WATER TANK FOR A HYDROVAC

Abstract

A water tank for a hydrovac is provided. The water tank can have a top end, a bottom end, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side defining an interior space, and at least one baffle port forming an aperture passing through the water tank from the first side to the second side, at least one baffle port passing through the interior space. The water in the interior space must flow around the at least one baffle ports. A bottom strap passing through the at least one baffle port can secure the water tank to the hydrovac. A front strap at the first end of the water tank, passing through the at least one baffle port can secure the water tank to the hydrovac.

Claims

1. A hydrovac comprising: a frame; a cab mounted near a front end of the frame; an engine mounted on the frame; steering wheels operative to steer the hydrovac; ground wheels connected to the frame and operative to be driven by the engine; a debris tank mounted on the frame; a vacuum hose fluidly connected to the debris tank; a boom pivotally mounted at a first end and carrying the vacuum hose; and a water tank comprising: a top end, a bottom end, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side defining an interior space; and at least one baffle port forming an aperture passing through the water tank from the first side to the second side, the at least one baffle port passing through the interior space, wherein water in the interior space must flow around the at least one baffle ports.

2. The hydrovac of claim 1 wherein the water tank further comprises at least one vertical channel intersecting with the at least one baffle port.

3. The hydrovac of claim 2 wherein the at least one vertical channel runs from the bottom end of the water tank to one of the at least one baffle port.

4. The hydrovac of claim 1 wherein the water tank further comprises at least one horizontal channel intersecting with the at least one baffle port.

5. The hydrovac of claim 4 wherein the at least one horizontal channel runs from the first end to the second end of the water tank, intersecting one of the at least one baffle ports.

6. The hydrovac of claim 5 wherein there is a plurality of baffle ports and the at least one horizontal channel intersects all of the plurality of baffle ports.

7. The hydrovac of claim 1 wherein there is a plurality of baffle ports.

8. The hydrovac of claim 6 wherein all of the plurality of baffle ports are substantially horizontally aligned.

9. The hydrovac of claim 1 wherein the water tank further comprises an access port in the top end of the water tank.

10. The hydrovac of claim 1 wherein the at least one baffle port has a larger cross-sectional area at the first side of the water tank than the cross-sectional area at the second side of the water tank.

11. The hydrovac of claim 1 wherein the water tank is rotational molded from a polymer.

12. The hydrovac of claim 1 wherein the at least one baffle port is elongate in a vertical direction.

13. The hydrovac of claim 1 further comprising a bottom strap passing through the at least one baffle port, and wherein ends of the bottom strap are secured to the hydrovac.

14. The hydrovac of claim 13 wherein the water tank further comprises at least one vertical channel intersecting with the at least one baffle port, and wherein the bottom strap runs in the at least one vertical channel to the at least one baffle port.

15. The hydrovac of claim 14 wherein the bottom strap is metal.

16. The hydrovac of claim 13 further comprising a front strap at the first end of the water tank, the front strap passing through the at least one baffle port closest to the first end, and wherein ends of the front strap are connected to a structure on the hydrovac.

17. The hydrovac of claim 16 wherein the water tank further comprises a horizontal channel intersecting with the at least one baffle port closest to the first end, and wherein the front strap runs through the horizontal channel.

18. The hydrovac of claim 17 wherein the front strap is metal.

19. The hydrovac of claim 1 further comprising a substructure provided on top of the frame and having comprising outriggers extending outwards, the outriggers supporting the water tank.

20. The hydrovac of claim 1 further comprising a first water tank provided on a first side of the debris tank and a second water tank provided on a second side of the debris tank.

21. The hydrovac of claim 1 further comprising a panel attachable to a side of the water tank.

22. The hydrovac of claim 21 wherein the panel has attachment members extending perpendicularly from a back of the panel and positioned to correspond with the at least one baffle port on the water tank.

23. The hydrovac of claim 22 further comprising an elongate connection member attachable to ends of the attachment members passing through the at least one baffle port, the elongate connection member running through a horizontal channel on the water tank.

24. They hydrovac of claim 1 further comprising a water pump.

25. The hydrovac of claim 1 wherein the water tank supplies water to the water pump and the water pump supplies pressurized water to a dig wand.

26. A water tank for a hydrovac, the water tank comprising: a top end, a bottom end, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side defining an interior space; and at least one baffle port forming an aperture passing through the water tank from the first side to the second side, at least one baffle port passing through the interior space, wherein water in the interior space must flow around the at least one baffle ports.

27. The water tank of claim 26 further comprises at least one vertical channel intersecting with the at least one baffle port.

28. The water tank of claim 27 wherein the at least one vertical channel runs from the bottom end of the water tank to one of the at least one baffle port.

29. The water tank of claim 26 further comprises at least one horizontal channel intersecting with the at least one baffle port.

30. The water tank of claim 29 wherein the at least one horizontal channel runs from the first end to the second end of the water tank, intersecting one of the at least one baffle ports.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0012] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hydrovac;

[0013] FIG. 2 is driver side view of the hydrovac of FIG. 1;

[0014] FIG. 3 is a passenger side view of the hydrovac of FIG. 1;

[0015] FIG. 4 is a top view of the hydrovac of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the hydrovac of FIG. 1;

[0017] FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an equipment compartment on the driver side of the hydrovac of FIG. 1;

[0018] FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of a blower behind the equipment compartment in FIG. 6;

[0019] FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of an equipment compartment on the passenger side of the hydrovac of FIG. 1;

[0020] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a water tank;

[0021] FIG. 10 is a front view of the water tank shown in FIG. 9;

[0022] FIG. 11 is a top sectional view of the water tank along sectional line C-C in FIG. 10;

[0023] FIG. 12 is a sectional side view of the water tank along sectional line A-A in FIG. 10;

[0024] FIG. 13 is a bottom view of the water tank shown in FIG. 9; and

[0025] FIG. 14 is a schematic view of installed water tanks;

[0026] FIG. 15 is an exploded view of two water tanks being installed on a substructure that provided on the hydrovac;

[0027] FIG. 16 is a collapsed view of the two water tanks and support structure of FIG. 15;

[0028] FIG. 17 is a detail exploded view of section A shown in FIG. 16;

[0029] FIG. 18 is a detail collapsed view of section A shown in FIG. 16;

[0030] FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a water tank being connected at a front end;

[0031] FIG. 20 is a detailed collapsed view of section C shown in FIG. 19; and

[0032] FIG. 21 is a exploded schematic view of panels for installation on the outer sides of water tanks on a hydrovac.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

[0033] FIGS. 1-8 illustrate a hydro-evacuation truck or a hydrovac 10 for performing hydro-excuvations. The hydrovac 10 can include: a frame 20; steering wheels 30; ground wheels 40; a cab 50; an engine 63; one or more water tanks 60; a debris tank 70; a boom 80; a vacuum hose 90; a blower 100; a water pump 110; and a dig wand 120.

[0034] The frame 20 is supported by the steering wheels 30 and the ground wheels 40. The frame 20 supports the various components of the hydrovac 10. The steering wheels 30 are positioned near the front of the frame 20 and operative to steer the hydrovac 10. The ground wheels 40 are operative to be driven by the engine 63 and move the frame 20 and therefore the hydrovac 10. The ground wheels 40 can be provided on axles.

[0035] The cab 50 can be mounted near a front end of the frame 20.

[0036] The steering wheels 30 can be steered from the passenger compartment 52 of the cab 50 and the transmission 56 can be connected to the axles of the ground wheels 40 to drive the ground wheels 40 and move the hydrovac 10.

[0037] The debris tank 70 can be mounted on the frame 20 behind the cab 50 with a rear end of the debris tank 70 positioned proximate a rear end of the hydrovac 10. The debris tank 70 can be used to store the soil and water slurry vacuumed up by the hydrovac 10. The debris tank 70 allows the slurry vacuumed up by the hydrovac 10 to be stored in the hydrovac 10 during its operation and then transported by the hydrovac 10 in the debris tank 70 to a dump site for disposal when the excavation is complete or the debris tank 70 is full. Referring to FIG. 5, the debris tank 70 can have a drain door 72 at the rear end of the debris tank 70 which can be opened to allow the debris tank 70 to be emptied or dumped out.

[0038] Referring again to FIGS. 1-8, the debris tank 70 can be provided with hydraulics so that a front end of the debris tank 70 can be lifted upwards, slanting the debris tank 70 downwards towards its rear end to aid dumping out the debris tank 70.

[0039] The boom 80 can be mounted proximate the rear end of the hydrovac 10 to carry the vacuum hose 90 and to maneuver the vacuum hose 90 to a side of the hydrovac 10 and in some cases even pivot the boom 80 around behind the hydrovac 10. In one aspect, the boom 80 can only maneuver the vacuum hose 90 to one side of the hydrovac 10, such as the passenger side of the hydrovac 10. The boom 80 allows the vacuum hose 90 to be maneuvered into a desired positioned to allow the vacuum hose 90 to suck up soil and any rocks or other debris that have been liquified into a slurry. The boom 80 can be pivotally mounted at a first end 82 so that the boom 80 can be pivoted from side to side around is first end 82 as well as being pivoted upwards and downwards around the first end 82 of the boom 80. A second end 84 of the boom 80 can be curved downwards to direct the vacuum hose 90 downwards towards a ground surface being excavated.

[0040] In one aspect, the boom 80 might have an extendable section 86 that allows the length of the boom 80 to be extendable and retractable to better enable an operator to maneuver the second end 84 of the boom 80 and therefore the vacuum hose 90 to a desired position.

[0041] The vacuum hose 90 can have a distal end 92. With portion of the vacuum hose 90 supported by the boom 80 and running along the boom 80, the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90 extends past the second end 84 of the boom 80 so that the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90 can be directed downwards towards the ground surface. An operator can position the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90 where they desire by pivoting the boom 80 from side to side and up and down.

[0042] When the hydrovac 10 is not in use or is going to be transported to another location, the boom 80 can be placed in a transport position with the boom 80 swung over top of the hydrovac 10, so that the second end 84 of the boom 80 and the vacuum hose 90 do not extend past the sides of the hydrovac 10. The boom 80 can be pivoted downward to be positioned against a top of the hydrovac 10.

[0043] The vacuum hose 90 can be flexible to allow it to bend so that it can bend as it is maneuvered by the boom 80 and bend downwards around the curved second end 84 of the boom 90 so that the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90 points downwards towards a ground surface to be excavated.

[0044] A dig tube (not shown) made of a rigid material, like aluminum, etc. can be attachable to the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90. This rigid dig tube can prevent damage and deformation to the vacuum hose 90 because it will be the dig tube that comes directly into contact with the liquified soil and other debris and is vacuumed up the dig tube first before the slurry enters then the vacuum hose 90 connected to the dig tube.

[0045] In one aspect, a portion of the vacuum hose 90 can be flexible while another portion of the vacuum hose 90 might be formed of rigid tubing, made of a rigid material such as metal. For example, a portion of the vacuum hose 90 that extends past the second end 84 of the boom 80 could be flexible tubing, while a portion of the vacuum hose 90 that runs along the boom 80 could be rigid tubing.

[0046] Referring to FIG. 7, the blower 100 can be used to create a vacuum in the debris tank 70. The vacuum hose 90 can be in fluid communication with the debris tank 70 and by creating a vacuum in the debris tank 70 suction will be created in the vacuum hose 90, allowing the vacuum hose 90 to suck a soil and water slurry through the vacuum hose 90 and into the debris tank 70.

[0047] Referring again to FIGS. 1-8, the water tanks 60 can be provided on the hydrovac 10 to supply water to the water pump 10 where the water will be pressurized and routed to the dig wand 120. In one aspect, a water tank 60 can be provided on either side of the debris tank 70 with a first water tank 60 provided on a first side of the debris 70 and a second water tank provided on a second side of the debris tank 70.

[0048] The dig wand 120 can be connected to the hydrovac 10 with a hose 122 to pressurized water from the water tanks 60 and supply the pressurized water to the dig wand 120.

[0049] Referring to FIGS. 1-8, in operation, the hydrovac 10 can be driven to a location where excavation is required. At the location, an operator can park the hydrovac 10 adjacent to where the excavation will occur and exit the hydrovac 10 to begin the hydro-evacuation process. The operator can then move the boom 80 to maneuver the vacuum hose 90, such as with a remote control (not shown) over to one side of the hydrovac 10 towards the soil to be excavated and attach a dig tube to the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90. The operator can then maneuver the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90 and the attached dig tube over the soil to be excavated.

[0050] If the soil to be excavated is not already liquified to create a slurry that can be vacuumed up the vacuum tube 90, the operator can use the dig wand 120 and pressurized water supplied from the water tanks 60 by the water pump 110 to spray the pressurized water into the soil to liquify the soil and create a vacuumable slurry.

[0051] The operator can then start the blower 100 to create a vacuum in the vacuum hose 90 and direct the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90 towards the liquified soil to vacuum the soil slurry up through the vacuum hose 90 and into the debris tank 70.

[0052] When the excavation is complete or the debris tank 70 is full, the operator can stop spraying water with the dig wand 120 and stop the blower 100 from creating a vacuum in the vacuum hose 90. They can then disconnect the dig tube 95 from the distal end 92 of the vacuum hose 90 and maneuver the boom 80 to position the boom 80 and the vacuum hose 90 back over the hydrovac 10 and place it in a transport position. With everything stowed away on the hydrovac 10, the hydrovac 10 can be driven to a dump site and the debris tank 70 emptied.

[0053] If the debris tank 70 has hydraulics, the debris tank 70 the drain door 72 can be opened and the debris tank 70 tilted to dump out the contents of the debris tank 70 at the dump site.

[0054] FIGS. 9-13 show a water tank 60 to store and transport water on the hydrovac 10 so that the water in the water tank 60 can be used as a water source for supplying water to the water pump 110 and the dig wand 120. The water tank 60 can have a top end 202, a bottom end 204, a first end 206, a second end 208, a first side 212 and a second side 214 defining an interior space 230 for holding water. A series of baffle ports 220 can be provided passing through the water tank 60 from the first side 212 of the water tank 60 to the second side 214 of the water tank 60 and the baffle ports 220 passing through the interior space 230. The height and length of the water tank 60 can be larger than the width making the water tank 60 tall and narrow for mounting on the hydrovac 10.

[0055] Each baffle port 220 can form an aperture passing through the water tank 60 from the first side 212 to the second side 214. The baffle port 220 can be elongate in the vertical direction and have a greater cross-sectional area at the first side 212 of the water tank 60 and taper inwards towards the second side 214 of the water tank 60 to have a smaller cross-sectional area on the second side 214.

[0056] In one aspect, all of the baffle ports 220 can be horizontally aligned at the same height along a length of the water tank 60.

[0057] A series of vertical channels 240 and a series of horizontal channels 250 can be provided in the first side 212 and the second side 214 of the water tank 60. Each of the vertical channels 240 can intersect with one of the baffle ports 220 and each of the horizontal channels 250 can intersect with one or more baffle ports 220.

[0058] In one aspect, some of the vertical channels 240 can run from a bottom end 204 of the water tank 60 and end where the vertical channel 240 intersects with one of the baffle ports 220 and other vertical channels 240 run from a bottom end 204 of the water tank 60, intersect a baffle port 220 and continue running vertically to the top end 202 of the water tank 60.

[0059] Each horizontal channel 250 can run from a first end 206 of the water tank 60 to a second end 208 of the water tank 60, intersecting with each of the baffle ports 220.

[0060] These channels 240, 250 can aid in securing the water tank 60 in place on the hydrovac 10 as well as allow additional structure to be mounted to the water tank 60.

[0061] Access ports 260 can be provided in the top end of the tanks 60 to allow a person to open the access ports 260 and look inside the water tanks 60 to see the interior space 230.

[0062] Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, water in the interior space 230 of the water tank 60 can flow through the interior space 230, but must flow around the baffle ports 230 passing through this interior space 230. This causes the baffle ports 230 to act as baffles for water in the interior space 230 of the water tank 60, reducing the sloshing around of this water in the water tank 60 when the hydrovac 10 is being driven to a location or moved.

[0063] In one aspect, the water tank 60 can be formed of polymer and in a further aspect, the water tank 60 can be formed of a polymer by rotational molding the water tank 60 in one piece.

[0064] Referring to FIG. 14, shows a schematic illustration two water tanks 60 that are installed on the hydrovac 10. A substructure 300 (which can also be seen in FIGS. 2 and 3) is used to support the water tanks 60 and this substructure 300 is attached to the frame 20 of the hydrovac 10. The debris tank 70 (not shown in FIG. 14 but can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 4) can be provided between the two water tanks 60. Fill ports 270 can be used to fill the water tank 60 and supply ports 272 can be provided to supply water from the water tanks 60 to the pump 110 to be sprayed out the dig wand 120.

[0065] Referring to FIG. 15, to install the water tanks 60, the substructure 300 can have outriggers 310 extending outwards and sized to receive the water tanks 60 on top of these outriggers 310. FIG. 16 shows the water tanks 60 positioned on the outriggers 310 with bottom straps 320 used to secure the water tanks 60 to the hydrovac 10.

[0066] Each bottom strap 320 can be run through one of the baffle port 220 on the water tank 60 so that the baffle port 220 is used as an attachment point to secure the water tank 60 to the hydrovac 10. Each bottom strap 320 can also be positioned to run within one of the vertical channels 240 on the water tank 60 so that the bottom strap 320 does not extend beyond a surface of the first side 212 or the second side 214 of the water tank 60. The bottom straps 320 can be connected to a connection member 330 that is attached to the outriggers 310.

[0067] The bottom strap 320 could be made of metal or any suitable material.

[0068] FIG. 17 is an exploded view of one of the bottom straps 320 showing the bottom strap 320 being connectable by a fastener 322 to a connection member 330. FIG. 18 shows the bottom strap 320 connected to the connection member 330 by the fastener 322.

[0069] Referring again to FIG. 16, the bottom straps 320 can pass through the baffle ports 220, run through the vertical channels 240 and attach to the connection members 330 that can be attached to the ends of the outriggers 310. In this manner, the water tanks 60 can be attached to the hydrovac 10 using the baffle ports 220 of the water tanks 60 and the bottom straps 320 to attach the water tanks 60 to the hydrovac 10.

[0070] To prevent the water tank 60 from wobbling from side to side, FIG. 19 shows the attachment of the first end 206 of the water tank 60 using a front strap 340. The front strap 340 can be provided passing through the baffle port 220 located closest to the first end 206 of the water tank 60 to secure the first end 206 of the water tank 60 to a structure 380 on the hydrovac 10.

[0071] The front strap 340 could be made of metal or any suitable material.

[0072] Referring to FIG. 20, the front strap 340 can be provided running through the baffle port 220 located closest to the first end 206 of the water tank 60 and positioned so that the front strap 340 runs through the horizontal channel 250 intersecting with the baffle port 250. Ends 342 of the front strap 340 can be fastened to the structure 380 to prevent the water tank 60 from wobbling.

[0073] In this manner, bottom straps 320 and front straps 340 provided running through the baffle ports 220 and running through the vertical channels 240 and the horizontal channels 250 can be used to secure the water tanks 60 to hydrovac 10 by attaching the bottom straps 320 to the outriggers 310 and the front straps 340 to structure on the hydrovac 10.

[0074] Referring to FIG. 21, shows panels 400 connectable to the water tank 60. Referring to FIGS. 1-4, these panels 400 can be shown facing outwards and highly visible on the sides of the hydrovac 10. These panels 400 can be used to prominently display text, images, logos, etc. on the sides of the hydrovac 10, allowing a company to prominently display their name on the side of the hydrovac 10, for example.

[0075] Referring again to FIG. 21, the panels 400 can have a series of attachment members 410 extending perpendicularly from a back 402 of the panel 400 and positioned to correspond with the baffle ports 420 on the water tanks 60. When the panel 400 is placed against the outer side of the water tank 60 with the attachment members 410 extending through the respective baffle ports 220. An elongate connection member 430 can then be attached to each of the attachment members 410 at the ends of the attachment members 410 that are extending through the baffle ports 220 to secure the panel 400 to the outer side of the water tank 60. The attachment members 410 can be connected to the back 402 of the panel 400 at a height that causes the elongate connection member 430 to run in a horizontal channel 250 on the water tank 60.

[0076] Top connection members 350 can be used to pass over the top end 202 of the water tank 60 and connect to a top of the panel 400 to secure a top of the panel 400 against an outer side of the water tank 60.

[0077] The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention and a preferred embodiment. Further, since numerous changes and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all such suitable changes or modifications in structure or operation which may be resorted to are intended to fall within the scope of the claimed invention.