Additive dosing assemblies and hydro excavation vacuum apparatus incorporating same
AssigneeVermeer Manufacturing Company
InventorsJacob Keeley, Nathan Meyer
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Hydro excavation apparatus for excavating earthen material are disclosed. The hydro excavation apparatus includes a first reservoir for holding a base fluid therein, a second reservoir for holding an additive therein, a vacuum system for removing earthen material from an excavation site, and an additive dosing assembly. The additive dosing assembly includes at least one of a pump and a valve fluidly connected to the second reservoir. The additive dosing assembly is selectively controllable to introduce an additive into at least one of the base fluid and the removed earthen material.
Claims17
A hydro excavation apparatus for excavating earthen material comprising:
- a first reservoir for holding a base fluid therein;
- a second reservoir for holding an additive therein;
- a vacuum system for removing earthen material from an excavation site;
- an additive dosing assembly including at least one of a pump and a valve fluidly connected to the second reservoir, the additive dosing assembly being selectively controllable to introduce the additive into the base fluid to form a mixed fluid solution;
- a wand for directing the mixed fluid solution toward earthen material at an excavation site to cut the earthen material;
- a sensor for detecting a flow of fluid between the wand and the first reservoir;
- and
- a control system communicatively coupled to the additive dosing assembly to control addition of additive into the base fluid based at least in part on the sensor detecting fluid flow between the wand and the first reservoir.
A hydro excavation apparatus for excavating earthen material comprising:
- a reservoir for holding a base fluid therein;
- an additive dosing assembly for introducing an additive into the base fluid to form a mixed fluid solution;
- a wand for directing the mixed fluid solution toward earthen material at an excavation site to cut the earthen material;
- a vacuum system for removing the cut earthen material and the mixed fluid solution from the excavation site;
- a sensor for detecting a flow of fluid between the wand and the reservoir;
- and
- a control system communicatively coupled to the additive dosing assembly to control addition of additive into the base fluid based at least in part on the sensor detecting fluid flow between the wand and the reservoir.
A method for controlling a hydro excavation apparatus, the method comprising:
- providing a base fluid reservoir storing a base fluid therein;
- providing an additive dosing assembly including at least one of a pump and a valve that is fluidly connected to an additive reservoir storing an additive therein;
- controlling, by a control system communicatively coupled to the additive dosing assembly, the additive dosing assembly to selectively introduce the additive into the base fluid to form a mixed fluid solution;
- cutting earthen material at an excavation site using a wand to direct the mixed fluid solution toward the earthen material;
- controlling a vacuum system to remove the cut earthen material and the mixed fluid solution from the excavation site;
- and
- detecting, by a sensor, a flow of fluid between the wand and the base fluid reservoir, wherein the control system controls addition of additive into the base fluid based at least in part on the detected fluid flow between the wand and the base fluid reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.