AMPHIBIOUS PUMPING VEHICLE

Abstract

A method of moving liquid manure in a liquid manure lagoon involves: driving an amphibious vehicle into the liquid manure lagoon by remotely controlling speed and direction of the amphibious vehicle on the ground, the amphibious vehicle having a ground-engaging propulsion structure for driving the amphibious vehicle on the ground and a floatable vehicle body to float the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon; and, moving the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon by remotely controlling speed and direction of the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon.

Claims

1. A method of moving liquid manure in a liquid manure lagoon, the method comprising: driving an amphibious vehicle into the liquid manure lagoon by remotely controlling speed and direction of the amphibious vehicle on the ground, the amphibious vehicle comprising a ground-engaging propulsion structure configured to drive the amphibious vehicle on the ground and a floatable vehicle body configured to float the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon; and, moving the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon by remotely controlling one or more of the speed and direction of the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising directing a portion of the liquid manure to further move the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising remotely orienting the directed portion of the liquid manure to direct the portion of the liquid manure to a different location in the liquid manure lagoon.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising remotely operating a power source of the amphibious vehicle.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the power source comprises an internal combustion engine.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising remotely operating a hydraulic system of the amphibious vehicle, the hydraulic system comprising a hydraulic motor powered by the power source.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising recirculating at least a portion of the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon by remotely controlling a liquid manure pump of the amphibious vehicle.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises pumping at least a portion of the liquid manure from the liquid manure lagoon through at least one conduit of the amphibious vehicle thereby: a) controlling the speed and/or direction of the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon; b) recirculating at least a portion of the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon; or c) both controlling the speed and/or direction of the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon and recirculating at least a portion of the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon.

9. A method of at least partially emptying a liquid manure lagoon, the method comprising: remotely maneuvering an amphibious vehicle on the ground to the liquid manure lagoon; remotely driving the amphibious vehicle on the ground into the liquid manure lagoon; remotely positioning the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon; removing liquid manure from the liquid manure lagoon; and, remotely maneuvering the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon to a position where the amphibious vehicle can be removed from the liquid manure lagoon.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising remotely driving the amphibious vehicle out of the liquid manure lagoon at the position where the amphibious vehicle can be removed from the liquid manure lagoon.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises pumping at least a portion of the liquid manure from the liquid manure lagoon through at least one conduit of the amphibious vehicle thereby: a) controlling the speed and/or direction of the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon; b) recirculating at least a portion of the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon; or c) both controlling the speed and/or direction of the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon and recirculating at least a portion of the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising changing flow rate of the liquid manure through the at least one conduit.

13. The method of claim 12, comprising controlling at least one valve in the at least one conduit or controlling the speed of the pumping to change the flow rate of the liquid manure through the at least one conduit.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising directing a flow of at least a portion of the liquid manure pumped through the at least one conduit to a desired location in the liquid manure lagoon.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising directing a flow of at least a portion of the liquid manure pumped through the at least one conduit through the air.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising changing a direction of the flow of the liquid manure.

17. The method of claim 9, further comprising changing the speed of a hydraulic pump and/or a hydraulic motor of the amphibious vehicle.

18. The method of claim 9, further comprising independently changing the speed of a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor of the amphibious vehicle.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the liquid manure is removed from the liquid manure lagoon by a liquid manure pump situated at the edge of the liquid manure lagoon.

20. A system for at least partially emptying a liquid manure lagoon comprising: an amphibious vehicle configured to move liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon, the amphibious vehicle comprising: a floatable vehicle body, a ground engaging propulsion structure, a power source configured to provide power to move the vehicle both when the vehicle is ground engaging and when the vehicle is floating in the liquid manure lagoon, and a wireless remote control configured to enable an operator remote from the vehicle to: (1) control the power source; (2) control at least one of the speed and direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is ground engaging; and, (3) control at least one of the speed and direction of the vehicle when the vehicle is floating in the liquid manure lagoon; and, a liquid manure pump configured to remove liquid manure from the liquid manure lagoon.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the liquid manure pump is situated in the liquid manure lagoon.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein operating the amphibious vehicle in the liquid manure lagoon breaks crusts of material floating on the surface of the liquid manure lagoon.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein: the liquid manure pump is a first liquid manure pump; and, the amphibious vehicle comprises a second liquid manure pump configured to disrupt the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon when the amphibious vehicle is floating in the liquid manure lagoon.

24. The system of claim 20, wherein: the liquid manure pump is a first liquid manure pump; and, the amphibious vehicle comprises a second liquid manure pump configured to disrupt the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon when the amphibious vehicle is floating in the liquid manure lagoon.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the second liquid manure pump comprises a rotating shaft having an impeller configured to move liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon to both propel the amphibious vehicle and disrupt the liquid manure in the liquid manure lagoon, the second liquid manure pump comprising a bottom fluid inlet configured to be immersed in the liquid manure when the vehicle is floating, whereby the impeller is configured to draw liquid manure to be pumped through the bottom fluid inlet.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the second liquid manure pump comprises a housing and the bottom fluid inlet is in the housing.

27. The system of claim 26, further comprising: an outlet in fluid communication with the second liquid manure pump, wherein the second liquid manure pump is configured to pump liquid manure through the outlet; and, a hydraulic articulation cylinder configured to change an orientation of the outlet relative to the vehicle body.

28. The system of claim 23, wherein: the floatable vehicle body comprises a first buoyant element on a first side of the vehicle body and a second buoyant element on a second side of the vehicle body; the ground engaging propulsion structure comprises a first front wheel, a second front wheel, a first rear wheel, and a second rear wheel, wherein the first front wheel and the first rear wheel are on the first side of the vehicle body and the second front wheel and the second rear wheel are on the second side of the vehicle body, and wherein the first buoyant element is between the first front wheel and the first rear wheel and the second buoyant element is between the second front wheel and the second rear wheel; and, the power source is configured to provide power to both the ground engaging propulsion structure and the second liquid manure pump.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the wireless remote control further controls the power source.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, embodiments thereof will now be described in detail by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the vehicle with wheels lowered;

[0019] FIG. 2 shows another perspective view of the vehicle with wheels raised;

[0020] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the underside of the vehicle; and,

[0021] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a set of wheels of the vehicle from the underside of the vehicle;

[0022] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of the first fluid nozzle of vehicle;

[0023] FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a second fluid nozzle of the vehicle;

[0024] FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of a mechanical drive connecting the power source of the vehicle to the fluid pump and a hydraulic pump of the vehicle;

[0025] FIG. 8 shows a perspective view of the fluid pump from the underside of the vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In describing the figures, like features are referred to by like reference numerals. Although not all features indicated on a particular drawing are necessarily described with reference to that drawing, all of the features are described with reference to at least one of the drawings.

[0027] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, an amphibious vehicle comprises a vehicle body 1 incorporating buoyant elements 2. The buoyant elements comprise flotation tanks of the type that may be foam filled and used, for example, in the construction of floating docks. The vehicle comprises a ground engaging propulsion structure comprising two sets of wheels 3, 4. Each wheel is rotatably mounted to lever structure 5 that is pivotally attached to the vehicle body. Each lever structure 5 is driven by a hydraulic actuator 6 that is operable to cause raising and lowering of the wheels 3, 4 by pivoting of the lever structure 5. A power source 7 comprising an internal combustion engine, for example a diesel engine, is mounted to the vehicle body. A mechanical drive 8 connects the power source 7 to the fluid pump 9 and a hydraulic pump 10 that is used to provide hydraulic system fluid pressure for the vehicle.

[0028] The fluid pump 9 comprises a pump housing 18 with three tangential fluid outlets 19 that are combined into a single fluid conduit 20. The single fluid conduit 20 is then split into left side 21 and right side 22 fluid conduits which connect at the front and rear of the vehicle to form a complete circuit. The fluid pump 9 is thus fluidically connected to all fluid nozzles of the vehicle via the fluid conduits 20-22.

[0029] A first fluid nozzle 11 is provided at a front of the vehicle. The first fluid nozzle 11 comprises first articulation means 12 that is hydraulically powered to cause the nozzle to change angular orientation relative to the vehicle body 1 in a vertical plane. A pair of second fluid nozzles 13 is provided at a rear of the vehicle. The second fluid nozzles 13 comprise a second articulation means 14 that is hydraulically powered to cause the nozzles to change angular orientation relative to the vehicle body 1 in a vertical plane. The first and second fluid nozzles are part of a plurality of fluid nozzles of the vehicle. The plurality of fluid nozzles further comprises side fluid nozzles 16, 17 on opposite sides of the vehicle. A pair of left side fluid nozzles 16 and a pair of right side fluid nozzles 17 are provided.

[0030] Valve structure comprising a valve 15 corresponding to each fluid nozzle 11, 13, 16, 17 is also provided. The valves 15 are powered and operable to open or close. The valves 15 may be opened fully or partially to proportion flow between the plurality of fluid nozzles. Cooperation between the valves 15 and the plurality of fluid nozzles is used to provide directional control and motive power for the vehicle while floating. For example, proportioning fluid flow from the right side fluid nozzles 17 to the left side fluid nozzles 16 causes the vehicle to turn to the right will floating. Similarly, fluid flow may be proportioned between the first fluid nozzle 11 and the second fluid nozzles 13 to cause the vehicle to move forward or backward. By rotating the second fluid nozzles 13 fully downwardly and then up toward the front of the vehicle using the second articulation means 14, the vehicle may also be directed rearward and/or slowed in its forward movement speed. Thus, the combination of proportioning flow between the plurality of fluid nozzles using the valve structure and/or articulating the nozzles may be used to control forward, rearward, left and right movement and speed of the vehicle. The flow rate of the fluid pump 9 may also be adjusted to enhance directional and speed control via the plurality of nozzles while floating.

[0031] Referring additionally to FIG. 4, each wheel of the front set of wheels 3 is rotatably attached to its corresponding lever 5 by a spindle 23. Fixedly mounted to lever 5 is a bracket 24 supporting a pair of hydraulic motors 25. Each hydraulic motor 25 has an output gear (not shown) that is engaged with a drive gear 26. The drive gear 26 is fixedly attached to a rim 27 of each wheel 3 concentric with the spindle 23. Referring to the right side wheel of the set of wheels 3 (showing an interior of the rim 27), operation of the hydraulic motors 25 in a clockwise direction causes the drive gear 26 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction, moving the vehicle forward. Reversing the direction of operation of the hydraulic motors 25 causes the vehicle to move rearward. By increasing the rotational speed of the hydraulic motors 25 on the right side relative to the motors 25 on the left side, the vehicle is caused to turn to the left. The motors 25 connected to the rear set of wheels 4 work in a similar manner to those described for the front set of wheels 3. Thus, directional and motive control of the vehicle (forward/reverse) while on land is controlled by varying the relative speed and rotational direction of the hydraulic motors 25.

[0032] Turning now to FIG. 5, the first fluid nozzle 11 is able to change angular direction in a vertical plane relative to the vehicle body 1 through operation of a powered first articulation means 12. The first articulation means 12 comprises a hydraulic first articulation cylinder 28 that is coupled to a four bar linkage 29. The four bar linkage serves to amplify the effective stroke length of the first articulation cylinder 28 to cause the nozzle to move through a larger degree of motion in the vertical plane than if the linkage 29 were not present. The first fluid nozzle 11 is connected to the fluid conduits 21, 22 via a flexible conduit 30 that permits articulation of the nozzle. Valves 15 are provided to proportion flow to the first fluid nozzle in a manner as described previously.

[0033] Referring to FIG. 6, the second fluid nozzles 13 are connected to the fluid conduits 21, 22 by articulation means 14 that comprises a hydraulic second articulation cylinder 31 mounted to the vehicle body 1 and connected to a rotatable conduit section 32. Actuation of the second articulation cylinder 31 causes the rotatable conduit section 32 to rotate relative to the first and second fluid conduits 21, 22. The second fluid nozzles 13 are provided on rotatable conduit section 32 and thus rotate with the conduit section 32 upon actuation of the articulation cylinder 31. This causes the nozzles 13 to change angular orientation relative to the vehicle body 1 in a vertical plane. The geometry of the second articulation cylinder 31 and the rotatable conduit section 32 is such that the nozzles 13 may be rotated fully downwardly and then upwardly towards the front of the vehicle. This allows an operator to change the amount of forward movement to slow or even reverse forward movement of the vehicle. When operated in conjunction with the valves 15, the nozzles 13 and second articulation structure 14 provide a high degree of control over forward and reverse movement of the vehicle.

[0034] Referring to FIG. 7, the power source 7 comprises an internal combustion engine connected to a mechanical drive 8 that delivers power to the pump 9 (not shown in FIG. 7) and also to the hydraulic pump 10 that is used to provide hydraulic fluid pressure to the vehicle's hydraulic systems. A transmission is provided within the mechanical drive 8 that allows the rotational speed of the fluid pump 9 to be adjusted independently of the rotational speed of the hydraulic pump 10. The power source 7 is thus mechanically connected to both the fluid pump 9 and the hydraulic pump 10.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 8, the fluid pump 9 comprises a pump housing 18 comprising three tangential fluid outlets 19 that are connected via flexible pump outlet conduits 33 to a combiner 34 that is used to combine the fluid output of the tangential fluid outlets 19 into the single conduit 20. A pump actuation cylinder 35 is provided to cause raising and lowering of the pump 9 and especially the pump housing 18 relative to the vehicle body 1. A telescoping pump support structure 36 is provided for use in combination with the pump actuation cylinder 35. A mechanical drive shaft (not shown) runs through the telescoping pump support structure 36 to provide power to the pump impeller 37. When powered, the impeller 37 draws the fluid to be pumped through an enlarged bottom fluid opening 38 of the pump housing 18. By immersing the pump housing 18 in the fluid, fluid is allowed to enter the pump housing, thereby obviating the need for priming the pump. Raising the pump 9 via the pump actuation cylinder 35 and telescoping pump support structure 36 allows the vehicle to exit the lagoon (or similar fluid reservoir) without damaging the pump. Thus, these structures cooperate with the ground engaging propulsion structure to allow the vehicle to operate on land.

[0036] An example of a pump 9 suitable for use with the vehicle is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/038,189 filed Mar. 1, 2011, entitled Pump for Immersion Within a Fluid Reservoir, which is incorporated herein by reference.

[0037] The location of at least the ground engaging propulsion structure, the power source and the fluid pump are selected to provide a desired location for a center of gravity of the vehicle. The desired location for the center of gravity of the vehicle is selected to improve handling characteristics of the vehicle while floating. The center of gravity is located along the longitudinal centerline of the vehicle, substantially in the middle of the vehicle.

[0038] A remote control structure 40 comprises an antenna configured to cause the vehicle to be remotely controllable by an operator remote from the vehicle. The remote control structure comprises a wireless transmitter used by the operator and a wireless receiver on the vehicle. The wireless receiver interfaces with a hydraulic control center on the vehicle to permit control of hydraulically operated components, such as hydraulic cylinders, valves, motors, etc. This allows the operator to control vehicle speed and direction on land or when floating, to raise the wheels and to change the angular orientation of the first and second fluid nozzles. A wireless engine starter is provided to control operation of the internal combustion engine used as a power source. A set of hydraulic controls is optionally provided to modulate engine speed and/or fluid pump rotational speed. Thus, a variety of functions may be controlled remotely that allow the vehicle to operate on land or when floating.

[0039] In operation, an operator uses the remote controls to maneuver the vehicle to the lagoon entrance, drive the vehicle into the lagoon, raise the ground engaging propulsion structure (wheels), lower the fluid pump, begin pumping fluid with the fluid pump through the fluid conduits and selectively open at least the second fluid nozzles to cause the vehicle to move out on to the surface of the lagoon. The valves associated with the side fluid nozzles may also be opened or closed to provide directional control of the vehicle on the lagoon. Once the vehicle is in the desired position, the valves associated with the first fluid nozzle are opened and the first articulation structure is used to position the first fluid nozzle at a desired angular orientation relative to the vehicle body. This is generally an upward orientation so that the fluid is sprayed widely to break crusts of material floating on the surface of the lagoon. In this manner, fluid is recirculated and directed to desired locations in the lagoon. As fluid is emptied from the lagoon, the floating vehicle is permitted to lower with the fluid level. When the lagoon has been sufficiently emptied, the operator is able to reverse the foregoing process in order to maneuver the vehicle to the lagoon exit, lower the wheels, and drive the vehicle up the muddy bank out of the lagoon.

[0040] The novel features will become apparent to those of skill in the art upon examination of the description. It should be understood, however, that the scope of the claims should not be limited by the embodiments, but are intended by the inventor to be given the broadest interpretation consistent with the wording of the claims and the specification as a whole.