Balanced Hydrovac Tank Configuration for Weight Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Regulations limit the weight on wheels in hydrovacs, and there is a challenge in distributing weight within and outside the hydrovac during operation, particularly in maintaining even weight distribution as fluids are added or removed from the tanks.
Innovation Solution
A tank configuration for hydrovacs where a water tank surrounds a mud tank, with the mud tank being slidably positioned within the water tank and supported by ribs, allowing for level orientation that maintains coinciding centers of volume, preventing load shifting and optimizing weight distribution across axles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the water tank and mud tank are positioned separately, then the hydrovac can accommodate larger tank volumes, but the weight distribution becomes unstable and shifts during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The mud tank is nested within the water tank, with the mud tank positioned inside the water tank's interior space. This nested configuration allows both tanks to occupy the same spatial envelope, maintaining compact overall dimensions while enabling stable weight distribution through the shared center of volume, yet still accommodating the required tank volumes for hydrovac operation.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the tanks are centered over the rear axles, then weight distribution on axles is optimized, but loading and unloading operations become more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The mud tank is designed to slide within the water tank along the longitudinal axis, transitioning from a centered position during transport (for optimal weight distribution) to an offset position during loading and unloading operations. This dynamic repositioning capability allows the system to optimize for different operational modes: stability during transport and accessibility during maintenance operations.
3Device complexity
If the mud tank is fixed within the water tank, then structural simplicity is maintained, but flexibility for different operational modes is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The mud tank incorporates sliding walls that allow it to move longitudinally within the water tank. This dynamic configuration enables the mud tank to be positioned centrally during transport for optimal weight distribution, and repositioned to the rear during loading/unloading operations for easier access to the dump site, providing operational flexibility without requiring completely separate tank systems.
Data Source
AI summary
A hydrovac unit with a mud tank and water tank arranged symmetrically, so that the center of gravity does not substantially shift forwards or backwards during operation. The mud tank may be located inside the water tank. The mud tank may be supported and reinforced by external ribs, which may be fixed to the mud tank. The water tank may be formed by a rear face attached to the mud tank and a cylinder portion, the mud tank and rear face sliding into the cylinder portion for assembly and secured in place. The contents of the hydrovac unit may be dumped by tilting using a hoist. The tank assembly may be heated and insulated.