Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6453584
-
Patent Number
6,453,584
-
Date Filed
Monday, November 27, 200023 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, September 24, 200221 years ago
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 037 323
- 037 330
- 037 331
- 175 67
- 175 66
- 175 42
- 175 324
- 220 212
- 220 231
-
International Classifications
- E02F388
- C09K300
- E21B318
- E21B2106
- E21B43114
-
Abstract
A vacuum boring and mud recovery system comprising a vacuum container, a vacuum producing device to create a vacuum within said container, a conduit to vacuum solid particles and liquids into the vacuum container and a dispensing device to dispense the liquid or solid particles from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container. Vacuum container contents are stored within the container while simultaneously dispensing the solid particles and or liquids. The vacuum container system may also have a separating device disposed within it to separate solids and liquids by category. The vacuum container system is a continuous operation vacuum container which can simultaneously fill, store and dispense solid particles and liquids with the added ability to simultaneously separate the solids and liquids before they are dispensed from the vacuum container. This is accomplished without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vacuum boring and mud recovery system comprising a device which will create a vacuum condition within a container, a conduit to transport a liquid and solid particles into the vacuum container, a dispensing device to dispense a liquid or a solid from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container, and said vacuum container having the ability to fill, store and dispense its contents simultaneously. Said vacuum container further comprises a means to separate a liquid from solid particles.
2. Description of the Related Art
Current state of the art vacuum boring and mud recovery systems have a vacuum container having the ability to be filled and store liquid and solid particles. After filling said vacuum container to a predetermined capacity, the vacuum producing device must be discontinued, the filling must discontinue, the vacuum environment within the vacuum container is eliminated, the container opened and the contents dumped out. After the container is emptied, the vacuum producing device may be restarted and the filling and storing may restart. Currently, vacuum containers capable of vacuuming mud and boring earth are operated as a batch process.
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a vacuum container having a vacuum capable of boring and mud recovery and provide simultaneously, vacuum fill, store and dispense. It is yet another objective of the invention to provide a means of separating the stored contents by predetermined category and dispensing them without stopping the vacuum fill and store operation or eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above described objectives and others are met by a vacuum container equipped with a vacuum producing device, a filling conduit and a dispensing device having the means to dispense a liquid or solid particles from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container.
A separating device may be added within the vacuum container which has the ability to separate the liquid and solid particles by predetermined category. The separating device can include a filter, a stationary screen, a vibrating screen, a centrifuge, a hydrocyclone or a combination thereof.
At least one or more dispensing devices may be attached to the vacuum container.
The dispensing device may utilize a dual valve technique, a dual piston technique, a rotary void technique, other techniques or a combination thereof to create the void filling and dispensing device. The dispensing void utilized to remove the solids and or liquids from the vacuum tank, without substantially depleting the vacuum environment within the vacuum tank, can include a progressive cavity pump, a diaphragm pump, a gear pump, a grinder, a vane axial pump and check valve.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a side elevation of a vacuum boring unit being used to locate a utility line. The unit shows a pressure water system, a vacuum boring assembly and vacuum container complete with vibrating screen, hydrocyclone and dispensers.
FIG. 2
is a side elevation as shown in
FIG. 1
except the vacuum boring unit is shown recovering and recycling lubrication mud used by directional drilling devices.
FIG. 3
is a side elevation view of a vacuum boring unit showing a vacuum container mounted onto a mobile unit. The vacuum container shows a vibrating screen and hydrocyclone as methods of separating the liquid and solid material. A dual valve technique dispenser is shown in the dispense configuration and a dual piston technique dispenser is shown in the dispense configuration.
FIG. 4
is the same as
FIG. 3
except the dual valve void dispenser is shown in the fill configuration and the dual piston void dispenser is shown in the fill configuration.
FIG. 5
is a side elevation view of a vacuum container mounted onto a mobile unit. The vacuum container shows a vibrating screen as a method to separate liquids and solids. Two dispenser units are shown in the dispense configuration.
FIG. 6
A vacuum unit showing a vacuum container with a screen disposed within it to separate liquids from solids. A diaphragm pump is used to dispense the liquid and a progressive cavity pump is used to dispense the solids while simultaneously operating the vacuum process.
FIG. 7
is a vacuum boring unit mounted onto a mobile platform with a pressure water system and vacuum container equipped with one dispensing unit in the dispensing configuration. No separation equipment is shown. The vacuum boring unit is being used to bore holes for fence posts.
FIG. 8
is a vacuum unit mounted onto a mobile platform along with a high pressure water system and rotary brush. The vacuum container is equipped with a gear pump and check valve to dispense the liquid and uses a vane axial pump with check valve to dispense the solids. The vacuum unit is equipped with a filter screen system disposed within the vacuum tank to separate solids from liquids. Solids may be returned to the brush for reuse. The water may be returned to the water tank for reuse.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The above described needs are met by a vacuum container
12
, equipped with a vacuum producing device
11
, which extracts gases from container
12
, through a conduit
13
, and dispenses said gas to atmosphere through a conduit
14
.
Liquid
32
, or solid particles
6
vacuumed through conduit
15
will be stored in container
12
, above the void dispensing device
1
,
7
or
60
,
101
,
103
,
105
,
107
until they are dispensed on demand by device
1
,
7
or
60
. Solid particles
6
, or mud
32
, which are dispensed by device
1
,
7
or
60
, may be dispensed onto a conveyor
10
. The dispensed material
6
can be transported to a predetermined destination.
Container door
18
gives access to the inside of container
12
. Container door
18
, is hinged
20
and secured
19
.
Liquid and solid particles vacuumed through conduit
17
fall onto a screen
21
which may be fixed or it may be mounted on springs
22
attached to a support
24
and vibrated by a vibrating device
23
. Screen
21
may have an orifice opening size of choice and a location and mounting angle of choice. Screen
21
will separate vacuumed liquid and solid particles allowing mud
32
small enough to pass through the screen
21
orifice to be collected separate from material
6
which will not pass through the screen
21
. Liquid and solid particles
32
, which pass through the screen
21
may be dispensed on demand by the void dispensing device
1
,
7
or
60
,
101
,
103
,
105
,
107
into a holding container
8
. Dispensed material
32
may be transported by a predetermined method to a predetermined destination.
Liquid or solid particles vacuumed through conduit
16
then enter a hydrocyclone
25
. Larger, heavier material exit the hydrocyclone
25
through orifice
26
. Lighter, smaller material exit through conduit
27
.
Container
12
may be supported by a stand
28
and or a hydraulic cylinder
29
.
Container
12
may be mounted on a trailer or powered mobile device
30
and
33
.
Dispensing device
1
is an example of a rotary void technique consisting of a stationary outer support frame
2
with dispensing orifice
52
, inner rotating shell
3
closely sealed to the stationary outer support frame
2
. The inner rotating shell
3
provides an inner void
4
, which can be filled or emptied through orifice
51
, which rotates on a center shaft
5
. When the inner shell
3
has its void
4
in communication with the vacuum container
12
dispensing orifice
50
by means of orifice
51
, as shown in
FIG. 2
, the atmosphere in the void
4
equalizes with the internal environment of vacuum container
12
. The material
6
enters the void
4
by gravity. Inner shell
3
then rotates on support shaft
5
, 180 degrees.
FIG. 1
, shows the inner shell
3
with the void in communication with the external atmosphere by means of orifice
51
being in communication with orifice
52
. The void
4
equalizes pressure with the external atmosphere allowing the void
4
material to dispense by gravity onto conveyor
10
below. Repeating this method allows for dispensing of material
6
or
32
from vacuum container
12
.
Dispensing device
7
is an example of a dual valve technique consisting of a stationary outer shell
38
mounted in communication with the dispensing orifice
50
of vacuum container
12
. This configuration allows the void
37
of the dispensing device
7
to be in communication with orifice
50
. When valve
34
is in the open position and valve
35
is in the closed position, as shown in
FIG. 4
, it allows the liquid and or solid particles from within vacuum container
12
to flow by gravity through orifice
50
into void
37
. By first closing valve
34
and then opening valve
35
, the void
37
will equalize pressure with the outside atmosphere and thus dispense by gravity the void
37
contents
6
. A conveyor
10
can be placed under dispensing device
7
to collect the contents
6
which are dispensed and transport them to a predetermined location such as a dump truck.
Dispensing device
60
, as shown in
FIG. 4
, is an example of a dual piston technique consisting of a fixed outer shell
42
which is placed in communication with the vacuum container
12
dispensing orifice
50
. The fixed outer shell
42
is also equipped with a dispensing outlet orifice
44
. In a first position, the void
43
of the dispensing device
60
is in communication with the vacuum container
12
dispensing orifice
50
. In this first position, void
43
equalizes pressure with the vacuum container
12
thus allowing the contents
32
to move into void
43
. air or liquid pressure is applied through conduit
47
into cavity
46
and venting pressure from cavity
45
through conduit
48
, the void
43
will be moved from the first position to the second position placing the void
43
in communication with the outer shell dispensing orifice
44
. Void
43
equalizes pressure with the outside atmosphere and dispenses its contents
32
. Repeating the first and second positions, the contents
32
of vacuum container
12
are dispensed. Contents
32
dispensed from device
60
can be collected in container
8
and stored until they are transported at a predetermined time to a predetermined location by any transport device such as a pump.
The container
12
contents
6
and or
32
may enter through the conduit
15
,
16
or
17
. Said conduits are attached to a vacuum boring assembly
75
placed in close communication with the water jet nozzle
73
which aids in boring the earthen hole. Valve
72
allows the water supply to be stopped or started as required by the boring conditions. Pressure water pump
71
supplies water to nozzle
73
. Water storage tank
70
supplies water for the pump
71
.
The vacuum assembly
75
has multiple uses such as but not limited to: boring through the earth in order to locate utility lines
74
without threat of causing mechanical damage and recovery of lubricating mud
32
used by directional drilling devices
90
. The mud
32
lubricates the directional drilling shaft and head
91
. Also, the vacuum boring assembly has the ability to bore holes for fence posts
82
on which fencing may be attached. The vacuum assembly
75
may be used to vacuum any loosened debris. Ultra high pressure water can be supplied to nozzle
73
to even reduce concrete and asphalt to a liquid and solid slurry which can be vacuumed by assembly
75
.A combination of high pressure liquid and high pressure gas may be used to loosen items to be vacuumed. A rotary cutting devise or rotary brush
96
may be added to the assembly to aid in loosening items to be vacuumed. A shield
97
may be added to cover the nozzle
73
cutting devise or brush
96
. A transport conduit
97
may convey solids from the vane axial pump
107
to the brush
96
thus reusing the solids
6
for such activities as cleaning & removing petroleum products from parking surfaces. Liquids
32
may be reused, by transporting it from the vacuum tank
12
to the liquid storage tank
70
by means of a gear pump
105
and a check valve
106
. A diaphragm pump
101
may be used to dispense liquid
32
from the vacuum tank
12
. A grinder
102
may be utilized within the vacuum tank
12
to reduce solid
6
particle size before a progressive cavity pump
103
dispenses the solids
6
in to a receiver container
104
.
Claims
- 1. A vacuum container comprising:a vacuum producing device attached to create a vacuum within said vacuum container, a conduit to vacuum liquid and solid particles into the vacuum container, a means to allow a gas to be emitted through said vacuum producing device while leaving said liquid and solid particles stored within said vacuum container and a dispensing device to dispense said liquid and solid particles from said vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum atmosphere within said vacuum container.
- 2. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, wherein said vacuum container comprises one or more dispensing devices.
- 3. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, wherein said dispensing device is a rotary cavity device, or a piston device, or a dual valve device.
- 4. A vacuum container as described in claim 1 having a separator device disposed within the vacuum container.
- 5. A vacuum container as described in claim 1 having one or more separator devices disposed within the vacuum container.
- 6. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, wherein said vacuum container comprises one or more separator devices selected from the group consisting of a stationary screen, a filter, a vibrator screen, a hydrocyclone and a centrifuge.
- 7. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, having a separator device disposed within the vacuum container to separate by category the contents vacuumed into the vacuum container before they are dispensed from the vacuum container.
- 8. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, wherein said vacuum container has a screen separator disposed within the vacuum container to separate said liquid from the solid particles, and a dispensing device to remove the liquid from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container.
- 9. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, wherein said vacuum container has a screen separator disposed within the vacuum container to separate said liquid from the solid particles; a dispensing device to remove the liquid from the vacuum container and a dispensing device to remove solid particles from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container.
- 10. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 or 9, wherein said vacuum container is attached to a mobile platform.
- 11. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, wherein said vacuum container is attached to a powered mobile vehicle and has a screen separator disposed within the vacuum container to separate said liquids from the solid particles; a dispensing pump removes the liquid from the vacuum container and a rotary screw dispensing device removes solid particles from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container.
- 12. A vacuum container as described in claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8 or
US Referenced Citations (2)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
4019649 |
Simon |
Apr 1977 |
A |
6209568 |
Guarneri |
Apr 2001 |
B1 |