Patent ID: 6607666
Filing Date: 2003-08-19
Classification: B01D,B08B

Abstract:
A hydrovac vehicle having a frame mounted on wheels, a mud tank mounted on the frame, a water tank mounted on the frame, a water pump mounted on the frame and hydraulically connected to the water tank to pump water from the water tank for use in hydrovac operations, a blower mounted on the frame and connected by lines to the mud tank for removing fluids from the mud tank, and a boom line mounted on the mud tank for conveying fluidized materials to the mud tank, the mud tank comprising:confining walls; a collection zone in the mud tank for collection of debris under action of gravity; an opening in the confining walls of the mud tank, the opening being located in sufficient proximity to the collection zone that debris in the collection zone may be moved by mechanical action through the opening; a removable cover mounted on the mud tank over the opening; a disposal sweep mounted in the mud tank and having an upwardly extending sweep arm, the disposal sweep being operable to sweep mud in the mud tank along the collection zone towards the opening in the confining walls; and a collection sweep mechanism mounted in the mud tank for sweeping mud along the confining walls towards the collection zone.