Hydraulic and earth engineering – Earth treatment or control – Compaction
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-08
2001-11-13
Bagnell, David (Department: 3673)
Hydraulic and earth engineering
Earth treatment or control
Compaction
C405S128150, C405S129150, C037S443000, C037S444000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06315500
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not applicable
1. BACKGROUND—Field of Invention
This invention relates to a liquid spray system used to soften soil with water in the preparation for compacting, and to clean large ground surfaces areas which have been contaminated by toxic chemicals with high pressure and temperature liquids, as applied to a backhoe or the like machines operated and controlled by a single operator.
2. BACKGROUND—Description of Prior Art
A backhoe or the like machine comes in various sizes and is used to excavate deep trenches, to lay down sewer pipes, water pipes, electrical cable and many other types of underground accouterments. It is also used to remove large amounts of earth from a work site to prepare the earth's surface for construction and road building, and, in addition, it is also used to back fill the excavated trenches and holes after the pipes and accouterments are lain in the trenches.
After the pipes and various accouterments are in place, the trenches are filled with backfill soil, and a vibrating earth compactor attached to end joint of the backhoe arm is used to compact the back fill soil to specified soil density requirement. To achieve this requirement, water is applied to soften the back fill soil, thus enhancing the compaction.
Our Invention relates directly to applying the water to soften the soil in order to enhance the compactness of the soil. PRIOR ART required that a number of workers be standing around the backhoe, or like machine, with hoses to apply water to the soil at various locations at the direction of the backhoe operator who is sitting in the cab and operating the machine, as well as, at the same time, directing the workers holding water hoses around the working area. Because of the loud machine noise of the backhoe, hand signals are used by the backhoe operator to direct the workers where best to apply the water.
Our Invention obviates the necessity for workers to be employed in the above-described tasks. It allows the backhoe operator to apply and control the water spray to the fill soil as needed, while still operating the backhoe. Our Invention configures to all sizes of backhoes or the like machines, as well as other earth moving equipment where spray water is required.
Our discussion and criticism of the relevant prior art, is based on our hands-on experience with a backhoe soil compactor attachment, and the soil watering methods presently used in the industry.
Typically, a backhoe operator attaches a vibratory soil compactor to the jig boom extension arm of the backhoe to compact the back fill soil, which is used to cover a trench after the underground accouterments are lain into position. The soil is loose and must be compacted to acceptable soil density compact standards required by various construction specifications. To achieve the density standards, the soil must be wetted down with water to a workable consistency as the backhoe operator, in his cab, applies the vibratory soil compactor to the loose soil. Workers, with water hoses, positioned around the backhoe machine, are directed by the operator, in the cab of the backhoe, to apply water to the soil during the time that the backhoe machine is in full operation.
During the operation of the backhoe, the operator will manipulate the backhoe boom arm forward, backwards or will swing the boom arm 360° degrees in either direction to reach areas where the soil must be compacted.
This manipulation of the backhoe is conducted within the path of the workers holding water hoses to wet the soil, thus creating a severe safety hazard to the workers as they are in harm's way of the boom arm. Consequently, as it is imperative for the operator to view the workers from his position in the cab of the backhoe, it becomes difficult for the operator to clearly see all the workers surrounding the backhoe machine, thus further jeopardizing the safety of the workers.
The low efficiency of this operation, and the additional manpower required, in having workers stand around the backhoe applying water by hand to the soil, is not only dangerous and unsafe, but is not cost effective either. The backhoe operator does not have the direct control of the amount of water applied to the soil, which presents a further obstacle in making it difficult for him to achieve the maximum dry density of the soil being compacted.
During road working, the workers holding the water hoses are, at times, close to the path of on-coming traffic, thus creating yet another added safety issue. An especially hazardous safety issue relates to workers standing on wet slippery ground while watering the soil. The workers are subject to slipping and falling into the path of the backhoe during the soil compacting process, which such accident can cause severe injury and possible fatalities.
SUMMARY
Our new water spray system Invention is designed for the adaptation on all types and sizes of backhoe machines produced in the United States of America and abroad, by the simple retrofitting of the machine. It can also be installed during the production phase of the backhoe machine.
The general object of our Invention is to provide a safe, efficient, cost effective modus, and a better method of applying spray water for compacting soil by the operator of a backhoe machine, militating against the necessity to manually apply water to the soil by workers holding water hoses. With the water spray system incorporated into the backhoe control system, the operator will have full control over how much water is applied to the soil, and when and where to apply water spray to the soil. The system is comprised of a water spray head mounted to the end of the jig boom arm of the backhoe, located just above the vibrating soil compactor, and addressed toward the ground, in direct view of the backhoe operator, to accurately direct and apply the water spray.
Attached to the spray head is a metal conduit supplying water to the spray head; the conduit is mounted and clamped to the jig boom arm and routed along the length of the jig boom arm to its pivot joint. Coupled to the end of the conduit is a flexible rubber hose which is looped to compensate for the bending and pivotal rotational movement of the jig boom.
The other end of the rubber hose is connected to a second metal conduit, thus mounted and clamped to the main boom of the backhoe, and routed to the main boom pivot, located within the well of the backhoe. To compensate for the pivotal movement of the main boom, a second rubber hose is coupled to the end of the metal conduit, looped within the well of the backhoe and routed under the cab to the outlet port of an electrically controlled valve, positioned under the frame of the backhoe drive motor. A third rubber hose routed from the inlet port of the valve is suspended by plastic ties to a support frame, extending rearward of the backhoe and connected to the water supply tank.
A manually operated foot control switch, located in the backhoe cab, opens and closes the electrically operated valve, thus controlling the flow of water from the water supply tank to the spray head located on the jig boom. Thus, the water spray system allows the backhoe operator to have the capability to control the flow of water to the ground surface while still operating the boom arms, and to drive the backhoe to various areas within the designated work zone when compacting the soil.
A related feature is to also provide the backhoe operator with the capability to wet the surrounding working area in order to control harmful soil and concrete dust generated during the hoe-ram operation, which machinery breaks up concrete and asphalt roads, in preparation for paving the way for the laying of new roads.
Prior Art requires workers to manually wet the surface while holding water hoses, placing the workers in danger of getting in the way of the backhoe operator, subjecting them to the possibility of being struck by the backhoe. The Invention of our Backhoe Water Spray System totally eliminates this potential safety hazard.
Objects and Advantages
Accordingl
Goodman Tim
Mehlenbacher Brent
Bagnell David
Mayo Tara L.
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