Apparatuses that include a nozzle, vacuum units, and vacuum trucks for excavating material, for instance, around buried utility lines. Multiple embodiments include an (e.g., air and water) nozzle, for instance, that breaks up material (e.g., earth) that is picked up with vacuum. Various embodiments include vacuum, compressed air, and water systems. Various nozzles include two passageways or tubes (e.g., one inside the other), exit orifices (e.g., from each passageway), or a combination thereof. Tubes may be concentric or a passageway may be between inner and outer tubes. Nozzles may be configured to be hand guided by an operator while excavating the material. Embodiments may include air and water valves, controls, or both.

A plug device for covering a cavity excavated in the ground. The plug device includes a head defined by a plate having a planar upper surface and a planar lower surface, wherein the plate has a size that corresponds to a size of the excavated cavity. The plug device also includes a plurality of anchor members extending axially away from the planar lower surface, and that are configured to secure the plug device to the cavity.

Novel tools and techniques for new cable provisioning utilizing an applied physical process are provided. A system includes a physical process applicator and a first coupler. The first coupler may be configured to attach to a first end of a first cable. The physical process applicator may be configured to apply a physical process to the first cable, and tension the first cable, via the first coupler. The first coupler may further be configured to cause, via the physical process, the first cable to displace at least some ground material surrounding the first cable, and allow at least part of the first cable to be removed.

A hydraulic excavation apparatus may be used for providing access to a pipeline buried under shallow water or in wetland locations, for example, in order to install an electro-mechanical clamp on the pipeline. This clamp can then be used for connecting externals anodes to the pipeline, for monitoring the level of corrosion protection of the pipeline, or for any other purpose.

A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, the collection tank comprising a closed first end, an open second end defining a tank sealing flange and a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end. An internal chamber defined by the body, the closed first end and the open second end has a door coupled to the open second end and is configured to releasably seal the open second end. An automated door closer is coupled to a center of the door, wherein the automated door closer provides a closing force at the center of the door so that the closing force is equally distributed about a periphery of the door to seal the door against the tank sealing flange.

De-trenching apparatus (100) for extracting a buried line, such as a cable or pipeline, is disclosed. The de-trenching apparatus comprises a channel (112) configured to receive a buried line to be extracted, the channel comprising a first flared opening (114) at a front end of the de-trenching apparatus and a second flared opening (115) at the rear end of the de-trenching apparatus, the first and second flared openings each having a curved surface (111) configured to support the line during extraction, and material removal means for removing material from around the buried line ahead of the de-trenching apparatus.

A core drill apparatus includes a swing arm pivotably couplable to a mobile platform and a core drill carried by the swing arm. The core drill being movable via the swing arm between a stowed position and a deployed position with respect to the mobile platform. An excavation rig incorporating the same is also provided.

A plug device for covering a cavity excavated in the ground. The plug device includes a head defined by a plate having a planar upper surface and a planar lower surface, wherein the plate has a size that corresponds to a size of the excavated cavity. The plug device also includes a plurality of anchor members extending axially away from the planar lower surface, and that are configured to secure the plug device to the cavity.

A collection tank for use in a vacuum operated earth reduction system, the collection tank comprising a closed first end, an open second end defining a tank sealing flange and a body extending between the closed first end and the open second end. An internal chamber defined by the body, the closed first end and the open second end has a door coupled to the open second end and is configured to releasably seal the open second end. An automated door closer is coupled to a center of the door, wherein the automated door closer provides a closing force at the center of the door so that the closing force is equally distributed about a periphery of the door to seal the door against the tank sealing flange.

A hydraulic excavation apparatus may be used for providing access to a pipeline buried under shallow water or in wetland locations, for example, in order to install an electro-mechanical clamp on the pipeline. This clamp can then be used for connecting externals anodes to the pipeline, for monitoring the level of corrosion protection of the pipeline, or for any other purpose.