hydro excavation vacuum apparatus that process spoil material onboard the apparatus by separating water from the cut earthen material are disclosed.
Claims12
A hydro excavation vacuum apparatus for excavating earthen material comprising:
- a vacuum system for removing cut earthen material and water from an excavation site in an airstream;
- a deceleration system for collecting cut earthen material and water from the airstream, deceleration system comprising:
- a deceleration vessel adapted to reduce a velocity of the airstream to allow material to fall from the airstream, the deceleration vessel being adapted such that the airstream is not vortexed within the deceleration vessel, the deceleration vessel having an inlet and a spoil material outlet disposed below the inlet;
- and
- a material-engaging face configured to contact material entrained in the airstream;
- an inlet conduit connected to the deceleration vessel inlet, the inlet conduit having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the inlet conduit intersecting the material-engaging face, the material-engaging face forming an angle with a vertical axis of the deceleration vessel at the intersection between the longitudinal axis and the material-engaging face, the angle being from 5° to 60°;
- a dewatering system comprising a vibratory screen for separating water from cut earthen material discharged from the spoil material outlet;
- a cyclone fluidly connected to the deceleration vessel and downstream of the deceleration vessel;
- and
- a wand for directing pressurized water toward earthen material to cut the earthen material.
7 more elements
A hydro excavation vacuum system for excavating earthen material comprising:
- a chassis;
- wheels attached to the chassis for transporting the hydro excavation vacuum system;
- a vacuum system supported by the chassis for removing cut earthen material and water from an excavation site in an airstream;
- a deceleration system supported by the chassis for collecting cut earthen material and water from the airstream, deceleration system comprising:
- a deceleration vessel adapted to reduce a velocity of the airstream to allow material to fall from the airstream, the deceleration vessel being adapted such that the airstream is not vortexed within the deceleration vessel, the deceleration vessel having an inlet and a spoil material outlet disposed below the inlet;
- and
- a material-engaging face configured to contact material entrained in the airstream;
- an inlet conduit connected to the deceleration vessel inlet, the inlet conduit having a longitudinal axis, the longitudinal axis of the inlet conduit intersecting the material-engaging face, the material-engaging face forming an angle with a vertical axis of the deceleration vessel at the intersection between the longitudinal axis and the material-engaging face, the angle being from 5° to 60°;
- and
- a dewatering system comprising a vibratory screen for separating water from cut earthen material discharged from the spoil material outlet;
- a cyclone fluidly connected to the deceleration vessel and downstream of the deceleration vessel;
- and
- a wand for directing pressurized water toward earthen material to cut the earthen material.
10 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.