GB2100676A - Vacuum tanker - Google Patents

Abstract

Vacuum tanker vehicle, particularly for agricultural use in handling slurry is provided with an automatically deployed rigid articulated inlet duct (13) of substantial diameter, e.g. 240-265 mm minimum to avoid blockage, the duct including an intermediate section (17) pivoting with respect to the vehicle body in a vertical plane by means of a ram (22) and carrying a distal section (15) of the duct which pivots in a second plane normal to the intermediate duct axis and which is folded and unfolded automatically during movement of the intermediate section to lower the distal end below the vehicle level for pick-up from a pit or the like. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Vacuum tanker This invention relates to vacuum tanker vehicles used for the collection, transport and disposal of flowable liquid or semi-liquid materials, particularly effluent wastes such as sewage or farmyard manure and slurry. The invention has particular but not exclusive application to vacuum tanker spreader vehicles for agricultural use.

It is known to provide a vacuum tanker vehicle with a dip pipe enabling material to be drawn up from a gulley, cesspit or sump by exhausting air from the tanker body but the convenience, adaptability and speed of operation of this method is limited by the need to manhandle the dip pipe into position and remove it after use when it will be in an unpleasant and dirty condition. A flexible hose used for this purpose has to be strong enough not to collapse under atmospheric pressure so that it is of necessity of heavy construction and difficult to handle. Provision of a counterbalanced supporting boom as used on cesspit and gulley emptying and flushing vehicles assists the operation but adds to the complexity of construction and still requires handling and control by an operative.

Because of these handling problems inlet pipes with a maximum diameter of 1 50 mm (6 inches) have generally hitherto been employed and this has imposed a serious limitation on operation in that only free flowing liquids can be handled, any substantial content of suspended solids or presence of materials such as straw will cause clogging, or at best operation will be unacceptably slow and inefficient. In the result vacuum tanker spreader vehicles have only been acceptable for limited applications in agriculture, in handling free flowing liquid slurry of generally uniform composition as from pig pens, but have not been applied to handling of general farm waste and cow manure.

The object of the present invention is to provide a vacuum tanker vehicle of simple construction, readily and efficiently operable by one man, and which is particularly adaptable in use by ability to handle a wide range of liquid or semi-liquid materials.

According to the invention there is provided a vacuum tanker vehicle including a body assembly having a vacuum tank; an articulated duct having a proximal end connected to the tank, an intermediate section connected to said proximal end and a distal section extending substantially normally from the intermediate section remote from the proximal end, the intermediate section being pivoted for angular movement with respect to the body assembly in a generally vertical first plane carrying the distal section between a folded position adjacent said assembly and an extended position remote therefrom, and the distal section being pivoted for angular movement in a second plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the intermediate section enabling the distal end of the duct to be deployed as an extension from the latter section for raising and lowering in said vertical plane in a path extending substantially below the level of the vehicle in use; and actuating means for selective movement of the duct while connected to the tank between said folded position at which the duct sections are adjacent the body assembly and an extended position at which the distal end is extended away from and below the level of the vehicle.

Preferably the duct is formed of rigid circular cross-section tubes connected by fluid tight swivel joints permitting said pivotal movements, and the effective internal diameter thereof is substantially more than 1 50 mm (6 inches), desirably 240-265 mm minimum.

The actuating means may comprise a single double-acting hydraulic ram connected to the intermediate section for said angular movement in the vertical plane, the duct being otherwise self-supporting, and pivotal movement of the distal section in the second plane being effected automatically by camming means co-acting between the body assembly and the latter section to displace it from and return it to the folded position as the intermediate section nears or leaves its folded position.

One practical embodiment of the invention is now more particularly described with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein: Figure 1 is a perspective view of an agricultural vacuum tanker spreader vehicle with its inlet duct folded, Figure 2 is a like view showing the duct in course of deployment and Figure 3 is a like view showing the duct in an operational position.

The vehicle is to be drawn by and powered from an agricultural tractor 9 and comprises a body assembly having a pair of land wheels 10 towards the rear end and a vacuum tank 11, in this example having a capacity of 6140 litres (1350 gallons). The tank itself is operated in conventional manner, an air pump 8 being powered from the tractor to exhaust air from tank 11 for taking up a load, or to pressurise the tank to discharge its contents, for example through a broadcast spray nozzle 1 2 at the rear of the vehicle to spread manure on agricultural land.

The vehicle also includes an inlet duct 1 3 operable to collect fluid or semi-fluid materials from a pit or the like at or below the level on which the vehicle is standing, such a pit being indicated in broken lines at 14 in Fig. 3. Duct 1 3 is constructed of 240-265 mm (9 2 to 10 inches) diameter rigid pipes and comprises a distal section 1 5 which is straight and some 3 m. (10 ft) long extending from a rigid right-angle elbow 16, an intermediate section 17 in two parts 1 7a and 1 7b joined on a common axis by a first fluid-tight swivel joint 18, part 1 7a being fast with elbow 1 6 so that section 1 5 can be rotated in a plane normal to the axis of section 17; and a proximal section 1 9 defining an inlet opening to the bottom region of tank 11. Section 1 9 extends a short distance longitudinally and forwardly of tank 11 and has a second swivel joint 20 at its forward end carrying an elbow 21 forming the lower end of part 1 7a of section 1 7. Thus section 1 7 can also rotate in a vertical plane normal to the axis of joint 20 and independently of the orientation of distal section 1 5.

Joints 1 8 and 20 have packing of rope or other resilient material to make them air tight.

A double-acting hydraulic ram 22 mounted diagonally at the front of tank 11 and powered from the tractor hydraulics in use is connected to the upper end of part 1 7b for selective movement of section 1 7 from an upright folded position (as in Fig. 1) to any of a range of unfolded positions (Figs. 2 and 3) at which it extends at an angle from the body assembly, including the horizontal position shown in Fig. 3.

The lower end of part 1 7a (which can pivot relative to part 17b) has a pair of angularly spaced lugs 23 projecting from its periphery forming camming means which co-act with a vertically pivoted roller 24 carried on a bracket 25 fixed to the front wall of tank 11 and extending to the front of section 1 7 when folded.

When inlet duct 1 3 is in a folded condition (Fig. 1) with section 1 7 upright and distal section 1 5 positioned horizontally longitudinally of the top of tank 11, roller 24 locates between lugs 23 to prevent any swinging movement of section 1 5. As soon as section 1 7 is displaced from the vertical by the action of ram 22, roller 24 engages the inner iug 23 to pivot part 1 7a through 90 so that section 1 5 extends laterally of the body assembly (Fig. 2). Continued operation of ram 22 lowers the distal end of section 1 5 by pivoting movement about the axis of joint 20 to enter below the liquid level in pit 1 4 (Fig. 3).The vehicle will be positioned as most appropriate to the depth and location of pit 1 4 and the effective angle of section 1 5 can be adjusted to suit the desired depth of pick-up, the maximum being almost 3 m (loft) below ground level at a lateral spacing 1.8 m (6ft) away from the side of the vehicle.

A hydraulically actuated flap valve controls the inlet opening and another hydraulic valve controls the outlet to nozzle 1 2. With the former valve open and the latter one closed air is exhausted from tank 11 to pick up a load of slurry, manure or the like from pit 1 4.

The large cross section of the inlet duct 1 3 gives very speedy and efficient operation, the full load being taken on in 1 12 to 22 minutes depending on the consistency of the material.

Even quite thick slurries or flowable manures with some solids such as straw can be drawn up the larger diameter duct without clogging.

The contents of pit 14 can be agitated e.g. to displace and mix crusting or sedimentation, and any blockage in duct 1 3 can often be cleared, by reversing the air pump to blow air down duct 13, or by pressurising tank 11 followed by sudden release of the air pressure down duct 13.

When the load has been taken on, ram 22 is operated to raise section 1 7 to the vertical.

During the final part of this movement the outer lug 23 will be engaged against roller 24 so pivoting distal section 1 5 back to the folded position of Fig. 1.

Discharge and spreading is effected in conventional manner by pressurising tank 11 with the inlet valve closed and outlet valve open.

The entire operation can be carried out by the tractor driver single handed without leaving his seat, the air pump is provided with a long control rod within his reach, as are all the hydraulic controls. In particular it is not necessary for him to manhandle the heavy and dirty inlet duct or connect up any flexible piping or couplings. Convenience, speed and safety of operation are thereby much improved with the important advantage of ability to handle a much wider range of material consistencies so greatly increasing the utility and adaptability of vacuum tankers particularly for general farm work.

Claims (9)

1. A vacuum tanker vehicle including a body assembly having a vacuum tank; an articulated duct having a proximal end connected to the tank, an intermediate section connected to said proximal end and a distal section extending substantially normally from the intermediate section remote from the proximal end, the intermediate section being pivoted for angular movement with respect to the body assembly in a generally vertical first plane carrying the distal section between a folded position adjacent said assembly and an extended position remote therefrom, and the distal section being pivoted for angular movement in a second plane generally normal to the longitudinal axis of the intermediate section enabling the distal end of the duct to be deployed as an extension from the latter section for raising and lowering in said vertical plane in a path extending substantially below the level of the vehicle in use; and actuating means for selective movement of the duct while connected to the tank between said folded position at which the duct sections are adjacent the body assembly and an extended position at which the distal end is extended away from and below the level of the vehicie.

2. A vehicle as in Claim 1 wherein the duct is formed of rigid tube sections connected by fluid-tight swivel joints to permit said pivotal movement.

3. A vehicle as in Claim 2 wherein said tube sections are of circular cross-section and the effective internal diameter of the duct is substantially more than 1 50 mm.

4. A vehicle as in Claim 3 wherein said internal diameter is at least 240-265 mm.

5. A vehicle as in any preceding claim wherein said actuating means includes a fluid pressure actuated ram connected to the intermediate section and operable to cause said angular movement in the first plane, the duct being otherwise self-supporting.

6. A vehicle as in any preceding claim wherein said actuating means includes camming means co-acting between the body assembly and the distal section to effect pivotal movement of the latter automatically to displace the distal section from and return said section to the folded position as the intermediate section nears or leaves its folded position.

7. A vehicle as in any preceding claim wherein the distal end of the duct can be deployed to a maximum lowered position of 3m. below the level of a surface on which the vehicle is standing in use.

8. A vehicle as in any preceding claim including an air pump operable to exhaust air from the vacuum tank.

9. A vehicle as in Claim 8 wherein said pump is also selectively operable to pressurise said tank.

1 0. A vacuum tanker vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to or as shown in the accompanying drawings.