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US 12,385,215 B2Granted
Hydro excavation vacuum apparatus and fluid storage and supply systems thereof
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsAndy Strobel, Corey Lanoue, Tayte Askelsen, James W. Skinner
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Abstract
Hydro excavation vacuum apparatus that process spoil material onboard the apparatus by separating water from the cut earthen material are disclosed.
Claims20
A method for hydro excavating a site with an excavation apparatus having at least three vessels for supplying and storing excavation fluid, the method comprising:
- providing maiden water in a first vessel of the apparatus, the maiden water being at an initial level;
- directing pressurized maiden water from the first vessel toward an excavation site, the pressurized water cutting earthen material;
- removing cut earthen material and first cycle water from the excavation site;
- separating first cycle water from the cut earthen material;
- introducing the first cycle water into a second vessel, wherein a third vessel is selectively in fluid communication with at least one of the first vessel and the second vessel;
- and
- introducing additional maiden water into the first vessel upon the maiden water level in the first vessel being reduced to below the initial level or less.
4 more elements
A method for hydro excavating a site with an excavation apparatus having a plurality of vessels for supplying and storing excavation fluid and a plurality of valves for selectively controlling fluid flow among plurality of vessels, the method comprising:
- providing maiden water in a first vessel of the plurality of vessels, the maiden water being at an initial level, wherein the plurality of vessels includes a second vessel and a third vessel, the plurality of valves including a valve controlling fluid flow between the third vessel and one of the first vessel and the second vessel;
- directing pressurized maiden water from the first vessel toward an excavation site, the pressurized water cutting earthen material;
- removing cut earthen material and first cycle water from the excavation site;
- separating first cycle water from the cut earthen material;
- introducing the first cycle water into the second vessel;
- and
- introducing additional maiden water into the first vessel upon the maiden water level in the first vessel being reduced to below the initial level or less.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.