초록 ▼

An apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular material such as gravel. The apparatus includes a vehicle base mounting plate, a prime mover such as a diesel engine, a hydraulically driven air blower, a hopper for receiving gravel to be conveyed, and a hydraulically driven auger assembly for movin

An apparatus for pneumatically conveying granular material such as gravel. The apparatus includes a vehicle base mounting plate, a prime mover such as a diesel engine, a hydraulically driven air blower, a hopper for receiving gravel to be conveyed, and a hydraulically driven auger assembly for moving gravel from the hopper to a pneumatic pick-up point. After pneumatic pickup, the gravel is transported through an extended network of suitable pneumatic tubing such as low friction, thick wall, PVC pipe sections, to a desired discharge location, where the material is discharged into a catch can for downward placement at a desired point. In a preferred embodiment, the auger assembly comprises a three piece unit, with a shaft, an inner auger section, and an outer auger section. The outer auger section is a replaceable wear part which can be repaired, rebuilt, or replaced as necessary due to frictional wear on the auger due to contact with the solid being conveyed. In an alternate configuration, a vertically oriented auger is provided to directly feed material to be conveyed into a pneumatic uptake tube. Preferably, the pneumatic uptake tube is manually reversable so that material can be discharged out either side of the vehicle, to enable the equipment to conveniently be deployed in narrow streets or other restricted work sites.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] A mobile apparatus for pneumatically conveying solid or semi-solid material, said apparatus comprising:(a) a vehicle base, said vehicle base comprising an over-the-road vehicle chassis with cab and drive engine suitable for moving said vehicle to a pre-selected remote location;(b) a

[ I claim:] [1.] A mobile apparatus for pneumatically conveying solid or semi-solid material, said apparatus comprising:(a) a vehicle base, said vehicle base comprising an over-the-road vehicle chassis with cab and drive engine suitable for moving said vehicle to a pre-selected remote location;(b) a primary hydraulic power generator mounted on said vehicle base;(c) a hopper mounted on said vehicle base, said hopper having downwardly sloping lower sidewalls ending a a hopper bottom, said hopper adapted for receiving and temporarily holding a charge volume of said solid or semi-solid material to be conveyed before discharge out through sid hopper bottom;(d) a hydraulically driven air blower mounted on said vehicle base, said air blower adapted to intake ambient air and to output air under pressure;(e) a pneumatic uptake tube, said pneumatic uptake tube adapted to receive said output air under pressure from said air blower and entraining said solid or semi-solid material to be conveyed as said solid or semi-solid material is discharged from said hopper;(f) a hydraulically driven transfer mechanism for urging said solid or semi-solid material to be conveyed from said hopper to said pneumatic uptake tube, said transfer mechanism further comprising a hydraulically driven adjustable speed auger rotatably mounted in said hopper on a substantially vertically oriented axially extending shaft having a lower end, said lower end of said shaft extending substantially to said hopper bottom to enable said auger, upon rotation, to urge the discharge of said solid or semi-solid materials downwardly and outwardly therefrom.