Patent Publication Number: US-7712481-B1

Title: Suction hose arrangement for refuse tank trucks

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to tank trucks for collecting and transporting flowable refuse material, and, more particularly, to a suction hose handling and storage arrangement for such tank trucks. 
   DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
   Tank trucks for collecting and transporting flowable refuse materials, such as storm drain sewage, septic tank sewage, certain chemical waste, leaves and the like, are typically equipped with a storage tank, a vacuum pump, and an at least partially flexible suction hose having one end connected to the tank and an opposite end (i.e., distal end) including a refuse pick-up nozzle. The suction hose may be supported by an adjustable boom on the truck so that at a site of refuse pick-up, the nozzle may be manipulated and positioned relative to the parked truck. Although the distance between the truck and the position of the nozzle is not large at most pick-up sites, some measure of suction hose length adjustability between the tank and the pick-up nozzle is sometimes desired. 
   In the past, various devices have been used to accommodate the limited variable length of the pick-up suction hose associated with tank trucks. For example, extensible suction hoses, a suction hose storage reel between the nozzle and the tank, or insertable suction hose sections have been employed. Because of the relatively large diameter of the suction hose, all of these devices present problems relating to efficient operation of the tank truck, use of the space available on the tank truck, and maintenance and/or replacement of the suction hose. 
   Accordingly, there is a need for improvement in refuse collecting and transporting tank trucks and, in particular, the provision of an improved arrangement for adjusting the length of the suction hose between the tank of such trucks and pick-up nozzle on the distal end of the suction hose. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   In the following description, certain aspects and embodiments will become evident. Although the present invention may obviate one or more of the above-mentioned needs, it should be understood that some aspects and embodiments of the invention might not necessarily obviate at least some of those needs. 
   In one aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention is directed to a tank truck for collecting and transporting flowable material. The tank truck includes a tank configured to store flowable material, a retractable suction hose assembly connected to the tank, and a retractable boom supporting the hose assembly. A drive assembly engageable with the suction hose is provided for varying the vertical and horizontal length of the suction hose assembly, or a combination thereof. 
   In another aspect, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention is directed to a tank truck for collecting and transporting flowable material. The tank truck includes a tank configured to store flowable material, a retractable suction hose assembly connected to the tank, and a retractable boom supporting the hose assembly. The retractable boom and suction hose assembly telescopes out so as to extend an overall horizontal displacement, variably, by a predetermined distance, and extends and retracts the suction hose such that the hose moves vertically with respect to the ground, variably, by a second predetermined distance. To further increase the overall functionality of the retractable hose and boom assembly, a telescoping catch basin nozzle is attached to the boom. 
   It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed. 
   The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain some principles of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic side elevation illustrating a tank truck in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating an exemplary boom assembly for the truck of  FIG. 1 , wherein the boom assembly is in a collapsed orientation; 
       FIG. 3  is a side elevation illustrating the collapsed orientation of the boom assembly of  FIG. 2 ; 
       FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the boom assembly of  FIG. 2  in a horizontally telescoped orientation; 
       FIG. 5  is a side elevation illustrating the horizontally telescoped orientation of  FIG. 4 ; 
       FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the boom assembly of  FIG. 2  in a vertically telescoped orientation; 
       FIG. 7  is a side elevation illustrating the vertically telescoped orientation of  FIG. 6 ; 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation illustrating the boom assembly of  FIG. 3  in more detail; 
       FIG. 9  is a side view of the boom in its stored, non-actuated state; 
       FIG. 10  is a side view featuring the drive assembly for the boom and the hose; 
       FIG. 11  is a side view of the boom in the extended but not telescoped state; 
       FIG. 12  is a side view of the boom in the telescoped but not extended state; 
       FIG. 13  is a side view of the boom in the telescoped and extended state; 
       FIG. 14  is a side view of the boom in the side to side rotated state; 
       FIG. 15  is a side view of the boom in up and down pivoted state; 
       FIG. 16  is a perspective view of the boom with catch basin nozzle in its stored, non-actuated state; 
       FIG. 17  is a perspective view of the boom with catch basin nozzle in the telescoped state; 
       FIG. 18  is an additional perspective view of the boom with catch basin nozzle in the telescoped state; 
       FIG. 19  is a side view of the boom with a gear mechanism; 
       FIG. 20  is a side view of the boom with a wrench mechanism; 
       FIG. 21  is a side view of the boom with a third cylinder in its stored, non-actuated state; and 
       FIG. 22  is a side view of the boom with a third cylinder in the telescoped state. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference will now be made in detail to the present exemplary embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. 
   In accordance with the present invention, a tank truck for transporting flowable material is provided with a tank for storing the flowable material, a retractable boom and telescoping suction hose assembly connected at one end to the tank, and a drive assembly adapted to expand the boom and suction hose assemblies, thereby selectively adjusting the hose vertically and horizontally. 
   In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 1-22 , a tank truck, generally designated by the reference number  10 , includes a cab  12  and a truck body  14  supporting a refuse tank  16 , a retractable boom assembly  18 , a retractable suction hose assembly  20 , and assorted equipment for operating the boom assembly  18 , for subjecting the tank  16  to a negative pressure or vacuum, and in general, for complete operation of the tank truck  10  for sewer cleaning, storm drain cleaning, other types of catch basin cleaning, leaf collection, litter collection, hydroexcavation, industrial vacuum cleaning, and other pneumatic conveying applications. Since at least some of the assorted equipment may be conventional, the following description will be limited to components of equipment on the truck  10  that are relevant to the practice of the present invention. 
   The retractable boom assembly  18  may be pivoted on top of the truck body  14  for horizontal swinging movement over the truck cab  12 , and may include an arrangement of two or more telescoping boom sections  22   a ,  22   b ,  22   c , as shown for example in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . In order to improve the overall functionality of the retractable boom assembly, the boom functions in various configurations. For example, in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the boom is in a collapsed state.  FIGS. 4 and 5  show the boom in a horizontally telescoped orientation. The boom is in the vertically telescoped orientation in  FIGS. 6 and 7 . In addition, the retractable boom assembly  18  may be mounted directly to the refuse tank  16  and function as described above. Optionally, the retractable boom assembly  18  may be mounted to the side of the refuse tank  16 , configured in a side-by-side telescoping boom fashion as opposed to the current over-under boom arrangement. This design can also function as described above. 
   In accordance with the present invention, the suction hose assembly  20  is connected to the front end of the refuse tank  16  and comprises an arrangement of at least two telescoping tubes. As shown in  FIGS. 4 and 7 , the suction hose assembly  20  preferably includes an outer tube  24   a , a middle tube  24   b , an inner tube  24   c , and a flexible hose  24   d  having a distal end  24   e . In some examples, the inner tube  24   c  is configured to have an outer diameter less than the outer diameter of the middle tube  24   b , which is less than the outer diameter of the outer tube  24   a . Therefore, the hose may be collapsed with the inner tube  24   c  and the middle tube  24   b  positioned substantially entirely within the outer tube  24   a , as shown in  FIG. 2 . 
   In accordance with the present invention, the retractable suction hose assembly  20  is connected to the retractable boom assembly  18 . As embodied herein and shown principally in  FIG. 9 , the inner tube  24   c  is slidably connected to the boom assembly  18  along boom section  22   c , the middle tube  24   b  is secured to boom section  22   b , while the outer tube  24   a  is affixed to boom section  22   a . To facilitate motion, at least two rollers  26  are mounted along a distal end of the boom and are engageable with the sides of the suction hose assembly  20 . 
   In accordance with the present invention, the truck includes a drive assembly for controlling the horizontal and vertical position of the distal end  24   e  of the hose  24   d  relative to the truck. As embodied herein and shown principally in  FIG. 10 , the drive assembly may include lower and upper hydraulic cylinders  28 ,  30  mounted substantially within boom portions  22   a ,  22   b . Upper hydraulic cylinder  30  is also fixed at one end to a slide bearing  32 , which is secured to inner tube  24   c  and adapted to move along boom portion  22   c  when actuated by upper cylinder  30 . In an extended state, the upper cylinder  30  is actuated to move the slide bearing along boom section  22   c ; whereas in the telescoped state the lower cylinder extends boom section  22   b  which is telescopically mounted within boom section  22   a.    
   The boom and hose assemblies  18 ,  20  are normally stored in a non-actuated state, as shown in  FIG. 9 , in which the inner tube  24   c  is positioned within the middle tube  24   b  which is positioned within the outer tube  24   a.    
   As shown in  FIG. 11 , the boom and hose assemblies  18 ,  20  may be configured in an extended but not telescoped state. In this configuration, the upper cylinder  30  moves the slide bearing  32  along the boom section  22   c , so that the slide bearing  32  substantially abuts rollers  26 . In doing so, the slide bearing  32  draws the inner tube  24   c  out of the middle tube  24   b , which does not move relative to the outer tube  24   a . Thus, the hose  24   d  moves vertically only, as shown in  FIG. 11 , because horizontal length of the boom assembly  18  has not been adjusted, while the hose assembly has been extended. 
   As shown in  FIG. 12 , the boom and hose assemblies  18 ,  20  may be configured in a telescoped but not extended state. In this configuration, only the lower cylinder  28  is actuated. Once actuated, the lower cylinder  28  urges boom section  22   b  out of boom section  22   a . This, in turn, draws the middle tube  24   b  out of the outer tube  24   a . The middle tube  24   b  and the inner tube  24   c  do not move relative to one another. Thus, the hose  24   d  will be adjusted horizontally only. 
   As shown in  FIG. 13 , the boom assembly  18  may be configured in a telescoped and extended state. In this configuration, lower and upper cylinders  28 ,  30  are actuated sequentially or in unison. In the process, the inner tube  24   c  is drawn out of the middle tube  24   b , which is drawn out of the outer tube  24   a . Thus, the hose  24   d  will move both horizontally and vertically. 
   Hydraulic actuated cylinders also may be used to facilitate side-to-side rotating motion shown in  FIG. 14  (i.e., pivotal movement about a vertical axis), as well as up and down pivoting as shown in  FIG. 15  (i.e., pivotal movement about a horizontal axis). All cylinders are controlled by valves and levers enabling individualized user control. 
   As shown in  FIGS. 21 and 22 , the boom assembly  18  may include a third cylinder  44  to provide an additional amount of overall horizontal telescoping boom length. The third cylinder  44  is extended by a predetermined distance, which extends the front roller end  46  and thus the overall total extension of the boom by the predetermined distance. In addition to hydraulics, the present invention may be actuated by other drive mechanisms, including, but not limited to, ball-screws powered by a motor, air cylinders, cables, etc. In addition, the drive mechanism  26  may be positioned outside the boom, such as on the truck body  14 . 
   In operation, the hose and boom arrangement not only telescopes out in such a way as to extend its overall length by a predetermined distance, but also can extend and retract the hose such that the distal-end  24   e  moves vertically with respect to the ground by a second predetermined distance. Additionally, the boom may be inclined up or down so that the hose is extended at an angle greater than or less than 90° relative to the boom. 
   As shown in  FIG. 19 , the boom assembly  18  may include a gear mechanism designed to increase the life span of the retractable hose assembly  20 , including inner tube  24   c . The retractable hose  20  wears from use most heavily in area  24   d  inside the hose and opposite the rollers  26 . When crank  48  is rotated in a clockwise or counter-clockwise motion, hose  20  and correspondingly, parts and sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  will also rotate. Section  54  is connected directly to inner tube  24   c , causing inner tube  24   c  to rotate as well. The end goal is to rotate sequentially 90° at a specified interval to evenly distribute the wear, thus maximizing hose life. In this new position, area  24   d  is no longer worn out and is ready for continued use. The rotation motion can also be locked and unlocked via a locking mechanism  56 . 
   In the alternative,  FIG. 20  illustrates a wrench mechanism designed to increase the life span of the retractable hose assembly  20 , including inner tube  24   c , as described above in  FIG. 19 . As opposed to the crank  48  and gear mechanism, a wrench  58  may attach to the hose end of inner tube  24   c . As the wrench  58  is turned sequentially 90° clockwise or counter-clockwise, at a specified interval to evenly distribute the wear, all of the corresponding parts and sections  50 ,  52 , and  54  will rotate in the same manner as in the gear mechanism of  FIG. 19 . 
   Further, in accordance with the present invention and as shown in  FIGS. 16-18 , a telescoping catch basin nozzle  34  may be attached to the hose  24   d  to increase the overall operation of the tank truck. The nozzle  34 , which is manually operated, comprises two tubes, an inner tube  36  and an outer tube  38 . The inner tube  36  preferably is constructed from aluminum, while the outer tube  38  preferably is made of rubber or similarly resilient polymeric material. The inner tube  36  is configured to have an outer diameter less than an inner diameter of the outer tube  38 . The outer tube  38  further comprises a clamping or sealing system  40  to allow the inner tube  36  to adjust in and out. The other end of the outer tube  38  has a rolled angle flange connection  42 . In  FIG. 16 , the telescoping catch basin nozzle  34  is in its stored, non-actuated state. As the clamping or sealing system  40  is manually adjusted, the inner tube  36  extends with the aid of gravity to a telescoped state, as shown in  FIGS. 17 and 18 . 
   Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. For example, the boom can move the distal-end  24   e  vertically and horizontally, vertically but not horizontally, and horizontally but not vertically with respect to the ground by performing different combinations of telescoping and extending.