VACUUM-OPERATED MATERIAL TRANSFER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20110200389A1
• Filed: 02/15/2010
• Published: 08/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VT LeeBoy, Inc. (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Original Assignee: VT LeeBoy, Inc. (Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited)
• Inventors: Whitley, Ralph E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,308,394 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 404/101
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 11/005 Methods or materials for repairing pavings E01C7/35 takes precedence; for concrete coverings E01C7/147; for bituminous coverings E01C7/187; devices for repair works E01C23/06; repairing bridge floorings E01D22/00
• CPC Class Codes: E01C 23/06 Devices or arrangements for working the finished surface working freshly laid paving E01C19/42 - E01C19/44, E01C23/02; mining picks E21C35/18; Devices for repairing or reconditioning the surface of damaged paving; Recycling in place or on the road

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to systems and methods implemented in a pothole patching system for creating a vacuum that pulls heavy particulate, such as gravel, out of a hopper. For example, according to an embodiment, a vacuum body having a vacuum chamber formed therein is positioned proximate to an opening of the hopper. A moveable slide gate is provided between the vacuum chamber and the opening of the hopper. The slide gate moves between open and closed positions for permitting and blocking communication between the vacuum chamber and the hopper. A reduction nozzle is provided between an air source and the vacuum chamber. Forced air flows from the air source, through the reduction nozzle, and into the vacuum chamber. The reduction nozzle reduces the pressure of the forced air entering the vacuum chamber, and thereby creates a vacuum in the vacuum chamber. When the slide gate is in the open position, this vacuum pulls particulate from the hopper.

Claims

1. A system provided on a pothole patcher for creating a vacuum that pulls particulate out of a hopper and into a flow path of forced air that is provided by an air source, the system comprising:

a vacuum chamber formed in a vacuum body and disposed proximate to the hopper;

a valve disposed between the vacuum chamber and the hopper, the valve configured to open and close for permitting and blocking communication between the vacuum chamber and the hopper; and

a reduction nozzle provided between the air source and the vacuum chamber, the reduction nozzle creates a vacuum in the vacuum chamber by reducing the pressure of the forced air entering the vacuum chamber;

wherein the vacuum pulls particulate from the hopper to the vacuum camber when the valve is open.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the reduction nozzle increases the velocity of the forced air that flows into the vacuum chamber.

3. The system of claim 2, further comprising:

a wide-area opening disposed between the vacuum chamber and a boom assembly of the pothole patcher, wherein the increased-velocity forced air entrains and carries particulate from the vacuum chamber into the wide-area opening and then to the boom assembly.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the vacuum body further comprises:

a top surface disposed between the vacuum chamber and the hopper; and

an opening formed in the top surface and positioned inline with an outlet of the hopper, wherein the opening provides communication between the hopper and the vacuum chamber;

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the valve includes a retractable gate provided on the top surface and configured to slide coplanar to the top surface between open and closed positions.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein, when the gate is in the open position, the outlet of the hopper and the opening of the vacuum body are in communication and the vacuum pulls particulate from inside the hopper, through the outlet of the hopper, through the opening of the vacuum body, and into the vacuum chamber.

7. A vacuum-operated material transfer system for use on a pothole patcher, the pothole patcher is equipped with a hopper for storing particulate, such as gravel or crushed rock, an air source for providing a flow path of forced air, and a boom assembly for dispensing particulate, the vacuum-operated material transfer system is configured to create a vacuum that pulls particulate out of an outlet of the hopper and into the flow path of forced air provided by the air source, the forced air entrains and carries particulate to the boom assembly, the system comprising:

a vacuum body disposed proximate to the outlet of the hopper, the vacuum body comprising;

a vacuum chamber;

a surface disposed between the vacuum chamber and the hopper; and

an opening formed in the surface and positioned inline with the outlet of the hopper, the opening provides communication between the hopper and the vacuum chamber;

a slide gate slidably mounted on the surface of the vacuum body and movable between open and closed positions, the open position permits communication between the hopper and the vacuum chamber, the closed position blocks communication between the hopper and the vacuum chamber;

a reduction nozzle disposed between the vacuum chamber and the air source, the reduction nozzle is configured to create the vacuum inside of the vacuum chamber by reducing the pressure and increasing the velocity of the forced air flowing from the air source into the vacuum chamber, the vacuum pulls particulate through the outlet of the hopper, through the opening of the vacuum body, and into the vacuum chamber; and

a wide-area opening disposed between the vacuum chamber and the boom assembly, the increased-velocity forced air exiting the reduction nozzle entrains and carries particulate from the vacuum chamber into the wide-area opening and then to the boom assembly.

8. The system of claim 7, further comprising:

first and second conduits, wherein the vacuum body interconnects the first and second conduits.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first conduit extends between the vacuum body and the boom assembly and is fitted with the wide-area opening.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the second conduit extends between the vacuum body and the air compressor and is fitted with the reduction nozzle.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the first and second conduits combine to transmit forced air from the air source, through the vacuum chamber, and to the boom assembly.

12. The system of claim 7, wherein the surface of the vacuum body is attached to a bottom of the hopper such that the opening of the surface juxtaposes the outlet of the hopper.

13. The system of claim 7, wherein the vacuum body is formed integrally with the hopper such that the opening of the surface and the outlet of the hopper are a single opening.

14. The system of claim 7, wherein the slide gate is configured to slide coplanar to the surface of the vacuum body between the open and closed positions.

15. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

an emulsion tank configured to dispense emulsion into the flow path of forced air in the first conduit.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the flow path of forced air carries a mixture of emulsion and particulate to the boom assembly.

17. A method for using a vacuum-operated material transfer system that is installed on a pothole patcher, the pothole patcher comprises a hopper for storing particulate, such as gravel or crushed rock, an air source for providing a flow path of forced air, and a boom assembly for dispensing particulate, the method comprising:

creating a low-pressure area inside of a vacuum chamber that is formed in a vacuum body and disposed proximate to an outlet of the hopper by controlling the air compressor to provide the flow path of forced air through a reduction nozzle and into the vacuum chamber; and

permitting the low-pressure area inside of the vacuum chamber to pull particulate from the hopper by opening a valve that is disposed between the vacuum chamber and the hopper and that is configured to open and close for permitting and blocking communication between the vacuum chamber and the hopper.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

increasing the velocity of the forced air inside of the vacuum chamber by controlling the air compressor to provide the flow path of forced air through the reduction nozzle and into the vacuum chamber such that the increased-velocity forced air entrains and carries particulate from the vacuum chamber into a wide-area opening and then to the boom assembly.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

controlling an emulsion tank to dispense emulsion into the flow path of forced air that is exiting the vacuum chamber and that has particulate entrained therein.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

controlling the boom assembly to direct the flow path of compressed air, including the particulate and emulsion entrained therein, into a pothole.

21. A pothole patching system mounted on a vehicle having a wheeled chassis, the pothole patching system comprising:

a boom assembly mounted on an end of the wheeled chassis and having a boom outlet on an end thereof;

a hopper in communication with the boom assembly and configured to store aggregate;

an air source in communication with the boom assembly and the hopper and configured to provide a flow path of forced air that carries aggregate from the hopper to the boom assembly; and

a vacuum-operated material transfer system that creates a vacuum proximate to an outlet of the hopper that pulls particulate out of the hopper and into the flow path of forced air provided by the air source, the vacuum-operated material transfer system comprises;

a vacuum chamber formed in a vacuum body and disposed proximate to the outlet of hopper;

a valve disposed between the vacuum chamber and the outlet of hopper, the valve configured to open and close for permitting and blocking communication between the vacuum chamber and the hopper; and

a reduction nozzle provided between the air source and the vacuum chamber and configured to create the vacuum in the vacuum chamber by reducing the pressure of the forced air entering the vacuum chamber,

wherein the vacuum created by the vacuum-operated material transfer system pulls particulate from the outlet of the hopper to the vacuum camber and the flow path of forced air provided by the air source entrains and carries particulate to the boom outlet of the boom assembly.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the wheeled chassis supports an operator cabin that is equipped with a joystick that enables a single operator to control operation of the pothole patching system from within the cabin.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the boom assembly further comprises:

an aggregate-delivery tube disposed between the vacuum chamber and the boom outlet.

24. A method for using a joystick to control a pothole patching system to repair a road surface, wherein the pothole patching system includes a hopper for storing aggregate, an emulsion tank for storing emulsion, a hydraulic pump for providing a flow path of forced air, and a boom assembly for delivering emulsion and aggregate to a repair area of the road surface, the method comprising:

moving the joystick to move the boom assembly to a position over the repair area;

squeezing a trigger of the joystick to direct the flow path of forced air out of the boom assembly and to the repair area;

providing a coat of emulsion on a surface of the repair area by pushing a first pushbutton of the joystick to open a valve associated with the emulsion tank and permit emulsion to flow out of the boom assembly and to the repair area;

filling the repair area with a mixture of emulsion and aggregate by pushing a second pushbutton of the joystick to open a valve associated with the hopper and permit the flow path of forced air to carry aggregate out of the boom assembly and to the repair area, wherein emulsion and aggregate are flowing from the boom assembly to the repair area;

providing a layer of aggregate on top of the mixture of emulsion and aggregate by pushing the first pushbutton of the joystick to close the valve associated with the emulsion tank, wherein the flow path of forced air continues to carry aggregate out of the boom assembly and to the repair area; and

pushing the second pushbutton of the joystick to close the valve associated with the hopper and stop the flow of aggregate out of the boom assembly.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the valve associated with the hopper comprises:

a retractable gate provided between an outlet of the hopper and a vacuum chamber, wherein the retractable gate is configured to between a closed position that blocks communication between the hopper and the vacuum chamber and an open position that permits communication between the hopper and the vacuum chamber.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein a pressure differential between the hopper and the vacuum chamber creates a vacuum in the vacuum chamber that pulls aggregate through a bottom outlet of the hopper and into the vacuum chamber when the retractable gate is in the open position.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein pushing the second pushbutton of the joystick causes a hydraulically driven shaft to move the retractable gate from the closed position to the open position and thereby permit the vacuum in the vacuum chamber to pull aggregate from the hopper to the vacuum chamber.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein, once aggregate is in the vacuum chamber, the flow path of forced air provided by the hydraulic pump entrains and carries the aggregate to and out of the boom assembly.