Hydrovac

Abstract

A hydrovac having a chassis, a mud tank and water tank assembly mounted on the chassis, a hydraulic lift assembly capable of raising the mud tank and water tank assembly through a dump angle, the mud tank having a floor. A belt drive is provided for a blower of the hydrovac, along with belt tensioning system.

1 . A hydrovac, comprising:
 a chassis supporting a mud tank, water tank and a blower for the mud tank;   a split shaft drive system mounted on the chassis;   a split shaft box on the split shaft drive system; and   a belt drive for the blower powered by the split shaft box.   
     
     
         2 . The hydrovac of  claim 1  in which the belt drive comprises a drive pulley on the split shaft box, a blower pulley on the blower and a belt connecting the drive pulley and the blower pulley. 
     
     
         3 . The hydrovac of  claim 2  in which the belt drive comprises a tensioning system for the belt. 
     
     
         4 . The hydrovac of  claim 3  in which the tensioning system is pneumatically driven. 
     
     
         5 . The hydrovac of  claim 4  in which the tensioning system comprises an upper air bag and a lower air bag, the upper air bag being arranged to tighten the belt, and the lower air bag being arranged to loosen the belt. 
     
     
         6 . The hydrovac of  claim 1  in which the mud tank is articulated to the hydrovac vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . A hydrovac having an engine, a chassis, a water tank assembly mounted on the chassis, a mud tank articulated to the chassis, and a hydraulic lift assembly capable of raising the mud tank assembly through a dump angle. 
     
     
         8 . The hydrovac of  claim 7  further comprising a drive shaft on the chassis, a blower mounted on the chassis and a belt drive connected between the drive shaft and blower to drive the blower. 
     
     
         9 . The hydrovac of  claim 8  in which the belt drive has a pneumatically operated tensioning system.