Method and apparatus for cleaning vessels
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A device for removing material from a vessel, comprising:
- a chassis and a remotely controllable articulating assembly connected to the chassis, the assembly including an arm and a hollow boom, the arm having a first end pivotally connected to the chassis and a second end pivotally connected to the boom, the boom configured to act as a manueverable member of the assembly and at least one of a vacuum and a conduit for a working tool, wherein the device is configured to remove the material from an internal portion of the vessel.
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Abstract
The present invention includes apparatuses, systems, and methods for the safe and efficient removal of materials from tanks. An apparatus is provided that includes a chassis and a remotely controllable articulating vacuum assembly attached to the chassis. The vacuum assembly has at least two joints and is configured to remove material from an interior portion of the vessel.
35 Citations
27 Claims
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1. A device for removing material from a vessel, comprising:
- a chassis and a remotely controllable articulating assembly connected to the chassis, the assembly including an arm and a hollow boom, the arm having a first end pivotally connected to the chassis and a second end pivotally connected to the boom, the boom configured to act as a manueverable member of the assembly and at least one of a vacuum and a conduit for a working tool, wherein the device is configured to remove the material from an internal portion of the vessel.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A device for removing material from a vessel, comprising:
- a chassis and a remotely controllable articulating vacuum assembly connected to the chassis, the vacuum assembly having at least two joints and configured to remove the material from an interior portion of the vessel.
- View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of removing material from a vessel interior, comprising the steps of:
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folding a device into itself, the device including;
a chassis;
a vacuum assembly; and
a hose, the vacuum assembly having an arm and a vacuum boom, the arm pivotally connected to the chassis and pivotally connected to the vacuum boom such that the arm and the boom fold together and proximate to the chassis, the hose attached to the vacuum assembly and extending outwardly of the vessel interior;placing the device in a vessel; manipulating the device inside the vessel interior; positioning the device near the material to be removed; applying a suction force from the vacuum assembly to the materials, such that the materials are moved from the vessel interior into the vacuum assembly; and removing the materials from the vacuum assembly through the hose.
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27. A system for removing material from a vessel interior, comprising:
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a device including a chassis, a hose and a remotely controllable articulating vacuum assembly attached to the chassis, the vacuum assembly having at least two joints and configured to remove the material from an interior portion of the vessel, the hose attached to the vacuum assembly and extending outwardly of the vessel interior; and a control station operatively connected to the device and configured to control movement of the device such that a user may control the movement of the device from the control station.
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Specification