Collection tank
First Claim
1. A mobile backfill system for collecting material, comprising:
- a collection tank comprising a body havinga closed end,an open end opposite the closed end and having a generally circular periphery,a central, generally cylindrical section extending between the closed end and the open end, anda door having a generally circular periphery and that is pivotable about a first axis between a first position, at which the door is spaced from the open end of the body, and a second position, at which the generally circular periphery of the door seats against the generally circular periphery of the open end, thereby closing the open end;
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
two over center linkages, each over center linkage extending between a respective first pivotal connection between the over center linkage and the door and a respective second pivotal connection between the over center linkage and the tank body so that each over center linkage is movable, when the door is at the second position, over center to a state at which the over center linkage biases the door into the second position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A mobile backfill system for collecting material, comprising:
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a collection tank comprising a body having a closed end, an open end opposite the closed end and having a generally circular periphery, a central, generally cylindrical section extending between the closed end and the open end, and a door having a generally circular periphery and that is pivotable about a first axis between a first position, at which the door is spaced from the open end of the body, and a second position, at which the generally circular periphery of the door seats against the generally circular periphery of the open end, thereby closing the open end; 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 two over center linkages, each over center linkage extending between a respective first pivotal connection between the over center linkage and the door and a respective second pivotal connection between the over center linkage and the tank body so that each over center linkage is movable, when the door is at the second position, over center to a state at which the over center linkage biases the door into the second position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A mobile backfill system for collecting material, comprising:
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a collection tank comprising a body having a closed end, an open end opposite the closed end and having a generally circular periphery, a central, generally cylindrical section extending between the closed end and the open end, and a door having a generally circular periphery and that is pivotable about a first axis between a first position, at which the door is spaced from the open end of the body, and a second position, at which the generally circular periphery of the door seats against the generally circular periphery of the open end, thereby closing the open end; 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 two dual arm linkages, each dual arm linkage extending between a respective first pivotal connection between said dual arm linkage and the door and a respective second pivotal connection between said dual arm linkage and the tank body, and having a first arm connected to the door at the respective first pivotal connection and a second arm connected to the body at the respective second pivotal connection, wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally connected at a respective third pivotal connection, wherein the two dual arm linkages are arranged on opposite sides of the collection tank so that a second axis extending through the first pivotal connections, a third axis extending through the second pivotal connections, and a fourth axis extending through the third pivotal connections are parallel to each other and to the first axis, when the door is in the first position, the first axis, the second axis, and the fourth axis are on a first side of a plane that includes the third axis and that, when the door is in the second position, also includes the second axis, and when the door is in the second position, the fourth axis is on a second side of the plane, opposite the first side of the plane. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A mobile backfill system for collecting material, comprising:
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a collection tank comprising a body having a closed end, an open end opposite the closed end and having a generally circular periphery, a central, generally cylindrical section extending between the closed end and the open end, and a door having a generally circular periphery and that is pivotable about a first axis between a first position, at which the door is spaced from the open end of the body, and a second position, at which the generally circular periphery of the door seats against the generally circular periphery of the open end; a vacuum pump connected to the collection tank that draws an air stream through the collection tank for carrying material into the collection tank; two dual arm linkages extending between respective first pivotal connections between the dual arm linkages and the door and respective second pivotal connections between the dual arm linkages and the tank body; and a shaft extending entirely across an interior of the central, generally cylindrical section along an axis passing through the second pivotal connections. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification