Patent Application
20130340297
The present invention relates generally to a system and method to excavate using a vacuum excavator.
Industrial vacuum equipment has dozens of wet and dry uses such as locating underground utilities (potholing), hydro excavation, air excavation and vacuum excavation. In addition, the equipment can be used for directional drilling slurry removal, industrial clean-up, waste clean-up, lateral and storm drain clean-out, oil spill clean-up and other natural disaster clean-up applications, signs and headstone setting, for example. The vacuum systems may be mounted to a truck or trailer and are typically powered by gas or diesel engines. A shortcoming of the prior art is the inefficiency and difficulty to excavate using a vacuum hose in hard subsurface conditions. Accordingly, what is needed is a method and system to excavate using a vacuum hose that is efficient in all subsurface conditions.
The following presents a simplified summary of one or more embodiments in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of such embodiments. This summary is not an extensive overview of the one or more embodiments, and is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the embodiments nor delineate the scope of such embodiments. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of the described embodiments in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In a particular embodiment, a system to excavate using a vacuum excavator is disclosed. The system includes a suction wand handle, where a first end of the suction wand handle is adapted to be secured to a suction hose and a first and second grip project from opposing sides of the suction wand handle are adapted for a user to grasp. In addition, a suction wand is secured to a second end of the suction wand handle, where the suction wand includes an open end. An air line is secured to the suction wand, where a first end of the air line is adapted to be in communication with a pressurized air source and the second end terminates in at least one air nozzle at the open end of the suction wand.
In another particular embodiment, a method to excavate using a vacuum excavator is disclosed. The method includes grasping an elongated suction wand, where a first end of the suction wand is secured to a suction hose and a second end of the suction wand being open. The method further includes placing a downward force on the suction wand to excavate material from a hole using suction from the suction hose and directing pressurized air adjacent to an open end of the suction wand to loosen material. In addition, the method includes rotating the pressurized air, pressurized water, or any combination thereof, when discharged at the open end of the suction wand to generate a dynamic spray pattern.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, one or more embodiments comprise the features hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexed drawings set forth in detail certain illustrative aspects and are indicative of but a few of the various ways in which the principles of the embodiments may be employed. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings and the disclosed embodiments are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents.
The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments or designs.
Referring to
The suction wand 102 is adapted to receive a pressurized air line 112, pressurized water line 116, or any combination thereof. A quick release coupling 114 may be used to secure the air line 112 to the suction wand. Once the air line 112 is secured to the suction wand 102, then a continuous path to the nozzle 206 is completed to the open end 108 of the suction wand 102. A valve 113 may be used to control the flow of pressurized air. Similarly, a quick release coupling 118 may be used to secure the water line 116 to the suction wand 102 to form a continuous path the nozzle 204 and a valve 115 may be used to control the flow of pressurized water. The air line 112 and the water line 116 in the preferred embodiment are located within the suction wand 102 itself.
In a particular embodiment shown in
In a particular embodiment, the nozzle 204, 206 as shown in
Referring now to
A trailer 500 similar to that shown in
In alternative embodiments, the air line 112 and water line 116 may be removably secured to the exterior surface of the suction wand 102 as illustrated in
The pressure wand 702, 704 may be connected to the valve 113, 115, respectively to control the pressurized air or water flow to the respective conduit 710, 712 and nozzle 714, 716. A handle of the pressure wand 702, 704 may include a trigger mechanism in addition to the valve 113, 115 to control the flow. Referring now to
The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.
One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.
The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.52(b) and is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, various features may be grouped together or described in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter may be directed to less than all of the features of any of the disclosed embodiments. Thus, the following claims are incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as defining separately claimed subject matter.
The above-disclosed subject matter is to be considered illustrative, and not restrictive, and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications, enhancements, and other embodiments, which fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, to the maximum extent allowed by law, the scope of the present invention is to be determined by the broadest permissible interpretation of the following claims and their equivalents, and shall not be restricted or limited by the foregoing detailed description.
