Vacuum-aided material collecting and moving system

Abstract

A material moving system has a separation tank for separating loose material entering the tank with a stream of air, from the stream of air, the separation tank comprising an inlet port and a vacuum port and an open lower end, a vacuum generation unit coupled to the vacuum port for evacuating air from the separation tank to create a partial vacuum, and a collection apparatus connected to the inlet port for collecting the loose material in a stream or air pulled into the collection apparatus by virtue of the partial vacuum in the separation tank. The system is characterized in that the separation tank is configured to rest on the ground at the lower extremity, the ground serving to substantially close the open lower extremity, such that the loose material separated falls to the ground within the separation tank.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A material moving system, comprising: 
 a separation tank for separating loose material entering the tank with a stream of air, from the stream of air, the separation tank comprising an inlet port and a vacuum port and an open lower end;    a vacuum generation unit coupled to the vacuum port for evacuating air from the separation tank to create a partial vacuum; and    a collection apparatus connected to the inlet port for collecting the loose material in a stream or air pulled into the collection apparatus by virtue of the partial vacuum in the separation tank;    characterized in that the separation tank is configured to rest on the ground at the open lower end, the ground serving to substantially close the open lower extremity, such that the loose material separated falls to the ground within the separation tank.    
     
     
         2 . The moving system of  claim 1  wherein the open lower end is coupled to a conformal skirt that conforms to the ground, and aids in sealing the lower end of the separation tank in use.  
     
     
         3 . The moving system of  claim 1  further comprising a throttle configured for selectively limiting the evacuation rate of the separation tank to limit the size and weight of loose material that will be entrained with an incoming air stream.  
     
     
         4 . The moving system of  claim 3  wherein the vacuum generation unit is coupled to the vacuum port by a vacuum line, and the throttle is located in the vacuum line.  
     
     
         5 . The moving system of  claim 1  further comprising a wheeled trolley and a handle on one side of the separation tank, configured for a user to tip the tank by the handle onto the wheels of the trolley, to be moved from one position to another.  
     
     
         6 . The moving system of  claim 1  wherein the vacuum generation unit is a powered centrifugal blower coupled to the vacuum port at the inlet to the blower.  
     
     
         7 . The moving system of  claim 1  wherein the separation tank has a substantially circular cross section, and the inlet port enters the separation tank substantially tangentially, aiding in separation of the loose material from the air stream.  
     
     
         8 . The moving system of  claim 7  wherein the vacuum port enters the separation tank substantially at the center of an otherwise closed top end of the tank.  
     
     
         9 . The moving system of  claim 1  further comprising a filter between the tank and the vacuum generation unit for filtering dust and debris from the air before the vacuum generation unit.  
     
     
         10 . The moving system of  claim 1  wherein the collection apparatus comprises a tubing section coupled to a flexible line in turn coupled to the inlet port.  
     
     
         11 . The moving system of  claim 10  wherein the tubing section comprises handles for a user to grasp for manipulation.  
     
     
         12 . The moving system of  claim 11  wherein the tubing section has two linear portions joined at an angle.  
     
     
         13 . The moving system of  claim 10  wherein the tubing section, at an end opposite the end coupled to the flexible line, is configured for loosening soil for ingestion by the tubing section.  
     
     
         14 . The moving system of  claim 10  wherein the tubing section ends, opposite the end coupled to the flexible line, in an interface joinable to any one of several collection nozzles.  
     
     
         15 . The moving system of  claim 14  further comprising a nozzle having rake teeth for loosening soil to be collected by the nozzle.  
     
     
         16 . The moving system of  claim 14  further comprising a nozzle having wheels for spacing an inlet portion of the nozzle from a surface, to create space for ingesting air to entrain loose material.  
     
     
         17 . The moving system of  claim 14  further comprising a nozzle having sled runners for spacing an inlet portion of the nozzle from a surface, to create space for ingesting air to entrain loose material.  
     
     
         18 . The moving system of  claim 14  further comprising a nozzle having blades for cutting vegetation to be collected by the nozzle.  
     
     
         19 . A separation tank for a material moving system, comprising an upper portion separable from a lower portion at an interface, the separation tank for separating loose material entering the tank with a stream of air, from the stream of air, the separation tank comprising an inlet port configured to couple to one or more collection tools and a vacuum port configured to couple to a vacuum source, both ports in the upper portion; 
 characterized in that the lower portion is configured to contain and retain open a bag, the upper portion sealing to the lower portion at the interface in a manner that collected and separated material falls into the bag.    
     
     
         20 . The tank of  claim 19  wherein the upper portion is hinged to the lower portion such that open, the bag is retrievable by a user, the bag holding collected loose material.  
     
     
         21 . The tank of  claim 19  wherein the lower portion has a bottom, at least one vertical wall, and an upper flange, and the bag is configured to sit in the lower portion with an upper part of the bag folded over the upper flange, such that the upper portion closes on the portion of the bag folded over the upper flange.  
     
     
         22 . The tank of  claim 21  wherein one or both of the bottom and at least one vertical wall comprise internal channels and openings coupled to a vacuum source in a manner that the pressure between the bottom or wall and the bag is less than the pressure in the separation tank, to retain the bag open in use for material collection.  
     
     
         23 . A material moving system, comprising: 
 a separation tank for separating loose material entering the tank with a stream of air, from the stream of air;    an inlet port for coupling to collection tools;    a vacuum port for coupling to a vacuum source; and    an open lower end configured to connect to an interface to a wheelbarrow in a manner that the vacuum source may create a partial vacuum in the separation tank and the wheelbarrow.