Method and apparatus for excavating a soil containing mass

Abstract

A method and apparatus for digging and removing excavated material provides a mobile device, having a movable or self-propelled chassis, and an elongated, preferably articulated boom with a free end portion having an excavating implement (e.g., digging, excavating or jetting tool). The boom has at least three sections that are foldable to a storage position on the chassis wherein one boom section stacks upon or is aligned with another boom section. The vacuum line is supported upon the boom, extending along the boom and above the earth's surface, wherein the vacuum line extends between the free end portion of the boom and the chassis. The boom attaches to the chassis at a base. The excavated material is vacuumed with the vacuum line into a collection vessel or tank that can be a part of a wheeled vehicle. A separate vacuum truck can provide a vacuum to a selected collection tank.

Claims

1. A method of excavating a mass of selected material, comprising the steps of: a) providing a mobile device having a chassis that is movable or self-propelled; b) mounting on the mobile device an elongated articulated boom with a boom free end portion, said boom comprising at least three sections and wherein said sections are foldable to a storage position on said chassis, wherein one boom section stacks next to another boom section; c) wherein the boom sections include a boom chassis section on said chassis, a boom free end section and one or more middle boom sections in between the chassis boom section and the boom free end section; d) wherein during use the boom forms an arch; e) supporting a vacuum line upon said boom wherein the vacuum line tracks along said boom and extends between the free end portion of the boom and the chassis, the vacuum line supported by the boom and extending along the boom and above the earth's surface; f) excavating material with one or more digging implements at a selected location near the chassis and boom, said digging implements including a jetting tool and a jetting line that extends from the chassis to the jetting tool; g) supporting the jetting line of step “f” upon the boom wherein the jetting line tracks along the boom and extends between the free end of the boom and the chassis; h) vacuuming the excavated material of step “f” with the vacuum line, wherein the excavated material travels via the vacuum line to the chassis; and i) transferring the vacuumed material of step “g” to one or more collection vessels that are spaced away from the mobile device via one or more flow lines that extend from the mobile device to the one or more collection vessels.

2. The method of excavating a mass of material of claim 1 further comprising breaking up soil-containing material near the boom free end with a second digging implement.

3. The method of excavating a mass of material of claim 1 wherein each boom section is connected to another boom section at a boom joint and wherein one of said boom joints defines a boom apex.

4. The method of excavating a mass of material of claim 1 wherein the boom connects to the chassis at a rotary connection.

5. The method of excavating a mass of material of claim 1 wherein the mobile device supports a vacuum source that connects to the vacuum line.

6. The method of excavating a mass of material of claim 1 wherein the vacuum line extends from the chassis to the digging implement and tracks closely along the articulated boom.

7. An excavation system comprising: a) a mobile device having a chassis that is movable or self-propelled; b) the mobile device having an elongated articulated boom that includes a base end portion and at least three boom sections connected end-to-end at boom joints; c) wherein the boom sections include a boom chassis section on said chassis, a boom free end section and one or more middle boom sections in between the chassis boom section and the boom free end section; d) wherein during use the boom sections form an arch; e) wherein said boom is foldable to a storage position on said chassis, said boom having a free end portion and a base end portion at said base; f) a digging implement for excavating a selected material to be removed, said digging implement including a jetting tool and a jetting line that extends from the chassis to the jetting tool, wherein the jetting line is supported by the boom and tracks along the boom; g) a first vacuum line supported upon said boom and that tracks along the boom, wherein the first vacuum line extends between the free end portion of the boom and the boom base end portion; h) a vacuum source in communication with the first vacuum line for enabling a vacuuming of material that is excavated with the digging implement; and i) a second vacuum line that connects said mobile device chassis to a separate collection vessel.

8. The excavation system of claim 7 wherein the vacuum line has one end portion that connects to said digging implement, another end portion at said chassis and a middle section connected to the articulating boom at multiple positions along said articulating boom.

9. The excavation system of claim 7 wherein the articulating boom has at least four boom sections.

10. The excavation system of claim 7 wherein the jetting tool digging implement includes one or more jetting nozzles.

11. The excavation system of claim 7 wherein there are at least two collection vessels so that while one said vessel is being filled, the other can be transported to a selected disposal site.

12. The excavation system of claim 7 further comprising a second jetting tool for breaking up the selected material to be excavated, said second jetting tool being a part of a separate jetting apparatus not supported by the boom.

13. The excavation system of claim 7, wherein the boom has an end, and the end of the boom is extendable at least 30 feet from the chassis.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the end of the boom is extendable at least 200 feet from the chassis.

15. An excavation system comprising: a) a mobile device having a chassis that is movable or self-propelled; b) the mobile device having a boom that includes a base end portion proximal to the mobile device, multiple boom sections connected end-to-end with boom joints, and a boom end portion distal from the mobile device when in use; c) a digging implement mounted to said boom end portion for excavating a selected material to be removed, said digging implement including a jetting tool and a jetting line that extends from the chassis to the jetting tool; d) a first vacuum line supported by said boom wherein the first vacuum line extends between the boom end portion and proximal to the base end portion, the first vacuum line extending along the boom and above the earth's surface; e) a vacuum source in communication with the first vacuum line for enabling a vacuuming of material that is excavated with the digging implement and a transmission of said material to a separate collection vessel that is not located on said mobile device chassis; and f) a second vacuum line that connects said collection vessel to said mobile device chassis.

16. The excavation system of claim 15 wherein the boom comprises multiple boom sections connected together end-to-end, said boom having an apex.

17. The excavation system of claim 15 wherein the vacuum line has one end portion that connects to said digging implement, another end portion at said chassis and a middle section connected to the boom at multiple positions along said boom.

18. The excavation system of claim 15 wherein the boom is pivotally connected to the chassis.

19. The excavation system of claim 15 wherein there are at least two collection vessels so that while one said vessel is being filled, the other can be transported to a selected disposal site.

20. The excavation system of claim 15 wherein the vacuum line includes multiple separate pipe sections, each pipe section connected to another pipe section next to a said boom joint.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention;

(3) FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the method and apparatus of the present invention; and

(4) FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(5) FIGS. 1-3 show a preferred embodiment of the apparatus of the present invention designated generally by the numeral 10. Excavating apparatus 10 provides a chassis 11 that supports articulating boom 14. Chassis 11 can be wheeled, providing a plurality of wheels 12 for supporting the weight of the boom 14. Chassis 11 can also have outriggers 50 to help support the weight of the boom 14, water tank 36, and pressure washer pump and engine combination 37.

(6) Articulating boom 14 is preferably a multi-section arch shaped boom that is mounted to the chassis 11 at base 13 which can include a pivotal or rotary connection. In a preferred embodiment, the articulating boom 14 can provide three, four or five boom sections 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 that form an arch as seen in FIG. 1. The middle boom sections 16, 17, 18 are thus elevated and spaced away from the truck/chassis. The boom section 15 is a chassis boom section. The boom section 19 is a boom free end section. Each boom section 15-19 connects to another boom section with a boom joint. For example, the boom section 15 connects to the boom section 16 at boom joint 20. Similarly, there are boom joints at 21, 22 and 23. The five boom sections 15-19 connect end to end as shown with the boom apex 49 typically being at joint 20 or 21 (but it could be in between). These five boom sections can total about 60-120 feet long (or longer), for example. Apex 49 can be between about 30 and 100 feet high, for example.

(7) The apparatus 10 of the present invention is used to excavate material from a selected site such as the trench or excavation 24 shown in FIG. 1. Articulating boom 14 provides a boom free end portion 25 that can be part of the boom section 19 that is farthest away from chassis 11. Boom free end section 19 and boom free end portion 25 can support a digging implement 27 (e.g., jetting pipe or lance) which can include a jetting nozzle or nozzles 28 that receive water flow via jetting line 29 from water tank 36 and pressure washer pump and engine 37. For example, a four to six-foot (4′-6′) jetting pipe or lance can be supported at the end of the boom on boom free end section 19. A separate power jetting unit (e.g., engine and water pump) would supply high pressure fluid to the jetting pipe via a high-pressure hose. The jetting pipe could be fitted with a jetting nozzle at its lower end. Alternatively, a vacuum line 26 and a jetting line 29 could track along boom 14 and be supported by boom 14 as seen in FIG. 1. In such a case, an engine and pump could be mounted on chassis 11. Vacuum line 26 preferably extends between digging implement 27 and chassis 11. A vacuum source 31 can be part of a separate vacuum truck 30 which is used to pull a vacuum on line 38. Such vacuum trucks 30 are commercially available, such as sold under the name/mark “Rival Hydrovac”.

(8) One or more valves on chassis 11 can be used to direct cuttings from trench or excavation 24 to a selected collection truck 32 or 33 via line 26 and lines 39, 40. Each truck 32, 33 provides a collection tank. The first collection truck 32 provides a collection tank 34. The second collection truck 33 provides a collection tank 35. Vacuum piping is provided that enables flow of cuttings or excavated material to travel via vacuum line 26 to a selected collection tank 34 or 35 via a vacuum line 39 or 40. Vacuum lines 39, 40 are provided that extend between chassis 11 and collection trucks 32, 33 respectively. Vacuum line 38 can be selectively attached to either collection truck 32 or collection truck 33. In FIG. 3, arrow 46 schematically illustrates a vacuum pulled on tank 34 of truck 32 with line 38 that connects to vacuum truck 30. Arrows 47 schematically represent flow of cuttings or excavated material 48 to tank 34 via vacuum line 39.

(9) As part of the method of the present invention, pressure washers 41, 42 can be provided in addition to the pressure washing digging implement 27. Each of the pressure washers 41, 42 provides a jetting wand or tool with a nozzle. Pressure washer 41 provides jetting tool wand with nozzle 43 while a jetting wand tool with a nozzle 44 is provided with pressure washer 42. Such pressure washers 41, 42 are commercially available and sold under the marks Pressure Pro, Yamaha®, Simpson, Generac®, Hot2Go, as examples (e.g., see www.pressurewashersdirect.com). Pressure washers are available in a wide range of pressure ratings (e.g., 1000-7000 psi). Some generate steam and/or hot water.

(10) The inside diameter of vacuum hoses 26, 38, 39, 40 can be about 2-10 inches. The length of vacuum hose 26 can be about 65-125 feet. Hoses 26, 38, 39, 40 are commercially available. The suction of the vacuum can be about 0-948 mbar, using for example a vacuum source commercially available from Super Products LLC (https://www.superproductsfic.com/). The pressure washers 41, 42 can be, for example, 3,500-7,000 PSI washers with 5-25 HP pumps. Pressure washing digging implement 27 can be connected to a pressure washer pump/engine (or a pressure washer) 37 on truck chassis 11 similar to pressure washers 41, 42. Pressure washer 37 can be, for example, a 3,500-7,000 PSI washer with a 5-25 HP engines (e.g., Honda, Kawasaki, Briggs and Stratton) powering a water pump. The pressure washer hoses can be about 0.5-1 inch in diameter and able to withstand 3,500-7,000 PSI of pressure. Such hoses are commercially available. Truck chassis 11 is preferably of a size that it can be transported without escort; typically, in most states that is not larger than 45 feet long by 8.5 feet wide.

(11) The boom 14 can be operated by an operator in the cab of the truck 11 or elsewhere with a remote control.

(12) Additional digging tools can be attached to the end of the vacuum line distal from the boom truck—there are such tools commercially available from Super Products LLC (https://www.superproductsllc.com/).

(13) The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention:

(14) TABLE-US-00001 PARTS LIST: PART NUMBER DESCRIPTION 10 excavating apparatus 11 chassis/truck 12 wheel 13 base/rotary connection/pivoting connection 14 articulating boom 15 boom section/chassis boom section 16 boom section 17 boom section 18 boom section 19 boom section/boom free end section 20 boom joint 21 boom joint 22 boom joint 23 boom joint 24 trench, excavation 25 boom free end portion 26 vacuum line/vacuum hose 27 digging implement 28 jetting nozzle 29 jetting line 30 vacuum truck 31 vacuum source 32 first collection truck 33 second collection truck 34 collection tank 35 collection tank 36 water tank 37 pressure washer pump/engine 38 vacuum line/vacuum hose 39 vacuum line/vacuum hose 40 vacuum line/vacuum hose 41 pressure washer 42 pressure washer 43 jetting wand/tool with nozzle 44 jetting wand/tool with nozzle 46 arrow 47 arrow 48 excavated material 49 apex 50 outrigger

(15) All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise.

(16) The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.