Utility valve access and performance evaluation means
First Claim
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1. A mobile utility valve actuator and vacuum excavation method for accessing and opening or closing an in ground utility valve, comprising the steps of:
- having a mobile platform means wherein said mobile platform is chosen from one or more of a group consisting of a trailer, a skid, a truck, a zero turn radius vehicle, a fork lift, and a skid steer, and further comprising the steps of having a vacuum container adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, and said vacuum container having a vacuum producing means to create a vacuum within said vacuum container, and further comprising the step of having a vacuum hose to vacuum a liquid or solids into said vacuum container, and further comprising the step of having a boom means, and said boom means having two or more arms, and said boom means having a first end pivot ably mounted on said mobile platform, and said pivot ably mounted boom means having a second end connected to said valve actuator and further comprising the step of said valve actuator having a rotate able shaft, and said rotate able shaft further comprising the step of having an attachment means of adjacently mounting said rotate able shaft to a valve stem of said in ground utility valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum container mounted on a vehicle, a trailer, or skid mounted with options chosen from an articulating boom, a liquid pressure dissipater, a utility valve actuator, having a drive motor for the valve actuator being either hydraulic, air, or electric powered, a global positioning system to determine and log the position of work, service or hardware, controls and measuring devices and de-chlorinator. Dirt or debris are made vacuum able by using a pressurized water nozzle, air pressure nozzle, or tools powered by the auxiliary power supply.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A mobile utility valve actuator and vacuum excavation method for accessing and opening or closing an in ground utility valve, comprising the steps of:
- having a mobile platform means wherein said mobile platform is chosen from one or more of a group consisting of a trailer, a skid, a truck, a zero turn radius vehicle, a fork lift, and a skid steer, and further comprising the steps of having a vacuum container adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, and said vacuum container having a vacuum producing means to create a vacuum within said vacuum container, and further comprising the step of having a vacuum hose to vacuum a liquid or solids into said vacuum container, and further comprising the step of having a boom means, and said boom means having two or more arms, and said boom means having a first end pivot ably mounted on said mobile platform, and said pivot ably mounted boom means having a second end connected to said valve actuator and further comprising the step of said valve actuator having a rotate able shaft, and said rotate able shaft further comprising the step of having an attachment means of adjacently mounting said rotate able shaft to a valve stem of said in ground utility valve.
- View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 19)
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2. A mobile utility valve actuator and vacuum excavation method for accessing and opening or closing an in ground utility valve, comprising the steps of:
- having a mobile platform means, and said mobile platform having a vacuum container adjacently mounted to said mobile platform, and said vacuum container having a vacuum producing means to create a vacuum within said vacuum container, and said vacuum container having a vacuum conduit means to vacuum a liquid or solids into said vacuum container, and further comprising the step of having a boom means, and said boom means having two or more arms, and said boom means having a first end pivot ably mounted adjacent to said mobile platform, and said pivot ably mounted boom means having a second end pivot ably connected to said valve actuator means, and further comprising the step of said valve actuator having a rotate able shaft and further comprising the step of said rotate able shaft having an adapter means for connecting said rotate able shaft to the valve stem of said in ground utility valve, and further comprising the step of having a pressure measuring means adjacently mounted in communication with said valve actuator means whereby said pressure measuring means can be used in monitoring the torque required to rotate said rotate able shaft.
- View Dependent Claims (18)
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3. A mobile utility valve actuator and vacuum excavation method for accessing and opening or closing an in ground utility valve, comprising the steps of:
- having a mobile platform means, wherein said mobile platform is chosen from one or more of a group consisting of a trailer, a skid, a truck, a zero turn radius vehicle, a fork lift, and a skid steer, and further comprising the step of mounting a power plant adjacent to said mobile platform and said power plant consisting of one or more components chosen from a group consisting of a gas engine, a diesel engine, a vacuum pump, a water pump, an air compressor, a generator, a battery, a hydraulic pump, and a hydraulic power circuit to power hydraulically powered tools, and further comprising the step of having a vacuum container adjacently mounted to said mobile platform, and said vacuum container having a vacuum producing means to create a vacuum within said vacuum container, and further comprising the step of said vacuum container having a vacuum hose means to vacuum liquid or solids into said vacuum container, and further comprising the step of having a boom means, and said boom means having two or more arms, and said boom means having a first end pivot ably mounted adjacent to said mobile platform, and said pivot ably mounted boom means having a second end adjacently mounted to said valve actuator, wherein said valve actuator is chosen from one or more of a group consisting of a hydraulic drive motor, an electric drive motor, an air driven motor, and an air cylinder, and further comprising the step of said valve actuator having a rotate able shaft and further comprising the step of said rotate able shaft having an adapter means for adjacently connecting said rotate able shaft to a valve stem of said in ground utility valve, and further comprising the step of rotating said valve stem of said in ground utility valve in order to open or close said in ground utility valve, and further comprising the step of mounting a pressure measuring means adjacent to said valve actuator, whereby said pressure measuring means can be used in monitoring the torque required to rotate said rotate able shaft, and further comprising the step of mounting a rotation counting means adjacent to said valve actuator whereby said rotation counting means can count the rotations of said rotate able shaft, and further comprising the step of having a transmitter adjacently mounted in communication with said pressure measuring means and rotation counting means and further comprising the step of said transmitter, transmitting data from said pressure measuring device and rotation counting device to a computer.
Specification