APPARATUS FOR AGITATAING SOLID DEBRIS IN CONFINED SPACES WITH INTERCHANGEBALE SCROLL CASE

Abstract

An apparatus for agitating solid material comprising a drive housing with a drive having a first portion of a drive coupling mounted to a drive output shaft thereof. An impeller housing has a scroll case with an inlet opening at a bottom portion thereof adapted for passage of the solid material disposed in a bottom portion of a structure therethrough, and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof. An impeller has an impeller shaft that is rotatably movably mounted to the impeller housing. The impeller shaft has a second portion of the drive coupling mounted to an end portion thereof with the second portion of the drive coupling being adapted for being coupled with the first portion of the drive coupling. The impeller housing is removable/re-attachable to the drive housing and the second portion of the drive coupling is removable/re-attachable connected to the first portion of the drive coupling.

Claims

1. An apparatus for agitating solid material comprising: a drive housing; a drive disposed inside the drive housing and mounted thereto, the drive having a first portion of a drive coupling mounted to a drive output shaft thereof; an impeller housing having a scroll case with the scroll case comprising at least an inlet opening at a bottom portion thereof adapted for enabling passage of the solid material disposed in a bottom portion of a structure therethrough and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof; and, an impeller disposed in the scroll case for agitating the solid material and directing the same towards the outlet opening, the impeller having an impeller shaft with the impeller shaft being rotatably movable mounted to the impeller housing, the impeller shaft having a second portion of the drive coupling mounted to an end portion thereof with the second portion of the drive coupling being adapted for being coupled with the first portion of the drive coupling; wherein the impeller housing is removable/re-attachable mounted to the drive housing in a removable/re-attachable manner and wherein the second portion of the drive coupling is removable/re-attachable connected to the first portion of the drive coupling.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1 comprising at least a guiding structure for guiding the drive housing and the impeller housing with respect to each other for substantially accurate mounting of the same.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least a guiding structure comprises an elongated guiding element having a T-shaped cross-section and a respective T-shaped aperture for accommodating the guiding element therein.

4. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the at least a guiding structure comprises a guiding plate and a respective aperture for accommodating the guiding plate therein.

5. The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the impeller housing comprises a front plate and a rear plate with the front plate and the rear plate forming a front wall and a rear wall of the scroll case disposed therebetween and wherein the rear plate comprises the guiding plate mounted thereon such that the rear plate and the guiding plate are oriented substantially parallel.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein a front wall of the drive housing comprises the aperture for accommodating the guiding plate therein and wherein a front surface of the front wall of the drive housing is in contact with a rear surface of the rear plate of the impeller housing when the impeller housing is mounted to the drive housing.

7. The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the elongated guiding element is mounted to a rear plate of the impeller housing such that the same is facing rearwardly and is oriented substantially perpendicular to a rear surface of the rear plate and wherein a front wall of the drive housing comprises the T-shaped aperture.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7 wherein a distal end portion of the elongated guiding element is tapered.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the outlet opening is adapted for being mounted to a suction conduit.

10. An apparatus for agitating solid material comprising: a housing having a scroll case; a drive disposed inside the housing and mounted thereto; and, an impeller disposed in the scroll case, the impeller being mounted to an impeller shaft with the impeller shaft being rotatably movable mounted to the housing and connected to an output shaft of the drive; wherein the scroll case comprises a first forward facing inlet opening and a second rearward facing inlet opening at a bottom portion thereof for enabling passage of solid material disposed in the bottom portion of the structure therethrough and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof for enabling passage of the solid material agitated by the impeller therethrough.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein a bottom portion of the scroll case forms a band having a substantially constant width.

12. The apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the width of the band is substantially smaller than a width of an upper portion of the scroll case.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the impeller comprises a plurality of substantially flat plates extending from the impeller shaft and oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the impeller shaft.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the impeller comprises a circular support plate mounted to the impeller shaft and oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the impeller shaft and wherein the support plate is placed in proximity to a center of the impeller.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the outlet opening is adapted for being mounted to a suction conduit.

16. A method for removing solid material disposed in a bottom portion of a structure comprising: providing an apparatus for agitating the solid material, the apparatus comprising: a housing having a scroll case with the scroll case comprising at least an inlet opening at a bottom portion thereof adapted for enabling passage of solid material disposed in the bottom portion of the structure therethrough and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof; a drive disposed inside the housing and mounted thereto; and, an impeller disposed in the scroll case for agitating the solid material and directing the same towards the outlet opening, the impeller being mounted to an impeller shaft with the impeller shaft being rotatably movable mounted to the housing and connected to an output shaft of the drive; lowering the apparatus into the bottom portion of the structure; using the drive, driving the impeller; agitating the solid material; providing suction via a suction conduit; and, removing the agitated solid material.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein the suction is provided via the suction conduit with the same being mounted to the outlet opening.

18. The method according to claim 16 wherein the solid material is agitated while the apparatus is moved in a forward direction.

19. The method according to claim 16 wherein the solid material is agitated while the apparatus is moved in a rearward direction.

20. The method according to claim 16 wherein the apparatus is lowered a confined space of the structure with the structure belonging to a sewer system or drainage system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0030] FIGS. 1 to 7 are simplified block diagrams illustrating in a front view, a side view, a rear view, a cross-sectional view, a top rear perspective view, a top front perspective view, and an exploded view, respectively, an apparatus for agitating solid material according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0031] FIGS. 8 to 10 are simplified block diagrams illustrating in a top front perspective view, a side perspective view, and a cross-sectional view, respectively, removable/re-attachable mounting of the impeller housing to the drive housing of the apparatus for agitating solid material according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0032] FIG. 11 is a simplified block diagram illustrating in a side view operation of the apparatus for agitating solid material according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0033] FIGS. 12 and 13 are simplified block diagrams illustrating in a front view and a side view, respectively, dimensions of an example implementation of the apparatus for agitating solid material according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

[0034] FIGS. 14 and 15 are simplified block diagrams illustrating in a top front perspective view and an exploded view, respectively, a second impeller housing of the apparatus for agitating solid material according to the preferred embodiment of the invention; and,

[0035] FIGS. 16 and 17 are simplified block diagrams illustrating in a top side perspective views removable/re-attachable mounting of the second impeller housing to the drive housing of the apparatus for agitating solid material according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0036] Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.

[0037] While the description of the preferred embodiments hereinbelow is with reference to an apparatus for agitating solid debris that can be used in confined spaces of a sewer system, it will become evident to those skilled in the art that the embodiments of the invention are not limited thereto, but are also adaptable for agitating solid material in other confined spaces such as, for example, confined spaces of drainage systems, as well as, for example, dugouts, pits, and trenches, on construction sites, or for agitating solid material in other forms of infrastructure that require maintenance such as, for example, transportation drainage systems, wetland drainage systems, conservation drainage systems, and maintenance of Bufferzone or Two Stage Ditch systems.

[0038] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 17 an apparatus 100 for agitating solid material according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided. The apparatus 100 comprises drive housing 102 having drive 104 disposed therein and mounted thereto. The drive 104 is, preferably, a commercially available hydraulic drive powered via hydraulic supply conduits 106, but other drive means such as, for example, an electric drive may also be employed. A first portion 172A of a commercially available drive coupling is mounted to drive output shaft 104A. Preferably, the drive housing 102 further comprises side access 108 and rear access 110 in the form of a plate mounted to the drive housing 102 in a conventional manner using, for example, screw fasteners and are sealed in a conventional manner using, for example Butyl caulking, for enabling easy access to the drive mechanism for maintenance and repair. Furthermore, the hydraulic supply lines 106 are transmitted into the drive housing 102 in a substantially sealed manner via bulkhead plate 112 which is mounted to the drive housing 102 in a conventional manner using, for example, screw fasteners and is sealed in a conventional manner using, for example Butyl caulking.

[0039] The apparatus 100 further comprises impeller housing 150, a portion of which forms a scroll case 152. Preferably, the impeller housing 150 comprises a front plate 154A and a rear plate 154B with the front plate 154A and the rear plate 154B forming a front wall and a rear wall of the scroll case 152 disposed therebetween. The scroll case 152 comprises, for example, two inlet openings 152A.1 and 152A.2 at a bottom portion thereof which are adapted for enabling passage of solid material disposed in a bottom portion of a structure therethrough, as will be described hereinbelow, and an outlet opening 152B at an upper portion thereof, as illustrated in

[0040] FIGS. 1 to 13, which may be adapted for being mounted to a suction conduit 22 such as, for example, a suction hose of a vacuum truck, as will be described hereinbelow.

[0041] Impeller 160 is disposed in the scroll case 152 for agitating the solid material and directing the same towards the outlet opening 152B. The impeller 160 is mounted to impeller shaft 160A with the impeller shaft 160A being rotatably movable mounted to the front plate 154A and the rear plate 154B of impeller housing 150 via, for example, commercially available flange bearings 168 and commercially available seal blocks 166 at a first end portion and a second end portion thereof. The seal blocks 166 provide sealed protection of the flange bearings 168 from water and/or debris. The flange bearing 168 at the second end portion comprises cover plate 170 and is disposed inside front cover 156 mounted to the front plate 154A for protection from impact when the apparatus is operated in confined spaces. The impeller shaft 160A has a second portion 172B of the drive coupling mounted to an end portion thereof with the second portion 172B of the drive coupling being adapted for being coupled with the first portion 172A of the drive coupling for enabling the drive 104 to rotatably drive the impeller 160 about axis 161, as indicated by the block arrows in FIGS. 1 and 3.

[0042] Preferably, the impeller housing 150 is removable/re-attachable mounted to the drive housing 102 and the second portion 172B of the drive coupling is removable/re-attachable connected to the first portion 172A of the drive coupling, as illustrated in FIGS. 8 to 10. To facilitate mounting of the impeller housing 150 to the drive housing 102 at least a guiding structure such as, for example, elongated guiding element 174 having a T-shaped cross-section and a respective T-shaped aperture 116 for accommodating the guiding element 174 therein is provided for guiding the drive housing 102 and the impeller housing 150 with respect to each other for substantially accurate mounting of the same, as indicated by the block arrow in FIGS. 8 and 9. For example, the elongated guiding element 174 is mounted to the rear plate 154B of the impeller housing 150 such that the same is facing rearwardly and is oriented substantially perpendicular to a rear surface of the rear plate 154B, and front wall 114 of the drive housing 102 comprises the T-shaped aperture 116.

[0043] Preferably, a distal end portion 174A of the elongated guiding element 174 is tapered in order to facilitate insertion of the elongated guiding element 174 into the aperture 116.

[0044] Further preferably, the at least a guiding structure comprises a guiding plate 176 and a respective aperture 118 for accommodating the guiding plate 176 therein. For example, the guiding plate 176 is mounted to the rear plate 154B of the impeller housing 150 such that the rear plate 154B and the guiding plate 176 are oriented substantially parallel. The front wall 114 of the drive housing 102 comprises the aperture 118 for accommodating the guiding plate 176 therein.

[0045] The impeller housing 150 is then easily and accurately mounted to the drive housing 102 by first inserting the guiding element 174 into the respective aperture 116 in order to guide further movement of the impeller housing 150 towards the drive housing 102, as indicated by the bock arrows in FIGS. 8 to 10 until: the first portion 172A of the drive coupling is coupled with the second portion 172B of the drive coupling; the guiding plate 176 is accurately accommodated in the aperture 118; and a front surface of the front wall 114 of the drive housing 102 is in contact with a rear surface of the rear plate 154B of the impeller housing 150. The impeller housing 150 is then securely mounted to the drive housing 102 via, for example, mounting plates 162 extending rearwardly from the rear plate 154B of the impeller housing 150 using, for example, conventional screw fasteners. Preferably, the connection between the front surface of the front wall 114 of the drive housing 102 and the rear surface of the rear plate 154B of the impeller housing 150 is sealed in a waterproof manner using, for example, Butyl caulking disposed on the perimeter of one of the front surface of the front wall 114 of the drive housing 102 and the rear surface of the rear plate 154B of the impeller housing 150. Alternatively, other sealing means may be employed using, for example, a gasket.

[0046] As is evident to a person of skill in the art, other types of guiding elements may be employed such as, for example, pins which are accommodated in respective bores.

[0047] The removable/re-attachable mounting of the impeller housing 150 to the drive housing 102 enables simple and quick exchange of the impeller housing 150 with a different type impeller housing such as, for example, impeller housing 250 illustrated in FIGS. 14 to 17, depending on the situation where the apparatus 100 is employed.

[0048] The impeller housing 150, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 13, comprises scroll case 152 having a first forward facing inlet opening 152A.1 and a second rearward facing inlet opening 152A.2 at a bottom portion thereof for enabling passage of solid material 14 disposed in the bottom portion 10A of the structure 10 therethrough and outlet opening 152B at an upper portion thereof for enabling passage of the solid material 14 agitated by the impeller 160 therethrough. For example, a first bottom portion 152C of the scroll case 152 forms a band having a substantially constant width WSC1 which is substantially smaller than a width WSC2 of an upper portion of the scroll case 152. A second bottom portion 152E extends from nadir 152D of the scroll case and increases continuously to the width WSC2 of the upper portion of the scroll case 152. The impeller 160 comprises a pluralityfor example, threeof substantially flat plates 160B extending from the impeller shaft 160A and oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 161 of the impeller shaft 160. The impeller 160 further comprises a circular support plate 160C mounted to the impeller shaft and oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 161 of the impeller shaft 160A and is placed in proximity to a center of the impeller, as illustrated in FIG. 7. The scroll case 152 having a first forward facing inlet opening 152A.1 and a second rearward facing inlet opening 152A.2 at a bottom portion thereof enabling passage of solid material 14 towards the impeller when the apparatus 100 is moved in a forward direction as well as when the apparatus 100 is moved in a rearward direction as indicated by the solid and dashed block arrows, respectively, in FIGS. 4 and 11.

[0049] In an example implementation the apparatus 100 is provided having: a length L of 43 inches; a width W of 21 inches; a height H of 25 inches; an impeller diameter DI of 16 inches; and a drive power of in the range of approximately 40-200 hp, to enable use of the same in confined spaces of structures 10 of a sewer system, while also providing sufficient power to agitate types of solid material sedimented in a bottom portion 10A thereof. Furthermore, the apparatus 100 is designed to be operated under water 12 up to a depth of approximately 85 feet from the water surface 12A. The drive housing 102 and the impeller housing 150 are made of, for example, 0.25 inch thick steel sheet material components which are joined in a conventional manner using welding or screw fasteners.

[0050] As illustrated in FIG. 11 the apparatus 100 is, for example, mounted via mounting plate 158 to the boom 20 of an excavator or a vacuum truck. The drive 104 is, for example, powered via the hydraulic supply conduits 106 connected to the hydraulic system of the excavator or vacuum truck. Alternatively, other means for holding the apparatus 100 than the mounting plate 158 may be employed such as, for example, a mounting plate or lift lug mounted to the drive housing 102. Furthermore, the apparatus 100 may be suspended using a crane or winch mechanism. Using the boom 20, the apparatus 100 is lowered into the bottom portion 10A of the structure 10 of, for example, a sewer system, as indicated by the downward facing block arrow. Using the drive 104 powered via the hydraulic supply conduits 106 the impeller 160 is driven for agitating the solid material 14 sedimented in the bottom portion 10A of the structure 10. While the solid material 14 is agitated and propelled towards the outlet opening 152B, suction is provided via suction conduit 22 mounted to the outlet opening 152B which is sufficiently strong for removing the agitated solid material 14 and transporting it into, for example, a tank of the vacuum truck. The solid material 14 may be agitated while the apparatus 100 is moved in a forward direction, as indicated by the solid block arrow in FIGS. 4 and 11, or while the apparatus 100 is moved in a rearward direction, as indicated by the dashed block arrow in FIGS. 4 and 11, thus enabling easy handling of the apparatus 100 for agitating solid material 14 in confined spaces.

[0051] Referring to FIGS. 14 to 17 a different type of impeller housing 250 for being removable/re-attachable mounted to the drive housing 102 is provided. The impeller housing 250 comprises the same guiding elements-guiding element 274 extending from the rear surface of rear plate 254B in a rearward direction and guiding plate 276 mounted to the rear plate 254Badapted for being interfaced with the respective guiding apertures 116 and 118 disposed in the front wall 114 of the drive housing 102, as well as a same second portion 272B of the drive coupling being adapted for being coupled with the first portion 172A of the drive coupling for enabling the drive 104 to rotatably drive the impeller 260 about axis 261, as indicated by the block arrow in FIG. 15. The impeller housing 250 is then securely mounted to the drive housing 102 via mounting plates 262 extending rearwardly from the rear plate 254B of the impeller housing 250 using, for example, conventional screw fasteners.

[0052] The scroll case 252 comprises a single inlet opening 252A at a bottom portion thereof which is adapted for enabling passage of solid material 14 towards the impeller when the apparatus 100 is moved in a forward direction or a sideway direction, as indicated by the block arrows in FIG. 14. The agitated solid material is propelled towards outlet opening 252B in the form of a deflector. The impeller 260 comprises a pluralityfor example, sixof substantially flat plates 260B extending from the impeller shaft 260A and oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 261 of the impeller shaft 260A. The impeller 260 further comprises a circular support plate 260C mounted to the impeller shaft and oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 261 of the impeller shaft 260A and is placed in proximity to a rear end of the impeller 260, as illustrated in FIG. 15. Each impeller plate 260B comprises a first cutting edge 260B.1 oriented substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis 261 of the impeller shaft 260A and a second cutting edge 260B.2 oriented substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis 261 of the impeller shaft 260A for enabling agitation of the solid material 14 while the apparatus 100 is moved in a sideway direction and a forward direction, respectively. The apparatus 100 with the impeller housing 250 is operated in a similar manner as the apparatus with the impeller housing 150, except that the apparatus 100 can be moved forward and sideways instead of forward and rearward, and further the agitated solid material 14 is removed in a separate step using, for example, a suction conduit. Alternatively, the outlet opening 252B is formed for being mounted to the suction conduit 22.

[0053] As is evident to a person of skill in the art various other impeller housings having different scroll cases and impellers may be adapted for being removable/re-attachable mounted to the drive housing 102 depending on design preferences.

[0054] Alternatively, the drive housing 102 and the impeller housing may be provided as a single unit.

[0055] The present invention has been described herein with regard to preferred embodiments. However, it will be obvious to persons skilled in the art that a number of variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as described herein.