# US 7,743,537 B2 · Earth reduction tool > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,537 B2 - Document ID: US7743537B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/543,584 - Filed: 2006-10-05 - Published: 2008-04-10 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-10-05 - Assignees: McLaughlin Group, Inc. - Inventors: Charles Robert Maybury, Jr. - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743537B2 ## CPC - E02F 3/8891: {wherein at least a part of the soil-shifting equipment is handheld} - E02F 3/8816: {Mobile land installations} - E02F 3/925: {with jets} - E02F: DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING (winning peat E21C49/00) ## Abstract An earth reduction tool configured to connect to a vacuum source of an earth reduction system for moving material comprising an elongated body defining a first end for connecting to the vacuum source, an opposite second end, and an elongated vacuum passage extending through the elongated body between the first and the second ends. The tool also has an elongated air passage extending from the body second end to at least a point intermediate the elongated body first and second ends, the air passage having an open first end and an open second end proximate the elongated body second end that is in fluid communication with the elongated body vacuum passage second end, wherein when the vacuum source pulls a vacuum through the elongated body vacuum passage, air is drawn up into the vacuum passage from the air passage open second end. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A material reduction tool configured to connect to a vacuum source of a material reduction system for moving material, the material reduction tool comprising: a. an elongated body defining, (i) a first end for connecting to the vacuum source, (ii) an opposite second end, and (iii) an elongated vacuum passage extending through said elongated body between said first and said second ends; and b. an elongated air passage extending from said body second end to at least a point intermediate said elongated body first and second ends, said air passage having an open first end and an open second end proximate said elongated body second end that is in fluid communication with said elongated body vacuum passage second end, wherein when the vacuum source pulls a vacuum through said elongated body vacuum passage, air is drawn up into said vacuum passage from said air passage open second end. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The material reduction tool of claim 1, said elongated body second end further comprising a head having a. a first end; b. a second end; and c. a vacuum passage therebetween, said head vacuum passage being in fluid communication with said elongated body vacuum passage, wherein said air passage second end is adjacent to said head second end and in fluid communication with said head vacuum passage. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The material reduction tool of claim 2, further comprising a fluid passage extending between said head first end and said head second end for providing a flow of fluid to said head second end. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The material reduction tool of claim 3, further comprising a plurality of nozzles mounted at said head second end proximate said head vacuum passage and in fluid communication with said fluid passage. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The material reduction tool of claim 4, wherein a first group of said plurality of nozzles is configured for emitting fluid generally parallel to said vacuum passage, and a second group of said plurality of nozzles are angled inwardly and configured for emitting fluid towards said vacuum passage. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The material reduction tool of claim 1, wherein said air transport passage is integrally formed with said head. ### Claim 7 (depends on 3) The material reduction tool of claim 3, wherein said fluid passage is integrally formed with said head. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The material reduction tool of claim 7, wherein said plurality of nozzles is countersunk in said head second end. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The material reduction tool of claim 2, wherein said air passage open first end opens at said head first end. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The material reduction tool of claim 1, said elongated cylindrical body further comprising a first hollow elongated cylindrical body having a first diameter that is received in and concentric with a second hollow elongated cylindrical body having a second diameter that is larger than said first diameter, wherein said first and said second hollow elongated cylindrical bodies are rigidly attached to one another by a plurality of fasteners, a gap, between an outer wall of said first elongated cylindrical body and an inner wall of said second elongated cylindrical body, forms said air passage, and the inner wall of said first elongated cylindrical body defines said vacuum passage. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The material reduction tool of claim 10, further comprising at least one opening through said second elongated cylindrical body that is in fluid communication with said gap. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The material reduction tool of claim 1, further comprising at least one coupling at said elongated body first end for connecting said elongated body to the vacuum source. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The material reduction tool of claim 12, further comprising a rigid elongated extension portion defining a second vacuum passage, said elongated extension portion configured to be attachable to said elongated body first end with said coupling for increasing the length of said reduction tool. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The material reduction tool of claim 1, further comprising a handle proximate said elongated body first end, said handle including a control for controlling said vacuum flow. ### Claim 15 (depends on 3) The material reduction tool of claim 3, further comprising a handle proximate said elongated body first end, said handle including a control for controlling the flow of fluid through said fluid passage. ### Claim 16 A reduction system for moving material, the reduction system comprising: a. a vacuum source for creating and drawing a vacuum flow; b. a material reduction tool for connecting to said vacuum source, said material reduction tool comprising (i) an elongated body defining, a first end for connecting to the vacuum source, an opposite second end, and an elongated vacuum passage extending through said elongated body between said first and said second ends, said elongated vacuum passage being in fluid communication with said vacuum flow, (ii) an elongated air passage extending from said body second end to at least a point intermediate said elongated body first and second ends, said air passage having an open first end and an open second end proximate said elongated body second end that is in fluid communication with said vacuum passage at said elongated body second end, wherein when said vacuum source pulls said vacuum flow through said elongated body vacuum passage, air is drawn from said air passage second end into said vacuum passage from said air passage open first end. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The reduction system of claim 16, said elongated body further comprising a head at said elongated body second end having a. a first end; b. a second end; c. a vacuum passage therebetween, said head vacuum passage being in fluid communication with said elongated body vacuum passage, wherein said air passage second end is adjacent to said head second end and in fluid communication with said head vacuum passage; d. a fluid passage extending between said head first end and said head second end for providing a flow of fluid to said head second end; and e. a plurality of nozzles mounted at said head second end proximate said head vacuum passage that are in fluid communication with said fluid passage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The reduction system of claim 16, wherein said elongated air passage is integrally formed within said head. ### Claim 19 A material reduction tool configured to connect to a vacuum source of a material reduction system for moving material, the material reduction tool comprising: a. an elongated body comprising (i) a first hollow elongated cylindrical body having a first diameter that is received in and concentric with a second hollow elongated cylindrical body having a second diameter that is larger than said first diameter, wherein said first and said second hollow elongated cylindrical bodies are rigidly attached to one another by a plurality of fasteners, a gap, between an outer wall of said first elongated cylindrical body and an inner wall of said second elongated cylindrical body, forms said air passage, and the inner wall of said first elongated cylindrical body defines said vacuum passage extending through said elongated body between said first and said second ends, (ii) a first end for connecting to the vacuum source, (iii) an opposite second end, and b. an elongated air passage extending from said elongated body second end to at least a point intermediate said elongated body first and second ends distal from said elongated body second end, said air passage having an open first end and an open second end proximate said elongated body second end that is in fluid communication with said elongated body vacuum passage second end, wherein when the vacuum source pulls a vacuum through said elongated body vacuum passage, air is drawn up into said vacuum passage from said air passage open second end. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The material reduction tool of claim 19, further comprising at least one opening through said second elongated cylindrical body that is in fluid communication with said gap formed between said first elongated cylindrical body outer wall and said second elongated cylindrical body inner wall.