A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm and an associated method. The device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm has a flexible hose 7 providing

Description

03 24 Field of the Invention 5 The present invention relates to a device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm and an associated method, in particular a device providing moisture in the region of mechanical digging equipment such as excavators; more particularly but not exclusively a device that may be installed on an independently provided equipment. 10 Background The climate in many societies across the world is becoming drier on many occasions. Plant machinery is often in use in very dry conditions, and excavators and the like are 15 prone to causation of a large amount of dust, which can be problematic for visibility, safety, cleanliness and air standards. Prior Art 20 CN 213 062 144 (HAN et al) discloses a install high-pressure water smoke dust suppression device on excavator which characterized in that: including installing high-pressure pump package, water tank and the spray pipe subassembly on the excavator, the water tank is connected to the high-pressure pump package, the spray pipe 25 subassembly is equipped with the sprinkler bead including the spray pipe of locating the side of the big arm of excavator, the tip of spray pipe, and the front end of excavator forearm is located to the sprinkler bead, and the sprinkler bead is towards the operation end of excavator. 30 JP 2017 218 759 (AKITA et al) discloses a method for suppressing scattering of dust generated by a construction machine, the method comprising the steps of: disposing a plurality of water spraying nozzles in a vicinity of a work attachment equipped in the construction machine, the water spraying nozzles being configured to spray water in the form of a mist having a predetermined particle size; connected to a water supply 35 unit via piping, and water is supplied to each of the water spraying nozzles during construction, and water is supplied to each of the water spraying nozzles from the 03 24 periphery of the work attachment toward the periphery of the construction position of the work attachment by the water spraying nozzles. CN 216 305 998 (YU et al) discloses an energy-saving dust-suppression spraying 5 device for mine loading and transporting mechanical equipment, which comprises an excavator body, wherein a mounting frame is fixedly mounted at the top of the body of the excavator body, a water tank is fixedly mounted inside the mounting frame, a water outlet of the water tank is fixedly connected with a connecting pipe, one end of the connecting pipe, which is far away from the water tank, is fixedly connected with a 10 water spray pump, a winding mechanism is fixedly mounted on one side of the top of the excavator body and is connected with the output end of the water spray pump, and two fixing mechanisms are fixedly mounted on two sides of a small arm of the excavator body. 15 Summary of the Invention According to the present invention there is provided a device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm, comprising a flexible hose providing a fluid pathway with an associated fluid pumping means, the hose adapted to be secured along the excavator 20 arm, the fluid pathway having a plurality of fluid dispensing outlets at a distal end, the outlets adapted to supply fluid in more than one state, and a fluid reservoir at a proximal end, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a displaceable container arranged to be attached to a mount, said mount arranged to be bolted to the step of the excavator. 25 In some embodiments of the device the hose and outlets are secured to the excavator by self-adhesive clip means. In this way the device may be retrofitted to an existing excavator, and / or may be repositioned according to preference. In other embodiments the device may be installed on an excavator at manufacture. 30 In some embodiments of the device the dispensing outlets comprise fluid atomisers. In this way it may be envisaged that surrounding air may be humidified, thereby causing dust to be prevented from spreading beyond the excavator. In some embodiments of the device the dispensing outlets comprise fluid dribble 35 release. This may be envisaged to advantageously provide dampening of material in the locality of the outlets, for example for direct application of fluid on work areas. 03 24 In some embodiments of the device the dispensing outlets output fluid into the excavator planer for example. 5 In some embodiments of the device the plurality of outlets are adapted to be secured to a head of the excavator. It may be envisaged that a plurality of outlets may be combined in one housing, for example an elongated housing, wherein the outlets may be prearranged and / or in a fixed arrangement. 10 In some such embodiments of the device the dispensing outlets are arranged such that the outlets are arranged to face to the front and the rear sides of the head, so as to limit dust spread at source of work. In some embodiments of the device the container is secured to the mount by flexible 15 straps. This may enable easy removal and repeat attachment to the mount, which is not liable to compromise and may be accomplished with no tools. For example such straps may comprise hooks, hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM) or other temporary connection means. 20 In some embodiments of the device the outlets comprise a plurality of atomising sprinkler jets. These jets may be located on an elongate housing. A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the Figures in which: 25 Brief Description of Figures Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the 30 present invention, installed on an excavator; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1; 35 Figure 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, separated; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 3; 03 24 5 Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, for use; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 5; 10 and Figures 7 to 9 show isometric detail views of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1. 15 Detailed Description of Figures With reference to the figures there is shown a device 99 for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm 105, generally comprising a flexible hose 7 providing a fluid pathway 20 with an associated fluid pumping means 3, the hose adapted to be secured along the excavator arm, the fluid pathway having a plurality of fluid dispensing outlets 4,5 at a distal end, the outlets adapted to supply fluid in more than one state, and a fluid reservoir at a proximal end, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a displaceable container 1 arranged to be attached to a mount 2, said mount arranged to be bolted to 25 the step 200 of the excavator 100. In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodiment comprises a plurality of parts, as shown in Figure 4, which may be installed on an excavator, as shown in the configuration shown in Figure 5. 30 When installed on the excavator the device comprises fluid outlets located in use at the excavator arm, wherein the reservoir is detachably located at the step of the excavator. 35 In between the outlets and the reservoir there is provided an elongated flexible piping. This piping may be envisaged to be provided in a plastics or polymer. 03 24 The piping is clipped by clips 6 to the excavator in a plurality of locations, and in use may be envisaged to be clipped as appropriate according to user preference and / or model of the excavator. 5 The mount 2 provides a fixed location for the reservoir, allowing the reservoir to be displaced for filling or maintenance purposes. Additionally the mount provides and locates the pumping means 3, which the reservoir 10 is directly connected to by a feed 31. The piping 7 is thereby permanently connected to the pumping means 3, so as to advantageously avoid damage in use from repeated connections and disconnections of the container 1. 15 The feed 31 extends from and comprises a threaded cap 10. The cap is a large diameter and the feed extends centrally therefrom. In this way the cap may be easily removed from the reservoir with the thread, and the container forming the reservoir may be displaced for filling purposes, leaving the cap and feed connected to the 20 pumping means. The reservoir comprises a cuboid tank container, with a topmost cap in use. The container is strapped to the mount with two webbing straps 11 in use, which straps 25 include ratchets 12, and end hooks 13. The hooks are hooked into lanyard attachment points on the mount. The mount comprises a shelf for the container to be strapped to from above, wherein the pumping means is located and mounted below the shelf. 30 The pumping means 3 and associated electronics are provided in a waterproof casing 9. The whole provides apparatus 44 which may be provided as a retail unit. As shown it may be envisaged that the mount is located in use above the step 200 of 35 the excavator 100. This may be installed at manufacture to provide apparatus 199 as shown in Figure 1. 03 24 The piping is split at a T junction 16, and outlets 4 are provided on either branch ends of the resulting spurs, in outlet housings 13. 5 Each of these housings 13 comprises an elongated tube with a plurality of perforations providing the outlets, spaced along the housing. The housings comprise two clamp plates 14 proximate either end. In this way the housings may be located usefully on the excavator arm, and the outlets securely and reliably located. 10 The outlets comprise small perforations in the housings, so as to provide a flow of fluid when used, ensuring that dust at the excavator arm is controlled. In other embodiments the perforations may provide a restricted dribble of fluid. Before the junction there are provided three individual outlets 5, which are metal T 15 connectors, and which may be envisaged to spray a wider splay of fluid in use than the perforations on the housings, for example an atomised misting and / or provide a restricted dribble of fluid. The outlets 5 comprise full cone adjustable misting jets this creates atomized spray 20 droplets for atmospheric dust control, wherein the connectors are pushfit and easy to install meaning more jets can be added a repositioned with ease. The pictured embodiment in this way reduces atmospheric dust and protects workers and their surroundings, removing any need to have someone on the ground manually 25 saturating the work area. The embodiment uses the pumping means to send water around the system, from the water tank to the outlets and also runs on 12V so that it can be easily powered using the vehicles 12V in-cab power outlet. 30 The front and rear dribble bar outlets 4 create a water flow which goes straight into the planer and onto the ground around the machine to prevent dust from being kicked up. The comprises a 25L capacity container and features a IP rated dust resistant hose 35 gland to reduce dust ingress and an IP67 washdown casing to house the electronics for the system. Is watertight to IP67 for use outdoors. The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims. 03 24

Claims

03 241. A dust reduction system for an excavator comprising: a fluid reservoir connected to a flexible hose and a fluid pumping means to pump fluid from the 5 fluid reservoir along the flexible hose to a plurality of fluid dispensing outlets at a distal end of the flexible hose; wherein the fluid dispensing outlets include at least one first type of outlet to supply fluid in an atomised state and at least one second type of outlet in the form of a dribble bar for supplying a flow of fluid; wherein the fluid reservoir and fluid pumping means has a mount for connection 10 to a step of an excavator.

2. A dust reduction system according to claim 1 wherein the fluid dispensing outlets are adapted to be secured to a head of the excavator.15 3. A dust reduction system according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the flexible hose andthe fluid dispensing outlets are secured to the excavator by self-adhesive clips.

4. A dust reduction system according to any preceding claim arranged in use such that the outlets are arranged to face to the front and the rear sides of the head.

205. A dust reduction system according to any preceding claim wherein the fluid reservoir has a displaceable container.

6. A dust reduction system according to any preceding claim including a mount 25 for receiving the fluid reservoir with a temporary connection means to connect the fluid reservoir to the mount.

7. A dust reduction system according to claim 6 wherein the temporary connection is flexible straps.

308. A dust reduction system according to any preceding claim wherein the first type of outlets are a plurality of atomising sprinkler jets.

9. A dust reduction system according to any preceding claim wherein the flexible 35 hose branches into two spurs, each spur directing fluid to a dribble bar.

10. A method of restraining dust spread from an excavator planer by connecting the system as described in claims 1 to 9 to an excavator.

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