Apparatus for pneumatic excavation
US5487229A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 28, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jan 30, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 28, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC E)Fixed Constructions
- CPC primaryE02F5/003
- WIPO fieldCivil engineering
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An excavation head, mounted on one end of a telescoping hollow boom, has nozzles for directing jets of high speed air at an excavation face to loosen soil. A vacuum transport pipe extends from the excavation head through the hollow of the boom to a spherical joint. The spherical joint movably joins the other end of the boom to a primary separator. The primary separator is a chamber for disentraining loosened soil from air flowing through the primary separator. A primary air lock is fixed to the lower portion of the primary separator for expelling soil from the primary separator. A secondary separator is joined to the primary separator by way of a separator connector pipe. A secondary air lock is fixed to the lower portion of the secondary separator for expelling soil from the secondary separator. A positive displacement vacuum pump has its vacuum side pneumatically connected to the secondary separator. A conveyor is located under both the primary air lock and the secondary air lock to receive soil that is expelled by these air locks. Hydraulic actuators lift, swing, and extend the boom such that the excavation head is positioned on the excavation face.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.