Hydraulic Culvert Cleaner With Self-Contained Pump
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional culvert cleaning methods, such as augers and pressurized water systems, are inefficient and prone to clogging, requiring extensive time and additional machinery, and often fail to properly position the cleaning equipment due to lack of a self-contained water pump and direct water feed, leading to incomplete cleaning and increased risk of flooding or erosion.
Innovation Solution
A culvert cleaner with a self-contained water pump and direct water feed system, integrated with a hydraulic excavator, featuring a frame, water pressurizing system, and control system that includes a hydraulic circuit, electric motor, and nozzle positioning capabilities for efficient and maneuverable cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If conventional pressurized water systems are used without a self-contained water pump, then the system can be simpler in structure, but additional machinery and power sources are required which reduces efficiency and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the water pump, water storage tank, and nozzle system into a single self-contained unit that attaches to the excavator. This integration eliminates the need for separate water sources and power systems, resolving the contradiction by making the device more complex internally while improving overall productivity through self-sufficiency and streamlined operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The excavator-mounted culvert cleaner utilizes the excavator's existing hydraulic system to power the water pump, allowing the device to perform multiple functions (excavation, cleaning, debris removal) with a single piece of machinery. This multi-functionality approach improves productivity while avoiding the need for additional dedicated power sources.
2Device complexity
If conventional pressurized water systems lack a direct water feed to the nozzle, then the piping system can be simpler, but water pressure at the nozzle decreases with distance from the pump
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-pressurizes water in a sealed chamber before delivery to the nozzle, ensuring high pressure is maintained throughout the piping system. This preliminary pressurization action allows the use of simpler piping while maintaining adequate nozzle pressure even at distance.
Solution Approach 2:
The water pump and piping system are nested within the excavator's hydraulic system, with the pump drawing from the excavator's hydraulic fluid reservoir and using the hydraulic system's inherent pressure capabilities. This nesting allows efficient pressure transmission with minimal piping complexity.
3Device complexity
If conventional pressurized water systems are large in size, then they can contain all necessary components, but they become difficult to maneuver and position at the culvert opening
Solution Approach 1:
The cleaning system is segmented into modular components that can be independently positioned and adjusted. The nozzle assembly can be extended and rotated separately from the pump unit, allowing the system to reach culverts of various sizes and configurations while maintaining a compact overall footprint that preserves maneuverability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates dynamic positioning capabilities with adjustable arms and rotating nozzles that can be moved to different positions during operation. This dynamic design allows a relatively compact unit to access and clean culverts of various dimensions, resolving the contradiction between containing all components and maintaining ease of positioning.
4Productivity
If conventional augers are used to clean culverts, then they can mechanically remove debris, but the process is time-consuming and requires up to three hours to complete
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses high-pressure hydraulic water jets to rapidly erode and flush debris from the culvert, replacing the slow mechanical augering process. The hydraulic pressure instantly breaks up and removes debris, reducing cleaning time from hours to minutes while maintaining effective debris removal capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the physical parameter of water from low-pressure flow to high-pressure jet, fundamentally altering the cleaning mechanism from gradual mechanical removal to instantaneous hydraulic erosion. This parameter change enables rapid debris removal that completes in minutes rather than hours.
Data Source
AI summary
A culvert cleaner for cleaning clogged culverts using pressurized water having a self-contained water pump and maneuvering capabilities is described. The culvert cleaner includes a frame, a water pressurizing system, and a control system. The culvert cleaner may be used on a number of different machineries (e.g. truck, excavator, and rail equipment). The culvert cleaner is positioned in front of a clogged culvert using the hydraulic excavator that is on the railway. Once the culvert cleaner is position, the water pressurizing system of the culvert cleaner is engaged and high pressure water is used to clean the culvert. During cleaning alterations may be made to nozzle in the x-axis and y-axis due to the integrated positioning of the nozzle as a part of the water pressurizing system.