Patent Publication Number: US-6988568-B2

Title: Vacuum boring and mud recovery system

Description:
This application is a CIP of 09/722,797, filed Nov. 27, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,453,584, which claims benefit of 60/363,058 filed Mar. 11, 2002 and claims benefit of 60/384,719 filed Jun. 03, 2002. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a vacuum boring and mud recovery method comprising a device which will create a vacuum condition within a container, a conduit to transport a liquid and or 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 and solid particles. Articulated powered boom arms position the vacuum conduit or jetter conduit as desired. Fixed angle vacuum container dispense unprocessed debris by gravity. Liquid storage containers serve as both support for vacuum container and sides to liquid container. 
     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 method 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. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an articulated powered vacuum conduit boom to allow an operator to remotely move and control the location of the suction end of the vacuum conduit and the vacuum conduit have sufficient structural strength for digging and operating attachments. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide an articulated powered jetter conduit boom to allow an operator to remotely move and control the location of the jetter and jetter liquid supply conduit. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to provide purification, seperation of hydrocarbons and sterilization of the vacuumed contents. 
     It is yet another objective of the present invention to mount the vacuum container at a fixed angle on a mobile platform so as to be able to open the exit door and empty the container by gravity. 
     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 method having the means to dispense a liquid or solid particles from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container. The dispensing method can include a pump, a screw, a venturi or a series of valves. 
     A separating method can be added within the vacuum container, which has the ability to separate the liquid and solid particles by predetermined category. The separating method can include a filter, a stationary screen, a vibrating screen, a centrifuge, a hydro cyclone or a combination thereof. 
     At least one or more dispensing devices may be attached to the vacuum container. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a vacuum container according to a first embodiment of the invention having both liquid and solid dispensers and means disposed within the container to separate liquids from solids. 
         FIG. 2  shows a side elevation of a vacuum container according to a second embodiment of the invention using a screen cylinder to separate liquids from solids and having a pump dispenser disposed within the screen and having a vibrator attached to the screen. Purification means are disposed within the vacuum container to remove contaminants from the liquids or solids. Purification means  55 , hydrocarbon absorbing means  56  and sterilization means  57  are shown disposed within the vacuum container although they can be attached to the container or conduits. Purification, hydrocarbon absorbs ion or sterilization means may consist of but not be limited to zealite, ozone or activated carbon or ultra violet light or phasing or ultra sonic or chlorine or peat or diatomasious earth. 
         FIG. 3  shows a vacuum container and liquid dispenser according to the second embodiment of the invention using a powered boom to articulate the vacuum conduit with vacuum attachment and sensor. 
         FIG. 4  shows a vacuum container with liquid and solid dispensers according to a third embodiment of the invention using a vacuum boom to reach into a drain pipe using a vacuum conduit tractor to vacuum debris. A jetter is also shown loosening debris to be vacuumed. 
         FIG. 5  shows a vacuum container with both solids and liquid dispensers according to a fourth embodiment of the invention mounted on a skid steer using a transfer pump to pump the recycled liquid from the liquid storage to the spray head. The vacuum container is shown mounted on an angle. 
         FIG. 6  shows a vacuum according to the fourth embodiment of the invention mounted on a zero turn radius vehicle using a powered articulating vacuum conduit boom with telescoping conduit and bucket. 
         FIG. 7  shows an articulating jetter boom with multiple sections reaching into a drainage pipe to vacuum debris from the drainage pipe. A telescoping means is used to assist. 
         FIG. 8  shows a vacuum container according to the  5 th embodiment of the invention using a powered articulating vacuum boom with a manhole cover removal attachment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Using the drawings, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be explained. 
       FIG. 1  shows the first embodiment of the invention, being one example of various possible arrangements of apparatus within a vacuum container  12  for the purpose of accomplishing a method of separating solids  6  or liquids  2  by predetermined category and then dispensing said solids  6  or liquids  2  using a dispensing means  1  without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container  12 . In  FIG. 1 , the apparatus of the present invention include a vacuum container  12 , a vacuum producing means  11 , a conduit  13  to allow air to move from vacuum container  12  to vacuum producing means  11 , a conduit  14  dispenses air from the vacuum producing means  11 . Vacuum container  12  has an access door  18  having a hinge  20  and a latching means  19 . Solids  6  or liquids  2  are vacuumed into vacuum container  12  by means of a vacuum conduit  17 . In  FIG. 1 , the ground  35  is earthen dirt. Liquid  2 , which has been stored in container  8 , is pumped by pump  7  through pump discharge conduit  5  to a spray nozzle  26 . The pressurized liquid  2  dislodges and emulsifies the ground  35  so it becomes vacuum able. The vacuum able ground  35  and liquid  2  are vacuumed through conduit  17  and into vacuum container  12 . The solids  6  and liquids  2  fall onto a screen  21  which is vibrated by vibrator  23 . Screen  21  is mounted on springs  22  which are supported by support means  24 . Liquid  2  passes through screen  21  and is dispensed from the vacuum container  12  by means of a liquid dispenser means  1  which is shown as a rotary void style in this example. The solids  6  which are too large to pass through the vibrating screen  21  are vibrated to a solids dispensing means  10  which in this example is a rotary void style dispenser. The solids  6  are dispensed into solids conveyor  49 . The vacuum container  12  is supported by a pivot arm  28  and a cylinder  29 , which may be extended to dump contents out of container access door  18 . The above system is mounted on a mobile platform  32  with wheels  30 .  FIG. 1  is shown excavating ground  35  in order to locate a utility  15  without doing damage to said utility  15 . 
     In a second embodiment of the invention shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the screen  21  is formed in the shape of a cylinder. The solids  6  and liquids  2  which are vacuumed through conduit  17 , are deposited into vacuum container  12  around the vibrated screen well  21 . The solids  6  which cannot pass through the screen well  21 , remain in the vacuum container  12  to be dumped out through access door  18  when it is opened and cylinder  29  is extended. Liquid  2  passes through screen  21  thus dewatering the solids  6  which remain in vacuum container  12 . Liquid  2 , which passes through screen  21 , is dispensed from vacuum container  12  by means of liquid dispenser  1 , which in this example is a pump. The liquid  2  passes through conduit  16  and into hydro cyclone  25  where the solids  6  and liquid  2  separation is further refined. The solids  6  are discharged through conduit  3  which discharges into a liquid  2  storage container  8  thus providing a method to reclaim and recycle vacuumed liquids  2 . 
       FIG. 3  has the added features of a powered mobile boom  36  to articulate the movement of vacuum conduit  17  and vacuum conduit attachments  32  which may consist of cutters, demolition means, surface grinders, cleaners, air jets, water jets, scoops, etc. Utility location sensors  33  with monitor/controller means  34  are shown to assist in locating and accessing a utility  15  buried under ground  35  which may consist of dirt, stone, asphalt, concrete or a combination there of. 
     In a third embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 4 , the solids  6  are passed through a solids grinder  27  before being dispensed by a solids dispenser  10  which in this example is a progressive cavity screw. The dispensed solids are collected in solids receiver container  9  and then hauled off. The liquids  2  is shown being dispensed by liquid dispenser means  1 , which in this example is a diaphragm pump. The recycled liquid  2  is pumped through hose reel  37  by transfer pump  7  to a water jetter  9  thus cleaning drain pipe  38  with recycled water as it moves. 
     The recycled jetter  39  liquid  2  along with solids  6  washed from drain pipe  38  are vacuumed up by the vacuum conduit  17  which is shown as an articulated powered vacuum conduit boom  36 . The articulated powered boom also has means to place the jetter  39  into location down a manhole  59  and into a drainage conduit  38  and dispense the jetter conduit  58 . In this example, cylinder  41  is used to articulate the vacuum conduit boom  36  and jetter  39 . Vacuum boom structure  44  allows the vacuum conduit  17  to be rigid enough to move, support weight and force in order to articulate and operate attachments such as the vacuum conduit tractor  51  which is articulated into a starting position by the vacuum conduit boom  36 . Vacuum conduit tractor  51  then moves vacuum conduit  17  to debris  45  to be vacuumed. Vacuum hose reel  54  unreels and retracts vacuum hose  17  as needed. Vacuum conduit tractor  51  can have a sensor controller means  52  attached so as to monitor and control the vacuuming process. Vacuum conduit tractor  51  can also be fitted with an articulating suction head means  53  which allows the vacuum conduit tractor to access debris  45  in multiple degrees. Although the articulating vacuum conduit boom  36  is shown vacuuming debris from a drain pipe, said vacuum conduit boom  36  works equally well vacuuming substances from railcars, barges, tankers, silos, or shaving and dung from the barn and stables. 
     In a fourth embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 5 ,  6  and the container  12  is inclined having an inclined screen  21 , which continues as a portion of the solids dispenser  10  hopper. In this example, the solids dispenser  10  is in the form of a screw conveyor. Liquid  2 , which passes through the screen  21 , is dispensed by liquid dispenser  1 , which in this embodiment is shown as a pump. In  FIG. 5 , the system is mounted on a skid steer example of a mobile platform  3 . A forklift, track vehicle, truck, backhoe or track hoe may be used as well. In  FIG. 6 , the vacuum container  12 , with its components, is mounted on a mobile platform  31  shown in this embodiment as a zero turn radius vehicle. An articulated powered vacuum conduit boom  36  is also mounted to the mobile platform  31 . 
     The articulated powered vacuum conduit boom  36  has the added means of a telescoping vacuum conduit  42  which may be retracted to allow use of a bucket  43  for digging. 
       FIG. 8  shows a manhole cover removal attachment  47  mounted to the articulated powered vacuum conduit boom  36 . A manhole cover  46  is being removed. A conduit  48  supplies power to the manhole cover removal attachment means  47 . The manhole cover removal attachment means  47  may be an electro magnet, a suction cup or a mechanical attachment means.  FIG. 8  represents a 5th embodiment of the vacuum container  2  showing the vacuum container  2  mounted in at a fixed angle on a mobile platform  31 . The fixed angle is sufficient to allow the contents of the vacuum container to be removed by gravity when the door  18  is opened. The vacuum container  2  mounting support may also serve as sides for an attached liquid storage container  8 . 
       FIG. 7  shows an articulated powered jetter boom  60  having multiple boom sections  50  attached to a mobile platform  31 . The boom  60  is shown loosening debris  45  from a drain pipe  38  Rotary structural support means  44  provide swivel and rotating means. It is recognized that while each of the figures show different types of vacuum methods, vacuum booms, vacuum containers with different types of solid or liquid seperation and dispensing, the various apparatuses are interchangeable and can replace one another. Further more, although some of the articulated powered vacuum conduit booms are shown with vacuum containers having liquid or solid dispensers, it is recognized that the articulated powered vacuum conduit boom and its attachment means can be used alone or in conjunction with any type of vacuum system. 
     The preceding description has been presented only to illustrate and describe the invention. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to any precise form disclosed. Many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.