Vacuum vehicle with electrically non-conductive boom

Abstract

A vacuum vehicle where some or all of the boom used to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose is electrically non-conductive. If the boom happens to contact an electrical line or other carrier of electrical energy, electrical energy will not be transmitted from the electrical line into the boom due to the electrically non-conductive nature of the boom, thereby protecting the vacuum vehicle, its equipment, and any worker on or near the vacuum vehicle.

1 . A vacuum vehicle, comprising:
 a chassis;   wheels connected to the chassis that support the chassis on the ground for rolling movement of the vacuum vehicle;   a vacuum system mounted on the chassis, the vacuum system includes a collection tank and a vacuum hose in communication with an interior of the collection tank;   a boom attached to the vacuum hose, the boom includes a first, mounted end and a second, free end that defines a tip of the boom, the boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end toward a mid-point of the boom, and the boom is movable relative to the collection tank to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose;   a driver's cab attached to the chassis; and   an engine powering the vacuum vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end to the mid-point of the boom. 
     
     
         3 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end to the first, mounted end. 
     
     
         4 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the boom is constructed from an electrically non-conductive material from the second, free end toward the mid-point of the boom. 
     
     
         5 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the boom includes a layer of electrically non-conductive material that extends from the second, free end toward the mid-point of the boom. 
     
     
         6 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum truck is configured as a sewer cleaning vehicle. 
     
     
         7 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum vehicle is configured as a vacuum excavator. 
     
     
         8 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum vehicle is configured as an industrial vacuum loader. 
     
     
         9 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum vehicle is a self-propelled vacuum truck. 
     
     
         10 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the vacuum vehicle is a towed vacuum trailer. 
     
     
         11 . A vacuum vehicle, comprising:
 a vacuum system mounted on a chassis, the vacuum system includes a collection tank and a vacuum hose in communication with an interior of the collection tank;   an electrically non-conductive boom attached to the vacuum hose, the electrically non-conductive boom includes a first, mounted end and a second, free end that defines a tip of the electrically non-conductive boom, and the electrically non-conductive boom is movable relative to the collection tank to manipulate the position of the vacuum hose.   
     
     
         12 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the electrically non-conductive boom is electrically non-conductive from the second, free end to the first, mounted end. 
     
     
         13 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the electrically non-conductive boom is constructed from an electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         14 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the electrically non-conductive boom includes a layer of electrically non-conductive material. 
     
     
         15 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum vehicle is a self-propelled vacuum truck. 
     
     
         16 . The vacuum vehicle of  claim 11 , wherein the vacuum vehicle is a towed vacuum trailer.