IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
UP-0704895
(2007-02-09)
|
등록번호 |
US-7676965
(2010-04-21)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Nathenson, Richard D.
- Nathenson, Steven J.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
9 인용 특허 :
14 |
초록
▼
An air powered vacuum apparatus for use in an air vacuum excavation system creates a fluid flow under vacuum and reduces the sound level of the exhausting air. The apparatus comprises an injector assembly and a container for collecting spoil, i.e., dirt, sand, gravel, etc. drawn in from the excavati
An air powered vacuum apparatus for use in an air vacuum excavation system creates a fluid flow under vacuum and reduces the sound level of the exhausting air. The apparatus comprises an injector assembly and a container for collecting spoil, i.e., dirt, sand, gravel, etc. drawn in from the excavation site. The vacuum is produced by an injector and a supersonic nozzle assembly in fluid communication with the container. The injector has converging, straight and diverging sections, and the supersonic nozzle assembly extends into the converging section. The supersonic air ejected from the nozzle assembly mixes with the air drawn up from the container, and the air mixture travels through the diverging section and out of the injector assembly and creates a vacuum in the container.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. An air powered vacuum apparatus for use in an air vacuum excavation system, comprising: a container for drawing in and collecting spoil; a rigid suction tube and flexible hose assembly in communication with an interior of the container for drawing spoil and air into the conta
What is claimed is: 1. An air powered vacuum apparatus for use in an air vacuum excavation system, comprising: a container for drawing in and collecting spoil; a rigid suction tube and flexible hose assembly in communication with an interior of the container for drawing spoil and air into the container; and an injector assembly connected to and in communication with the container and with a supply of compressed fluid configured to convert the compressed fluid into supersonic fluid and then into subsonic fluid and to create a vacuum for drawing the spoil into the container, wherein the injector assembly comprises: a conduit having a fluid inlet in communication with the container and adapted to be in fluid communication with the compressed fluid supply, a supersonic nozzle assembly connected to compressed air supply for using the compressed fluid and ejecting supersonic fluid, and an injector associated with the supersonic nozzle assembly and the conduit, comprising at least a converging section, a straight section and a diverging section, wherein the supersonic nozzle assembly is positioned inside the converging section of the injector, wherein the straight section of the injector acts as a mixing chamber for mixing the supersonic fluid from the nozzle assembly with the fluid traveling from the container, wherein the conduit has a straight length that extends beyond the diverging section of the injector for the reduction of the sound level of fluid being ejected from the diverging section of the injector of the injector assembly, and wherein the rigid suction tube and flexible hose assembly and the injector assembly are separately connected to the container. 2. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises: an impact plate assembly in close proximity to the suction tube and flexible hose assembly, the impact plate assembly configured so that the spoil being drawn through the suction tube and flexible hose assembly hits against the impact plate assembly and drops into the container, and outlet conduit means in fluid communication with the container and with at least the injector of the injector assembly, and including a filter conduit, whereby in operation, air brought into the container via the suction tube and flexible hose assembly passes through the filter conduit, flows into the converging section of the injector, mixes with the supersonic air ejected from the supersonic nozzle assembly in at least the straight section of the injector, and the mixed air passes into the diverging section of the injector and out of the straight length of the tube. 3. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit is comprised of at least a tube, wherein the tube houses the injector and wherein the straight section of the injector is located between and in communication with the converging section and the diverging section of the injector. 4. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit is comprised of at least a tube, wherein the tube is connected to the diverging section of the injector, and wherein the straight section of the injector is located between and in communication with the converging section and the diverging section of the injector. 5. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the conduit is comprised of at least a tube and wherein the tube comprises acoustic material. 6. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 5, wherein the tube of the injector assembly is comprised of a cylindrical inner surface layer made of acoustic material and an outer surface made of a material selected from the group consisting of steel, polyvinyl chloride and plastic. 7. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 6, wherein the tube further comprises a removable cap for protecting the injector assembly when the cap is positioned on the tube and allowing the air to exit when the cap is removed from the tube. 8. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supersonic nozzle assembly in cooperation with the injector assembly is adapted to create a vacuum in the container for drawing spoil and air into the container. 9. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the injector comprises: a reducer on its fluid inlet end for feeding and channeling the air around the supersonic nozzle and for reducing fluid entrance losses, and a diffuser on its fluid exit end for converting the velocity of the air into pressure. 10. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container further comprises: a door located at the bottom of the container for removal of the spoil, a drain plug for water removal from the container, a pair of wheels, and a foot having a rubber surface and attached to the outer bottom of the container opposite the pair of wheels for supporting and stabilizing the container. 11. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container and the injector assembly are positioned in a vertical positioning. 12. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container and the injector assembly are positioned in a horizontal positioning, and the container further comprises a pivot and a hydraulic cylinder adapted for pivotally raising and lowering the container for material removal purposes, about the pivot. 13. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the container is constructed of material selected from the group consisting of steel and aluminum. 14. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: an air jet digging tool for directing air at supersonic speeds at the spoil to be excavated and drawn into the container, and an air compressor having connections to the air jet digging tool and providing the supply of compressed air to the injector assembly. 15. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein a length of the straight section of the injector is approximately 7 to 8 times greater than a diameter of the straight section of the injector. 16. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 15, wherein the supersonic nozzle assembly is positioned inside the converging section of the injector such that a ratio of an annular area between the converging section and a tip of the supersonic nozzle assembly to an area of the straight section of the injector is approximately two. 17. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 1, wherein the supersonic nozzle assembly is positioned inside the converging section of the injector such that a ratio of an annular area between the converging section and a tip of the supersonic nozzle assembly to an area of the straight section of the injector is approximately two. 18. An injector assembly for creating an air flow under vacuum and for reducing the sound level of the exhausting air, comprising: a conduit adapted to be coupled to a compressed air supply, a supersonic nozzle connected to the conduit for using the compressed air and converting it into supersonic air and for ejecting the supersonic air, and an injector adapted to be associated with an air source and being in fluid communication with the supersonic nozzle, and comprising a converging section, a straight section and a diverging section, wherein the conduit is comprised of at least a tube associated with the diverging section of the injector, wherein the supersonic nozzle is positioned inside the converging section of the injector assembly, wherein the tube has a length that extends beyond the diverging section of the injector, and wherein a length of the straight section of the injector is approximately 7 to 8 times greater than a diameter of the straight section of the injector. 19. The injector assembly of claim 18, further comprising a removable cap for allowing the air to exit the tube when the cap is removed and for protecting the injector when the cap is in position on the tube. 20. The injector assembly of claim 18, wherein the supersonic nozzle in cooperation with the injector creates a vacuum effect in the air source for drawing at least air into the air source and through the injector which mixes with the supersonic air ejected from the supersonic nozzle assembly and which mixed air is exhausted out of the tube of the injector assembly. 21. The injector assembly of claim 18, wherein the tube comprises acoustic material. 22. The injector assembly of claim 18, wherein the straight section of the injector is located between and in communication with the converging section and the diverging section of the injector. 23. The injector assembly of claim 18, wherein the supersonic nozzle assembly is positioned inside the converging section of the injector such that a ratio of an annular area between the converging section and a tip of the supersonic nozzle assembly to an area of the straight section of the injector is approximately two. 24. An air powered vacuum apparatus, comprising: a container for collecting spoil and air; a rigid suction tube and flexible hose assembly in communication with the container for drawing spoil and air into the container; and an injector assembly in fluid communication with the container for creating an air flow under vacuum and for reducing the sound level of the exhausting air, comprising: an injector having a converging section, a straight section and a diverging section, a supersonic nozzle assembly optionally positioned in the converging section of the injector for converting the compressed air into supersonic air and for ejecting the supersonic air into the converging section, and a tube having a length that extends beyond the diverging section for reducing the sound level of air ejected from the diverging section, wherein the straight section of the injector acts as a mixing section for mixing the supersonic air from the supersonic nozzle with the air drawn from the container, so that in operation, the mixture of air travels into the diverging section of the injector, and the supersonic air traveling through the injector creates a vacuum for drawing the spoil and air into the container, and wherein the rigid suction tube and flexible hose assembly and the injector assembly are in separate communication with the container. 25. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 24, wherein the supersonic nozzle assembly is positioned inside the converging section of the injector such that a ratio of an annular area between the converging section and a tip of the supersonic nozzle assembly to an area of the straight section of the injector is approximately two. 26. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 24, wherein a length of the straight section of the injector is approximately 7 to 8 times greater than a diameter of the straight section of the injector. 27. The air powered vacuum apparatus of claim 26, wherein the supersonic nozzle assembly is positioned inside the converging section of the injector such that a ratio of an annular area between the converging section and a tip of the supersonic nozzle assembly to an area of the straight section of the injector is approximately two.
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