Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material – Processes – Breaking down by direct contact with fluid
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-09
2001-08-14
Bagnell, David (Department: 3671)
Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material
Processes
Breaking down by direct contact with fluid
C037S323000, C175S067000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273512
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to apparatus used for hydrovac excavation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In hydrovac excavation, a jet of water is blasted into soil to liquify the soil and then the liquified soil is sucked up using a vacuum truck. The jet of water is directed into the soil using a blast wand that is manually operated. Various types of wand have been used for this purpose. Typically, the wand consists of a pipe with a valve on one end and blast nozzles on the other end. The blast nozzles generally blast straight out, in the direction of the pipe, so the thrust of the nozzles pushes against the pipe handle, thus tiring the operator. Also, with the nozzles blasting straight out, a hole is created in the soil and rebounding water shoots directly back at the operator's face and body. This makes the wands dirty to use, and potentially dangerous due to soil fragments shooting into the face and eyes of the operator.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These difficulties with prior art hydrovac wands are addressed with the following invention.
According to an aspect of the invention, a hydrovac wand is provided with a crossfire nozzle arrangement that reduces thrust to the wand operator, and that has a spray pattern that eliminates spray back. In another aspect of the invention, a pair of jets erode a hole while two other jets push the debris back to a suction hose. In another aspect of the invention, a two high pressure swivels are provided at the end of the wand to allow the wand to rotate in all directions without binding. In a still further aspect of the invention, boom controls are placed on the wand to maximize digging rates.
These and other aspects of the invention are described in the detailed description of the invention and claimed in the claims that follow.
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Bagnell David
Lambert Anthony R.
Mammen Nathan
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