Vacuum truck system
First Claim
1. Apparatus comprising:
- a self-propelled vehicle;
a vacuum source mounted on the vehicle;
a container, wherein the container bounds an interior area, and wherein the container is movable between a first position wherein the container is mounted on the vehicle and a second position wherein the container is separated from the vehicle, and wherein in the first position of the container the interior area is in fluid connection with the vacuum source wherein a vacuum is enabled to be drawn in the interior area, and wherein the container includes a conduit connector in fluid connection with the interior area, whereby material is enabled to be drawn by vacuum into the interior area through a conduit connected to the conduit connector;
a container moving mechanism mounted on the vehicle, wherein the container moving mechanism enables selectively moving the container between the first and second positions.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vacuum truck system (10) includes a truck portion (12) and a removable hopper (14). The truck portion includes thereon a vacuum source (20) as well as filter units (22, 24) and separator units (26, 28). The interior of the hopper is in connection with the vacuum source, and material is enabled to be drawn into the interior of the hopper for collection therein. The hopper is mounted on a tilt bed portion (74) of the truck. Extending a pair of arms (82) enables the tilt bed portion and the hopper thereon to be tilted so that the contents of the hopper may be discharged through an opening which is selectively opened by a door (54). Alternatively, the hopper (14) may be rolled off the tilt bed portion, and a new hopper installed thereon. The tilting of the tilt bed portion automatically connects and disconnects the hopper from the vacuum source. In addition, the vacuum truck system further includes a system for cleaning of material captured in the filters and separators for depositing such material in the hopper (14).
69 Citations
23 Claims
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1. Apparatus comprising:
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a self-propelled vehicle; a vacuum source mounted on the vehicle; a container, wherein the container bounds an interior area, and wherein the container is movable between a first position wherein the container is mounted on the vehicle and a second position wherein the container is separated from the vehicle, and wherein in the first position of the container the interior area is in fluid connection with the vacuum source wherein a vacuum is enabled to be drawn in the interior area, and wherein the container includes a conduit connector in fluid connection with the interior area, whereby material is enabled to be drawn by vacuum into the interior area through a conduit connected to the conduit connector; a container moving mechanism mounted on the vehicle, wherein the container moving mechanism enables selectively moving the container between the first and second positions. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for collecting and handling material comprising the steps of:
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a) drawing a vacuum on an interior area of a container with a vacuum source, wherein the container is movably mounted on a self propelled vehicle and the vacuum source is mounted on the vehicle; b) placing material into the interior area of the container through a conduit connector, wherein the material accumulates in the container; c) moving the container off the vehicle with a container moving mechanism mounted on the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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Specification