WO2011163014A2

WO2011163014A2 - A vacuum nozzle assembly and system for removal of pollutants from hard surfaces

Info

Publication number: WO2011163014A2
Application number: PCT/US2011/040354
Authority: WO
Inventors: Larry R. Lamonte
Original assignee: Boh Brothers Construction, Llc
Priority date: 2010-06-23
Filing date: 2011-06-14
Publication date: 2011-12-29
Also published as: WO2011163014A3

Abstract

A pollutant removal system particularly useful in removing pollutants from hard surface material, such as sand, gravel, rock and metal surfaces, includes a vacuum truck and a vacuum nozzle assembly mountable to a mobile vehicle, such as a backhoe having an articulated and extendable arm, wherein the vacuum nozzle assembly is operatively connected to a high pressure water source to direct a high pressure water stream to the hard surface material and operatively connected to the intake end of the vacuum hose affixed to the vacuum truck pump.

Description

A VACUUM NOZZLE ASSEMBLY AND SYSTEM FOR REMOVAL OF POLLUTANTS FROM HARD

SURFACES

SPECIFICATION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention. This invention relates in general to apparatus for cleaning materials from hard surfaces, and more particularly to apparatus for removal and collecting of unwanted material from hard surfaces that are remote or difficult to get to or situated in a hazardous environment.

Prior Art. One long standing problem with the petrochemical industry, the oil drilling industry, and the oil transportation industry has been the spilling of oil and other chemicals onto the refinery grounds, as well as into the waterways and other water bodies in which the oil drilling and oil transporting take place. In many cases these spills occur in remote areas or in areas that are difficult to maneuver making it difficult to get desired clean-up equipment to the clean-up site.

Of particular concern is the clean up of beaches. Once the oil reaches the shoreline or beach area the prior art devices have not been found to be economical or very efficient in rehabilitating large quantities of the oil polluted sand in a reasonable time period. One common technique to vacuum the oil from the shallow water or beach areas has been the use of a vacuum skimmer that is carried by an operator who manipulates manually the vacuum nozzle near the water surface to vacuum the oil from the water or sand.

Although such prior art vacuum nozzles can vacuum the oil from the sand, gravel, and rock, they are highly inefficient and costly to use. In addition the operator must physically get in the oil coated water or sand, thus requiring a special suit and mask to protect him from contact with the oil and the oil vapors. Such a suit is hot to wear and makes the vacuuming operation more difficult for the operator to perform. Because of the heat conditions, as well as hydrocarbon vapors emitted from the oil polluted water, an operator can only work for short periods of time before the operator must take a break to avoid health problems. In addition, it is required that the suit be cleaned before the suit can be removed from the oil polluted site. Still further these devices are only able to vacuum small quantities of oil during a given time period. Thus, their use to clean up large oil spills makes such cleanup operations labor intensive and very expensive. A solution to one or more of these problems would be highly desirable for the oil and gas industry.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide a pollutant removal system having a vacuum nozzle assembly that does not require the operator to be placed in the polluted site to be cleaned, or to wear a hazmat suit.

A further object of this invention is to provide a pollutant removal system having a vacuum nozzle assembly that is less labor intensive, but can remove pollutants much quicker and in larger quantities over a given time period.

Another object of this invention is to provide a pollutant removal system having a vacuum nozzle assembly that is movable in remote areas, as well as effective in difficult to maneuver polluted areas.

Other objects and advantages of this invention shall become apparent from the ensuing descriptions of the invention.

Accordingly, a pollution removal system for removing a pollutant from sand, gravel and other hard surfaces includes the use of a vacuum nozzle assembly operatively attached by a vacuum hose to the pump of a conventional vacuum truck and operatively attached to a conventional articulating and extendable arm of a backhoe or similar device having a crane or boom to position the vacuum nozzle assembly in the desired position for removing the pollutant. In a preferred embodiment the vacuum truck, or a skid that has been positioned for use near the pollution site, includes a power source, a pump operatively connected to the power source, the pump having an intake port and a discharge port, a storage tank operatively connected to the discharge outlet to receive pollutants flowing through the pump, and a vacuum hose having an intake end and a discharge end, the discharge end operatively connected to the intake port of the pump to deliver pollutants vacuumed from the surfaces to the pump. The backhoe or similar mobile vehicle is provided with an operator cab to provide the operator safety from any hazardous material or gases around the clean-up site. Additionally, the articulating and extendable arm is equipped at its extending end with an accessory attachment member that permits other tools to be affixed to the arm for manipulation by the arm. The vacuum nozzle assembly includes: a housing having a front plate, a back plate and opposing side plates positioned between the edges of the front and back plates to form a triangular-shaped passageway having an intake end and a discharge end; a rigid tube having an intake opening operatively attached to the discharge end of the passageway to receive pollutants from the passageway and a discharge opening operatively attachable to deliver the vacuumed pollutants to the vacuum hose; a first connector affixed at the upper end of the vacuum nozzle housing; and an adaptor attachable to the connector and attachable to the accessory attachment member whereby the articulating and extendable arm can manipulate the vacuum nozzle assembly to a desired position for the purpose of vacuuming the surface area. The pollutant removal system further includes a high pressure water jet apparatus comprising a connecting pipe affixed to the housing, the connecting pipe having a water intake end operatively attached to a high pressure water source and having a water discharge end affixed to a cross pipe that extends along a lower perimeter of the front plate, one or more spray nozzle tips operatively attached to the cross pipe and positioned to direct a high pressure water stream toward the surface to be vacuumed.

In a preferred embodiment the vacuum nozzle assembly further includes a skid affixed to the housing and constructed to contact the surface of the vacuuming area during operation of the vacuum nozzle assembly to assist in maintaining the housing the desired distance from the surface to optimize the pollutant removal. In still another preferred embodiment the vacuum nozzle assembly includes a rake attachable to housing wherein the rake tines extend downward over the leading edge of the housing front plate to permit removal of trash or other debris from the surface to be cleaned and keeping it from being vacuumed into the housing passageway.

In another preferred embodiment a video camera is mounted on the vacuum nozzle assembly connector and directed to record and transmit images of the surface area. In this embodiment a monitor is installed in the operator cab to receive and display the images for the operator to view the clean-up process. In a more preferred embodiment a second video camera is mounted to the backhoe at a position to permit recording and transmitting of images of the area located behind the vehicle. In this embodiment these images can be received by the monitor, or if desired a second monitor, to better ensure that the operator does not back over the vacuum hose or accidentally hit another person when the backhoe is being moved. In still another preferred embodiment the backhoe or similar vehicle will be selected to have a width less than that of the vacuum truck to permit the backhoe to be driven in constricted locations, and will have a relative small turning radius to permit.

In an alternate embodiment the pollution removal system can also be used to pump concrete to an area after the site has been cleaned, by reversing the direction of the pump.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings and photographs illustrate preferred embodiments of this invention.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pollutant removal system illustrating a vacuum truck with vacuum hose to which the vacuum nozzle assembly can be operatively connected and the backhoe arm and a backhoe with articulating and extendable arm to which the vacuum nozzle assembly can be operatively attached.

Figure 2 is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the vacuum nozzle attachment of this invention.

Figure 3 is a side view of a preferred embodiment of the vacuum nozzle attachment of this invention.

Figure 4 is a three-quarter perspective view of the vacuum nozzle attachment of this invention.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines I-I of Figure 3.

Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines Π-Π of Figure 3.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

The pollutant removal system 1 of this invention can be used to vacuum any number of types of material from different type of surfaces or enclosures. This would include industrial waste ponds, enclosed building floors and walls, ship holds, refinery yards, and other similar remote or congested clean-up sites. However, the preferred embodiments of the invention will be described for use in removing oil and other similar material from gravel and sand based surfaces.

Mobile vacuum equipment, such as the vacuum truck 2 shown in FIG. 1, have been used for many years in connection with vacuum systems including vacuum systems useful in sldmming of oil from a water surface. However, it has been found that if such conventional vacuum equipment is combined with means, such as a small long-reach backhoe 3 or other known crane or boom mobile equipment, and the vacuum nozzle assembly 4 of this invention, it is possible at a substantially increased rate to separate pollutants from sand, gravel, rock or other hard surfaces whereby they can be vacuumed and collected without requiring the equipment operator to stand in the polluted water or on the polluted beach, or to wear the hot and cumbersome Hazmat suits typically used in present systems. In addition, the collected oil or material will contain less water or sand or other undesired debris that will require additional separation, than in existing systems. All of these advantages result in less health risk to the operator and at a significantly reduced costs quicker recovery of the oil polluting the water or beach or estuary area.

In a preferred embodiment the pollutant removal system 1 comprises a conventional vacuum truck 2 or similar vehicle, such as a skid that has been positioned near the area to be treated. Mounted on the truck 2 or skid is a vacuum pump system 5. The vacuum pump system 5 will include a power source, such as a motor operatively attached to the vacuum pump. Affixed at the intake port 6 of vacuum pump system pivoting arm 7 is vacuum hose 8 and affixed at the discharge port of vacuum pump system is a discharge hose that in turn has its other end operatively attached to a storage tank into which vacuumed material is stored for later handling. The pump capacity and hose sizes can be adjusted depending on the amount of oil or other material that is to be vacuumed and the collection conditions at the vacuuming site. In an alternate embodiment vacuum hose 8 can be constructed of multiple connected hose sections that form a single long vacuum hose. In a preferred embodiment some sections 9 of such a vacuum hose can be constructed of rigid tubing, hi such a preferred embodiment the rigid section or sections 9 would be affixed to backhoe 3 to add greater stability to the vacuum hose 8 and to permit backhoe 3 to be positioned at the pollution site prior to connecting by clamps 8 A or other conventional means the flexible sections 10 of the vacuum hose 8 to the rigid section or sections 9 of the vacuum hose 8. It is preferred that the flexible sections 10 include sections that permit the vacuum hose 8 to bend at the position that backhoe arm 12 pivot and/or articulates.

In the preferred embodiment of the pollutant removal system, backhoe 3 is used to position the vacuum nozzle assembly 4. If the clean-up site is an area congested with piping or other structures that provide limited access, then it is preferred that a smaller, more narrow backhoe be utilized, particularly one have a short turning radius. In a preferred embodiment hose guides 11 are attached to the articulating and extendable arm 12 of backhoe 3. The hose guides 11 includes one or more members, such as parallel vertical rods, saddle or cradle configured members and other similar known shapes that could maintain vacuum hose 8 in a desired position. One such preferred guide includes a series of ring members 13 affixed at various positions along arm 12 through which vacuum hose 8 can be threaded. Γη this manner vacuum hose 8 will be lifted off of the ground surface around backhoe 3 to minimize the chance that backhoe 3 may run over vacuum hose 8 during its maneuvering. Since vacuum hose 8 will be fixed at its intake end 14 to vacuum nozzle assembly 4 which in turn is affixed to backhoe 3 and fixed at its discharge end 15 to vacuum truck pump it will remain in the desired position even during movement of the backhoe 3 or vacuum truck 2. In addition ring members 13 will position the vacuum hose 8 so that its intake end 14 can be operatively connected to the vacuum nozzle assembly 4.

As seen in FIGS. 2-5 the vacuum nozzle assembly 4 includes a housing 16, a rigid discharge tube 17 affixed to the upper end of the housing 16 by bolts or a clamping member 18, and connector 19 welded or otherwise affixed to the discharge tube 17 for use with adaptor 20 to attach the vacuum nozzle assembly 4 to the backhoe arm 12.

The housing 16 is constructed having a front plate 21, a back plate 22, and opposing side plates 23 and 24 that form an elongated triangular shaped cavity 25 having a narrow, elongated intake opening or slot 26 at its lower end section 27 and a wider, less elongated discharge opening 28 at its upper end section 29. Upper end section 29 is provided with a flange 30 that can be affixed to flange 31 of rigid discharge tube 17 whereby pollutants or other material that is vacuumed into cavity 25 can flow into and through discharge tube 17 and through intake opening 14 of vacuum hose 8.

In a preferred embodiment, runners or skids 32 and 33 are attached to lower housing edges 34 and 35, respectively, formed by the side plates 23 and 24, respectively. Skids 32 and 33 extend downward from lower housing edges 34 and 35, respectively, a distance that when they contact the surface of the vacuuming area housing intake opening 26 will be positioned the desired distance from the surface to optimize the separation and removal of the pollutants from the surface material. In a more preferred embodiment skids 32 and 33 can be height adjustable to permit variance of the distance from the housing intake opening 26 to the surface material.

In another preferred embodiment, a rake 36 having two or more tines 37 is removable attachable to the housing front plate 21 whereby the rake tines 37 extend down over the leading edge of the front plate 21. If there is debris on the vacuuming surface the backhoe arm 12 can be operated to lift the housing 16 and utilize the rake tines 37 to grasp and remove the debris from the vacuuming surface.

In still another preferred embodiment, a high pressure (>1,500 psi, and preferably 1,500 - 3,000 psi) water jet apparatus 38 is attached to the vacuum nozzle assembly 4 for use to dislodge the pollutant from the surface to be vacuumed and/or to clean the surface of any equipment that has been in the polluted area. The water jet apparatus 38 includes a connecting pipe 39 affixed to the housing 16, more preferably to the front plate 21or back plate 22 and/or the discharge tube 17. At the upper end of the connecting pipe 39 is a conventional high pressure hose quick connect 40. The lower end 41 of the connecting pipe 39 is affixed to a horizontal cross pipe 42 that extends along the lower perimeter area of the front plate 21 and is provided with one or more spray nozzle tips 43 that will direct a water jet toward the surface to be vacuumed.

In operation the vacuum truck 2 and backhoe 3 are brought to the clean-up site. The backhoe 3 is then moved into the desired position. The vacuum hose 8 is attached to the pump intake port and then threaded through guides 11 with its opposite intake end 14 then being attached to discharge tube 17. If the site is near a shoreline the backhoe 3 is positioned on the shoreline or on the beach surface that is not contaminated with the oil or other contaminant. It should be positioned so that when its arm 12 is extended the vacuum nozzle assembly 4 will be above the water or beach surface to be vacuumed. If the area to be vacuumed contains large debris, the backhoe 3 can be manipulated to cause the rake 36 to move the debris from the vacuum site. Once the vacuum site has been cleared the arm 12 is manipulated (typically hydraulically) to lower the skids 32, 33 affixed to the housing 16 to the water or beach contaminated surface to position the intake slot 26 at the desired position to begin vacuuming. The pump 7 is activated to create the vacuum. At the same time water can be pumped to the high pressure water jet apparatus 38 to direct the water jet nozzle tips 43 toward the surface to be vacuumed to assist in dislodging any pollutant from the surface. The vacuum will cause the loosened pollutant and water mixture to circulate toward the intake slot 26 of the vacuum nozzle housing 16. The amount of vacuum is preferably set so that primarily only the oil or oil contaminated beach sand enters the intake slot 26 or in the case of oil contaminated water, the oil is substantially separated from the water and is sucked into the intake slot 26 of the vacuum nozzle housing 16.

Although the pollution removal system 1 has been designed primarily for use on or near shorelines, it can also be used in industrial ponds and other waste sites. If desired, it can also be placed on a barge and used offshore.

In a preferred embodiment the vacuum nozzle system includes a surveillance assembly. The surveillance assembly includes a video camera attached to the mounting adapter at a position to be directed to the vacuum nozzle assembly, a video transmitter operatively attached to the video camera to receive and transmit images from the video camera; and a monitor located inside the operator cab, positioned to be visible to an operator in the operator cab, and operatively connected to the video transmitter to receive and display the transmitted images from the video camera. This embodiment allows the operator to better see if the vacuum nozzle assembly is efficiently vacuuming the oil from the water and to permit him to better see where the vacuum nozzle assembly should be positioned to more efficiently vacuum the oil. In another preferred embodiment, the surveillance assembly further includes a second video camera mounted to the backhoe at a position to be directed to the area located behind the backhoe, a second video transmitter operatively attached to the second video camera to receive and transmit images from the second video camera, and a second monitor located inside the operator cab, positioned to be visible to an operator in the operator cab, and operatively connected to the second video transmitter to receive and display the transmitted images from the second video camera. This embodiment provides additional safety to prevent the operator accidentally hitting a person while moving the backhoe into the desired position.

As an alternate embodiment the monitor is electronically structured to receive transmitted images from multiple cameras and simultaneously display the transmitted images separately from each of the multiple cameras and wherein the second monitor is the monitor.

There are of course many alternate configurations of the vacuuming system that are obvious from the teachings and suggestions contained in the drawings and the written description of the invention. It is the intent of applicant to include these alternate configurations in the claims set forth below.

Claims

CLAIMS What I claim is:

1. A vacuum nozzle assembly for use in vacuuming pollutants from a surface area operatively attachable to a vacuum hose of a vacuum source and mountable to an accessory attachment member affixed to an articulating and extendable arm of a vehicle, comprising:

a. a housing having a front plate, a back plate and opposing side plates positioned between the edges of the front and back plates to form a triangular-shaped passageway; the passageway having an intake end and a discharge end;

b. a rigid tube having an intake opening operatively attached to the discharge end of the passageway to received pollutants from the passageway and a discharge opening operatively attachable to deliver the vacuumed pollutants to the vacuum hose;

c. a connector affixed to the rigid tube; and

d. an adaptor affixed to the connector and attachable to the accessory attachment member of an articulating and extendable arm used to manipulate the vacuum nozzle assembly to a desired position for the purpose of vacuuming the surface area.

2. The vacuum nozzle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a skid affixed to the housing, the skid sized to contact the surface of the vacuuming area.

3. The vacuum nozzle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a rake having two or more tines attachable to the housing at a position whereby the rake extends down over the leading edge of the front plate.

4. The vacuum nozzle assembly of claim 1 further comprising a high pressure water jet apparatus comprising a connecting pipe affixed to the housing, the connecting pipe having a water intake end operatively attached to a high pressure water source and having a water discharge end affixed to a cross pipe that extends along a lower perimeter of the front plate, one or more spray nozzle tips operatively attached to the cross pipe and positioned to direct a high pressure water stream toward the surface to be vacuumed.

5. A pollution removal system for removing a pollutant from sand, gravel and other hard surfaces, comprising:

a. a vacuum truck comprising:

i. a power source,

ii. a pump operatively connected to the power source, the pump having an intake port and a discharge port,

iii. a storage container operatively connected to the discharge outlet to receive pollutants flowing through the pump, and iv. a vacuum hose having an intake end and a discharge end, the discharge end operatively connected to the intake port of the pump to deliver pollutants vacuumed from the surfaces to the pump;

b. a vehicle maneuverable on the surfaces, the vehicle having an operator cab and having an articulating and extendable arm with an accessory attachment member affixed to the arm at its extending end; and

c. a vacuum nozzle assembly comprising:

i. a housing having a front plate, a back plate and opposing side plates positioned between the edges of the front and back plates to form a triangular-shaped passageway; the passageway having an intake end and a discharge end;

ii. a rigid tube having an intake opening operatively attached to the discharge end of the passageway to received pollutants from the passageway and a discharge opening operatively attachable to deliver the vacuumed pollutants to the vacuum hose; iii. a first connector affixed at the upper end of the vacuum nozzle housing top shoulder flange for use to operatively attach to the intake end of the vacuum hose; and

iv. an adaptor affixed to the connector and attachable to the accessory attachment member of the articulating and extendable arm that can manipulate the vacuum nozzle assembly to a desired position for the purpose of vacuuming the surface area; and

d. a high pressure water jet apparatus comprising a connecting pipe affixed to the housing, the connecting pipe having a water intake end operatively attached to a high pressure water source and having a water discharge end affixed to a cross pipe that extends along a lower perimeter of the front plate, one or more spray nozzle tips operatively attached to the cross pipe and positioned to direct a high pressure water stream toward the surface to be vacuumed.

6. The pollution removal system of claim 5 wherein the vacuum nozzle assembly further comprising a skid affixed to the housing, the skid sized to contact the surface of the vacuuming area.

7. The pollution removal system of claim 6 wherein the vacuum nozzle assembly further comprising a rake having two or more tines removable attachable to the housing whereby the rake extends down over the leading edge of the front plate.

8. The pollution removal system according to claim 5, further comprising a surveillance assembly, the surveillance assembly comprising:

a. a video camera attached to the mounting adapter at a position to be directed to the excavation site,

b. a video transmitter operatively attached to the video camera to receive and transmit images from the video camera; and

c. a monitor located inside the operator cab, positioned to be visible to an operator in the operator cab, and operatively connected to the video transmitter to receive and display the transmitted images from the video camera.

9. The vacuum excavation system according to claim 8, wherein the surveillance assembly further comprises:

a. a second video camera mounted to the backhoe at a position to be directed to the area located behind the backhoe; b. a second video transmitter operatively attached to the second video camera to receive and transmit images from the second video camera; and

c. a second monitor located inside the operator cab, positioned to be visible to an operator in the operator cab, and operatively connected to the second video transmitter to receive and display the transmitted images from the second video camera.

10. The vacuum excavation system according to claim 9, wherein the monitor is electronically structured to receive transmitted images from multiple cameras and simultaneously display the transmitted images separately from each of the multiple cameras and wherein the second monitor is the monitor.