GB2624724A - A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm and an associated method. The device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm has a flexible hose 7 providing a fluid pathway with an associated fluid pumping means. The hose is adapted to be secured along the excavator arm. The fluid pathway has a plurality of fluid dispensing outlets 4, 5 at a distal end. The outlets are adapted to supply fluid in more than one state and there is a fluid reservoir 1 at a proximal end and the fluid reservoir comprises a displaceable container arranged to be attached to a mount that is arranged to be bolted to the step (200 Fig 8a) of the excavator. The outlets may comprise fluid atomisers and fluid dribble release. The container may be temporarily connected to permanent mount by flexible straps.

Description

A DEVICE FOR REDUCING DUST SPREAD AT AN EXCAVATOR ARM Reid of the Invention ThE present invention relates xi a device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm ant an associated method, ir particular a device providing moisture in the region of mechanical digging equipment such as excavators; more particularly but not exc usively a device that may oe installed on an independently provided equipment.

Background

The climate in many societies across the world is becoming drier on many occasions.

Plant machinery is often in use in very dry conditions, and excavators and the like are 15 prone to causation of a large amount of dust, which can be problematic for visibility, safety, cleanliness and air standards.

Prio-Art CM 213 062 144 (HAN at a'.) discloses a install high-pressure water smoke dust suppression device on excava:or which characterized in that: including installing high-pressure pump package, water tank and the spray pipe subassembly on the excavator, the water tank is connected to the high-pressure pump package, the spray pipe subassembly is equipped with the sprinkler bead including the spray pipe of locating the side of the big arrn of excavator, Ile tip of spray pipe, and the front end of excavator forearm is located to the sprinkler bead, and the sprinkler bead is towards the operation end of excavator.

JP 2317 218 759 (AKITA et al) discloses a method for suppressing scattering of dust generated by a construction machine, the method comprising the steps of: disposing pluality c4 water spraying nozzles in a vicinity of a work attachment equipped in the construction machine, the water spraying nozzles being configured to spray water in the form of a mist having a predetermined particle size; connected to a water supply 35 unit via piping, and water is supplied to each of the water spraying nozzles during construction, and water is supolied to each of the water spraying nozzles from the periphery of the work attachment toward the periphery of the construction position of the work attachment by the water spraying nozzles.

ON 216 305 998 (YU et al) discloses an energy-saving dust-supprezsien spraying 5 device for mine loading and transporting mechanical equipment which comprises an excavator body, wherein a mounting frame is fixedly mounted at the top of:he body of the excavator body, a water tank is fixedly mounted inside the mounting frame, a water outlet of the water tank is fixedly connected with a connecting pipe, one end of the connectiig pipe, which is far away from the water tank, is fixedly connected with a 10 water spray pump, a winding mechanism is fixedly mounted on one side of the top of the excava:cr body and is connected with the output end of the water spray pump, and two fixing mechanisms are fixedly mounted on two sides of a small arm of the excavate -t edy, Summar; cf the invention According to the present invention there is provided a device for reducing cust spread at an excavator arm, comprising a flexible hose providing a fluid pathway with an associated flu d pumping means, the hose adapted to be secured along the excavator arm, the fluid pathway having a plurality of fluid dispensing outlets at a distal end, the outlets acapted to supply fluid in more than one state, and a fluid reservoir at a proximal end, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a displaceable container arranged to be attached to a mount, said mount arranged to be bolted to the step of the excavator.

In some embodiments of the device the hose and outlets are secured to the excavator by self-adhesive clip means. In this way the device may be retrofitted to an existing excavator, and/or may be repositioned according to preference. In other embodiments the device may be installed on an excavator at manufacture.

In some embodiments of the device the dispensing outlets comprise L. id atomisers. In this way it may be envisaged that surrounding air may be humid fled, thereby causing dust to be prevented from spreading beyond the excavator.

In some embodiments of the device the dispensing outlets comprise fluid dribble 35 release. This may be envisaged to advantageously provide dampening of material in the localby of the outlets, for example for direct application of fluid on wo-k areas.

In s.t.-me embodiments of the device the dispensing outlets output fluid nto the excavator planer for example.

In some embodiments of the device the plurality of outlets are adapted to be secured to a head of the excavator. It may be envisaged that a plurality of outlets may be combined in one housing, for example an elongated housing, wheiein the outlets may be prearranged and/or in a fixed arrangement.

In s.tme such embodiments of the dev-ce the dispensing outlets are arranged such that the outlets are arranged to face to the front and the rear sides of the head, so as to limit dust spread at source of work.

In some embodiments of the device the container is secured to the mount by flexible straps. This may enable easy removal and repeat attachment to the mount, which is not liable to compromise and may be accomplished with no tools. For example such straps may comprise hooks, hook and loop material such as Velcro (RTM) or other temporary connection means.

In some embodiments of the device the outlets comprise a pluraliti of atomising spr.nkler jets. These jets may be located on an elongate housing.

A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of exarrole only and with reference to the Figures in which:

Brief Description of Figures

Figure 1 shows an isometric view of an embodiment of the device according to the 30 present invention, installed on an excavator; Figure 2 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1 FigJre 3 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the dev ce shown in Figure 1, separated; Figure 4 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 3; Figure 5 shows an isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 1, for use; Figure 6 shows a reverse isometric view of the embodiment of the device shown in Figure 5; and Figures 7 to 9 show isometric detail views of the embodiment of the device as shown in Figure 1.

Detailed Description of Figures

With reference to the figures there is shown a device 99 for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm 105, generally comprising a flexible hose 7 providing a fluid pathway with an associated fluid pumping means 3, the hose adapted to be secured along the excavator arm, the fluid pathway having a plurality of fluid dispensing outlets 4,5 at a distal end, the outlets adapted to supply fluid in more than one state, and a fluid reservoir at a proximal end, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a displaceable container 1 arranged to be attached to a mount 2, said mount arranged to be bolted to the step 200 of the excavator 100.

In particular reference to the pictured embodiment the embodirnent comprises a plurality of parts, as shown in Figure 4, which may be installed on an excavator, as shown in the configuration shown in Figure 5.

When installed on the excavator the device comprises fluid outlets located in use at the excavator arm, wherein the reservoir is detachably located at the step of the excavator.

In between the outlets and the reservoir there is provided an elongated flexible piping. This piping may be envisaged to be provided in a plastics or polymer.

The piping is clipped by clips 6 to the excavator in a plurality of locaticns, and in use may be envisaged to be clipped as appropriate according to user preference ancior mode of the excavator.

The mount 2 piovides a fixec location for the reservoir, allowing the -eservoir to be displaced for filling or maintenance purposes.

Add lonally the mount provides and locates the pumping means 3, which the reservoir 10 is ditctly connected to by a feed 31.

The piping 7 is thereby permanently connected to the pumping means 3, so as to advantageously avoid damage in use from repeated connections and disconnections of the container 1.

The feed 31 extends from ald comprises a threaded cap 10. The cap is a large diameter and the feed extends centrally therefrom. In:his way the cap may be easily removed from:he reservoir with the thread, and the container formirg the resernir may oe displaced for filling purposes, leaving the cap and feed comected to Me pumping means.

The reservoir comprises a cuboid tank container, with a topmost cap in use.

The container is strapped to the mount with two webbing straps 11 in use, which straps 25 inch-de ratchets 12, and end hooks 13. The hooks are hooked into lanyard attachment points on the mount The mount comprises a shelf for the container to be strapped to from above, wherein the pumping means is located and mounted below the shelf.

The pumping means 3 and associated electronics are provided in a waterproof casing 9. The whole provides apparatus 44 which may be provided as a retail unit.

As shown it may be envisaged that the mount is located in use above the step 20C of 35 the excavator "00. This may be installed at manufackra to provide apparatus 199 as shown in Figure 1.

The piping is split at a T junction 16, and outlets 4 are provided on either branch ends of the resulting spurs, ir outlet housings 13.

Each of these housings 13 comprises an elongated tube with a plurality of perfc rations providing the outlets, spaced along the housing. The housings comprise twc clamp plates 14 proximate either end. In this way the housings may be located use=ully on the excavator arm, and the outlets securely and reliably located.

The outlets comprise small perforations in the housings, so as to provice a flow of fluid when used, ensuring that dust at the excavator arm is control ed. In other embodiments the perorations may provide a restricted dribble of fluid.

Before the junction there are provided three individual outlets 5, which are metal T 15 connectors, and which may be envisaged to spray E. wider splay of fluid in use than the perforations on the hoisings, for example an atomised misting andlor prcvide a restricted dribble of fluic.

The outlets 5 comprise full cone adjustable misting jets this creates atomized spray 20 droplets for atmospheric dust control, wherein the connectors are pushfrt and easy to install meaning more,ets can be added a repositioned with ease.

The pictured embodiment in this way reduces atmospheric dust and protects workers arid their surroundings, -emoving any need to have someone on the groffic manually 25 saturating the work area.

The embodiment uses the pumping means to send water around the system, from the water tank to the outlets and also runs on 12V so that it can be easily powered using the vehicles 12V in-ceb power outlet.

The front and rear dribble bar outlets 4 create a water flow which goes straight into the planer and onto the g-ound around the machine to prevent dust from being kicked up.

The comprises a 251 capacity container and features a IP rated dust re.sistart hose 35 gland to reduce dust naress and an IP67 washdown casing to house the electronics for the system. Is watertight to 1P67 for use outdoois.

The invention has been described by way of examples only and it will be appreciated that variation may be made to the above-mentioned embodiments without departing from the scope of protection as defined by the claims.

Claims (11)

1. Claims 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm, comprising a flexible hose providing a flu d pathway with an associated fluid pumping means, the hose a:apted to DE secured along the excavator arm, the fluid pathway having a p urality of fluid dispensing outlets at a distal end, the outlets adapted to supply fluid in more than one state, and a fluid reservoir at a proximal end, wherein the fluid reservoir comprises a displaceable container arranged to be attached to a -flaunt. said mount arranged to be bolted to the step of the excavatpr.
2. A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm according to claim 1 comprising a plt.rali7/ of outlets adapted to be secured to a head of the excavator.
3. A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm according to claim 1 comprising a or 2 wherein the hose and outlets are secured to the excavator by self-adhesive clip means.
4. A de.vice. for reducinc dust spread at an excavator arm according to claim 1, 2 or 3 comprising fluid atomisers.
5. A device for reducirg dust spread at an excavator arm according to any preceding claim comprising a fluid dribble release.
6. A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm according to any preceding claim comprising an output fluid into the excavator planer.
7. A device for reducirta dust spread at an excavator arm according to any preceding claim a-ranged in use such that the outlets are arranged to face to the front and the rear sides of the head.
8. A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm according to any preceding claim wnerein the reservoir comprises a container and a temporary connecticn means wit1 a permanent mount.
9. 9. A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm according to claim 8 wherein the reservoir comprises a container secured to the rrount by flexible straps.
10. 10. A device for reducing dust spread at an excavator arm according to any preceding claim comprising outlets comprise a plurality of atomising sprinkler jets.
11. 11 A method of restraining dust spread from an excavator plarEr comprising a device according to any of the preceding claims