Vacuum truck solids handling apparatus

• US 20060123745A1
• Filed: 10/15/2004
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Non Stop Hydro Excavating Ltd.
• Inventors: Pobihushchy, Victor
• Granted Patent: US 7,523,570 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 55/354
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/8816 Mobile land installations

Abstract

A vacuum truck solids handling apparatus includes a truck having an internal combustion engine and a truck frame. A vacuum source, a solids collection container and a separator assembly are all mounted on the truck frame. The separator assembly is adapted to separate solids from a fluid stream drawn under vacuum by the vacuum source. The separator assembly has a pivotally mounted discharge, which pivots between a closed discharge position and an open discharge position. In the closed discharge position, the discharge discharges solids into the solids collection container. In the open discharge position, the discharge discharges solids externally.

Claims

1. A vacuum truck solids handling apparatus, comprising:

a truck having an internal combustion engine and truck frame;

a vacuum source mounted on the truck frame;

a solids collection container mounted on the truck frame;

a separator assembly mounted on the truck frame, the separator assembly being adapted to separate solids from a fluid stream drawn under vacuum by the vacuum source, the separator assembly having a pivotally mounted discharge which pivots between a closed discharge position and an open discharge position, in the closed discharge position the discharge discharging solids into the solids collection container and in the open discharge position the discharge discharging solids externally.

2. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the solids collection container is pivotally mounted for pivotal movement between an operative position and a dumping position.

3. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the fluid stream drawn under vacuum is water and an auger having an auger bed is positioned in the discharge from the separator assembly.

4. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the auger bed has fluid flow passages and hot fluids heated either directly or indirectly by the internal combustion engine flow through the fluid flow passages to heat the auger bed to dry solids carried by the auger along the auger bed.

5. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein hot exhaust gases generated by the internal combustion engine flow along the discharge of the separator assembly to dry solids carried by the auger along the auger bed.

6. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the separator assembly includes:

a cyclone separation chamber adapted to receive an incoming fluid stream of air, water and solids and separate the incoming fluid stream into a first outgoing stream of air and a second outgoing stream of solids mixed with water;

a water catch basin in fluid communication with the second outgoing stream of the cyclone separation chamber to capture water; and

at least one solids screen positioned between the second outgoing stream of the cyclone separation chamber and the water catch basin to separate solids in the second outgoing stream from water; and

means for moving solids from the at least one solids screen to the auger in the discharge.

7. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein there is provided a plurality of baskets and a conveyor which carries the baskets sequentially from the cyclone separation chamber to a solids dumping position over the solids screen and then returns the baskets sequentially to a solids loading position.

8. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the at least one solids screen is positioned at an angle, the means for moving solids down the angled solids screen being a drive mechanism shakes the angled solids screen causing solids to migrate down the angled solids screen to the auger in the discharge.

9. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the first outgoing stream of air exiting the cyclone separation chamber is passed through a secondary cyclone separator for further cleaning.

10. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein water which accumulates in the water catch basin is pumped through at least one of filters and a centrifuge for further cleaning prior to being reused.

11. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein exhaust from the vacuum source is directed onto the angled solids screen.

12. The vacuum solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the pivotally mounted discharge in the open discharge position is adapted to discharge solids onto a pile or into a truck.

13. A vacuum truck solids handling apparatus, comprising:

a truck having an internal combustion engine and truck frame;

a vacuum source mounted on the truck frame;

a solids collection container pivotally mounted on the truck frame for pivotal movement between an operative position and a dumping position;

a separator assembly mounted on the truck frame, the separator assembly being adapted to separate solids from a fluid stream of air, water and solids drawn under vacuum by the vacuum source, the separator assembly having a pivotally mounted discharge which pivots between a closed discharge position and an open discharge position, in the closed discharge position the discharge discharging solids into the solids collection container and in the open discharge position the discharge discharging solids externally;

an auger having an auger bed, the auger being positioned in the discharge from the separator assembly, the auger bed having fluid flow passages, hot fluids heated either directly or indirectly by the internal combustion engine flowing through the fluid flow passages to heat the auger bed to dry solids carried by the auger along the auger bed, hot exhaust gases generated by the internal combustion engine flowing along the discharge of the separator assembly to dry solids carried by the auger along the auger bed;

the separator assembly including;

a cyclone separation chamber adapted to receive an incoming fluid stream of air, water and solids and separate the incoming fluid stream into a first outgoing stream of air and a second outgoing stream of solids mixed with water;

a water catch basin in fluid communication with the second outgoing stream of the cyclone separation chamber to capture water;

at least one solids screen positioned between the second outgoing stream of the cyclone separation chamber and the water catch basin to separate solids in the second outgoing stream from water; and

means for moving solids from the at least one solids screen to the auger in the discharge.

14. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the at least one solids screen is in the form of a plurality of baskets, the means for moving solids from the plurality of baskets to the auger in the discharge being a conveyor which carries the baskets sequentially to a solids dumping position and then returns the baskets sequentially to a solids loading position.

15. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the at least one solids screen is positioned at an angle, the means for moving solids down the angled solids screen being a drive mechanism shakes the angled solids screen causing solids to migrate down the angled solids screen to the auger in the discharge.

16. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the first outgoing stream of air exiting the cyclone separation chamber is passed through a secondary cyclone separator for further cleaning.

17. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein water which accumulates in the water catch basin is pumped through filters for further cleaning prior to being reused.

18. The vacuum truck solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein exhaust from the vacuum source is directed onto the angled solids screen.

19. The vacuum solids handling apparatus as defined in claim 13 wherein the pivotally mounted discharge in the open discharge position discharges solids onto a pile or into a truck.