Abstract:
A combined hopper and shaker assembly which can be used at least in processing excavation or other remains. The assembly features a hopper that can be pivoted (through operation of a hoist/sling) to cause the contents of the hopper to be fed via gravity through an exit chute onto the shaker. The hopper includes splash guards or sidewalls on the portions thereof that are proximate the pivot axis and an internal shape along the exit chute so as to guide the contents of the hopper toward the exit chute.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/233,942, filed Sep. 28, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    In certain applications such as construction, where it is desired to move some combination of soil, rocks, and other debris, a type of device known as a suction (or vacuum) evacuator can be used (e.g., such as may be produced by Vac-Tron Equipment LLC or McLaughlin). This is typically a vehicle that removes materials from a hole on land or removes heavy debris on land. It may produce powerful suction through a wide pipe and pass the soil and debris to a storage tank. Typically the soil and debris also includes water; either water that was present at the evacuation site or water that has been added to the site such as from water jets that are often used in suction evacuation to break up the dirt and debris. 
         [0003]    Of course, one of the issues with such an evacuation method is how to dispose of the materials that have been evacuated. Most often, the contents of suction evacuators are eventually placed into a cement pond or other type of location/structure designed for evaporation of the water therein. Once the water is evaporated, the remaining materials can be hauled to a landfill or otherwise disposed of. 
         [0004]    Mud recycling equipment can perform some of the above functions, but they are not designed to handle heavy rock and pieces of pavement and concrete such as may be a portion of the evacuated materials. The mud recycling equipment may become damaged if such materials are fed to the mud recycling equipment. 
         [0005]    Shakers with input hoppers could provide some of the above functions, but they are designed in a size, shape, and geometry that do not work well with suction evacuator vehicles. 
         [0006]    It is against this background that the techniques described herein have been developed. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0007]    Disclosed herein is an assembly, that includes a support base; a shaker disposed adjacent to the support base; a hopper movably connected to the support base, the hopper defining a fluid container; and an actuator attached to the support base that applies a mechanical force to the hopper to cause the hopper to move relative to the support base, thus emptying any contents therein onto the shaker. 
         [0008]    The shaker may be fixed relative to the support base, and the movement of the hopper may also be relative to the shaker. The actuator may include a hoist and cable that attach to the hopper. The assembly may further include a derrick that extends vertically upwardly from the support base, and wherein the actuator includes a hoist that is attached to the derrick and the actuator also includes a cable that is controlled by the hoist and which is attached to the hopper. The attachment to the hopper may be via one or more eyebolts attached to one or more walls of the hopper. The attachment to the hopper may be via a pulley mounted on a cross-strut attached between opposed side walls of the hopper. The derrick may include cross braces that are attached to the derrick and the support base. The derrick may be pivotably attached to the support base to allow the derrick to be pivoted into a position for storage and/or transport where the derrick is generally parallel with the support base. 
         [0009]    The shaker may include a screen, a vibrator that vibrates the screen, and a collection chamber beneath the screen. The vibrating screen may allow liquids to pass therethough and fall into the collection chamber. The shaker may include a pump to drive fluids from the collection chamber. The shaker may further include a float sensor to actuate the pump. The vibrating screen may allow non-liquids to translate from a first end of the screen to a second end of the screen, where the non-liquids fall off of the screen and not into the collection chamber. 
         [0010]    The movable connection of the hopper and the support base may be a pivotable connection that permits movement about a pivot axis. The actuator may pivot the hopper through an angle of at least 30 degrees, or at least 45 degrees. The actuator may pivot the hopper to multiple different positions. 
         [0011]    The fluid container of the hopper may include an exit chute defined therein through which the contents of the fluid container can stream onto the shaker as the hopper is moved sufficiently to allow contents of the fluid container to reach the exit chute. The exit chute may include a grate provided therein to restrain large objects from passing through the chute. The grate may be removable so that the assembly can be operated with or without the grate in the exit chute. The hopper may be longer in a first dimension along a longitudinal axis than in a second dimension along a transverse axis. The hopper may be more than twice as long in the first dimension than in the second dimension. The longitudinal axis and the transverse axis may be generally horizontal when the hopper is in a first configuration and the longitudinal axis is tilted relative to horizontal and the transverse axis is generally horizontal when the hopper is in a second configuration. The fluid container defined by the hopper may have a first longitudinal end and an opposite, second longitudinal end. The movement of the hopper may cause the first end to be higher in elevation than the second end. The first end may be movable to a position that is at least six feet higher in elevation than the second end. The first end may be movable to a position that is at least ten feet higher in elevation than the second end. The first end may be movable to a position that is at least fourteen feet higher in elevation than the second end. 
         [0012]    All walls of the fluid container may move as the hopper is moved relative to the support base. The hopper may include a fluid pipe to direct fluid onto one or more surfaces of the fluid container to loosen contents which may have become affixed to the one or more surfaces, and the hopper may further include a fluid pump to drive fluid through the fluid pipe. 
         [0013]    Also disclosed is an assembly, that includes a support base; a shaker disposed adjacent to the support base; a hopper tiltably connected to the support base, the hopper defining a fluid container; and an actuator attached to the support base that applies a mechanical force to the hopper to cause the hopper to tilt relative to the support base, thus emptying any contents therein onto the shaker. 
         [0014]    Also disclosed is an assembly, that includes a support base; a shaker disposed adjacent to the support base; a hopper movably connected to the support base, the hopper defining a fluid container, the hopper having two opposite longitudinal ends; and an actuator attached to the support base that applies a mechanical force to the hopper to cause the hopper to move relative to the support base, thus emptying any contents therein onto the shaker. In a first configuration the two longitudinal ends of the hopper are at the same height, and in a second configuration the two longitudinal ends of the hopper are at different heights relative to each other. 
         [0015]    Also disclosed is a method, including providing a shaker having a top surface thereof; providing a hopper that defines a fluid container having a bottom surface, the hopper being movable between a first position where the bottom surface of the fluid container is located at an elevation lower than the top surface of the shaker and a second position where at least a portion of the bottom surface of the hopper is at an elevation higher than the top surface of the shaker; receiving drilling mud and related fluids in the hopper, with the hopper in the first position; and moving the hopper to the second position to cause the drilling mud and related fluids to flow onto the shaker. 
         [0016]    The method may be devoid of using a pump to move fluid from the hopper to the shaker. 
         [0017]    Also disclosed is an assembly for use in conjunction with a shaker, including a support base positioned in proximity to the shaker; a hopper tiltably connected to the support base, the hopper defining a fluid container; and an actuator attached to the support base that applies a mechanical force to the hopper to cause the hopper to tilt relative to the support base, thus emptying any contents therein onto the shaker. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a simplified illustration of the assembly with a pivotable hopper and shaker. 
           [0019]      FIG. 2  is a simplified illustration of rigging associated with the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 3  is an alternative embodiment of rigging associated with the assembly of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 4  is a simplified illustration of the assembly of  FIG. 1  in use with a suction evacuator, showing the suction evacuator being moved into position relative to the assembly. 
           [0022]      FIG. 5  is a simplified illustration of the assembly of  FIG. 1  in use with the suction evacuator, showing the suction evacuator being moved into position to dump its contents into a hopper of the assembly. 
           [0023]      FIG. 6  is similar to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , showing the suction evacuator tilting into position to be able to dump its contents. 
           [0024]      FIG. 7  is similar to  FIG. 6 , showing a rear door of the suction evacuator pivoting open. 
           [0025]      FIG. 8  is similar to  FIGS. 4-7 , showing the suction evacuator being pulled away from the assembly. 
           [0026]      FIG. 9  shows the hopper of the assembly starting to pivot. 
           [0027]      FIG. 10  shows the hopper of the assembly pivoting further than in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0028]      FIG. 11  shows the hopper of the assembly pivoting even further so as to dump its contents onto a shaker of the assembly. 
           [0029]      FIG. 12  shows the hopper of the assembly pivoted down into its normal, horizontal position and the suction evacuator leaving the scene. 
           [0030]      FIG. 13  shows the hopper and support base of the assembly from a different perspective angle, revealing a top wall thereof. 
           [0031]      FIG. 14  is a close up of the hopper and support base of the assembly from a second, different perspective angle. 
           [0032]      FIG. 15  shows the hopper and support base of the assembly from a third, different perspective angle. 
           [0033]      FIG. 16  shows the hopper with a pipe arrangement and with a cross-strut between the sidewalls and a pulley mounted on the cross-strut for engagement by a cable associated with a hoist. 
           [0034]      FIG. 17  shows the pipe arrangement with nozzles and with a fluid pump. 
           [0035]      FIG. 18  shows a version of the shaker that includes vibrating motors mounted above the shaker screen, and a fluid pump and float sensor for discharging fluid from the fluid container of the shaker. 
           [0036]      FIG. 19  shows a removable grate held in position in an exit chute of the hopper. 
           [0037]      FIG. 20  shows the pivotable nature of the connection of the derrick to the support base. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0038]    While the embodiments disclosed herein are susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives of embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims. The disclosure is described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers denote substantially similar elements. 
         [0039]    As part of addressing the problems described in the background above, it has been recognized that a novel assembly including a low-profile, pivotable hopper combined with a shaker will allow a vehicle-based suction evacuator (or other type of vehicle or container) to dump the contents of its storage tank into the hopper. The hopper can then be pivoted relative to the shaker so that the contents of the hopper are allowed to flow out of the hopper and onto the shaker. The shaker includes a shaker screen that allows liquids to pass through to a liquid container below. The screen is vibrated to cause non-liquids to move along the screen toward an exit end where the non-liquids are collected and disposed of. The liquids can be further processed by a mud recycling system if desired. 
         [0040]    Since suction evacuators are often truck-mounted or trailer-mounted, and because the storage tank that is part of the suction evacuator is designed to pivot in order to dump out its contents, it is desirable for the container receiving the contents (in this case, the input hopper) to be no more than 15 inches (approximately 38 centimeters) high. Further, the storage tanks in suction evacuators typically have a storage capacity of up to 1200 gallons (approximately 450 liters) and often in the range of 800 gallons (approximately 300 liters). 
         [0041]    A simplified version of a hopper/shaker assembly  20  is shown in  FIG. 1 . A support base  22  has a hopper  24  pivotably connected thereto and a shaker  26  on an opposite side thereof. The support base  22  includes horizontally-extending members  28  that rest on the ground and a derrick  30  that extends vertically-upwardly from the horizontally-extending members  28 . One or more cross-braces  31  may provide lateral support to the derrick  30  by attaching to the horizontally-extending members  28  and the derrick  30 . Although one is shown in  FIG. 1 , it should be understood that the other lateral side of the assembly  20  could also include a similar cross-brace which would look like a mirror image thereof. One or more hoists  32  may be located on top of the derrick  30 . The support base  22  may include an axle, pins, bearings, or any other suitable structure to define and create a pivot axis  34  (see  FIGS. 4-12 ) about which a pivotably connected component could pivot or turn. 
         [0042]    The hopper  24  includes a bottom surface  40  (see  FIGS. 4-12 ) and a plurality of sidewalls  42  that together define a fluid container in the hopper  24 . The hopper  24  also includes a plurality of splashguards  44  that extend upwardly from the sidewalls  42 . The splashguard  46  at the longitudinal end wall of the hopper  24  includes a chute  48  defined along a top portion thereof. The chute  48  may include a removable grate  49  with fluid-passing slots defined therein, such as is shown in  FIG. 19 . The grate  49  can be employed in applications where large rocks and other debris may be present in the mud and other fluids, and where it would be desirable to prevent such rocks and debris from falling onto and damaging the shaker screen. 
         [0043]    The hoist  32  on the derrick  30  may be connected to the pivotable hopper  24  via rigging  50  that attaches to suitable hardware  52  on the hopper  24 . The suitable hardware  52  may include an eyebolt as is shown in  FIG. 2 . Alternatively, the suitable hardware can include a pulley  54  mounted on a cross-strut  56  that is attached to and between the opposed sidewalls  42 , as is shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0044]    The hopper  24  may also include mating components to the pivot-enabling components of the support base  22 , such as an axle, pins, bearings, or any other suitable structure to define and create a pivot axis  34  (see  FIGS. 4-12 ) about which it could pivot or turn relative to the support base  22 . 
         [0045]    The shaker  26  includes a fluid container  60  that supports a pair of vibrating motors  62 , which in turn support a shaker screen/table  64 . It is possible to either obtain a shaker from a company such as Kem-Tron/Elgin Separation Solutions, Derrick Equipment Company, or other, or to construct a shaker. Further, the vibration motors could be mounted above the shaker screen, as long as there is sufficient clearance for the debris to pass underneath the motors. Also, there may be any suitable number of vibrating motors, including just one vibrating motor. 
         [0046]    There may be a suitable outlet for the fluid container  60 , or as shown in  FIG. 18  there may be a trash pump  65  located therein to drive fluid out of the fluid container  60 , such as via a hose  67  or other suitable conduit. The trash pump  65  may be actuated manually, it may be actuated by a float sensor  66 , or it may be actuated in any other suitable fashion. The vibrating motor(s)  62  may be supported above and attached to the shaker table  64  by a suitable frame  69 . The fluid that is driven from the fluid container  60  under force of gravity, by a pump, or otherwise, can be provided to a holding pit or reclaimer where it can be processed further or suitably disposed of. 
         [0047]    A more detailed view of one embodiment of the rigging  50  (such as a sling) is shown in  FIG. 2 . The hoist  32  is located on top of the derrick  30 . A cable  70  associated with the hoist  32  is connected at one end to the derrick  30 . The cable  70  engages with a pulley  72  that is attached to a loop  74  to which an end of a first cable  76  and an end of a second cable  78  are attached. The opposite ends of the first cable  76  and second cable  78  are attached to hardware  52  on the hopper  24 . In this case, the hardware  52  may be an eyebolt or the like. As may be understood, the hardware  52  could be located outside of the fluid container of the hopper  24 , inside of the fluid container of the hopper  24 , or some combination thereof. In the case of the alternative described above with regard to the pulley  56 , the rigging could be modified suitably to mate and engage with the pulley  56 , such as by merely looping the cable  70  through the pulley  56  instead of through the pulley  72  (in which case parts  52 ,  72 ,  74 ,  76 , and  78  could be eliminated) 
         [0048]    An alternative embodiment of the rigging  50  is shown in  FIG. 3 . In this case, there are a pair of hoists  32  on top of the derrick  30 . Each of the separate hoists  32  has a cable  80  and  82 , respectively, associated therewith which mates with and engages with hardware  52  on the hopper  24 . It should be understood that, for ease of illustration, the rigging is not shown in every figure. 
         [0049]      FIGS. 13-15  show the hopper  24  and support base  22  from different angles. In these angles, one can see the presence of a top wall  39  that helps to confine the contents within the hopper  24  as the hopper is pivoted. In addition, the bottom surface  40  includes an angled portion  90  and the sidewalls and splashguards have angled portions  92  that all angle in toward the chute  48 , to urge the contents toward and out the chute  48  as the hopper  24  is pivoted. 
         [0050]    Various fluid-facing surfaces of the hopper  24  may be coated with Teflon or any other coating with non-stick properties, in order to reduce and minimize sticking of mud and any other substances to the surface of the hopper  24  when it is emptied. Alternatively, or in addition, and also to reduce and eliminate sticking, the hopper  24  may be provided with fluid pipes  58  ( FIG. 16 ) for directing and spraying water onto various ones of the fluid-facing surfaces of the hopper  24 . The fluid pipes may be fed with fluid by a pump  59 , such as an electrically-driven trash pump. Returning attention again to  FIG. 1 , operation of the assembly  21  will now be discussed. Once a suitable amount of material has been deposited into the fluid container defined by the hopper  24 , the hoist  32  can be actuated by a human operator (or by other means). As the hoist  32  is driven to pull the rigging  50  toward the hoist, the entire hopper  24  is caused to pivot about pivot axis  34 . This pivotal movement causes a longitudinal end  36  furthest from the derrick  30  to be moved to a position relatively higher than a longitudinal end  38  of the hopper  24  that is closest to the derrick  30 . 
         [0051]    As may be desired by the operator, the hoist  32  can be driven in a gradual manner and can be continuous motion or intermittent motion. The operator may wish to pivot the hopper  24  in a manner that results in a consistent flow of the contents within the hopper  24  onto the shaker  26 . 
         [0052]    As the hopper is pivoted up from its original, horizontal position, the contents therein will tend to move toward the end  38  of the hopper  24 . The collection of the contents toward this end  38  is enhanced by the sidewalls  44  on the hopper  24 . Collection of the contents toward this end  38  is also enhanced by the top wall  39  which helps to contain the contents within the hopper  24  and direct them toward the chute  48 . The hopper  24  can be pivoted to any desired angle relative to its normal horizontal position. It has been found that pivoting the hopper  24  up to 30°, up to 45°, or even up to 50°, may be desirable in order to empty out the contents of the hopper. 
         [0053]    After all of the contents in the hopper  24 , or at least a sufficient amount of the contents therein, have been emptied onto the shaker  26 , the operator can reverse the motion of the hoist  32  so as to lower the hopper  24  back into its normal, horizontal position. 
         [0054]      FIGS. 4-12  show a series of steps that may be performed in conjunction with the operation of the assembly  20 . In  FIG. 4 , the assembly  20  is in its normal, or resting, position. A truck  100  pulling a trailer  102  with a suction evacuator  104  thereon has been backed up into position with a storage tank  106  of the evacuator near the hopper  24 . 
         [0055]      FIG. 5  shows the truck  100  having backed up even further, such that an end  108  of the storage tank  106  extends over the hopper  24 . 
         [0056]      FIG. 6  shows the storage tank  106  being pivoted so that its contents can dump into the hopper  24 . 
         [0057]    In  FIG. 7 , a door  110  on the end  108  of the storage tank  106  has swung open, which would allow the contents of the storage tank  106  to dump into the hopper  24 . Of course, a door latch (or the like) has been activated to allow the door  110  to swing open. 
         [0058]    In  FIG. 8 , the storage tank  106  has been pivoted back down into its normal, horizontal position, and the truck  100  has pulled the suction evacuator  104  away from the hopper. 
         [0059]    In  FIG. 9 , the hoist  32  has been operated to pivot the hopper  24  about the pivot axis  34 . 
         [0060]    In  FIG. 10 , the hopper  24  has been pivoted further about the pivot axis  34 . In this position, some of the contents within the hopper  24  would be dumping on to shaker  26 . 
         [0061]    In  FIG. 11 , the hopper  24  has been pivoted even further about the pivot axis  34 . Depending upon the operator&#39;s preferences, this may be the highest angle that the hopper  24  is pivoted to. 
         [0062]    In  FIG. 12 , the hopper  24  has been pivoted back to its normal, horizontal position and the truck  100  is driving away. Of course, the truck  100  could drive away at any earlier time after it has dumped its contents. 
         [0063]    In one embodiment, the hopper  24  described herein could be composed of steel and could have a length of approximately 20 feet (approx. 6.1 meters), a width of approximately 7.5 feet (approx. 2.3 meters), and a height at the first end of 1.25 feet (approx. 0.38 meters), although any other suitable materials, shape, and size could be employed. For example, the hopper might have a fluid capacity of 4 to 7 kiloliters, although other suitable capacities could also be employed. The hopper  24  has a transverse axis that is parallel to (or coincident with) the pivot axis  34  and a longitudinal axis that passes through opposite ends  36  and  38 . As the hopper is pivoted, its transverse axis may remain horizontal and its longitudinal axis may pivot about the pivot axis. The first end  36  of the hopper may be moved to a position that is at least 6 feet, at least 10 feet, or at least 14 feet above the second end  38  of the hopper. 
         [0064]    Also, the first end  36  of the hopper  24  may be narrower than other portions of the hopper  24 . As seen in  FIG. 13 , the end  36  may have a width  84  that is smaller than a width  86  of other portions of the hopper  24 . This smaller width  84  creates a notch or recess in which an operator may stand, as may be desired to operate the door  110  on the storage tank  106 . 
         [0065]    Further, it should be noted, that creating a pivot axis (pivotable connection) is just one example of how to implement the teachings herein. Any other technique for movably connecting the hopper to the support base or to the shaker could also be employed. It could include a technique that tilts the hopper without pivoting the hopper about one of its ends. Further, there could be any type of movable joint between the hopper and the support base and shaker. In that regard, it could include any design that allows the hopper to be moved between a first configuration where the opposite ends of the hopper are at approximately the same height to a second configuration where one end of the hopper is higher than the other end so that the contents of the hopper move toward the other end. Also, any or all of the components of the support base, hopper, and shaker could be combined into one integral unit or they could be completely separated from each other. Further, the support base could be eliminated. 
         [0066]    In one embodiment, the derrick may be removable from the remainder of the support base. In another embodiment, the derrick  30  is pivotably mounted to the support base  28  (as shown in  FIG. 20 ). Either of these approaches may make it possible for the entire assembly to be packed into a standard shipping container. In addition, in order to strengthen the derrick to withstand the forces due to the action of the hoist and the weight of the hopper and the contents therein, any of various techniques could be used. One non-limiting example could be the use of one or more cross-braces between the derrick and the remainder of the support base. 
         [0067]    In at least one embodiment, it may be both desirable and possible for the hopper to be “inched” along gradually to multiple different positions (and temporarily held in each of those positions) to gradually cause the contents to be poured onto the shaker. In one embodiment, the entire process of dumping the contents of the storage tank of a suction evacuator into the hopper, slowly advancing the hopper to discharge the contents onto the shaker, and returning the hopper to its original position may take approximately 30 minutes, approximately 20 minutes, approximately 10 minutes, or even less. 
         [0068]    One example of a suitable hoist may be one of the more powerful Warn hoists. Further, the hoist may be operable by a user/operator via a tether control coming off of the power cord. The liquid container of the shaker can be emptied by any suitable technique, but one such technique may be to use a trash pump and a hose. One or more electrical generators may be needed to power one or more of the hoist and shaker. It may also be possible to supply one or more batteries on the assembly, at least for powering the hoist. Optionally, there may be two separate controls for the hoist, one on either side of the derrick, or there may be connections so that a control mechanism can be connected from either side of the derrick. There may also be a load sensor (internal or external) associated with the hoist or cable to warn the operator or to automatically shut off the hoist if a maximum load is encountered (e.g., 33,000 pounds (15,000 kilograms)). 
         [0069]    In order to provide great flexibility as to situations where the system can be operated, all mechanisms within the system may be powered with electrical power. Further, the type(s) of electrical power required may be those produced by a portable generator, such as may be driven with a gasoline or diesel powered engine. Alternatively, the electrical power requirements may be such as are readily available in many commercial, industrial, hydrocarbon production, or other locations (e.g., 480-volt 3-phase power or higher-amperage 220-volt). In some such cases, the electrical connection to the system can be hard-wired into the grid of the job site or otherwise connected. 
         [0070]    While the embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered as examples and not restrictive in character. For example, certain embodiments described hereinabove may be combinable with other described embodiments and/or arranged in other ways (e.g., process elements may be performed in other sequences). Accordingly, it should be understood that only example embodiments and variants thereof have been shown and described.