Additive Dosing Assembly for Hydro Excavation Concentration Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hydro excavation systems face challenges in controlling the addition of additives to base fluid, leading to inefficient concentration adjustments and increased costs due to manual batch dosing, which results in wasted solution and difficulty in reaching inlet locations for additive introduction.
Innovation Solution
A hydro excavation apparatus with an additive dosing assembly that includes a pump and valve system, allowing for controlled introduction of additives into the base fluid and spoil material, enabling precise concentration adjustment and reducing manual intervention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of substance
If manual batch dosing is used to add additive to base fluid, then operator can control additive concentration, but solution waste increases and operational efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses flow sensors and controllers to automatically detect fluid flow and trigger additive dosing without operator intervention. The additive dosing assembly self-regulates based on real-time flow conditions, eliminating manual batch dosing and its associated waste and inefficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
Flow sensors continuously monitor the base fluid flow rate and provide feedback to the controller, which adjusts the additive dosing accordingly. This closed-loop feedback system ensures optimal additive concentration while minimizing solution waste compared to manual batch dosing.
2Productivity
If manual batch dosing is used to adjust additive concentration, then operator can modify concentration levels, but time consumption increases and productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The additive dosing assembly automatically adjusts concentration levels in real-time based on flow sensor feedback, eliminating the time-consuming manual batch dosing process. The system self-regulates additive addition without requiring operator intervention or tank discharge/refilling.
Solution Approach 2:
The system maintains continuous additive dosing during base fluid flow, rather than requiring discrete batch adjustments. This continuous operation eliminates downtime associated with tank discharge and refilling, maintaining productivity throughout the excavation process.
3Ease of operation
If inlet for additive introduction is located in base fluid tank, then additive can be added to base fluid, but operator accessibility becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses flow sensors and controllers as intermediaries between the additive reservoir and base fluid tank. Instead of requiring direct operator access to tank inlets, the automated dosing system mediates the additive addition process, improving accessibility while maintaining functional complexity in a manageable form.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system ensures consistent additive concentration in the excavating solution, minimizing waste and operational costs while effectively reducing spoil material interference with vacuum systems.
Implementation Method 1
The additive dosing assembly includes a pump fluidly connected to the additive reservoir and the fluid supply line
Implementation Method 2
The additive dosing assembly includes a valve fluidly connected to the additive reservoir and the fluid supply line
Implementation Method 3
The addition of the additive in the fluid can reduce the surface tension of certain soils, thereby reducing interference between the spoil material and the vacuum systems
Implementation Method 4
a vacuum system for removing earthen material from an excavation site
Implementation Method 5
The spoil material is removed by entraining the spoil material in an airstream generated by the vacuum system
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3
AI summary
Hydro excavation apparatus for excavating earthen material are disclosed. The hydro excavation apparatus includes a first reservoir for holding a base fluid therein, a second reservoir for holding an additive therein, a vacuum system for removing earthen material from an excavation site, and an additive dosing assembly. The additive dosing assembly includes at least one of a pump and a valve fluidly connected to the second reservoir. The additive dosing assembly is selectively controllable to introduce an additive into at least one of the base fluid and the removed earthen material.