US 12,077,936 B2
Hydro excavation vacuum apparatus
Andy Strobel, Knoxville, IA (US); Corey Lanoue, Pella, IA (US); Daniel Hofland, Pella, IA (US); Adam Bates, Leighton, IA (US); David Gift, Pella, IA (US); Tayte Askelsen, Pella, IA (US); James W. Skinner, Pella, IA (US); and Nathan J. Meyer, Knoxville, IA (US)
Assigned to Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
Filed by Vermeer Manufacturing Company, Pella, IA (US)
Filed on Jan. 13, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/740,630.
Application 16/740,630 is a continuation of application No. 16/630,057, granted, now 11,499,290, previously published as PCT/US2018/041934, filed on Jul. 13, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/532,853, filed on Jul. 14, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2020/0149245 A1, May 14, 2020
Int. Cl. E21B 7/18 (2006.01); B01D 33/03 (2006.01); B01D 33/80 (2006.01); B04C 5/14 (2006.01); B04C 5/28 (2006.01); B04C 9/00 (2006.01); E02F 3/88 (2006.01); E02F 3/90 (2006.01); E02F 3/92 (2006.01); E02F 3/94 (2006.01); E02F 5/22 (2006.01); E02F 7/06 (2006.01); F04B 15/02 (2006.01); F04B 23/02 (2006.01); F04B 23/04 (2006.01); F04B 43/12 (2006.01); B01D 45/16 (2006.01); B04C 5/26 (2006.01); B07B 1/30 (2006.01); E02F 9/14 (2006.01); F04B 45/08 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 5/226 (2013.01) [B01D 33/0353 (2013.01); B01D 33/804 (2013.01); B04C 5/14 (2013.01); B04C 5/28 (2013.01); B04C 9/00 (2013.01); E02F 3/8816 (2013.01); E02F 3/8891 (2013.01); E02F 3/907 (2013.01); E02F 3/925 (2013.01); E02F 3/9262 (2013.01); E02F 3/9268 (2013.01); E02F 3/9275 (2013.01); E02F 3/94 (2013.01); E02F 7/06 (2013.01); F04B 15/02 (2013.01); F04B 15/023 (2013.01); F04B 23/02 (2013.01); F04B 23/04 (2013.01); F04B 43/1253 (2013.01); B01D 45/16 (2013.01); B04C 5/26 (2013.01); B04C 2009/005 (2013.01); B07B 1/30 (2013.01); E02F 9/14 (2013.01); F04B 45/08 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. Hydro excavation vacuum apparatus for excavating earthen material comprising:
a wand that discharges pressurized water toward an excavation site to cut the earthen material;
a vacuum system comprising a vacuum pump and a dig tube, wherein the vacuum pump pulls an airstream through the dig tube to remove the earthen material and water from the excavation site via the airstream;
a separation vessel that receives the airstream from the vacuum system and removes the earthen material and water from the airstream;
an airlock that receives material from the separation vessel and discharges the earthen material and water through an airlock outlet; and
a dewatering system that separates water from the earthen material discharged from the airlock outlet, the dewatering system comprising:
a slat assembly that receives material discharged from the airlock outlet, the slat assembly comprising a plurality of slats with openings formed between the plurality of slats; and
a vibratory screen that receives material that passes through the slat assembly oriented proximate the vibratory screen in a stacked configuration, wherein the vibratory screen separates the material that passes through the slat assembly by size and falls from the slat assembly to the vibratory screen, the vibratory screen having openings sized smaller than the openings between the plurality of slats of the slat assembly, the plurality of slats being spaced from the vibratory screen.