A machine for filling a trench. The machine comprises a tub, release assembly, and a hopper. The tub mixes a material to be filled into the trench. The release assembly releases the material into the hopper and the material flows from the hopper and into the trench. The machine moves parallel to the trench as the trench is being filled. A compactor assembly may follow behind the hopper and pack material into the trench. An operator controls the movement of the machine from an operator station on the machine.

A mobile digging and backfill system for removing and collecting material above a buried utility. The system comprises a mobile chassis, a collection tank mounted to the chassis, a water pump mounted to the chassis for delivering a pressurized liquid flow against the material for loosening the material at a location, a vacuum pump connected to the collection tank so that an air stream created by the vacuum pump draws the material and the fluid from the location into the collection tank, and at least one backfill reservoir mounted to the chassis for carrying backfill for placement at the location.

A machine for backfilling pavement material into a trench defined within a pavement surface includes a frame defining a longitudinal axis and having at least one wheel. The frame being configured to move along the pavement surface. A hopper supported on the frame and including an inlet opening configured to receive pavement material and an outlet opening configured to discharge pavement material into the trench. The machine also includes a compactor supported on the frame and aligned with the hopper along the longitudinal axis. The compactor is configured to compact the discharged pavement material within the trench.

A device for sorting particulate material includes a main conveyor belt, a separation screen, a graded material conveyor, and an oversize material conveyor. The separation screen is configured to separate the material into a first portion and a second portion with a larger average particle diameter than the first portion. The graded material conveyor is positioned below the separation screen to receive the first portion of the material, and the oversize material conveyor is positioned at an end of the separation screen to receive the second portion of the material.

Provided is a microtrencher having a utility avoidance system that detects objects buried under the roadway, identifies whether the buried object is a utility and determines whether the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel. If the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel, an alert is sent to the operator, the vehicle is stopped, and/or the cutting wheel is raised in relation to the roadway.

A machine for filling a trench comprises a tub, release assembly, and a hopper. The tub mixes a material to be filled into the trench. The release assembly releases the material into the hopper and the material flows from the hopper and into the trench. The machine moves parallel to the trench as the trench is being filled. An operator controls the movement of the machine from an operator station on the machine.

A self-cleaning elevator flight bracket system is described for attachment to an elevator or conveyor flight for pipeline padding and backfill operations. The system is designed for bolt-on installation to padding equipment elevator flights, or cleated conveyor feeders. Built-up soil, clay, and other debris, which interfere with elevator drive mechanisms, are self-cleaned with the system. The assembly is universal to fit a variety of existing bolt patterns on elevator flight plates or feeder conveyor cleats. Flexible cables are directed to engage and remove excessive backfill material build-up. While operating padding machinery in heavy soil, or clay, material builds up in the space between the elevator flights and the elevator side wall. This leads to impeding the drive mechanism. With the use of the presently described elevator flight bracket and flexible cable or fingers, the upward movement of the elevator acts to self-clean the machinery and allows for longer operation.

An earth working implement has a main frame, a main blade supported on the main frame transversely to the forward direction, and two wing blades pivotally supported at opposing ends of the main blade for movement between forward and rearward projecting orientations. A tilt actuator controls angular orientation of the main blade relative to the main frame about a lateral axis. Two rear wheels support the rear end of the frame for rolling along the ground. A hitch arm extends forwardly from a pivotal connection of the main frame for connection to a towing vehicle so as to vary in angular orientation relative to the main frame independently of the main blade. Furrow openers in a laterally spaced apart row are movable relative to the main frame between a working position protruding below the cutting edge of the main blade and a raised storage position.

A device for sorting particulate material includes a main conveyor belt, a separation screen, a graded material conveyor, and an oversize material conveyor. The separation screen is configured to separate the material into a first portion and a second portion with a larger average particle diameter than the first portion. The graded material conveyor is positioned below the separation screen to receive the first portion of the material, and the oversize material conveyor is positioned at an end of the separation screen to receive the second portion of the material.

A system for measuring the depth and location of a buried pipeline includes a probe having a GPS receiver, an elevation sensor, and a removable tablet computer for capturing data corresponding to the position and elevation of an underground pipeline and the corresponding soil surface covering the pipeline. Collected data is aggregated at a central computer which produces topographical maps of the pipeline's current relationship to the soil and calculates a desired soil covering. The calculated amount and placement of soil to achieve a desired end topography is used in abatement of any soil erosion or compaction. In alternative embodiments the required soil for abatement is transmitted to earth moving equipment.