US20220042276A1

Slidable Hydrovac Tank

Abstract

A hydrovac with an engine compartment, cab, chassis frame and wheels, blower module, boom and a combined mud and water tank that has sliding rails, mounted to the chassis frame. The mud and water tank slide relative to the truck chassis on rails. The tanks move rearward and forward relative the truck chassis.

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Classifications

E02F3/8825

Mobile land installations wherein at least a part of the soil-shifting equipment is mounted on a dipper-arm, backhoes or the like

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US20220042276A1

United States

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Inventor: Robert Carl Rajewski
Current Assignee: Individual

2020

2021

Priority claimed from CA3076715

2021-03-23

Application filed by Individual

2022-02-10

Publication of US20220042276A1

Status

Pending

Info: Similar documents; Priority and Related Applications
External links: USPTO; USPTO PatentCenter; USPTO Assignment; Espacenet; Global Dossier; Discuss

Description

FIELD

[0001]
Hydrovacs

BACKGROUND

[0002]
Hydrovacs must comply with government regulations concerning load distribution on load supporting elements, such as the wheels of the hydrovacs. Considering that the load carried by a hydrovac varies during operation of the vehicle, this can result in sub-optimal load carrying. This has become a large issue in the industry but, despite various efforts, current attempts at solutions have drawbacks.

SUMMARY

[0003]
A hydrovac is provided having a chassis and wheels, and a structure mounted for forward and backward movement relative to the chassis to re-distribute load on the wheels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0004]

Embodiments of a hydrovac will now be described with reference to the drawings by way of example, in which:

[0005]

FIG. 1 shows a hydrovac with a sliding structure in a rearward position.

[0006]

FIG. 2 shows a hydrovac with a sliding structure in a forward position.

[0007]

FIG. 3 shows a sliding structure comprising a fluid tank.

[0008]

FIG. 4 shows mounting of a sliding structure.

[0009]

FIG. 5 shows a hydrovac with a sliding structure with separate water and mud tanks.

[0010]

FIG. 6 shows a hydrovac with a sliding structure and a van body set back from the cab.

[0011]

FIG. 7 shows a hydrovac with a sliding structure and a sweep.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012]
This application includes FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 show a hydrovac vehicle 10 with engine compartment 12, cab 14, wheels 64, mechanical box 16, combined mud and water tank 18, truck chassis 20 and boom 22. A water pump and blower, among other normal components of a hydrovac, may be incorporated into the water portion of the tank, in the same manner as shown in FIG. 5. The mud and water tank 18 slide relative to the truck chassis 20 on rails 24. FIG. 1 shows the tanks moved rearward relative the truck chassis while FIG. 2 shows the tanks moved forward relative to the truck chassis. The mechanical box may be used to store items such as coats, boots, gloves and other items used by the hydrovac operator.
[0013]
In the sliding design as shown in FIG. 1, the water load in the front of the tank is slid back over the rear wheels 64 the maximum amount to have maximum steering weight for control and not be over weight because the load goes to the back axles.
[0014]
In order to haul the maximum load of mud away from the job site, an operator may slide the tank forward all the way to the van body as shown in FIG. 2 and all the mud weight at the back of the tank goes over the wheels and onto the front axles, to maximize gross axle weights.
[0015]
In the tank (could be one tank with separate compartments, or two tanks joined together), the front is water and the back is mud.
[0016]
There is a hydraulic cylinder 60 attached to a boom end 58, which lifts up the end 58 of the boom cradle so the boom hose stays straight so it is easier to work with once you get to the job site and also gets out of the visual sight of the driver. The boom 22 may be mounted on the passenger side as far as it can go to give more reach, more room, and most of all, to make it easier to work closer to the truck without the boom hitting the tank when dropped down.
[0017]
FIG. 3 shows an embodiment where the tank has two separate compartments, a mud compartment 32 and a water compartment 36 separated by a divider 34. A boom turret 30 is mounted behind the mud compartment 32. A mud door 40 allows for mud to be deposited from the back of the mud compartment 32. A hydraulic cylinder 42 operates to position the tank on the truck chassis by moving the tank on the rail frame 24.
[0018]
The mud load is centred over the rear wheels when the tank is moved into the forward position as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The water load is centred over the rear wheels when the tank is moved into the back position as shown in FIG. 1.
[0019]
FIG. 4 shows more detail of an embodiment of the truck frame 20 and the rails 24. The slider rail 24 is connected to the truck frame by connectors 62, such as bolts. The Hydro Vac body sits on a hold down body slider rail 38. The rail components may be made of stainless steel so that they do not rust or corrode. Spacers 44 may be used between the hold down rail 38 and the slider rail 24.
[0020]
This embodiment may be designed not to hoist for safety reasons meaning it is desirable to keep the mud at the back as far as possible so it is easy to unload. The basic design is that it has a sub frame that slides back and forth on sliders like a slidable 5th wheel hitch on a semi. It is pushed back and forth by a hydraulic cylinder, and has locking dogs like a fifth wheel sliding plate.
[0021]
The tank can slide and shift weight to maximize either water load or mud load. Weight is now a major concern in the hydro vac industry as weight laws are strictly being enforced unlike in the past.
[0022]
The mud is generally dumped out the back, since most dump sites are set up that way. So in a truck body design, the water needs to be at the front and the mud at the back unless a tank design is used which does not have to lift too high or have an unloader put in it.
[0023]
FIG. 5 shows an embodiment of a square tank design to maximize capacity per length inch. Extra bracing and support is provided to increase the structural strength. The embodiment shown may be built from 5052 aluminum. Embodiments of the design have strong support and will be light and last a long time.
[0024]
FIG. 5 shows a design employing a hoist dump mechanism. The design of the hydro vac disclosed herein may use a dump style that hoists and dumps as shown in FIG. 5 or a sweep style as shown in FIG. 7. The sweep style may be nicer in the square style because it sweeps the full width and cleans it out quickly.
[0025]
In the embodiment in FIG. 6, the mud and water compartments are two separate tanks, a mud tank 32 and a water tank 36, that both slide together on the sliding sub frame. The two tanks move together. The tanks slide back to haul a full load of water or to dump the mud tank. The tanks slide forward to haul as much mud as possible with maximum axle loads.
[0026]
A cyclone 56 is located in the mud tank 32 where it takes up minimal space and empties into the mud tank area that is dirty already.
[0027]
The water tank 36 is separate but also slides on the same sub frame 20. There is a split between the tanks.
[0028]
A water pump 54, boiler 50 and air filters 52 are built right into the water tank 36 so they are in the tank so there are no freezing lines, less lines, and a simpler design. The air filters 52 and boiler 50 are also built into the water tank to keep from freezing, take up minimal space and less hoses and parts needed. It all adds up to saving space, weight and money.
[0029]
There are tubes 46 which are slid through the water tank and welded on each side. These tubes 46 may be used to store the dig wands, dig tubes, water hoses, etc. In the embodiment shown, the tubes 46 are cylindrical. The tubes may be, for example, 12? in diameter. These tubes take up minimal space, save room, are simple and light, and support the tank. The tubes 46 are slid in and welded so that they act to provide additional bracing for the water tank.
[0030]
In the embodiment in FIG. 5, only the mud tank 32 hoists, which keeps the hoisted tank height lower when hoisted. The mud tank 32 is very short so the weight load is lower when hoisting. The sliding tank allows
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