Material transfer apparatus and method

A material transfer system for transferring material including compressible material between an excavation site and a location remote from the excavation, comprising:

• a vacuum source for applying suction;
• and
• a hopper which comprises:an upper section including a suction inlet coupled to the vacuum source for applying suction;
• a middle section including plural sides each extending downward and outward from the upper section, a material inlet in a first of the plural sides coupled to the excavation site or to the location remote from the excavation site and a second of the plural sides opposite the first side including a vibratory part opposite the material inlet in the first side;
• and
• an openable lower section held in a closed position against the downward and outward extending sides of the middle section by the suction applied to the vacuum inlet,
• wherein, the compressible material entering the middle section from the excavation through the material inlet in response to the suction applied to the suction inlet contacts the vibratory part which vibrates in response to vacuum pressure in the middle section and the contacting material to redirect the material to the lower section and the lower section is opened responsive to a predetermined weight of material accumulated thereon while the suction is applied.

In a material transfer system including a hopper having a top section, a middle section with side walls extending downward and outward from the top section, and an openable bottom section, a method for transferring material comprising the steps of:

• applying suction to a vacuum inlet in the top section;
• drawing material into the hopper through a material inlet in a first downward and outward extending side wall of the middle section and holding the bottom section closed against the downward and outward extending sidewalls of the middle section responsive to the suction;
• contacting the material drawn into the hopper with a vibratory portion forming a part of a second downward and outward extending sidewall of the middle section opposite the material inlet in the first sidewall at a predetermined angle to redirect the material to the bottom section;
• vibrating the vibratory portion responsive to vacuum pressure in the middle section and the contacting with the material drawn into the hopper;
• and
• opening the bottom section to discharge the redirected material in response to the weight of the redirected material accumulated on the bottom section exceeding a predetermined value while the suction is applied.

A system for moving soil type material between an excavation site and another location comprising:

• a vacuum source for applying suction;
• and
• a soil type material holding container including:
• a top section comprising a vacuum inlet coupled to the vacuum source;
• a middle section comprising a plurality of sidewalls each extending downward and outward from the top section, a first of the plurality of sidewalls including a material inlet coupled to the soil type material to be moved by a material conduit and a second of the plurality of sidewalls opposite the first plurality of sidewalls including a vibratory part opposite the material inlet;
• and
• a bottom section comprising a pair of openable doors extending across bottom edges of downward and outward extending sidewalls of the middle section and held in a closed position against the sidewalls of the middle section by the suction from the vacuum inlet,
• wherein, the soil type material drawn into the material inlet by the suction from the vacuum inlet contacts the vibratory part at a predetermined angle and is redirected to the bottom section, and the vibratory part opposite the material inlet vibrates responsive to vacuum pressure in the middle section and force of the soil type material contacting the vibratory part at the predetermined angle.