Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
VACUUM APPARATUS
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an apparatus far moving particulate
material including a vacuum source and a base and nozzle assembly therefor.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vacuums are used for removing grain and other materials from a
storage bin. Such vacuums necessarily include a large and heavy pipe and
nozzle
which must be moved over the floor of the storage bin from place to place to
pick up
the material to be removed.
Such vacuum hoses for transparking grain materials are necessarily
relatively large diameter and therefore are relatively heavy. They must
however be
flexible sufficiently to allow the user to move the nozzle at the forward end
of the
hose to the required locations within the bin with the vacuum source located
outside
the bin.
Conventionally such vacuum hoses have been formed from flexible
rubber or similar polymeric materials which have suffcient strength to avoid
collapse
under the interior vacuum and yet allow the required flexibility to curare the
hose
around a curvature sufficiently small to allow the nozzle to reach any
location within
the bin which is required. Such bases are conventionally formed from
transversely
or circumferentially corrugated materials which provide the necessary hoop
strength
and yet allow flexing in the folding action of the corrugations in the manner
of an
accordion fold.
The flexible hose is connected at its forward end to a nozzle structure
generally using a hose clamp for clamping the open end of the flexible hose
portion
around the outside of an end collar or just an end piece of the cylindrical
nozzle
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
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section. Similarly the rear end of the hale is connected to an inlet duct at
the
vacuum source.
Various connections are known far coupling such flexible hoses and
some connections are Shawn in US patents 5,048,875 (Usui et al), issued
September 17~", 1991; 5,632,513 (Cassel), issued May 27=h,'1997 and 6,234,543
(~.ogan et al), issued May ~2"d, 2001.
However these arrangements simply provide a connection between the
conventional elongate section of flexible hose and a metal section.
Qne problem that arise with the hales of this type is that the flaw rate
can be relatively law and it is necessary in all cases to obtain the maximum
flaw sa
as to increase the rate at which the material is extracted from the storage
location to
minimize the amount of time required.
In addition hoses of this type wear rapidly due to the dragging of the
hose from place to place so the replacement of the lengthy hose section is
often
necessary with relatively high cost,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is one object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for
moving particulate material from a storage location using a flexible hose.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a
flexible hose:
for use with a grain vacuum apparatus far transportation of crop
materials from a bulk supply;
the tiexible hose being arranged far connection at a forward end to an
inlet nozzle movable far collecting the crop materials to be transported from
the bulk
supply of the crop materials;
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the flexible hose being arranged fot connection at a rearward end to a
vacuum system of the apparatus wherein the vacuum system includes an air pump
having a vacuum side and an outlet side and an inlet opening for receiving an
inlet
stream of air generated by the vacuum side of the pump;
the flexible hose being arranged to provide flexibility to allow free
movement of the inlet nozzle assembly to required locations at the bulk supply
of the
crop materials;
the flexible hose having at least three tubular rigid metal portions and
at least two tubular flexible polymeric portions with the rigid portions and
the flexible
portions being connected end to end in a row alternately.
According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided
a flexible hose:
for use with a grain vacuum apparatus for transportation of crop
materials from a bulk supply;
the flexible hose having a first rigid tubular metal portion arranged for
connection at a forward end to an inlet nozzle movable for collecting the crop
materials to be transported from the bulk supply of the prop materials;
the flexible hose having a second rigid tubular metal portion arranged
for releasable connection at a rearward end to a vacuum system of the
apparatus
2Q wherein the vacuum system includes an air pump having a vacuum side and an
outlet side and an inlet opening for receiving an inlet stream of air
generated by the
vacuum side of the pump;
the flexible hose being arranged to provide flexibility to allow free
movement of the inlet nozzle assembly to required locations at the bulk supply
of the
crop materials;
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the flexible hose hawing at least two tubular rigid metal intermediate
portions and at least three tubular flexible polymeric portions with the rigid
portions
and the flexible portions being connected end to end in ~ row alternately.
According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a
flexible hose:
for use with a grain vacuum apparatus for transportation of crop
materials from a bulk supply;
the flexible hose having a first rigid tubular metal portion arranged for
connection at a forward end to an inlet nozzle movable for collecting the crop
materials to be transported from the bulk supply of the crop materials;
the flexible hose having a second rigid tubular metal portion arranged
for releasable connection at a rearward end to a vacuum system of the
apparatus
wherein the vacuum system includes an air pump having a vacuum side and an
outlet side and an inlet opening for receiving an inlet stream of air
generated by the
vacuum side of the pump;
the flexible hose being arranged to provide flexibility to allow free
movement of the inlet nozzle assembly to required locations at the bulk supply
of the
crop materials;
the flexible hose having at least one tubular rigid metal intermediate
portions and at least two tubular flexible polymeric portions with the rigid
portions
and the flexible portions being connected end to end in a row alternately;
and an air inlet opening provided on one of the tubular rigid metal
portions spaced from the first tubular rigid metal portion such that the air
inlet
opening is separated from the first tubular rigid metal portion by at least
one of the
2~ tubular flexible polymeric portions.
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention there is provided
a flexible hose:
for use with a grain vacuum apparatus for transportation of prop
materials from a bulk supply;
the flexible hose having a first rigid tubular metal portion arranged for
connection at a forward end to an inlet nozzle movable for collecting the crop
materials to be transported from the bulk supply of the crop materials;
the flexible hose having a second rigid tubular metal portion arranged
far releasable connection at a rearward end to a vacuum system of the
apparatus
wherein the vacuum system includes an air pump having a vacuum side and an
outlet side and an inlet opening for receiving an inlet stream of air
generated by the
vacuum side of the pump;
the flexible hose being arranged to provide flexibility to allow free
movement of the inlet nozzle assembly to required locations at the bulk supply
of the
crop materials;
the flexible hose having at least one tubular rigid metal intermediate
portion and at least two tubular flexible polymeric portions with the rigid
portions and
the flexible portions being connected end to end in a row alternately;
a first air inlet opening provided on the first tubular rigid metal portion
2fl separate from the nozzle;
and a second air inlet opening provided on one of the tubular rigid
metal portions spaced from the first tubular rrc~id metal portion such that
the second
air inlet opening is separated from the first tubular rigid metal portion by
at least one
of the tubular flexible polymeric portions.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention there is provided a
flexible hose:
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for use with a grain vacuum apparatus for transportation of crop
materials from a buik supply;
the flexible hose being 2~rranged far connection at a forward end to an
inlet nozzle mQVabte for collecting the crop materials to be transported from
the bulk
supply of the crap materials;
the flexible hose being arranged for connection at a rearward end to a
vacuum System of the apparatus wherein the vacuum system includes an air pump
having a vacuum side and an outlet side and an inlet opening for receiving an
inlet
stream of air generated by the vacuum side of the pump;
the flexible hose being arranged to provide flexibility to allow free
movement of the inlet nozzle assembly to required locations at the bulk supply
of the
crop materials;
the flexible hale having at least three tubular rigid metal portions and
at least two tubular flexible polymeric portions with the rigid portions and
the flexible
portions being connected end to end in a row alternately.
and an air inlet opening provided on one of the tubular rigid metal
portions which is spaced from the nozzle by at least one of the flexible
polymeric
portions.
BRIEF DESCRIPT10N pF THE DRAWINGS
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention:
Figure 1 is a top plan view of one embodiment of the apparatus
according to the present invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of Figure 1.
2~ Figure 3 is an exploded view of the apparatus of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an exploded view of the hose of Figure 1.
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pETAILEb DESCRIPTION
The apparatus shown in the figures comprises a cart generally
indicated at 1~ which carries a vacuum pipe 11 and a nozzle 12 in movement of
the
nozzle over the ground for vacuuming up material on the ground.
The device is primarily designed for use with a conventional grain
vacuum generally indicated at 13 and shown only schematically since this is
well
known to one skilled in the art. which has an inlet hose 14, 14A for
transporting
particulate material, primarily grain, from a storage bin to a discharge
schematically
indicated at 15. Such grain vacuums are well known and available from a number
of
different manufacturers and include a vacuum pump 13A and a separator 13B
which
extracts the particulate material or grain from the air stream for discharge
into a
container such as a transportation truck at the discharge 15. The hose
includes a
first hose piece 14 which is formed of steel sections of a slightly flexible
construction
so as to provide sufficient Strength with minimal flexibility merely for
location of a
coupling 14B at a suitable location. The hose includes a second hose piece 14A
extending from the coupling 14B which is sufficiently flexible to provide the
required
flexing to allow full movement of the nozzle.
The cart cx~mprises a frame 1B defined by two end plates 17 and 18
connected by longitudinal channels 18 and 19 each at a respective side of the
end
plates. Between the two channels 1$ an 19 is defined an area 20 which receives
the
pipe 11 so that the pipe is ca~'ried longitudinally of the channels and
longitudinally of
the frame with a rear end 11A of the pipe exposed at the rear end of the frame
and a
forward end 91 B of the pipe exposed at the front of the frame. The pipe is
held in
place within a semicircular receptacle Surface 21 of each of the end plates 17
and
17A by a respective strap 22 which is cl2~mped down onto the end plate by
screws
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
23. Thus the cylindrical pipe is held at its ends at the end plates and
extends along
the frame within the apes channel 20 between the two channel member 18 and 19.
The pipe and nozzle are preferably formed as a part of the cart which
is sold to an end user far attachment to the end of the hose of an existing
vacuum
machine. Thus the cart, if manufactured to include the pipe and nozzle, forms
in
effect a movable vacuum head which carries the nozzle across the ground.
However the cart may also be manufactured without the pipe and nozzle for
attachment to an existing pipe and nozzle of an existing vacuum machine. In
that
case the existing pipe is laid along the central channel 20 and clamped into
place.
1d The frame 16 is mounted an two pairs of ground wheels including a
first pair 25 including ground wheels 25A and 25B on one side and the second
pair
26 including ground wheels 26A and 26B an the opposite side. The ground wheels
are carried an bearings 27 attached to the outside wall of the respective
channel 1$,
19. Each of the ground wheels is mounted on a respective shaft 28 far driven
rotation for causing movement of the frame across the ground. Thus the shaft
28 of
the ground wheel 2fiB is connected to the shaft 2$ of the ground wheel 26A by
a
drive system 30 including a pair of sprockets 30A and 30B and a chain 30C.
Thus
the pair of ground wheels 2B are both driven at a common speed by the drive
system 30 and symmetrically the pair of wheels 25 are also driven by a second
drive
system 31 arranged symmetrically on the opposite side, The drive system 30 is
driven by a motor 32 and the drive system 31 is driven by a motor 33. The
motors
are mounted across a channel 20 underneath the pipe 11 and suitably supported
at
the ends of the motor on the inside walls of the channels 18 and 19. Thus the
motor
33 is in advance of the motor 32 and arranged in a common horizontal plane
with
the motor 32 at the front of the frame. The motor 32 includes a drive shaft
connected to or common with the drive shaft 28 of the ground wheel 26B.
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
_g_
Symmetrically the motor 33 of the drive shaft connected to the wheel 25B and
thus
as best shown in the tap plan view of Figure 1 the wheel 258 is forward of the
wheel
26B.
The channel member 1$ an 19 are covered by a foot pad 1 SA and 19A
respectively. Each fast pad has a length equal to the length of the cart and a
width
sufficient to receive the booted foot of an operator sa that the foot can be
located on
the foot pad outside of the pipe 11 and within the ground wheels so as to
avoid
interfering with the movement of the ground wheels, The foot pads are
preferably
formed of a slip-resistant metal sheet allowing the operator to readily step
into pl2~ce
1 U aver the ground wheels and onto the foot pad on either side of the pipe.
On the front of the frame is provided an upstanding handle bar
arrangement allowing the operator to hold the handle bar while standing an the
foot
pads. The handle bar 40 is carried on a pair of upstanding posts 41 and 42
connected at their lower ends to a respective attachment lug 43 at the inside
of the
respective channel member, The pasts are braced by dawnwardly and rearwardly
inclined braces 44 which are also connected at their lower ends to a suitable
location
an the inside of the respective channel member. The height of the pasts 41 and
42
can be adjusted by sliding tube-in-tube arrangement as indicated at 42A and
locked
in place by a pin 428. At the top of the post is provided a crass bar 45
defining
handles 46 and 4f which can be grasped by the hands of the operator while
standing on the foot pads. Thus the operator remains stable in place standing
on
the cart when the cart is moved by operation of the motors. The handle bars
include
a control unit 48 having a pair of racket switches 49 and 50 located for
operation by
the thumb of a respective hand of the operator while the hand remains grasping
the
respective handle. The rocker switch is of the type defining three positions
including
a central stop position, a forward tilt position and a rearward tilt position
but the
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
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rocker switch is being biased to the central stop position. The motors are
powered
by a battery 7a conveniently carried on a pair of brackets 51 attached to the
posts 41
and 42 so as to project forwardly away from the feet of the operator.
The nozzle 12 is attached to the forward end of the pipe 11 so that it
extends downwardly and forwardly to a nozzle slot 12A which is located at a
height
relative to the ground wheels so that the nozzle slot is moved over the ground
surface 12B in a vacuuming action.
The switches 49 and 50 are operated by the thumb of the operator
either forwardly ar rearwardly to effect forward yr rearward driving motion of
the
1 p respective motors and therefore the respective wheels.
The cart is therefore driven by all four wheels and can be driven
fotwardly by all four wheels to push the nozzle into the material to be
lifted. The cart
can be moved rearwardly by all four wheels by operating the switches 49 and 50
to
the rearward position. The cart can be steered by differential operation of
the
motors. Steering around a vertical central axis is effected by driving one set
of
wheels forwardly while the other set drives rearwardiy, Thus the cart can be
moved
readily across the surtace '12B to vacuum up all the material within the
storage bin.
In general it is necessary to move the cart only periodically since the
vacuum action is necessary at a fixed location for a period of time to remove
the
ZO material at that point. Thus the operator can simply stand in place until
the material
has been removed sufficiently to allow the cart to be moved foruvardly to take
up
more material. The nozzle 12 has a slot width substantially equal to the width
of the
cart so that forward movement of the cart into the material vacuums a swath of
the
material allowing the cart to enter the swath or swept space in the forward
moving
2b action. The cart can then be reversed and moved into a second area to
vacuum a
further swath of the material.
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Optionally a valve 60 can be provided at the posts 41 and 42 close to
the handle bar so that the valve 60 can be operated by the aperatar to contra!
the air
flow. The air lock valve can operate either the vacuum machine itself ar a
butterfly
or gate-type valve within the pipe 11.
In order for the cart to be readily inserted into a bin, where often
access is difficult, the cart can be readily disassembled or folded so that it
can be
manually lifted into the bin. Thus the pipe is readily disconnectable from the
vacuum
hose by a conventianat clamp locking arrangement commonly used on the suction
hose of vacuum devices of this type. Thus the pipe and nozzle arrangement is
readily removable Pram the cart by simply pulling a pin releasing the pipe and
nozzle
from its mounting on the cart. Thus the bracket 21 may comprise a pinned
connection which can be readily released which directly holds the pipe in
place
against forward and rearward sliding movement in response to pulling ar
pushing
forces on the pipe or nozzle.
In addition the posts 42 and the control system carried thereby can be
folded downwardly about a pivot pin at the bottom of the posts allowing the
post to
fold down in position flat onto the frame between the wheels, Thus the highest
paint
of the structure is the wheels themselves allowing the cart when folded to be
inserted readily into a small opening into the bin. The brackets 51 can also
be
folded downwardly onto the posts or can be readily removed. The battery itself
is
held in place by a quick connection both electrically and physically so that
it can be
removed as a separate item for separate transport into the bin, bearing in
mind that
the battery is rel2~tively heavy.
The cart is formed from aluminium ar other suitable lightweight
materials allowing it to be readily lifted by the user.
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
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Thus when disassembled, the cart itself can be inserted into the bin,
the separate pipe and nozzle inserted into the bin and the battery also
carried in the
bin for re-assembly within the bin far operation.
While in some cases a fixed nozzle can be suitable, it is also desirable
in some cases to provide a floating action of the ground engaging portion of
the
nozzle and also a height adjustment for the pipe which raises and lowers the
nozzle
to accommodate uneven ground contours. Thus in an additional embodiment, the
nozzle is formed by a horizontal plate forming a top surface of an nozzle with
a
floating skirt connected to the outside edges of the plate at the sides and
rear
1g leaving a front edge open as a slot for drawing in the material to be
transported. The
skirt is Carried on the side edges of the horizontal plate in manner which
allows the
skirt to float upwardly and downwardly in response to engagement at the bottom
edge of the skirt with the ground. Suitable plastics material can be used as
the skirt
for wear resistance and readily replacement when worn.
In addition where the floating action of the skirt is insufficient to
accommodate ground height changes, the height of the forward end of the pipe
can
be raised and lowered by a lift control mounted at the hand controller 50 on
the
posts. Thus a simple lever and cable connection can be provided from the top
of the
mast to the fonNard end of the pipe at the bottom of the mast allowing the
forward
end to be raised and lowered relative to a pivot at the rear bracket 21. Thus
the user
if necessary can raise the pipe thus raising the nozzle either far
accommodating
changes in ground height for engaging onto the top of a pile of material to be
removed.
In Figure 4 is shown a particular construction of the hose which has
been found to be particularly advantageous for use with the arrangement
described
above. The hose can also be used in a conventional manual system in which the
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
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hose is simply lifted from place to place by the handles provided on the hose
adjacent the forward end.
The hose as Shawn in Figure 4 comprises tubular metal sections 2, 4,
5, 6 and 8 each of which is a rigid section farmed from tubular metal
generally steel
having a diameter matching the diameter of the hose structure. The rear
section 8
can be clamped at the coupling 14B to the inlet pipe 14 of the vacuum source
or the
rear section may be located directly at the inlet of the vacuum source. In
many cases
the inlet pipe 14 of the vacuum source is a flexible steel pipe section which
is
connected to the piece 8 by a clamp on the hose (not shown) defining the
coupling
1 Q 148. In addition to the tubular metal sections 2, 4, 5, 6 and $, there are
four
intervening flexible hose sections 7 each of which is formed from a length of
rubber
tubular hose which is cut to the required length. The tubular rubber hale is
of the
transversely corrugated type to define corrugations or flexible folds which
allow the
side to side flexing of the flexible section. The material may be rubber or
may be
some other polymer whether natural or synthetic. The flexible sections may be
reinforced by reinforcing bands or fibres or may be simply formed from moulded
rubber ar similar material.
The flexible sections and the metal rigid sections are arranged
alternately so that they are connected end to end with each flexible section
being
connected at its ends to a respective one of the metal sections.
The connection is formed by a conventional hose clamp 3 which
clamps and end piece of the flexible rubber hose section to the end of the
respective
metal section, A rib Qr raised piece 1 can be provided at each end of each
metal
section tv better clamp onto the end of the flexible piece.
The flexible pieces and the metal pieces generally have a length
greater than 12 inches and preferably less than 24 inches. A length of
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
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approximately eighteen inches is in many cases suitable since this provides
the
necessary flexibility of the structure while forming the majority of or at
feast have the
length of the hose with rigid metal pieces. It has been surprisingly found
that
formation of the hose in this manner allows sufficient flexibility and yet
allows
b approximately one half of the hose to be formed from the rigid metal pieces.
The
rigid metal pieces provide both a smoother interior surface to allow the
transportation
of the particulate material and also provide a conductive surface so that
there is a
reduced build-up of static on the particulate material as it is transported.
It may be
even that the static that is built up on the particulate material as it passes
over the
rubber flexible pieces is discharged in the metal sections. Mowever in any
event the
fact that at least half of the structure is formed from the metal avoids the
high build-
up of static which normally occurs in between the flexible rubber hose and the
particulate material which has been iaund to dramatically reduce flow rates
within
conventional hoses.
It will be noted that the section 2 at the forward end of the hose
includes a clamp to A which can clamp onto a metal collar at the rear end of
the
nozzle assembly as shown in Figures 1 and 2. The clamp 2A provides a quick
release connection so that the hose can be rapidly disconnected from the
nozzle
assembly which is either of the can' type shown or can be of a manual nozzle
so the
hose can be disconnected for extraction from the storage bin.
The front section 2 also includes a handle to be in the form of a
conventional loop attached onto the outside of the tubular section 2 for
manual
movement of the hose at the forward end. A stand 2C can be provided on the
underside of the front piece 2 so that the hose can remain upright on the
stand 2C
with the handle 2B at the top. The next section 4 after the first flexible
section 7A
also includes a handle 4A matching the handle 2B so that the forward end on
either
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
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side of the first flexible section 7A can be grasped by the two hands of the
operator
lifting the forward end and manoeuvring it to a required location.
The piece 6 which is adjacent to the inlet to the vacuum either as the
last piece or the penultimate piece includes an adjustable opening 6A which
can be
operated by a thumbscrew to increase or decrease and area of opening in a
panel
6B attached onto the piece. Thus additional air can be allowed to flow into
the hose
at the location on the piece 6 to increase air flaw and thus increase air
velocity to
assist in carrying the particulate materials, in the event that the airflow
becomes
restricted and reduces in velocity due to limited air flow through the nozzle
or
1 d restrictions by the collection afi materials within the hose.
The four flexible pieces formed in the hose surprisingly provide
sufficient flexibility to allow the hose to operate in the conventional
manner,
The number of flexible pieces and the number of metal pieces can be
increased or decreased as required depending upon the intended complete length
of
the hose. In practice a hose from a grain vacuum is formed with an initial
metal
piece farmed of a slightly flexible steel construction material s~llowing it
to define a
major part of the whole hose length and to be moved to an initial location
within a
storage location. The remaining length of the hose is intended to be wholly
flexible
and thus is generally formed of rubber as described in the prior art. Such a
piece
may be of a length of the order of nine feet. In order to duplicate this
conventional
hose piece, such s~ hose when constructed using the arrangement described
herein
can utilize between three and six and preferably four flexible pieces and
between
three and six preferably five rigid steel pieces. Preferably the flexible
pieces and the
metal pieces have approximately the same length which can preferably be in the
range 12 to 24 inches. This has been found to provide an effective flow rate
while
CA 02461993 2006-02-14
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allowing Sufficient flexibility. In practice the rubber pieces are preferably
1B inches
long and the steel pieces 12 inches long.
The further advantage of the structure is that a repair to a worn hose
piece can be readily effected by inserting a cut hose piece of the required
length in
replacement for one of the hose pieces which is simply removed by releasing
the
clamps 3. Thus an inexpensive repair can be effected simply by replacing only
one
of the relatively short pieces at relatively low cost.
While one embodiment of the present invention has been described in
the foregoing, it is to be understood that other embodiments are possible
within the
1 d scope of the invention. The invention is to be considered limited solely
by the scope
of the appended claims.
