Vacuum excavator tank and door system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12151602-B2
Application number	US-202318477858-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 29, 2023
Priority date	Jun 17, 2020
Publication date	Nov 26, 2024
Grant date	Nov 26, 2024

Abstract

A collection tank for a mobile vacuum excavator includes a front with a closed end, a rear with an open end, a door configured to be closed over the open end, and a linkage assembly having a first end attached to the door and a second end attached to the body. A first pivotal movement drives the first end and second end away from each other, and a second pivotal movement moves the first end and the second end toward each other. An actuator is attached to the first arm and to the second arm so that actuation of the actuator in a first direction drives the first pivotal movement and actuation of the actuator in a second direction drives the second arm the second pivotal movement.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A collection tank for a mobile vacuum excavator, the collection tank comprising:
a generally cylindrical body having
a front with a closed end, and
a rear with an open end having a periphery;

a door having a periphery that abuts the periphery of the open end when the door is closed over the open end; and
a linkage assembly having a first end attached to the door so that the first end moves with movement of the door, and a second end attached to the body, wherein the linkage assembly comprises
a first arm,
a second arm pivotally attached to the first arm, and
an actuator attached to the first arm and to the second arm.

2. The collection tank of claim 1 , wherein the first arm is attached to the body at the first end of the linkage assembly, and wherein the second arm is attached to the door at the second end of the linkage assembly.

3. The collection tank of claim 1 , wherein the actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.

4. The collection tank of claim 1 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are disposed with respect to each other so that, when the door moves to a closed position with respect to the collection tank, a pivotal attachment between the first arm and the second arm moves over center.

5. The collection tank of claim 1 , wherein
the first arm is pivotally attached to the body at a body mounting end about a mount axis,
the second arm is pivotally attached to the door at a door mounting end about a door closure axis, so that the door mounting end moves with movement of the door, and the second arm is pivotally attached to the first arm at a door latch axis so that a first pivotal movement of the first arm and the second arm with respect to each other drives the body mounting end of the first arm and the door mounting end of the second arm relatively away from each other, and so that a second pivotal movement of the first arm and the second arm with respect to each other drives the body mounting end of the first arm and the door mounting end of the second arm relatively toward each other,
wherein a door latch plane is defined by the mount axis and the door closure axis, and
wherein the door latch axis is on one side of the door latch plane when the actuator is in a retracted state and the door latch axis is on an opposite side of the door latch plane when the actuator is in an extended state.

6. A collection tank for a mobile vacuum excavator, comprising:
a generally cylindrical body having
a front with a closed end, and
a rear with an open end having a periphery;

a door having a periphery that abuts the periphery of the open end when the door is closed over the open end; and
a linkage assembly comprising:
a first arm pivotally attached to the body at a mounting end about a mount axis,
a second arm pivotally attached to the door at a mounting end about a door closure axis, wherein the second arm has a distal end and wherein a door latch plane is defined by the mount axis and the door closure axis, and

a powered cylinder actuator attached to the first arm and to the second arm so that the actuator moves with movement of the first arm and with movement of the second arm,
wherein the door latch axis is on one side of the door latch plane when the actuator is in a retracted state and the door latch axis is on an opposite side of the door latch plane when the actuator is in an extended state.

7. The collection tank of claim 6 , wherein the first arm and the second arm are pivotally attached to one another such that a first pivotal movement of the first arm and the second arm with respect to each other drives the mounting end of the second arm and the mounting end of the first arm relatively away from each other, and so that a second pivotal movement of the first arm and the second arm with respect to each other moves the mounting end of the second arm and the mounting end of the first arm relatively toward each other.

8. The collection tank of claim 6 , wherein actuation of the powered cylinder actuator in a first direction moves the first arm and the second arm in a first pivotal movement, and so that actuation of the powered cylinder actuator in a second direction moves the first arm and the second arm in a second pivotal movement.

9. The collection tank of claim 6 , wherein the linkage assembly is a first linkage assembly disposed on a first side of the collection tank, and further comprising a second linkage assembly attached to and between the door and the body on a second side of the collection tank, opposite the first side.

10. The collection tank of claim 6 , wherein the linkage assembly is disposed inside the body.

11. The collection tank of claim 6 , wherein the powered cylinder actuator is a hydraulic cylinder.

Assignees

• Vermeer Mfg Co

Inventors

• Meyer Nathan

Classifications

• E05Y2900/53

  Type of wing · CPC title

• E05Y2900/518

  for working vehicles · CPC title

• E05Y2201/604

  Transmission members · CPC title

• E02F3/90

  Component parts {, e.g. arrangement or adaptation of pumps} · CPC title

• E02F3/8816

  Mobile land installations · CPC title