Patent ID: 6165283
Filing Date: 2000-12-26
Classification: B08B,B66F

Abstract:
A method of cleaning particulate materials from the chamber of an open top railcar comprising:providing a truck having a vacuum cleaner with an elongated hose having an end with an air inlet opening and a lift device having a main boom, a secondary boom, linkage means including toggle links connecting adjacent sides of the main and secondary booms, a work person carrier connected to the secondary boom;locating the truck adjacent an open top railcar having a chamber containing particulate materials,raising and swinging the lift device to locate the carrier above the chamber of the railcar;moving the toggle links of the lit device to locate the work person carrier in the chamber of the railcar whereby the work person can visually observe the cleaning of the chamber;moving the hose with the lift device to locate the air inlet opening adjacent particulate materials in the chamber;applying a vacuum to the hose by drawing air into the hose through the air inlet opening;moving the end of the hose to locate the hose inlet opening adjacent the particulate materials in the chamber whereby the air drawn through the air inlet opening and into the hose picks up particulate materials adjacent the air inlet opening of the hose and transports the particulate materials through the hose to a storage location having an enclosed chamber;collecting and holding the particulate materials discharged from the hose in the enclosed chambers, and discharging water into the enclosed chamber to control dust in the enclosed chamber.