Vacuum vehicle with electrically non-conductive boom

Abstract

A vacuum vehicle where some or all of the boom used to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose is electrically non-conductive. If the boom happens to contact an electrical line or other carrier of electrical energy, electrical energy will not be transmitted from the electrical line into the boom due to the electrically non-conductive nature of the boom, thereby protecting the vacuum vehicle, its equipment, and any worker on or near the vacuum vehicle.

Description

Docket No. 15727.0105WO01VACUUM VEHICLE WITH ELECTRICALLY NON-CONDUCTIVE BOOMCross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Patent Application No. 18 / 904,847, filed October 2, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.Background

[0002] Vacuum vehicles are known that use a vacuum hose to suction materials from locations such as, but not limited to, sewer lines, catch basins, treatment plants, wet wells and lift stations, underground utilities, and the like. These types of vacuum vehicles may be configured as sewer cleaners, vacuum excavators, industrial vacuum loaders, and the like. On vacuum vehicles, the vacuum hose is attached to a moveable boom that manipulates the position of the vacuum hose to properly position the vacuum hose during a vacuuming operation. During operation, the vacuum vehicle may be used near electrical lines and the boom, which is typically metal, may accidentally contact the electrical lines as the boom moves to manipulate the vacuum hose position. The resulting electrical energy conducted into the boom may damage the vacuum vehicle and equipment thereon and present a potential health hazard to a worker on or adjacent to the vacuum vehicle.Summary

[0003] A vacuum vehicle is described where the boom used to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose is electrically non-conductive. If the boom happens to contact an electrical line or other carrier of electrical energy, electrical energy will not be transmitted from the electrical line into the boom due to the electrically non-conductive nature of the boom, thereby protecting the vacuum vehicle, its equipment, and any worker on or near the vacuum vehicle. A boom that is electrically non-conductive includes a boom that is formed partially or entirely of electrically non-conductive material, or that is electrically insulated or otherwise rendered electrically non-conductive in the event of contact with an electrical line or other carrier of electrical energy.

[0004] The concepts described herein can be used on any type of vacuum vehicle that uses a movable boom to position a vacuum hose to suction materials from locations such as, but notDocket No. 15727.0105WO01 limited to, sewer lines, catch basins, treatment plants, wet wells and lift stations, underground utilities, and the like. A vacuum vehicle described herein includes both a self-propelled vacuum truck as well as a vacuum trailer that is detachably connected to and towed by a tow vehicle. The electrically non-conductive boom may be used on a vacuum vehicle that is configured as a sewer cleaner, configured as a vacuum excavator, configured as a vacuum loader, or configured for any other vacuum application.

[0005] In an embodiment, a portion of the boom most likely to come into contact with an electrical line during operation may be electrically non-conductive. This can be achieved by forming that portion of the boom from an electrically non-conductive material, or by coating that portion of a normally electrically conductive boom with a coating material that is electrically non-conductive to render that portion electrically non-conductive, or by applying a layer of electrically non-conductive material to one or more surfaces of a normally electrically conductive boom to render that portion electrically non-conductive. Other portions of the boom that are unlikely to contact the electrical line may be made of an electrically conductive material.

[0006] In another embodiment, the entirety of the boom may be electrically non-conductive. This can be achieved by forming the entire boom from an electrically non-conductive material, or by coating the entirety of a normally electrically conductive boom with a coating material that is electrically non-conductive to render the entire boom electrically non-conductive, or by applying a layer of electrically non-conductive material to the entirety of one or more surfaces of a normally electrically conductive boom.

[0007] In an embodiment, a vacuum vehicle described herein can include a chassis, wheels connected to the chassis that support the chassis on the ground for rolling movement of the vacuum vehicle, a driver’s cab attached to the chassis, an engine powering the vacuum vehicle, and a vacuum system mounted on the chassis, where the vacuum system includes a collection tank and a vacuum hose in communication with an interior of the collection tank. A boom is attached to the vacuum hose and is movable relative to the collection tank to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose. The boom includes a first, mounted end and a second, free end that defines a tip of the boom, and the boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end toward a mid-point of the boom. In another embodiment, the boom may be electricallyDocket No. 15727.0105WO01 non-conductive from the second, free end to the mid-point of the boom. In still another embodiment, the boom may be electrically non-conductive from the second, free end to the first, mounted end.

[0008] In another embodiment, a vacuum vehicle described herein can include a vacuum system mounted on a chassis, where the vacuum system includes a collection tank and a vacuum hose in communication with an interior of the collection tank. An electrically non- conductive boom is attached to the vacuum hose and is movable relative to the collection tank to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose. The electrically non-conductive boom includes a first, mounted end and a second, free end that defines a tip of the electrically non-conductive boom.Brief Description of Drawings

[0009] Figure l is a side view of an example of a vacuum vehicle that includes an electrically non-conductive boom described herein.

[0010] Figure 2 is an opposite side view of the vacuum vehicle of Figure 1.

[0011] Figure 3 is a top view of the vacuum vehicle of Figure 1.Detailed Description

[0012] Referring to Figures 1-3, an example of a vacuum vehicle 10 that implements an electrically non-conductive boom described herein is illustrated. The vacuum vehicle 10 can be any type of vacuum vehicle configured for any type of vacuum application that uses a movable boom to manipulate the position of a vacuum hose. For example, the vacuum vehicle may be configured as a sewer cleaner, configured as a vacuum excavator, configured as a vacuum loader, or configured for any other vacuum application. In Figures 1-3, the vacuum vehicle 10 is depicted as being a self-propelled vacuum truck. However, in another embodiment, the vacuum vehicle 10 may be configured as a trailer that is detachably connected to and towed by a tow vehicle. Therefore, the term vacuum vehicle as used herein and in the claims includes both self-propelled vacuum trucks and towed vacuum trailers.Docket No. 15727.0105WO01

[0013] In the example illustrated in Figures 1-3, the vacuum vehicle 10 is depicted as being configured as a vacuum excavator that performs vacuum excavation. Vacuum excavation, which is also referred to as hydro excavation, is a process of excavating soil with a jet of pressurized water and a vacuum system. Pressurized water is injected to break up and cut soil while the vacuum system operates to remove debris to a debris collection tank. Further information on a vacuum excavator can be found in U.S. Patent 9,885,350, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. In another embodiment, the vacuum vehicle 10 may be configured as a sewer cleaning vehicle. An example of a sewer cleaning vehicle can be found in U.S. Patents 9,528,259 and 11,389,842, the entire contents of each are incorporated herein by reference. In another embodiment, the vacuum vehicle 10 may be configured as an industrial vacuum loader. An example of an industrial vacuum loader is the GUZZLER® industrial vacuum loader from Guzzler Manufacturing of Streator, Illinois.

[0014] The vacuum vehicle 10 is depicted as including a chassis 12, wheels 14 connected to the chassis that support the chassis 12 on the ground for rolling movement of the vacuum vehicle 10, a driver’s cab 16 attached to the chassis 12, cab wheels 18, and an engine 20 powering the vacuum vehicle 10 via a drive train between the engine 20 and one or more of the wheels 14 or the cab wheels 18.

[0015] Various equipment is mounted on the chassis 12 and the driver’s cab 16 depending upon the specific application that the vacuum vehicle 10 is used for. Regardless of the application, the vacuum vehicle 10 includes a vacuum system 30 mounted on the chassis 12. The illustrated example depicts the vacuum system 30 as including a collection tank 32, a vacuum hose 34, an air mover system 36 and a cyclone separator 38. In the case of a towed vacuum trailer, the trailer would also include a chassis similar to the chassis 12, wheels similar to the wheels 14, and a vacuum system similar to the vacuum system 30. However, the vacuum trailer would be detachably connected to a tow vehicle that would include a driver’s cab similar to the driver’s cab 16 and an engine similar to the engine 20.

[0016] The collection tank 32 is configured to collect debris that is suctioned through the vacuum hose 34. The debris may be soil, dirt, rocks, leaves, sludge, water, and / or other debris, depending upon the application of the vacuum vehicle 10. The collection tank 32 mayDocket No. 15727.0105WO01 be pivotally mounted on the chassis 12 to allow a front end of the collection tank 32 to be tilted upward for dumping collected debris out the rear end of the collection tank 32.

[0017] The vacuum hose 34 is mounted on the vacuum vehicle 10 at a suitable position, for example at a top and side thereof, for suctioning debris. The vacuum hose 34 is in communication with an interior of the collection tank 32 so that suctioned debris is deposited into the collection tank 32. Depending upon the application, the vacuum hose 34 may have a digging lance at a forward end thereof. An example of a digging lance is described in U.S. Patent 9,885,350. The vacuum hose 34 may be fixed length, extendible in length, or have any other configuration that permits the vacuum hose 34 to perform its suction function.

[0018] The air mover system 36 includes a driven air mover that creates a vacuum through the vacuum hose 34 to suction debris into the collection tank 32. The cyclone separator 38 operates with the air mover system 36 to filter air, thereby increasing air-routing performance.

[0019] A boom 40 is attached to the vacuum hose 34 and the boom 40 can be actuated to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose 34. In the illustrated example, the boom 40 is depicted as being mounted to the top of the collection tank 32. However, the boom 40 can be mounted at any location on the vacuum vehicle 10 where the boom 40 can be attached to the vacuum hose 34 for manipulating the position of the vacuum hose 34. The boom 40 may be fixed length, extendible in length such as telescopically extendible, articulated (for example as described in U.S. Patent 8,516,649 the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference), and combinations thereof.

[0020] The boom 40 includes a first, mounted end 42 and a second, free end 44 that defines a tip 46 of the boom 40. The end 42 is rotatably mounted to the top of the collection tank 32 by a rotation mechanism 48 that allows the boom 40 to be controllably rotated about a vertical axis A (seen in Figures 1 and 2). The end 42 may also be pivotally mounted to tilt about an axis B (shown in Figure 3) to allow the end 44 of the boom 40 to be pivoted or raised upward. The end 44 is further depicted as including a hose guide bracket 50 that guides the vacuum hose 34 as it transitions from the boom 40 to a free end section 52 of the vacuum hose 34. The free end section 52 is generally vertical when the boom 40 and the vacuum hose 34 are in aDocket No. 15727.0105WO01 stowed or stored position depicted in Figures 1-3, while the rest of the vacuum hose 34 that is attached to the boom 40 is parallel to the boom 40.

[0021] In operation of the vacuum vehicle 10, the vacuum vehicle 10 may be used near electrical lines 60 (seen in Figures 1 and 2) and movement of the boom 40 may cause the boom 40 to accidentally contact one of more of the electrical lines 60. The electrical lines 60 may be above-ground electrical lines as depicted in Figures 1 and 2 or below-ground electrical lines. To prevent an electrocution hazard and / or damage to equipment, at least some or all of the boom 40 is configured to be electrically non-conductive to prevent the transmission of electrical energy. If the boom 40 happens to contact the electrical line 60 or other carrier of electrical energy, electrical energy will not be transmitted from the electrical line 60 into the boom 40 due to the non-conductive nature of the boom 40, thereby protecting the vacuum vehicle 10, its equipment, and any worker on or near the vacuum vehicle 10.

[0022] The electrically non-conductive boom 40 may be formed of electrically non- conductive material, or the boom 40 may be electrically insulated or otherwise rendered electrically non-conductive in the event of contact with the electrical line 60 or other carrier of electrical energy.

[0023] In an embodiment, a portion of the boom 40 most likely to come into contact with the electrical line 60 during operation may be rendered electrically non-conductive. This portion is typically the end 44 of the boom 40 and sections of the boom 40 adjacent to the end 44 that during operation are raised upward from the vacuum vehicle 10 and / or positioned outward from a side of the vacuum vehicle 10 while positioning the vacuum hose 34. In an embodiment, only the top and sides of the boom 40 may be rendered non-conductive if one determines that the bottom of the boom 40 (i.e. the side facing the collection tank 32) is unlikely to contact an electrical line. This portion may be rendered electrically non-conductive by forming that portion of the boom 40 from an electrically non-conductive material such as fiberglass, plastic, or other electrically non-conductive material. The remaining portion of the boom 40 which is less likely or unlikely to contact an electrical line during operation, including the portion toward the end 42, may be made of metal or other electrically conductive material, or the entire boom 40 may be formed from the electrically non-conductive material.Docket No. 15727.0105WO01

[0024] The portion of the boom 40 most likely to come into contact with an electrical line during operation may also be rendered electrically non-conductive by coating that portion of the boom 40, which is normally electrically conductive, with a coating material that is electrically non-conductive to render that portion of the boom 40 electrically non-conductive. The electrically non-conductive coating may be located, for example, on the top surfaces and the side surfaces of the boom 40, and optionally on the bottom surfaces. The electrically non- conductive coating may be any material that can be applied in the form of a coating to a normally electrically conductive material forming the boom 40 including, but not limited to, fiberglass, plastic, rubber, etc. The coating may be a layer of non-conductive material, such as rubber, that is applied to the boom 40. The remaining portion of the boom 40 which is considered less likely or unlikely to contact an electrical line during operation, including the portion toward the end 42, may be made of metal or other electrically conductive material, or the electrically non-conductive coating may be applied to the entire boom 40.

[0025] In an embodiment, the boom 40 may be rendered electrically non-conductive from the end 44 and extending toward a mid-point MP of the boom 40. In another embodiment, the boom 40 may be rendered electrically non-conductive from the end 44 to the mid-point MP of the boom 40. In another embodiment, the boom 40 may be rendered electrically non- conductive from the end 44 to the end 42 thereof.

[0026] The vacuum vehicle 10 described herein may also include other features depending upon the specific application of the vacuum vehicle 10. For example, the vacuum vehicle 10 may include one or more water tanks and a water pump that generates pressurized water when the vacuum vehicle 10 is configured for vacuum excavation or sewer cleaning. An example of water tanks and a water pump are disclosed in U.S. Patents 9,885,350 and 11,389,842. The vacuum vehicle 10 may include a light system as described in U.S. Patent 11,389,842. Many other features used on vacuum vehicles can also be used on the vacuum vehicle 10.

[0027] The examples disclosed in this application are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not limitative. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

Claims

Docket No. 15727.0105WO01CLAIMS1. A vacuum vehicle, comprising: a chassis; wheels connected to the chassis that support the chassis on the ground for rolling movement of the vacuum vehicle; a vacuum system mounted on the chassis, the vacuum system includes a collection tank and a vacuum hose in communication with an interior of the collection tank; a boom attached to the vacuum hose, the boom includes a first, mounted end and a second, free end that defines a tip of the boom, the boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end toward a mid-point of the boom, and the boom is movable relative to the collection tank to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose; a driver’s cab attached to the chassis; and an engine powering the vacuum vehicle.

2. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end to the mid-point of the boom.

3. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end to the first, mounted end.

4. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the boom is constructed from an electrically non-conductive material from the second, free end toward the mid-point of the boom.

5. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the boom includes a layer of electrically non- conductive material that extends from the second, free end toward the mid-point of the boom.

6. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vacuum truck is configured as a sewer cleaning vehicle.

7. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vacuum vehicle is configured as a vacuum excavator.Docket No. 15727.0105WO018. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vacuum vehicle is configured as an industrial vacuum loader.

9. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vacuum vehicle is a self-propelled vacuum truck.

10. The vacuum vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vacuum vehicle is a towed vacuum trailer.

11. A vacuum vehicle, comprising: a vacuum system mounted on a chassis, the vacuum system includes a collection tank and a vacuum hose in communication with an interior of the collection tank; an electrically non-conductive boom attached to the vacuum hose, the electrically non- conductive boom includes a first, mounted end and a second, free end that defines a tip of the electrically non-conductive boom, and the electrically non-conductive boom is movable relative to the collection tank to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose.

12. The vacuum vehicle of claim 11, wherein the electrically non-conductive boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end to the first, mounted end.

13. The vacuum vehicle of claim 11, wherein the electrically non-conductive boom is constructed from an electrically non-conductive material.

14. The vacuum vehicle of claim 11, wherein the electrically non-conductive boom includes a layer of electrically non-conductive material.

15. The vacuum vehicle of claim 11, wherein the vacuum vehicle is a self-propelled vacuum truck.

16. The vacuum vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the vacuum vehicle is a towed vacuum trailer.

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