Suction Excavator

Abstract

A suction excavator for collecting suction material has a collection container for the suctioned suction material. A suction trunk for collecting the suction material is arranged on the suction excavator. A filter chamber is arranged adjacent to the collection container. The filter chamber is equipped with a filter unit, through which the suction air is guided for fine filtration. An air supply space is arranged above the collection container. This air supply space has a diffuser, which is connected to a cyclone via a U-shaped air channel section, the cyclone guiding the suction air coming from the diffuser into the filter chamber via a transition piece. The U-shaped air channel section is open towards the collection container below it, so that carried suction material can fall to the ground of the collection container by gravity.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit of German Patent Application DE 102025000370.6, filed on Jan. 30, 2025, the content of which is incorporated in its entirety.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The disclosure relates to a suction excavator for collecting suction material.BACKGROUND

[0003] Suction excavators serve to collect material. A negative pressure is generated via a suction turbine, whereby a suction airflow is generated that transports the suction material into the suction excavator via a suction trunk. This suction material is then deposited in a collecting container, wherein the suction air is subsequently cleaned in a filter chamber and then released back into the surroundings when clean.

[0004] Such a suction excavator is described, for example, in DE 10 2016 105 849 A1. DE 10 2016 105 849 A1 relates to a vehicle with a tiltable material collection container suspended from a tilting axis running in parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis and a telescopic device. The tilting axis runs in the plane of symmetry of the material collection container. The base ends of the telescopic arms are pivotally fixed in the vehicle central plane. At least one rotary drive is arranged at the container-side end of at least one telescopic arm in order to enable rotation of the material collection container around the tilting axis. At least one pivoting drive enables a pivoting of the telescopic arm out of the vehicle central plane in the two angular directions.

[0005] DE 29 23 449 U1 describes a suction excavator for the targeted collection of suction material with a suction trunk for collecting the suction material, at least one first collection container for the collected suction material into which the suction trunk opens and in which suction material is separated from the suction airflow, and a suction blower connected to the first collection container, wherein a second collection container is present which is suitable for receiving liquids, wherein a switching device is present for alternately connecting the suction trunk to the first collection container or the second collection container.

[0006] A device for producing head pits, trenches and pits in traffic areas such as roads and car parks is known from DE 295 13 107 U1, wherein the soil excavation is carried out with a suction excavator which has two different suction aggregates with hydraulic drive, namely a blower with a relatively low negative pressure on the suction side, but a high delivery volume and a vacuum pump with a relatively high negative pressure on the suction side, but a low delivery volume.

[0007] Furthermore, a self-collecting road sweeper vehicle is known from DE 29 30 149 A1 with a suction line that transports the sweepings from a sweeping surface into a sweepings collection container and a deflector plate that deflects the sweepings to the bottom of the sweepings collection container after they exit the suction line. Here, the suction line is formed as a diffuser at the inlet to the collection container.

[0008] Additionally, a suction excavator for the targeted collection of suction material is known from DE 10 2020 001 928 B3, wherein the suction excavator has a pneumatic suction trunk for collecting the suction material, a suction blower for generating a suction airflow and a first flow channel leading from the suction trunk to the suction blower for guiding the suction airflow, and wherein the first flow channel has a first collection container in which the suction material is separated from the suction airflow, and a first filter device is arranged in the first flow channel.

[0009] Furthermore, a suction excavator for collecting material is known from WO 00 / 28159 A1. This suction excavator comprises a pneumatic suction turbine that is connected to a collection container into which a suction trunk opens and in which a large part of the suction material is separated. This suction excavator additionally comprises a filter space with a plurality of filters through which the suction airflow is directed for fine filtration. The collection container and filter space are separated from each other by a partition wall which has an opening for the suction airflow. The suction airflow is directed towards the upper region of the wall of the collection container opposite the partition wall, and the aperture in the partition wall is located in the upper region thereof, such that a cyclone-like suction airflow around a horizontal axis is formed within the collection container. The suction airflow flows over the filters substantially horizontally, wherein the entry of the suction airflow into the collection container and the exit of the suction airflow from the filters are offset from each other by 180 degrees to 270 degrees.

[0010] Finally, a multi-stage separator is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,111,670 A, which is tiltably fixed on a vehicle for separating particulate material conveyed by an airflow, consisting of a support frame that is pivotably fixed to the vehicle at one end, a first and a second collection chamber that are fixed one behind the other on the support frame, wherein the first collection chamber has in its upper region an inlet opening for the particulate material, a separating device, and an outlet opening that is in flow connection with the second collection chamber and is formed with a first discharge opening, provided with a closing flap, pointing towards the pivotably fixed end of the support frame, and a blower device whose suction side is in flow connection with the second chamber via a filter device, whereby an airflow entering the first collection chamber at the inlet opening of the first collection chamber to convey the particulate material can be generated, from which heavy parts can be separated by the first separating device for collection in the first / collection chamber, while the parts further transported by the airflow into the second collection chamber can be separated there from the airflow by the filter device. A discharge chute is arranged below the first collection chamber, said discharge chute being connected to the second collection chamber and extending to a second discharge opening that is arranged connected to the first discharge opening, wherein the first and the second discharge openings can be closed by a common closing flap.SUMMARY

[0011] With the known suction excavators, the suction airflow is deflected uncontrollably at the walls of the collection container. This results in a significant pressure loss. Additionally, the suction air exiting the suction hose constantly falls back into the collection container and stirs up the suction material already suctioned up there again, which also leads to a decrease in suction power. Since the filter chamber is also flowed through unevenly, the local flow speed through the filters of the filter chamber is highly variable, which, on the one hand, increases the local flow speed losses and, on the other hand, causes the degree of contamination of the filters to increase at different rates. This varying degree filter contamination of the filters leads to the filters of the filter chamber having to be replaced quite often in order to maintain optimal filter performance.

[0012] An air supply chamber offers an improvement in the guide of the airflow, said air supply chamber preventing the pressure in the collection container dropping. This air supply chamber also prevents the suction material separated in the collecting container from being stirred up. Additionally, it is ensured that the suction airflow is guided evenly through the filter chamber, whereby the degree of contamination of the filters increases uniformly. Thus, the filters have to be replaced by new ones less often, which leads to saving time, but also saving money.

[0013] An improved suction excavator for collecting suction material has a collection container for the suctioned suction material. An outwardly projecting suction trunk is fixed to the suction excavator for collecting the suction material, via which suction material is transported into the suction excavator by a suction airflow. A filter chamber with a filter unit is arranged adjacent to the collection container, through which filter chamber the suction airflow is guided for fine filtration. An air supply space is arranged above the collection container, wherein the air supply space has a diffuser that is connected to the suction trunk, whereby the suction material carried by the suction air reaches the suction excavator via the diffuser. The diffuser is connected via a U-shaped air channel section to a cyclone, which directs the suction air coming from the diffuser into the filter chamber via a transition piece. The filter unit of the filter chamber comprises several filters that are arranged perpendicularly in the filter chamber. The U-shaped air channel section is open towards a lower section of the collection container, so that carried suction material can fall by gravity onto the bottom of the collection container. Since the suction air is directed exclusively in the air supply space and thus above the collection container, there is no turbulence of the suction material inside the collection container. Additionally, the air supply space ensures that the pressure of the suction air remains substantially constant and therefore prevents any decrease in suction power.

[0014] An elongated air channel section can be arranged between the U-shaped air channel section and the cyclone, which connects the U-shaped air channel section to the cyclone. Preferably, the elongated air channel section is arranged substantially in parallel to the diffuser, because the air supply space can thus be constructed compactly.

[0015] Here, the elongated air channel section preferably has a cross-section that is smaller than the cross-section of the U-shaped air channel section. This ensures that there is no pressure drop in the air supply space because the suction air is compressed in the elongated air channel section due to the smaller cross-section. The cyclone is at least partially enclosed by outer walls, wherein the outer walls are spaced apart from the cyclone and open towards the collection container in a lower section, whereby the lower section forms a part of the opening of the air supply space. Smaller and lighter suction material particles can fall by gravity into the collection container via this lower section.

[0016] The cyclone is divided into a lower section and an upper section arranged above it. The lower section has a stator which is surrounded by a wall, wherein the lower section comprises a region that is at least partially open at the top. Since the wall is spaced apart from a central section of the stator, the at least partially open region forms an inlet opening. Since smaller and lighter suction material particles have already been separated, only suction air contaminated with dust passes through the inlet opening.

[0017] It is advantageous when the upper section of the cyclone is formed as a cone, because, as a result of its construction, the cone contributes to smaller and lighter suction material particles being almost completely separated from the dust.

[0018] The cone is designed in such a way that the flow speed of the suction air is reduced as it passes through. The gap widens, meaning the same mass of suction air flows through an increasingly larger gap. The suction air thus loses speed, whereby the dust can be better separated. Additionally, the suction air can be redirected with less loss, such that the filters of the filter unit can be flowed through with less loss.

[0019] It is additionally advantageous when a deflection vane element assembly is provided in the transition piece leading to the filter chamber, said deflection vane element assembly having at least one deflection vane element. As a result of this deflection vane element assembly, the suction airflow can be directed more effectively to the filter chamber because this deflection vane element assembly prevents the suction air coming from the upper region of the cyclone from being moved uncontrollably against a wall of the transition piece, thus preventing an undesirable pressure drop.

[0020] The invention is explained in more detail below by reference to the drawings.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 shows a principle sketch of a suction excavator in a side view;

[0022] FIG. 2 a perspective view of a cut-out of the suction excavator, comprising a collection container with a filter chamber arranged therein and an air supply space arranged above the collection container;

[0023] FIG. 3 a second view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2, having the collection container with the filter chamber arranged thereon, and the air supply space arranged above the collection container;

[0024] FIG. 4 a section through a cut-out of the suction excavator shown in FIG. 1; and

[0025] FIG. 5 a lower section of a cyclone with a transition piece arranged thereon.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In FIG. 1, a principle sketch of a suction excavator 1 is depicted in a partially cutaway side view.

[0027] The suction excavator 1 comprises a vehicle frame 2 with several vehicle wheels 3 attached to it.

[0028] This suction excavator 1 has a pneumatic suction turbine 4, which is arranged adjacent to a collection container 5. A large part of the suction material 6 is separated in the collection container 5. A filter chamber 7 with a filter unit 8 is attached to the collection container 5, through which a suction airflow 10 is guided for fine filtration. The filter unit 8 consists of several filters 9, 9′, 9″. In the filter unit 8, the filters 9, 9′, 9″ can be arranged perpendicularly in the filter chamber 7, as is shown in FIG. 1. An outwardly projecting suction trunk 11 is attached to the suction excavator 1 for collecting the suction material 6. The suction trunk 11 is connected to an air supply space 12, wherein the air supply space 12 is arranged above the collection container 5. The suction airflow 10 leaves the filter chamber 7 via a return channel 22 and thus reaches the suction turbine 4, via which the suction air is finally removed from the suction excavator 1. The suction airflow 10 is indicated by arrows, wherein the course of the suction airflow 10 in the air supply space 12 is explained in more detail in FIG. 2.

[0029] The air supply chamber 12 is preferably arranged in a cover 23 of the suction excavator 1, wherein the cover 23 is arranged above the collection container 5 and seals the collection container 5. The suction material can be removed from the collection container 5 by opening the cover 23. The cover is a known structural measure that is described, for example, in DE 10 2016 105 849 A1.

[0030] The air supply space 12 is thus formed by the diffuser 13, the adjoining U-shaped air channel section 14 and the elongated air channel section 15 adjoining the U-shaped air channel section 14.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a cut-out of the suction excavator 1, comprising the collection container 5 with the attached filter chamber 7 and the air supply space 12 arranged above the collection container 5, which is arranged in the cover 23 of the suction excavator 1. The filter unit arranged in the filter chamber 7 is not shown for clarity. The air supply chamber 12 has a diffuser 13 to which the suction trunk 11 is attached externally. The suction air (not shown) coming from the suction trunk 11, carrying the suction material, thus enters the suction excavator 1 via the diffuser 13. The diffuser 13 is connected to a cyclone 16 via a U-shaped air channel section 14 and an elongated air channel section 15, wherein the cyclone 16 is at least partially arranged in the cover 23. Here, the elongated air channel section 15 runs substantially in parallel to the diffuser 13, which contributes to a compact construction of the air supply space 12. Here, the elongated air channel section 15 has a smaller cross-section Q15 than the U-shaped air channel section 14 (see cross-section Q14). Because the cross-section Q15 of the elongated air channel section 15 is smaller than that of the U-shaped air channel section 14, it is additionally ensured that there is no pressure drop in the air supply space 12, because the suction air is compressed in the elongated air channel section 15 due to its smaller cross-section Q15.

[0032] The suction air coming from the diffuser 13 is guided into the filter chamber 7 via a transition piece 17. The U-shaped air channel section 14 and the elongated air channel section 15 are open towards the collection container 7 below, whereby carried suction material can fall by gravity onto a base 18 of the collection container 5, which is indicated by the arrow 19.

[0033] The transition piece 17 protrudes at least partially into the filter chamber 7 and is guided through an opening 20 which is arranged in a partition wall 21 that separates the filter chamber 7 from the collection container 5. A further wall 42 separates the collection container 5 from the suction turbine 4 (see FIG. 1). The suction air guided into the filter chamber 7 (cf. suction airflow 10) leaves the filter chamber 7 via a return channel 22. The suction air cleaned in the filter chamber 7 then enters the suction turbine 4 via the return channel 22 (cf. FIG. 1).

[0034] The pressure loss of the suction air can be reduced to up to one-third compared to conventional air supply systems as a result of the geometry of the air supply space 12. This is particularly because the suction air transported to the filter chamber 7 is guided exclusively in the air supply space 12. The suction air thus no longer enters the collection container 5, thereby preventing suctioned material from being stirred up again. Since the air supply space 12 is open at the bottom, the suction material falls directly into the collection container 5 by gravity. Thus, only smaller and lighter suction material particles, and dust, are transported to the cyclone 16. In the cyclone 16, smaller and lighter suction material particles are separated from the dust, such that only dust enters the filter chamber 7. The smaller and lighter suction material particles, on the other hand, fall into the collection container 5.

[0035] This ensures that the contamination of the filters 9, 9′, 9″ of the filter unit 8 is uniform. Due to this uniform contamination of the filters 9, 9′, 9″ of the filter unit 8, the flow speed of the suction air in filter chamber 7 remains substantially constant, which in turn keeps the flow speed of the filtered suction air, which is guided to the suction turbine 4 via the return channel 22, substantially constant.

[0036] The flow speed of the suction air as it enters the suction excavator 1 is reduced by the diffuser 13. Because the suction air can hold less suction material with decreasing flow speed, the suction material falls downwards into the collection container 5. The remaining suction air is directed in the cover 23 via the two air channel sections 14 and 15 into the cyclone 16. Here, the flow speed is increased again by the decreasing cross-section Q15.

[0037] In FIG. 3, a second view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 is depicted, wherein the underside of the air supply space 12 is regarded. It can therefore be clearly seen that the air supply space 12 is open towards the collection container 5, whereby suction material (not depicted) can fall from the air supply space 12 into the collection container 5 (c.f. arrow 19). In order to also separate smaller and lighter suction material particles, the cyclone 16 is also open in a lower region 28 in the direction of the bottom 18 of the collection container 5. The centrifugal force thus causes smaller and lighter suction particles to be flung against outer walls 25, which at least partially surround the cyclone 16, such that these suction particles finally fall into the collection container 5, and only dust-laden suction air reaches to the filter chamber 7 via the transition piece 17. The regions of the air supply space 12 that are open towards the collection chamber 5 can also be generally referred to as the opening 26 of the air supply space 12.

[0038] In FIG. 4, a section through a cut-out of the suction excavator 1 shown in FIG. 2 is depicted. This cut-out shows only a partial region of the air supply space 12, specifically the diffuser 13, a part of the U-shaped air channel section 14, the interior of the cyclone 16, and the transition piece 17. This air supply space 12 is arranged above the collection chamber 5 and is connected to the filter chamber 7 via the transition piece 17. The suction material sucked up by the suction trunk that is not visible reaches the U-shaped air channel section 14 and the elongated air channel section 15 not visible in FIG. 4 via the diffuser 13. Since these two air channel sections 14 and 15 have no bottom, i.e. they are open towards the collection container 5, the bulk material falls into the collection container 5. The suction material caught in the collection container 5 is again provided with the reference numeral 6 in FIG. 4. Smaller and lighter suction material particles (not depicted) are transported further to cyclone 16.

[0039] The cyclone 16 is surrounded in its upper section 27 and at least partially in its lower section 30 by outer walls 25, and that is in such a way that the outer walls 25 are spaced apart from the cyclone 16 and are not connected to it. Thus, a lower region 28 is open towards the collection container 5 and forms a part of the opening 26 of the air supply space 12. The upper section 27 of the cyclone 16 can be formed as a cone 29, as shown in FIG. 4, wherein the upper section 27 rests on the lower section 30. The lower section 30 has a stator 31 which is formed as a guide vane ring. This stator 31 is surrounded by a wall 32, wherein the lower section 30 is at least partially open at the top and thus forms an inlet opening 33, because the wall 32 is spaced apart from a central section 24 of the stator 31. Dust-contaminated suction air can enter through this inlet opening 33. The dust is transported by the suction airflow 10 via the transition piece 17 into the filter chamber 7. The suction air is then freed from dust by the filter unit 8 arranged in the filter chamber 7. Smaller and lighter suction material particles, on the other hand, are flung against the outer walls 25 of the air supply space 12 by centrifugal force and are thus separated before the suction air enters the lower section 30 of the cyclone 16.

[0040] Deflecting vane elements can be arranged in the transition piece 17 through which the suction airflow is directed in order to prevent pressure losses. Such deflecting vane elements cannot be seen in the transition piece 17 depicted in FIG. 4.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows the lower section 30 of the cyclone 16 with the transition piece 17 arranged thereon according to FIG. 4, looking in direction A. Thus, an opening 34 of the transition piece 17 is regarded, via which the dust-contaminated suction air is transported into the filter chamber 7. The filter chamber 7 and the partition wall 21, which separates the filter chamber 7 from the collection container 5, are not depicted in this figure (cf., for example, FIG. 4).

[0042] Several deflection vane elements 35 to 39 are provided in the transition piece 17, which are arranged one above the other and in a row and form a deflection vane element assembly 40. By means of this deflection vane element assembly 40, the suction airflow can be better directed into the filter chamber 7 by preventing the suction air coming from the upper region 30 of the cyclone 16 from being moved uncontrollably against a wall 41 of the transition piece 17, thus preventing an undesirable pressure drop. Although such a deflection vane element assembly 40 can also have only one deflection vane element, it is thus advantageous when several such deflection vane elements form the deflection vane element assembly 40, because the suction airflow 10 can thus be directed even more precisely into the filter chamber 7.LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS1 Suction excavator

[0044] 2 Vehicle frame

[0045] 3 Vehicle wheels

[0046] 4 Suction turbine

[0047] 5 Collection container

[0048] 6 Suction material

[0049] 7 Filter chamber

[0050] 8 Filter unit

[0051] 9, 9′, 9″ Filter

[0052] 10 Suction airflow

[0053] 11 Suction trunk

[0054] 12 Air supply space

[0055] 13 Diffuser

[0056] 14 Air channel section

[0057] 15 Air channel section

[0058] 16 Cyclone

[0059] 17 Transition piece

[0060] 18 Base

[0061] 19 Arrow

[0062] 20 Opening

[0063] 21 Partition wall

[0064] 22 Return channel

[0065] 23 Cover

[0066] 24 Central section

[0067] 25 Outer walls

[0068] 26 Opening

[0069] 27 Upper section

[0070] 28 Lower region

[0071] 29 Cone

[0072] 30 Lower section

[0073] 31 Stator

[0074] 32 Wall

[0075] 33 Inlet opening

[0076] 34 Opening

[0077] 35 to 39 Deflection vane elements

[0078] 40 Deflection vane element assembly

[0079] 41 Wall

[0080] 42 Wall

Claims

1. A suction excavator (1) for collecting suction material (6), comprising:a collection container (5) configured to receive the suction material (6);an outwardly projecting suction trunk (11) configured to collect the suction material (6);a filter chamber (7) arranged adjacent to the collection container (5), the filter chamber (7) comprising a filter unit (8) through which suction air is guided for fine filtration;an air supply space (12) arranged above the collection container (5);a diffuser (13) arranged in the air supply space (12) and connected to the suction trunk (11);a cyclone (16) configured to guide the suction air from the diffuser (13) into the filter chamber (7) via a transition piece (17); anda U-shaped air channel section (14) connecting the diffuser (13) to the cyclone (16),wherein the U-shaped air channel section (14) is open towards the collection container (5) below, such that the suction material (6) carried with the suction air is permitted to fall by gravity onto a ground (18) of the collection container (5).

2. The suction excavator according to claim 1,further comprising an elongated air channel section (15) arranged between the U-shaped air channel section (14) and the cyclone (16), the an elongated air channel section (15) connecting the U-shaped air channel section (14) to the cyclone (16),wherein the elongated air channel section (15) is arranged substantially parallel to the diffuser (13).

3. The suction excavator according to claim 2,wherein a cross-section (Q15) of the elongated air channel section (15) is smaller than a cross-section (Q14) of the U-shaped air channel section (14).

4. The suction excavator according to claim 1,wherein the filter unit (8) comprises a plurality of filters (9, 9′, 9″) arranged perpendicularly within the filter chamber (7).

5. The suction excavator according to claim 1,wherein the cyclone (16) is at least partially surrounded by outer walls (25),wherein the outer walls (25) are spaced apart from the cyclone (16) and are open in a lower region (28) towards the collection container (5), andwherein the lower region (28) forms a part of an opening (26) of the air supply space (12).

6. The suction excavator according to claim 1,wherein the cyclone (16) comprisesa lower section (30) andan upper section (27) disposed above the lower section (30),wherein the lower section (30) includes a stator (31) surrounded by a wall (32),wherein the lower section (30) comprises an at least partially upwardly open region (33),wherein the wall (32) is spaced apart from a central section (24) of the stator (31), andwherein the at least partially upwardly open region (33) forms an inlet opening through which the suction air contaminated with dust can pass.

7. The suction excavator according to claim 6,wherein the upper section (27) of the cyclone (16) is formed as a cone (29).

8. The suction excavator according to claim 1,wherein a deflecting vane element assembly (40) is arranged in the transition piece (17), andwherein the deflecting vane element assembly (40) includes at least one deflecting vane element (35 to 39).

9. The suction excavator according to claim 1,wherein the air supply space (12) is arranged in a cover (23) of the suction excavator (1).

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