Mobile vacuum excavation attachment for vehicle

Abstract

A mobile, platform mounted excavator which may include a vacuum container and a device which will create a vacuum condition within the vacuum container. A water container, water pump, hoses and spray nozzles may be mounted on the platform and may be used for cleaning, jettering out conduits, and loosening earthen material. An articulated boom may be pivotably mounted on the platform and the articulated boom may have the added feature of having a means for coupling and supporting in stabilizing in place, auxiliary tools which are useful for accessing, servicing or repairing in ground utilities. The mobile platform mounted systems may have sensors to measure the physical quantities of the service or repair operation. A data logger, a PLC, an RFID, a camera, a GPS, a utility mapping program and wireless communication may be used for documenting, displaying and storing data related to a utility servicing operation. The above described mobile platform system may be mounted to a variety of vehicles.

1 . A platform mounted, vacuum system for mounting to a skid steer comprising: a mobile platform; a connection means for connecting said mobile platform to a skid steer; a vacuum container means for storing solids or liquid; a vacuum producing means for creating a vacuum environment within said vacuum container; and a vacuum conduit means for conveying air, liquid or solids into said vacuum container; wherein said vacuum container means, said vacuum producing means, said vacuum conduit means and said skid steer connection means are adjacently mounted on said mobile platform; whereby said mobile platform mounted vacuum system may be quick connected to said skid steer and said vacuum system may be used to vacuum up earthen materials. 
   
   
       2 . A platform mounted water jettering system for mounting to a skid steer comprising: a mobile platform; a connection means for connecting said mobile platform to a skid steer; a water container; a water pump; a conduit means for transporting water; and a hose reel; wherein said water container, said water pump, said conduit means for transporting water, said hose reel and said skid steer connection means are adjacently mounted on said mobile platform; whereby said mobile platform mounted water jettering system may be quick connected to said skid steer and said water jettering system may be used for cutting through earthen material and cleaning drainage pipes. 
   
   
       3 . A platform mounted, articulated boom system for mounting to a skid steer comprising: a mobile platform; a connection means for connecting said mobile platform to a skid steer; an articulated boom having a first end and a second end; and said first end of said boom being pivot ably mounted on said mobile platform and said second end of said articulated boom having an attachment means for attaching a tool; wherein said tool is selected from the group consisting of an earth digging bucket, a telescoping vacuum conduit, a sensor for locating a buried utility, a water spray nozzle, a manhole cover remover, a cutting tool, a grinding tool, a saw, a blasting tool, a surface cleaning tool, a demolition tool, a torque wrench, a tractor to pull a vacuum hose, a jetter hose reel, a jetter nozzle, a monitor, controls to operate the attachments and their function, and a camera and power source to operate it, whereby said platform system may be quick connected to said skid steer and said skid steer can mobilize said platform mounted boom and said articulated boom may move said tool into a position to service an in ground utility and said boom may secure said tool in position as the service work is being performed. 
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  3 , wherein a water jettering system comprising a water container, a water pump, a conduit for transporting water, and a hose reel are adjacently mounted on said mobile platform; whereby said water jettering system may be used for loosening earthen material in order to improve it's vacuum ability and the water jettering system may be used for cutting through earthen material and cleaning drainage pipes. 
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  or  2 , and further comprises an articulated boom having a first end and a second end; said first end of said articulated boom is pivot ably mounted adjacent to said mobile platform and said second end of said articulated boom having an attachment means for mounting a tool; wherein said tool is selected from the group consisting of an earth digging bucket, a telescoping vacuum conduit, a sensor for locating a buried utility, a water spray nozzle, a manhole cover remover, a cutting tool, a grinding tool, a saw, a blasting tool, a surface cleaning tool, a demolition tool, a torque wrench, a tractor to pull a vacuum hose, a jetter hose reel, a jetter nozzle, a monitor, controls to operate the attachments an their function, and a camera and power source to operate it. 
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a water jettering system comprising a water container, a water pump, a conduit for transporting water, and a hose reel are adjacently mounted on said mobile platform; whereby said water jettering system may be used for loosening earthen material in order to improve it's vacuum ability and the water jettering system may be used for cutting through earthen material and cleaning drainage pipes; and wherein said mobile platform further comprises an articulated boom having one or more articulated arms; and said boom having a first end and a second end; and said first end of said articulated boom is pivot ably mounted adjacent to said mobile platform and said second end of said articulated boom having an attachment means for mounting a tool; wherein said tool is selected from the group consisting of an earth digging bucket, a telescoping vacuum conduit, a sensor for locating buried utilities, a water spray nozzle, a manhole cover remover, a cutting tool, a grinding tool, a saw, a blasting tool, a surface cleaning tool, a demolition tool, a torque wrench, a tractor to pull vacuum hose, a jetter hose reel, a jetter nozzle, a monitor, controls to operate the attachments and their function, and a camera and power source to operate it; whereby said mobile platform systems may be used to service in ground utilities. 
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum producing means is powered by a hydraulic motor and said hydraulic motor is adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, whereby said hydraulic motor is powered by pressurized hydraulic fluid which is supplied from said skid steer via hydraulic hoses which flow hydraulic fluid from said skid steer to said hydraulic motor and then return said fluid to said skid steer. 
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said water pump is powered by a hydraulic motor and said hydraulic motor is adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, whereby said hydraulic motor is powered by pressurized hydraulic fluid which is supplied from said skid steer via hydraulic hoses which flow hydraulic fluid from said skid steer to said hydraulic motor and then return said fluid to said skid steer. 
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , and further comprising a hydraulic motor adjacently mounted on said mobile platform; and further comprising an over hung load adapter adjacently mounted to said hydraulic motor; and further comprising a multi grove pulley adjacently mounted to said over hung load adapter; and further comprising an electric clutch mounted pulley mounted to said vacuum producing means, and further comprising an electric clutch mounted pulley mounted on said water pump, and further comprising drive belts adjacently mounted to said multi grove pulley and said electric clutch mounted pulleys, whereby a single hydraulic motor may belt drive the vacuum producing means and the water pump simultaneously and the electric clutch driven pulleys may be activated or deactivated if on operator chooses to only operate one or the other clutches. 
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , and further comprising one or more hydraulic hoses, hydraulic hose quick connects and hydraulic flow control means for adjusting the flow of hydraulic fluid to said articulated boom arm mounted tools, wherein said hydraulic hose, quick connect and flow control means are adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, whereby hydraulic power is supplied to said tool by pressurized hydraulic fluid which is supplied from said skid steer via said hydraulic hoses which flow hydraulic fluid from said skid steer to said hydraulic tool and then return said fluid to said skid steer. 
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , and further comprising an air filter housing means adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, and further comprising a vacuum hose reel means for storing said vacuum conduit, wherein said filter housing and said vacuum hose reel are adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, whereby said filter housing may have filters positioned within it for removing solids from air and said vacuum hose reel may have a rotary joint and connecting vacuum conduit adjacently mounted so as to allow said vacuum hose to vacuum solids or liquid into said vacuum container while said vacuum hose is partially rolled up on said hose reel. 
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  and further comprising an attachment means for mounting said mobile platform to an attachment receiving means of said skid steer wherein said attachment means is adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, whereby said mobile platform attachment means is made to fit and couple with a predetermined skid steer attachment receiving means for attaching implement tool. 
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,  2  or  3  and further comprising a wireless communication transmitter/receiver adjacently mounted on said mobile platform whereby the operating functions of said mobile platform mounted systems may have remote wireless transfer of data. 
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said vacuum container further comprises an access opening, an access door and a powered telescoping cylinder wherein said access door is adjacently mounted to said vacuum container access opening and said powered telescoping cylinder has a first end and a second end and said first end of said cylinder is mounted adjacent to said vacuum container and said second end of said cylinder is mounted adjacent to said access door, whereby said access door is opened or closed by retracting or extending said powered telescoping cylinder. 
   
   
       16 . A mobile vacuum excavation and data documenting system comprising: a mobile platform means for transporting said system; a vacuum container means for storing solids or liquids; a vacuum producing means for creating a vacuum environment within said vacuum container; a vacuum conduit means for vacuuming air, liquid or solids into said vacuum container; a sensor means for measuring a physical quantity; a GPS signal receiver means for documenting a position; and a data logger means for recording data over time; wherein said vacuum container, said vacuum producing means, said vacuum conduit, said sensor, said GPS signal receiver, and said data logger are adjacently mounted on said mobile platform, whereby said mobile vacuum excavation and data documenting system may excavate an access to a utility and document data relative to the event such as the physical location of the event, when the event started, what took place during the event, and when the event was completed. 
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 1 ,  2 ,  3  or  16 , wherein said platform mounted system, further comprises a data gathering means for documenting the operation of said system and said data gathering means is selected from the group consisting of an RFID tag means for establishing identification; an RFID transmitter means for use with said RFID tag; a GPS signal receiver means for documenting a position; a data logger means for recording data over time; a PLC means for producing output responses relative to input conditions; a sensor means for measuring a physical quantity and converting the measurement into output data; a camera means for recording images; a wireless communication means for transferring information without electrical conductors or wires; and a utility mapping system means for capturing, storing, analyzing, editing, managing, or displaying geological information; whereby the mobile platform mounted system may have sensors for measuring physical quantities relative to a utility service event or repair operation; a data logger; a PLC; an RFID; a camera; a GPS; a utility mapping program; or wireless communication; for documenting, controlling, displaying or storing data related to said service event, repair operation or the like; thus documenting who did the service, the physical location of the service, when the service started, what took place during the service event, when the service was completed, how the service event effected the overall utility system, update the utility data storage archives, and generate reports to those with a need to know.