Material collection container of a suction dredger with improved negative pressure stiffness

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a material collection container of a suction dredger. The material collection container has a longitudinally extending container wall, a pivotable lid, and a seal between the upper edge of the material collection container and the lid. The invention also relates to a suction dredger with such a material collection container.

[0002] A special application in the field of mobile work machines is the so-called suction excavator, which is usually equipped with a material collection container for collecting sucked-up material.

[0003] Such a suction excavator is known from DE 38 37 670 A1, comprising a pneumatic suction nozzle, a collecting container for the sucked-up soil or similar material, into which the suction nozzle opens and in which the sucked-up material is separated from the suction air flow, and a suction fan connected to the collecting container for generating the suction air flow. Other common components of suction excavators include guide elements for the suction nozzle and filters for cleaning the suction air before it leaves the collecting container and is released into the environment. The suction excavator design described in this document uses a collecting container that can be tilted alternatively towards the respective side of the vehicle about one of two tilting axes running in the vehicle's longitudinal direction in order to empty the material separated in the collecting container.

[0004] EP 3 436 306 B1 describes a vehicle, in particular a suction excavator, with a vehicle frame, a tippable material collecting container suspended in a tilting axis running parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis, with a telescopic device and at least one rotary drive arranged at the container-side end of at least one telescopic arm to enable rotation of the material collecting container about the tilting axis.

[0005] DE 10 2016 105 850 B4 shows a material collection container for a suction excavator, wherein the material collection container can be closed by means of a lid consisting of at least two parts. The material collection container has a flat upper edge, on which the lid rests in a working position to tightly seal the container, allowing a negative pressure to be generated within it.

[0006] EP 0 749 870 A1 relates to a commercial vehicle in the form of a tipper, which can be emptied from the rear. The tipper comprises a container formed by a self-supporting wall made of simple steel sheets. The wall is U-shaped and formed by segments that are at an angle to each other.

[0007] CN 202243117 U shows a truck comprising a body and a top cover. The body is open at the top. The top cover is positioned on top of the body and closes the opening. The body consists of a base plate and a body wall that extends upwards around the base plate. The top cover consists of a cover plate and side walls that extend downwards around the top plate. The top cover is attached to the body so that the side walls are positioned on the outside of the body wall. A seal arranged on the top cover serves to prevent gases from escaping from the body.

[0008] DE 10 2017 108 731 B4 discloses a suction excavator with a pivoting filter unit, which features a tippable material collection container and a lid that closes it in a working position. This material collection container also has a flat upper edge.

[0009] General material containers on construction vehicles can be divided into two basic designs. While round containers are often used for the transport of liquids and gases, construction vehicles usually use tipping containers with a square cross-section for transporting earth and the like. Round containers, such as those on tank vehicles, are quite complex to manufacture, as they must be constructed as uniformly as possible in order to withstand the prevailing excess pressure. However, they offer optimal loading volume and high pressure resistance with a comparatively low weight. A further disadvantage is that the round container is usually emptied through a small opening in the rear, which results in longer loading and unloading times. In contrast, loading and unloading a tipping container through a large opening is much faster and easier.However, the tipping container also requires a high level of manufacturing effort, as the numerous reinforcements required on the largely flat container wall require numerous welds to achieve the desired high rigidity. This results in a higher dead weight, numerous surfaces for corrosion, and the risk of breakage or leaks at the weld seams.

[0010] Since the suction excavator uses negative pressure to pick up material, it is particularly important that the negative pressure generated by a blower unit is communicated with as little loss as possible to a suction nozzle where material can be picked up. However, the conventional suction excavators, which have a material collection container closed by a lid, have considerable disadvantages. The negative pressure required for the suction process can only be generated with the fan units used if the collection chamber is tightly closed and no secondary air is drawn in. The sealing effect between the lid and collection chamber can be massively impaired by construction tolerances resulting from manufacturing. To ensure the sealing effect, a seal is therefore used in the contact area between the lid and the suction chamber.However, even in this case, the problem remains that, particularly during the emptying process, parts of the material emptied from the collection chamber often remain on the flat upper edge of the collection chamber or the seal, which can then significantly impair the sealing effect and / or damage the seal when the lid is closed. The suction material remaining in the sealing area must therefore be removed manually before the lid is closed. This results in a lot of work and sometimes endangers the operating personnel, because the areas to be cleaned are difficult to reach. In addition, the sealing cords that are usually used, which have a round cross-section, can wander out of their holders due to horizontal movements, for example during travel, or due to frequent opening movements of the lid. This in turn leads to leaks or damage to the seal.

[0011] The object of the present invention is therefore, based on the prior art, to provide an improved material collection container of a suction dredger, which ensures high rigidity with low material and manufacturing costs, as well as improved vacuum tightness in order to provide the required suction vacuum with low energy consumption.

[0012] This object is achieved by a material collecting container according to the appended claim 1 or by a suction dredger with such a container according to claim 12.

[0013] The material collection container according to the invention is designed for use as a component of a suction excavator. The material collection container extends in the longitudinal direction of the suction excavator and comprises a container wall extending in this direction. The longitudinal direction corresponds to the direction of travel of the suction excavator. The container wall is closed at both its ends by a front and rear end wall, forming a trough-shaped container interior. A lid of the material collection container is pivotally mounted on a lid axis. The lid closes the material collection container at its top in a closed position and opens it in an emptying position in order to empty the material collection container, i.e. to remove the sucked-up material. It is initially irrelevant whether the material collection container is emptied by pivoting and tipping or, for example, using a grab.Furthermore, the material collection container has a seal positioned between its upper edge and the lid so that the material collection container is sealed when the lid is closed, allowing the vacuum required for suction operation to be built up in the material collection container. In the closed position, the material collection container is thus sealed gas-tight, which also requires the container wall and the end walls to be tightly connected to one another, at least in the vacuum range required for the operation of the suction excavator.

[0014] The material collection container essentially has a U-shaped or trough-shaped cross-section, wherein the bottom surface, the side surfaces and the end surfaces are designed to be gas-tight and the top of the container can be closed gas-tight by the pivotable lid.

[0015] The container wall has a plurality of side segment surfaces that merge into one another at stiffening edges. The stiffening edges run in the longitudinal direction of the material collection container, preferably parallel to the vehicle's longitudinal axis. Particularly preferably, several or all such stiffening edges run parallel to one another. Furthermore, at least some, preferably the majority of the side segment surfaces are arranged at an angle to one another, thus forming the U-shaped cross-section of the material collection container. The container wall has an upper edge, which is formed by a folded section of the container wall as a hollow profile, which is closed at least on the upper side facing the lid, preferably closed circumferentially. This results in the upper edge having a smooth surface, in particular one that is not disturbed by weld seams.One advantage of this design is that the smooth surface counteracts wear when the suction material is tipped along the edge of the container during emptying. Furthermore, despite the strong turbulence in the suction container, unwanted deposits or noise do not occur at weld seams.

[0016] The combination of the selected U-shaped cross-section, the hollow profile design of the upper edge, and the segmented structure of the tank wall with its reinforced edges results in high rigidity of the material collection tank while simultaneously using minimal material, particularly when using comparatively thin walls. The material collection tank can thus be dimensioned for an operating pressure, namely a negative pressure of up to -0.65 bar, without irreversible deformation of the material collection tank during operation of the suction dredger.

[0017] Preferably, several adjacent side segment surfaces are formed in one piece, i.e., the stiffening edges extending between them are not produced by a joining process but by forming. Particularly preferably, adjacent, mutually inclined segment surfaces are at an angle of >90° to <180°, preferably 110° to 170°, at their enclosed stiffening edge. According to a preferred embodiment, several segment surfaces are formed from a single piece of sheet metal and subdivided by formed stiffening edges.

[0018] It should be noted that, for manufacturing reasons, in many cases the entire container wall cannot be manufactured from a single piece. However, the invention aims to minimize the number of pieces to be joined by joining processes (e.g., welding or folding) and instead produce them with a large surface area. The stiffening edges are then formed as beads or a similar design, thus increasing the surface stiffness while simultaneously avoiding joints prone to leakage. Of course, individual sections of the material collection container can also be additionally equipped with stiffening elements, e.g., struts.

[0019] Preferably, the width of non-additionally stiffened side segment surfaces is not greater than 150 times, particularly preferably not greater than 100 times, their respective material thickness. The dimensioning and determination of optimized geometric ratios of a side segment surface is preferably carried out using suitable model calculations, for example, using the finite element method (FEM). By taking into account the geometric ratios, the distribution of support forces, the determination of line loads, maximum bending moments, and the resulting bending stresses, a suitable dimensioning formula can be determined so that the yield strength R e of the material can be determined. A formula particularly suitable for determining R e is given below: R e = 9 ∗ p 2 256 ∗ 1 + x 2 ∗ t 4 ∗ b 4 x 2 + l 4 − xb 2 l 2 where: R e = Yield strength of the material p = Design vacuum in N / mm 2< x = Ratio of segment length l to segment width bt = Sheet thickness b = Segment width l = Segment length

[0020] Using this dimensioning formula, the optimal segment width of the side segment surfaces and the position of the stiffening edges in the container wall can be approximately determined, thus achieving the largest possible volume for absorbing suction material while simultaneously maintaining high inherent rigidity of the material collection container. The container wall of the material collection container, formed from the side segment surfaces determined using the aforementioned dimensioning formula, should be simulated and tested for its load-bearing capacity using the finite element method (FEM).

[0021] According to a modified embodiment, at least one additional stiffening element is arranged on the side segment surfaces, which preferably have a width greater than 150 times their material thickness. This can be designed, for example, in the form of a crossbeam or a profile, preferably on the outer side of the segment surface, thus increasing the rigidity of the segment surface and preventing deformation.

[0022] The material collection container preferably has one or more base segment surfaces, which are formed on the underside as the base of the material collection container. The base segment surfaces also preferably merge into one another at stiffening edges. Additional stiffness can also be created in this area by supplementary stiffening elements, which are preferably arranged on the outside of the base segment surfaces. This can be used primarily in the area of ​​the contact surfaces or other force introduction points.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the material collection container has a particularly stiffened side segment surface which is arranged on the side of the material collection container over which it can be tilted for emptying.

[0024] This stiffened side segment surface features additional bracing elements, preferably on the outside. This also ensures increased rigidity, so that even during emptying, there is no risk of deformation or damage to the container wall. The largely flat and unobstructed design of the stiffened side segment surface on the inside allows the suction material to slide along this surface more easily and without residue when the material collection container is emptied.

[0025] The seal, which runs between the top edge and the lid for sealing, is embedded in a groove that runs along the underside of the lid facing the material collection container and, when the lid is closed, extends parallel to the top edge of the material collection container. It should be noted that in modified versions, the seal can also be attached in another suitable manner, provided that gas tightness between the top edge and the lid is still ensured.

[0026] The seal preferably has a rectangular cross-section which is selected to match the width of the groove so that the seal sits tightly in the groove and does not jump out of the groove even when subjected to vibrations or movements. The upper edge to be sealed runs at least along the side walls of a collecting chamber of the material collection container, preferably along the side walls of the entire material collection container if the entire material collection container is to be sealed by the lid. The upper edge is preferably formed by two edge surfaces which converge at an angle so that the edge surfaces of the upper edge enclose an angle α and form a butt line which runs in the sealing plane. The upper edge has a width at the butt line of the converging edge surfaces which is preferably smaller than the width of the groove so that in the closed position the upper edge dips into the seal oris pressed into it. This creates a sealing line along which the seal encloses the upper edge on both sides. This leads to a consistently high sealing effect, even if there are tolerances in the course of the upper edge or possibly minor damage. Another significant advantage of this preferred design of the upper edge is that there is no horizontal surface left on it on which material residue can settle when the lid is opened. In particular, when the material collection container is emptied, all pieces of the sucked-up material fall immediately from the upper edge, so that they are no longer trapped between the seal and the upper edge when the lid is closed.The design of the upper edge with two inclined edges, which are preferably integral at the abutting edge and merge seamlessly into one another, also results in high inherent stability of the upper edge due to the profile-related rigidity and, at the same time, protects the seal, as a sharp edge that could potentially damage the seal is avoided. The seal preferably has a closed surface or at least a low porosity, so that particles of the absorbent material cannot settle in the pores and thus wear the seal. This ensures both easier cleaning and a long service life of the seal.

[0027] The described combination of a material collection container shaped according to the invention with the seal attached to its lid, which interacts with a correspondingly designed upper edge, results in a stable, comparatively lightweight, yet gas-tight material collection container. The U-shaped cross-section stiffens the material collection container in such a way that, even with the required negative pressure in the container, twisting or deformation of the upper edge is reliably prevented. This is an important prerequisite for permanently tight closure by the lid carrying the seal. At the same time, the upper edge, which is preferably trapezoidally shaped in cross-section, prevents dirt particles or other deposits from adhering there and thus impairing the sealing effect.The combined application of these features makes it possible to generate a comparatively stable negative pressure in the material collection tank using a fan or blower on the suction dredger, minimizing the pressure losses that would otherwise occur due to leaks in the tank. The dynamic negative pressure required at the suction dredger's intake port can therefore be generated with less energy consumption.

[0028] The seal is preferably soft-sealing so that movements are better absorbed and construction tolerances resulting from the manufacture of the material collection container are better compensated. Due to the soft-sealing material of the seal, the upper edge of the collection chamber can preferably be pressed into the seal by around 3-15 mm. This results in a better sealing effect because the seal adapts to the curve of the upper edge. This means that quite large construction tolerances can be compensated over a larger area. The negative pressure of up to -0.65 bar typically generated in suction excavators can therefore be maintained with less energy expenditure. As the negative pressure increases during the suction excavator's operation, the cover, including the seal, is sucked in more strongly. Because the seal is form-fitting within the groove in the cover, the seal can only move towards the upper edge and thus seals the material collection container more effectively.

[0029] The upper edge of the material collection container is preferably triangular or trapezoidal in cross-section, in particular in the manner of a hollow profile. The angle α formed by the two edge surfaces of the upper edge is preferably approximately 20° to 120°, particularly preferably between 45° and 90°. This angular range results in high rigidity of the profile, so that deformation of the upper edge caused by the negative pressure in the collection chamber and by the pressing-on pressure of the lid is counteracted. As a result, the service life of the seal of the material collection container is extended. Furthermore, the edge surfaces of the upper edge inclined in this way have the advantage that hardly any or no absorbent material can adhere to the edge surfaces. The smaller the included angle, the greater the self-cleaning effect that occurs at the edge surfaces.This also eliminates the manual cleaning process familiar from the prior art, ensuring smooth operation of the suction dredger. Furthermore, the inner, inclined edge surface deflects the suction flow in the collection chamber in such a way that the suction material in the suction flow causes less wear on the inner edge surface and the seal located within the groove.

[0030] Preferably, the upper edge at the abutment line of the edge surfaces has an outer radius in the range of 8-65 mm, particularly preferably 10-25 mm. This results in a smooth upper edge that is sufficiently wide for a sealing effect. One advantage of this design is that the seal is protected in the closed position, since the force generated when the lid is placed on the upper edge acts on a rounded surface. Furthermore, the smooth surface counteracts wear in the emptying position when the absorbent material is tipped out along the edge.

[0031] The invention further relates to a suction excavator with a material collection container according to one of the previously described embodiments. Preferably, the material collection container is attached to the vehicle in such a way that it can be tipped toward a longitudinal side of the vehicle. In particular, tipping of the material collection container is possible on both sides of the vehicle.

[0032] At the same time, it is advantageous to provide an elevated position for the tilting axis to allow emptying of the material collection container onto surfaces of different heights, such as a nearby vehicle. The tilting axis preferably runs in a plane of symmetry of the material collection container, which particularly preferably includes a vehicle's longitudinal axis in a resting, working, or transport state.

[0033] In addition to the above-mentioned features, the material collection container preferably comprises further components. The material collection container preferably comprises a suction connection on its rear end wall and a suction flow guide that leads from the suction connection through the aforementioned collection chamber to a filter unit and then via a fan to an exhaust air outlet. Furthermore, the material collection container preferably comprises a pivot bearing on each of its two end walls, which allows the material collection container to be suspended along the tilting axis.

[0034] The material collection container, with its stiffening edges, offers significant advantages over previously known container designs used in suction dredgers. The large opening of the material collection container, which can be closed with a lid, allows for quick removal of the suction material contained within. Furthermore, the stiffening edges in the container wall eliminate the need for separate stiffeners or at least reduce their number, allowing for a low weight while maintaining the rigidity of the material collection container. Finally, a larger volume is available for collecting material than with conventional material collection containers.The combination of the container wall with stiffening edges and the upper edge shaped as a hollow profile results in a very rigid edge and at the same time provides an optimized contact surface for the seal in the lid.

[0035] Further details, advantages, and developments of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawings. They show: Fig. 1 a first overall view of a material collection container according to the invention; Fig. 2 a detailed cut-out from the view of the material collection container according to Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 a second overall perspective view of the material collection container; Fig. 4 a cross-section of the container wall of the material collection container at an early stage of dimensioning; Fig. 5 a simplified sectional view of the container wall in the region of its upper edge; Fig. 6 a simplified sectional view of the material collection container in the region of a seal; Fig. 7 a side view of the material collection container; Fig. 8 an overall perspective view of the material collection container.

[0036] Fig.1 shows a first perspective overall view of a material collection container 01 according to the invention. In the illustrated embodiment, the material collection container is closed and has a lid 06, which in this case is formed in one piece. Embodiments with multi-part lids are also possible. The material collection container has at least one collection chamber 23 ( Fig. 6 ), into which material to be collected is sucked in. Furthermore, a tilting axis 18 runs longitudinally through the material collection container, in which the material collection container 01 can be suspended from the chassis of a suction excavator (not shown). Furthermore, the material collection container 01 comprises a suction connection 16 on an end wall. A pivot bearing 22 is also arranged on each of the end walls, with the tilting axis 18 extending through these pivot bearings 22.

[0037] In Fig. 2 A detailed view of the material collection container is shown (breakout A), the details of which are described below in connection with Fig. 6 be explained.

[0038] Fig.3 shows a second perspective overall view of the material collection container 01. In the illustrated embodiment, the material collection container 01 is closed. The tilting axis 18 runs longitudinally through the material collection container in the longitudinal direction of the chassis (not shown) of the suction excavator, around which the material collection container 01 can be tilted for emptying with the lid open.

[0039] The material collection container 01 has a container wall 02, which comprises a plurality of side segment surfaces 09, which each merge into one another at stiffening edges 04. The stiffening edges 04 run parallel to the longitudinal direction of the material collection container. In this embodiment, the container wall 02 comprises eight segment surfaces 09 on each side and additionally a base segment surface 10. The adjacent side segment surfaces 09 are aligned at an angle to one another, with the container wall bending inwards at each stiffening edge, in the upper region of the container wall by approximately 10°-20° and at the transition to the base segment surface by approximately 90°. In other words, immediately adjacent side segment surfaces enclose an angle in the range ≥90° to <180°. The stiffening edges are formed using the above-mentionedFEM calculations are positioned in the design process to increase the overall stiffness of the material collection tank compared to a tank wall without stiffening edges.

[0040] The side segment surfaces 09 preferably have a width no greater than 150 times their material thickness. For example, if a material thickness of 4 mm is selected, the width of the side segment surface is ≤40 cm.

[0041] To further increase the rigidity of the container wall, in the illustrated embodiment, several stiffening elements 11 are arranged as cross braces on the outer side of the base segment surface 10 and in the longitudinal direction. These stiffening elements can be designed as hollow profiles. Such stiffening elements can also be attached to individual side segment surfaces and / or the end faces, preferably on their outer sides, if necessary.

[0042] In the Fig. 1 and 3In the embodiment shown, the end walls 03 also have segment surfaces and stiffening edges. The end walls are essentially perpendicular to the side segment surfaces 09 of the container wall 02. This increases the rigidity of the entire material collection container.

[0043] Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the tank wall 02, including the upper edge 08 of the material collection tank 01, in an early dimensioning phase. For example, by using FEM simulations (see above), the cross-section of the tank and the position of the stiffening edges can be gradually optimized until the desired compressive strength is achieved.

[0044] The side segment surface, which is arranged on the tilting side of the material collection container, should form a surface that is as large and straight as possible so that the suction material can slide out of the container more easily and with less resistance in an emptying position.

[0045] The side segment surfaces 09 can be folded from a single piece of sheet metal at the stiffening edge 04 or can be formed in multiple parts so that they are connected to each other at the stiffening edges 04, preferably by welding. Depending on the dimensions and the manufacturing process, the stiffening edges are formed as folds / beads in the material of the container wall or as welded or folded seams between the side segment surfaces.

[0046] Fig. 5 shows a sectional view of the material collection container 01 in the area of ​​the upper edge 08. The upper edge 08 forms at least the upper edge of the collection chamber 23, but in modified embodiments can also comprise the upper edge of the entire material collection container 01. The upper edge 08 thus runs at the upper end of the side walls of at least the collection chamber 23. The upper edge 08 has two edge surfaces 13 which converge at an angle and enclose an angle α. This angle is preferably 20° to 160°, particularly preferably 45° to 90°, so that the edge surfaces 13 have a greater or lesser inclination relative to the horizontal. The two edge surfaces 13 are inclined at an angle to one another and form a triangular or roof-shaped, preferably hollow cross-section. Alternatively, the cross-section of the upper edge 08 can also be trapezoidal. For reasons of stability, the edge is preferably designed as a hollow profile.

[0047] Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of the material collection container 01 in a closed position, in which the lid 06 rests on the upper edge 08. The lid 06 is preferably designed as a substantially flat plate. Alternatively, the lid 06 can be designed in two or more parts or have elevations and / or depressions. A groove 12 runs on the underside of the lid 06, into which a seal 07 with a rectangular cross-section is positively inserted. The groove 12 can additionally have a continuous or section-wise constriction on its open side to prevent the seal 07 from falling out. The upper edge 08 runs below the groove 12 and, in the closed position, dips into the seal 07.

[0048] The position of the lid 06 in the closed position is selected such that the upper edge 08 is pressed into the seal 07, for example by approximately 1 / 4 to 1 / 2 the thickness of the seal 07.

[0049] Fig. 7 shows a side view of the material collection container 01, with the lid 06 in its closed position. The lid 06 closes the material collection container 01 in such a way that the upper edge 08 presses into the seal 07 ( Fig. 6 ). The one or more side segment surfaces 09, which is / are arranged on the tilting side of the material collection container 01, forms / form a large surface in comparison to the opposite side segment surfaces and is unobstructed on its inside, so that the suction material can slide out of the container easily and with little resistance in the emptying position, i.e. when the material collection container is tilted. On the outside of the said large side segment surface 09, a plurality of stiffening elements 11 are therefore arranged, which run transversely to the longitudinal extent of the segment surface and each support the side segment surface at a plurality of points. These stiffening elements 11 can simultaneously form the holder for the tilting axis 18 and for the pivot bearings 22 positioned on the front side.

[0050] On the outside of the floor segment surface 10, further stiffening elements 11 are arranged, which are shaped as transverse and longitudinal struts, wherein the stiffening elements 11 running in the longitudinal direction are preferably designed as a hollow profile.

[0051] In the illustrated embodiment, the material collection container 01 has a height of approximately 1.8 m (with the lid closed) and a width of approximately 1.9 m to 2.4 m (at its widest point). The container's length is in the range of 3.5 m to 4 m. Of course, other dimensions are possible, depending on the suction dredger to be equipped.

[0052] Fig. 8 shows again an overall view of the material collection container, for example in one of the Fig. 1 corresponding perspective. In the view shown here, the material collection container 01 is open, although the lid has not been shown for simplicity. The container wall 02 is composed of eight side segment surfaces 09 on each long side and of the base segment surface 10 on the underside. In this embodiment, the adjacent side segment surfaces 09 each enclose an angle in the range of ≥70° to <180°. The container wall preferably has a material thickness of 4 mm, and the width of the individual side segment surfaces 09 on the side facing away from the tilt axis 18 between successive stiffening edges is approximately 35 cm.

[0053] In the Fig. 8 In the embodiment shown, the end walls 03 also have side segment surfaces 09 and stiffening edges. The end walls 03 are essentially perpendicular to the side segment surfaces 09 of the container wall 02. This increases, as already described above, the rigidity of the entire material collection container. The material thickness and width of the segments installed on the end faces correspond to those on the side of the container facing away from the tilting axis. Furthermore, Fig. 8 It can be seen that in addition to the collection chamber, 23 further chambers are provided in the material collection container, in which, for example, filter units and the fan unit are housed. Bezugszeichenliste

[0054] 01Material collection container 02Container wall 03End walls 04Stiffening edge 05- 06Cover 07Seal 08Top edge 09Side segment surfaces 10Bottom segment surface 11Stiffening element 12Groove 13Edge surfaces 14- 15- 16Suction connection 17- 18Tilt axis 19- 20- 21- 22Pivot bearing 23Collection chamber

Claims

1. A material collection container (01) of a suction excavator, wherein the material collection container (01) extends in the longitudinal direction of the suction excavator and has a rigidity which withstands a negative pressure corresponding to the operating negative pressure of the suction excavator, comprising: - a container wall (02) extending in the longitudinal direction and which is connected at its two end faces to end walls (03); - a pivotable lid (06) which, in a closed position, closes the material collection container (01) on its upper side and opens it in an emptying position; - a seal (07) extending in the closed position between an upper edge (08) of the material collection container (01) and the lid (06) in order to seal the material collection container (01) so that a negative pressure can be generated in it; characterized in that - the material collection container (01) has a substantially U-shaped cross-section; - the container wall (02) has a plurality of side segment faces (09) extending in the longitudinal direction and merging into one another at stiffening edges (04), wherein at least some adjacent side segment faces (09) are at an angle to one another; - the container wall (02) has a folded upper edge (08) which is designed as a hollow profile; - the seal (07) is embedded in a groove (12) on the side of the lid (06) directed toward the upper edge (08); - the upper edge (08) is formed by two edge surfaces (13) which converge at an angle, wherein the width of the upper edge (08) at the joint line of the converging edge surfaces (13) is narrower than the width of the groove (12), wherein the upper edge enters the seal (07) in the closed position of the lid (06).

2. The material collection container (01) according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a plurality of adjacent side segment faces (09), including the stiffening edges (04) extending between them, are integrally formed.

3. The material collection container (01) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the width of side segment faces (09) which are not additionally reinforced is not greater than 150 times, preferably not greater than 100 times, their material thickness.

4. The material collection container (01) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has one or more floor segment surfaces (10).

5. The material collection container (01) according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that at least one additional reinforcing element is arranged on the outside of at least one of the side segment faces (09).

6. The material collection container (01) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that at least one of the side segment faces (09), which is located on that side of the material collection container via which it can be tilted for emptying, has additional reinforcing elements (11).

7. The material collection container (01) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the two converging edge surfaces (13) of the upper edge (08) enclose an angle α of 20° to 90°.

8. The material collection container (01) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the upper edge (08) has an outer radius in the range of from 8 to 65 mm on the abutting line of the converging edge surfaces (13).

9. The material collection container (01) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the upper edge (08) of the container wall (02) is triangular or trapezoidal in cross section.

10. The material collection container (01) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the upper edge (08) is formed by a folded portion of the container wall (02).

11. The material collection container (01) according to any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that at least some of the side segment faces (09) are defined by the following formula: R e = 9 ∗ p 2 256 ∗ 1 + x 2 ∗ t 4 ∗ b 4 x 2 + l 4 − xb 2 l 2 wherein: Re = yield strength of the material P = rated negative pressure in N / mm2 x = ratio of segment length I to segment width b t = sheet thickness b = segment width I = segment length12. A suction excavator comprising: - a vehicle frame having a longitudinal direction; - a tiltable material collection container (01) which is suspended in a tilt axis (18) extending parallel to the longitudinal direction; characterized in that the material collection container (01) is designed according to any of claims 1 to 11.

13. The suction excavator according to claim 12, characterized in that the material collection container (01) furthermore has a suction connection (16) on its rear end wall (03) and a suction flow guide leading from the suction connection (16) through a collection chamber (23) to a filter unit (17), and in that the material collection container (01) furthermore has a pivot bearing (22) on its two end faces, which pivot bearing allows the material collection container (01) to be suspended in the tilt axis (18).

14. The suction excavator according to either claim 12 or claim 13, characterized in that the lid (06) closes the entire material collection container (01) on its upper side in the closed position, and in that, in the closed position, the seal (07) extends between the upper edge (08) of the material collection container (01) and the lid (06) in order to seal the entire material collection container (01) so that a negative pressure can be generated in it.