Vacuum collection vehicle
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Solution Overview
Problem
The removal and collection of hazardous materials like asbestos from older buildings are tedious, challenging, and expensive due to the complexity and cost of existing methods.
Innovation Solution
The development of vacuum collection vehicles equipped with a vacuum container, filter unit, and multiple discharge conduits that create a vacuum to collect and filter hazardous materials, reducing the discharge of contaminants and allowing for efficient collection and disposal, while maintaining the integrity of seals and reducing stress during transport.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If traditional methods are used to remove and collect hazardous materials, then the collection process can be completed, but the process becomes tedious, challenging, and expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the vacuum source, filter unit, collection receptacle, and discharge conduit into a single integrated vehicle system. This merging of previously separate equipment (vacuum trucks, filtration systems, and collection containers) into one unified platform simplifies the overall process while maintaining collection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is designed as a multi-functional system that can simultaneously perform vacuum generation, air filtration, material collection, and controlled discharge. The single vehicle replaces multiple specialized vehicles, making the system more versatile and reducing operational complexity.
2Productivity
If a vacuum system is used to collect hazardous materials, then collection efficiency improves, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
By combining the vacuum source, filter unit, and collection receptacle into a single integrated vehicle, the patent eliminates the need for multiple separate vehicles and equipment. This consolidation reduces overall system cost while maintaining vacuum collection efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The vehicle is designed to be self-contained with all necessary components (vacuum source, filtration, collection) integrated into one unit. This self-service design eliminates the need for additional support equipment or multiple vehicles, reducing operational and acquisition costs.
3Strength
If the filter unit is mounted to opposing interior walls, then structural support is maximized, but seal integrity deteriorates due to torque and stress during transport
Solution Approach 1:
The filter housing is extracted from the conventional wall-mounted configuration and repositioned to rest on the floor of the vacuum container. This removes the filter housing from the opposing wall mounting arrangement, eliminating the torque and stress on seals while maintaining structural support through alternative means.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of mounting the filter housing to the walls (conventional approach), the patent inverts the mounting approach by having the filter housing rest on the floor. This inversion of the mounting configuration preserves seal integrity while still providing structural support.
4Quantity of substance
If multiple vehicles are used for hazardous material collection, then collection capacity increases, but operational costs and energy consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the functions of multiple vehicles (vacuum generation, filtration, collection) into a single integrated vehicle. This consolidation maintains or increases collection capacity while reducing the number of vehicles required, thereby lowering operational costs and energy consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The single vehicle is designed with universal multi-functionality, capable of performing all collection operations internally. This eliminates the need for multiple specialized vehicles and their associated operational costs, fuel consumption, and maintenance requirements.
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 solution enables a less complicated and lower-cost method for collecting hazardous materials, ensuring a greater portion of air passes through the filter, maintaining environmental compliance and reducing the need for additional vehicles, thus lowering operational costs and energy consumption.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum source within the storage container that draws air from the vacuum container through the filter to create a vacuum
Implementation Method 2
The filter may capture hazardous material suspended in the air being drawn from the vacuum container
Data Source
AI summary
A vacuum collection vehicle may include a chassis, a vacuum container, a filter unit, a first discharge conduit and a second discharge conduit. The filter unit may include a filter housing that supports a filter independent of opposing interior walls. The vehicle may include a storage container supported by the chassis and containing a vacuum source or hose reel. The vehicle may include inner and outer collection receptacle supports for supporting collection receptacles within the vacuum container.