Collection tank

• US 9,260,048 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Issued: 02/16/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: McLaughlin Group, Inc. (Vermeer Corporation)
• Inventors: Maybury, Charles Robert Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zettl, Jennifer N
• Application Number:
  US14/266,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20140239624A1
• Time in Patent Office: 657 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/22 Tank vehicles vehicles convertible from transport of fluids to transport of other types of goods B60P3/426; tank aspects B65D90/00, F17C
• CPC Class Codes: B60P 3/2245 Adaptations for loading or unloading
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 45/28 Elongated members, e.g. leaf springs, located substantially at right angles to closure axis and acting between the face of the closure and abutments on container
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/8816 Mobile land installations
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/8891 wherein at least a part of the soil-shifting equipment is handheld
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/925 with jets
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/003 for uncovering conduits
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 7/00 Equipment for conveying or separating excavated material barges adapted for carrying-away material from floating dredgers B63B35/28
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6855 Vehicle

Abstract

A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, the collection tank comprising a closed first end, an open second end defining a tank sealing flange and a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end. An internal chamber defined by the body, the closed first end and the open second end has a door coupled to the open second end and is configured to releasably seal the open second end. An automated door closer is coupled to a center of the door, wherein the automated door closer provides a closing force at the center of the door so that the closing force is equally distributed about a periphery of the door to seal the door against the tank sealing flange.

Claims

1. A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, said collection tank comprising:

a. a closed first end;

b. an open second end;

c. a generally cylindrical body extending between the closed first end and the open second end;

d. a door pivotally coupled to the body so that the door is movable between a first position, at which the door is spaced from the open second end, and a second position, at which the door closes the open second end; and

e. a door closer having

(i) a cross bar rigidly attached to the door, the cross bar having a first end and a second end,

(ii) a first linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the cross bar first end at a first pivot point, a second end coupled to the body at a second pivot point, and a third pivot point intermediate the first linkage assembly first pivot point and the first linkage assembly second pivot point, and

(iii) a second linkage assembly having a first end coupled to the cross bar second end at a first pivot point, a second end coupled to the body at a second pivot point, and a third pivot point intermediate the second linkage assembly first pivot point and the second linkage assembly second pivot point,

wherein the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly are configured so that

when the door is in the second position, a first line passes through the first linkage assembly first pivot point and the first linkage assembly second pivot point, and a second line passes through the second linkage assembly first pivot point and the second linkage assembly second pivot point, and

when the first linkage assembly third pivot point has rotated from a first side of the first line to a second side of the first line and the second linkage assembly third pivot point has rotated from a first side of the second line to a second side of the second line, the first linkage assembly third pivot point is biased away from the first line, the second linkage assembly third pivot point is biased away from the second line, and the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly provide respective closing forces to the cross bar in a direction toward the door.

2. The collection tank of claim 1, the door closer further comprising a shaft defining a first end connected to the first linkage assembly second end and a second end connected to the second linkage assembly second end.

3. The collection tank of claim 2, the door closer further comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod in driving engagement with one of the first and second linkage assemblies, the at least one hydraulic cylinder configured to move the door between the first position and the second position.

4. The collection tank of claim 1, wherein the door has a generally circular-shaped periphery.

5. The collection tank of claim 4, wherein the door has a generally circular-shaped door panel that is dome-shaped.

6. The collection tank of claim 1, wherein the first linkage assembly is coupled to the second linkage assembly so that the first and the second linkage assemblies move together.

7. The collection tank of claim 1, comprising a connection between the cross bar and the door that is configured so that the connection applies, in response to the closing forces provided to the cross bar when the door is in the second position, a net force through a center of the door.

8. The collection tank of claim 4, comprising a connection between the cross bar and the door having a generally circular periphery that is concentric with the generally circular periphery of the door about a center of the door.

9. The collection tank of claim 1, wherein the collection tank comprises a stop proximate one of the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly that limits movement of the third pivot point on the second side of the corresponding first line or second line in a direction away therefrom.

10. The collection tank of claim 1, wherein

the first linkage assembly comprises a first arm that includes the first linkage assembly first end, and a second arm that includes the first linkage assembly second end, wherein the first linkage assembly first arm and the first linkage assembly second arm are coupled to each other at the first linkage assembly third pivot point, and

the second linkage assembly comprises a first arm that includes the second linkage assembly first end, and a second arm that includes the second linkage assembly second end, wherein the second linkage assembly first arm and the second linkage assembly second arm are coupled to each other at the second linkage assembly third pivot point, and

the collection tank comprises a shaft extending entirely across an interior of the generally cylindrical body along an axis passing through the first linkage assembly second pivot point and the second linkage assembly second pivot point.

11. The collection tank of claim 10, wherein the shaft defines a first end connected to the first linkage assembly second end and a second end connected to the second linkage assembly second end.

12. The collection tank of claim 10, the door closer further comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder having a piston rod in driving engagement with one of the first and second linkage assemblies, the at least one hydraulic cylinder configured to move the door between the first position and the second position.

13. The collection tank of claim 10, wherein the door has a generally circular-shaped periphery.

14. The collection tank of claim 10, comprising a connection between the cross bar and the door that is configured so that the connection applies, in response to closing forces applied to the cross bar when the door is in the second position, a net force through a center of the door.

15. The collection tank of claim 10, comprising a connection between the cross bar and the door having a generally circular periphery that is concentric with the generally circular periphery of the door about a center of the door.

16. A mobile backfill system for collecting material, comprising:

a. a collection tank comprising a body having

a closed first end,

an open second end defining a tank sealing flange,

a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end,

a door pivotally coupled to the body so that the door is movable between a first position, at which the door is spaced from the open second end, and a second position, at which the door engages the body at a periphery of the door and closes the open second end;

b. a vacuum pump connected to the collection tank that draws an air stream through the collection tank for carrying material into the collection tank; and

c. a door closer having

a cross bar rigidly attached to the door, the cross bar having a first end and a second end,

a first linkage assembly comprising a first arm having a first end coupled to the cross bar first end at a first pivot point, and a second arm having a second end coupled to the body at a second pivot point, wherein the first linkage assembly first arm and the first linkage assembly second arm are coupled to each other at a third pivot point intermediate the first linkage assembly first pivot point and the first linkage assembly second pivot point, and

a second linkage assembly comprising a first arm having a first end coupled to the cross bar second end at a first pivot point, and a second arm having a second end coupled to the body at a second pivot point, wherein the second linkage assembly first arm and the second linkage assembly second arm are coupled to each other at a third pivot point intermediate the second linkage assembly first pivot point and the second linkage assembly second pivot point,

wherein the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly are configured so that

when the door is in the second position, a first line passes through the first linkage assembly first pivot point and the first linkage assembly second pivot point, and a second line passes through the second linkage assembly first pivot point and the second linkage assembly second pivot point, and

when the first linkage assembly third pivot point has rotated from a first side of the first line to a second side of the first line and the second linkage assembly third pivot point has rotated from a first side of the second line to a second side of the second line, the first linkage assembly third pivot point is biased away from the first line, and the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly provide respective closing forces to the cross bar.

17. The system of claim 16, comprising a shaft extending entirely across an interior of the body along an axis passing through the first linkage assembly second pivot point and the second linkage assembly second pivot point.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the door has a generally circular-shaped periphery.

19. The system of claim 16, comprising a connection between the cross bar and the door that is configured so that the connection applies, in response to closing forces applied to the cross bar when the door is in the second position, a net force through a center of the door.

20. The system of claim 18, comprising a connection between the cross bar and the door having a generally circular periphery that is concentric with the generally circular periphery of the door about a center of the door.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the collection tank comprises a stop proximate one of the first linkage assembly and the second linkage assembly that limits movement of the third pivot point on the second side of the corresponding first line or second line in a direction away therefrom.