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US 12,709,864 B2Granted
Hydrovac with auto shutoff based on weight
AssigneeBrandt Industries Canada Ltd.
InventorsEvrhetton Gold, Daniel Bonnet
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of shutting down operations of a hydrovac when a weight limit is reached is provided. A current weight of the hydrovac is determined and this current weight of the hydrovac is compared to a weight limit. When the current weight of the hydrovac reaches the weight limit, an emergency shutoff valve is opened to vent a debris tank to atmosphere, a boom isolation assembly is closed to isolate a vacuum hose from the debris tank, and a power take-off is disengaged to stop a blower creating a vacuum in the debris tank.
Claims14
A hydrovac comprising:
- a frame;
- a cab mounted near a front end of the frame;
- an engine mounted on the frame;
- a transmission connected to the engine, the transmission comprising:
- at least one power take-off, the at least one power take-off connected to at least one hydraulic pump;
- steering wheels operative to steer the hydrovac;
- ground wheels connected to the frame and operative to be driven by the engine through the transmission;
- a debris tank mounted on the frame;
- a vacuum hose fluidly connected to the debris tank, the vacuum hose having a distal end;
- a boom pivotally mounted at a first end and carrying the vacuum hose;
- a blower operatively connected to the debris tank and operative to create a vacuum in the debris tank;
- a hydraulic motor connected to the blower to drive the blower, the hydraulic motor connected to the at least one hydraulic pump;
- an emergency shutoff valve connected in fluid communication with the debris tank;
- a boom isolation assembly which in an open position places the debris tank in fluid communication with the vacuum hose and in a closed position fluidly isolates the debris tank from the vacuum hose;
- and
- a controller, comprising:
- at least one processing unit;
- an output interface operatively connectable to the engine, the transmission, the emergency shutoff valve, and the boom isolation assembly;
- and, at least one memory containing program instructions,
- wherein the controller is operative to:
- determine a current weight of the hydrovac;
- compare the current weight to a weight limit;
- in response to the current weight reaching the weight limit, open the emergency shutoff valve;
- in response to the current weight reaching the weight limit, close the boom isolation assembly;
- and
- in response to the current weight reaching the weight limit, disengage the at least one power take-off.
23 more elements
A controller for controlling the operation of hydrovac having:
- an engine;
- a transmission connected to the engine, the transmission having at least one power take-off, the at least one power take-off connected to at least one hydraulic pump;
- ground wheels operative to be driven by the engine through the transmission;
- a debris tank;
- a vacuum hose fluidly connected to the debris tank;
- a boom pivotally mounted at a first end and carrying the vacuum hose;
- a blower operatively connected to the debris tank and operative to create a vacuum in the debris tank;
- a hydraulic motor connected to the blower to drive the blower, the hydraulic motor connected to the at least one hydraulic pump;
- an emergency shutoff valve connected in fluid communication with the debris tank;
- and, a boom isolation assembly which in an open position places the debris tank in fluid communication with the vacuum hose and in a closed position fluidly isolates the debris tank from the vacuum hose, the controller comprising:
- at least one processing unit;
- an output interface operatively connected to the engine, the transmission, the emergency shutoff valve, and the boom isolation assembly;
- and
- at least one memory containing program instructions, the at least one processing unit, responsive to the program instructions, operative to:
- determine a current weight of the hydrovac;
- compare the current weight to a weight limit;
- in response to the current weight reaching the weight limit, open the emergency shutoff valve;
- in response to the current weight reaching the weight limit, close the boom isolation assembly;
- and
- in response to the current weight reaching the weight limit, disengage the at least one power take-off.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.