Vacuum implement for use with a skid steer

• US 7,415,748 B1
• Filed: 10/06/2004
• Issued: 08/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: McLaughlin Group, Inc. (Vermeer Corporation)
• Original Assignee: McLaughlin Group, Inc. (Vermeer Corporation)
• Inventors: Gilman, John William, Maybury, Charles Robert Jr., Guhr, Troy Devan
• Primary Examiner(s): Redding; David A
• Application Number:
  US10/959,384
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 15/340.1
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/0836 Apparatus dislodging all of the dirt by suction liquids or semi-liquids E01H1/108; combined with loosening by blowing E01H1/0863; for cleaning rails E01H8/105, E01H8/125; removing snow by suction E01H5/106, E01H8/08; Suction nozzles independent suction nozzles in mechanical dislodging-cleaning devices E01H1/0827; suction and blowing nozzles E01H1/0863
• CPC Class Codes: E01H 1/108 Removing liquids or semi- liquids, e.g. absorbing rain water, sucking-off mud in road washing machines E01H1/103; in snow melting E01H5/108; applying absorbing agents on oil or the like E01H1/001; constructional measures for draining roads E01C11/224
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3604 Devices to connect tools to arms, booms or the like
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/40 Dippers; Buckets ; Grab devices, e.g. manufacturing processes for buckets, form, geometry or material of buckets devices to connect tools to arms or booms E02F3/3604; teeth therefor E02F9/28
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/42 Drives for dippers, buckets, dipper-arms or bucket-arms

Abstract

A portable vacuum implement for use with a skid steer vehicle has a frame, a skid steer mounting saddle coupled to the frame and a motor mounted to the frame. A vacuum pump mounted on the frame is coupled to the motor so that the motor drives the vacuum pump. A collection tank mounted on the frame is coupled to the vacuum pump so that the vacuum pump pulls a vacuum through the collection tank. A vacuum head is connected to the collection tank by a first hose for vacuuming debris at an excavation site.

Claims

1. A portable vacuum implement for use with a skid steer vehicle comprising:

a. a frame;

b. a skid steer mounting saddle coupled to said frame;

c. a first hydraulic motor mounted to said frame and operatively coupled to a hydraulic system of said skid steer for powering said first hydraulic motor;

d. a vacuum pump mounted on said frame and coupled to said motor so that said first hydraulic motor drives said vacuum pump;

e. a second hydraulic motor serially coupled to said first hydraulic motor;

f. a water pump mounted on said frame and operatively coupled to said second hydraulic motor so that said second hydraulic motor drives said water pump;

g. a hydraulic manifold coupled to said frame and operatively connected between the hydraulic system of the skid steer and one of said first hydraulic motor and said second hydraulic motor, wherein said hydraulic manifold is configured to allow more than one hydraulic motor to operate from the hydraulic system of the skid steer;

h. a collection tank mounted on said frame and coupled to said vacuum pump so that said vacuum pump pulls a vacuum through said collection tank; and

i. a vacuum head coupled to said collection tank by a first hose for vacuuming debris at an excavation site.

2. The portable vacuum implement of claim 1, wherein said collection tank further comprises a door for emptying said collection tank.

3. A portable vacuum implement for use with a skid steer vehicle comprising:

a. a frame having,

(i) a base plate,

(ii) a back plate, and

(iii) two opposing side plates connecting between said base plate and said back plate;

b. a skid steer mounting saddle coupled to said frame for mounting said vacuum implement to a skid steer;

c. a hydraulic motor mounted to said frame;

d. a hydraulic manifold mounted to said frame having an input coupled to a hydraulic system of said skid steer and a first output port coupled to an input port of said hydraulic motor, wherein said hydraulic manifold is configured to allow said hydraulic motor to operate after the skid steer power is turned off;

e. a vacuum pump mounted on said frame and coupled to said hydraulic motor so that said motor drives said vacuum pump;

f. a collection tank mounted on said frame and coupled to said vacuum pump so that said vacuum pump pulls a vacuum through said collection tank;

g. a door coupled to said collection tank for emptying said collection tank; and

h. a hydraulic cylinder positioned intermediate said collection tank and said door, said hydraulic cylinder being operatively coupled to a second output port of said hydraulic manifold;

wherein said hydraulic manifold provides controls to operate said hydraulic motor and said hydraulic cylinder.

4. The portable vacuum implement of claim 3, further comprising a water pump operatively coupled to a third output of said hydraulic manifold so that said hydraulic manifold operatively controls said water pump.

5. A portable vacuum implement for use with a skid steer vehicle comprising:

a. a hydraulic motor;

b. a vacuum pump coupled to said hydraulic motor so that said motor drives said vacuum pump;

c. a collection tank operatively coupled to said vacuum pump so that said vacuum pump pulls a vacuum through said collection tank, said collection tank having a top wall, a bottom wall and a rear wall;

d. a skid steer mounting saddle coupled to said motor, said vacuum pump and said collection tank;

e. a hydraulic door coupled between said collection tank top wall and bottom wall opposite said rear wall; and

f. a hydraulic manifold in operative engagement with said hydraulic motor and said hydraulic door, said hydraulic manifold having an input coupled to a hydraulic system of said skid steer,

wherein

said hydraulic manifold, said hydraulic motor and said vacuum pump are mounted on said collection tank top wall and said skid steer mounting saddle is mounted on said collection tank rear wall, and

said hydraulic manifold provides controls that allow a user to control the operation of said hydraulic motor and said hydraulic door.