A microtrencher having a vacuum system configured to clean spoil from a microtrench having a side shroud and a suction nozzle. A method of using the microtrencher to cut a microtrench in a roadway and using the vacuum system to clean spoil from the roadway and microtrench.

An apparatus for forming a trench in a sea floor and/or displacing material on the sea floor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and front skids mounted to the body for engaging the sea floor and supporting the body. The front skids are adjustable between a first mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor, and a second mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor adjacent the trench and at the trench walls.

An apparatus for forming a trench in a sea floor and/or displacing material on the sea floor is disclosed. The apparatus comprises a body and front skids mounted to the body for engaging the sea floor and supporting the body. The front skids are adjustable between a first mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor, and a second mode, in which the front skids engage the sea floor adjacent the trench and at the trench walls.

A ground thawing device. The ground thawing device includes an insulated rectangular housing defining an interior volume with parallel sidewalls, end walls, and an open bottom. A pipe having a burn chamber connected to a first end and a second end adapted to connect to an external source of combustible gases is configured to be received through apertures disposed on the end walls. Perforations disposed along the length of the pipe allow for the combustible gas to be released in the interior volume of the housing. The burn chamber allows for an ignition source to be applied to the combustible gases carried therein. Once ignited, heat emanating from the pipe warms the interior volume and thaws the ground beneath, softening frozen soil to be excavated.

A ground thawing device. The ground thawing device includes an insulated rectangular housing defining an interior volume with parallel sidewalls, end walls, and an open bottom. A pipe having a burn chamber connected to a first end and a second end adapted to connect to an external source of combustible gases is configured to be received through apertures disposed on the end walls. Perforations disposed along the length of the pipe allow for the combustible gas to be released in the interior volume of the housing. The burn chamber allows for an ignition source to be applied to the combustible gases carried therein. Once ignited, heat emanating from the pipe warms the interior volume and thaws the ground beneath, softening frozen soil to be excavated.

Described herein are tools, systems and methods for conditioning, strengthening and/or improving in situ soil geotechnical or agricultural properties while at least temporarily reducing soil density, energy requirements and tool wear.

Described herein are tools, systems and methods for conditioning, strengthening and/or improving in situ soil geotechnical or agricultural properties while at least temporarily reducing soil density, energy requirements and tool wear.

A rock claw for attaching to a corner of a demolition hammer, the rock claw including a first wall having a first inner side surface, a second wall having a second inner side surface joined to the first inner side surface along a first intersection, and a third wall having a third inner side surface. The third inner side surface is joined to the first inner side surface along a second intersection and the third inner side surface is joined to the second inner side surface along a third intersection.

The invention relates to the field of excavation systems, and more particularly to excavation systems including tools for excavation by electric pulses. An excavation system of the invention comprises a support frame (34), a hydraulic circuit with a pump, and first and second excavation tools. One of said first and second excavation tools is a mechanical excavation tool (1) having a hydraulic actuator and a mounting interface with at least one mechanical fastener member and at least one hydraulic coupling in fluid flow communication with said hydraulic actuator, while the other one of said first and second excavation tools is a tool (1) for excavation by electric pulses, comprising an electricity generator (3) with a rotary shaft for generating electricity from rotation of the rotary shaft, a hydraulic motor coupled to said rotary shaft to drive rotation of the rotary shaft, and an electronic power module (4) electrically connected to the electricity generator (3) in order to be powered by the electricity generator (3) so as to generate electric pulses of instantaneous power that is higher than an instantaneous power of the electricity generator (3), a plurality of electrodes (5a, 5p) including at least one electrode (5a) connected to said electronic power module (4), the electrodes being arranged on said front face, and a mounting interface (14) with at least one mechanical fastener member (22), and at least one hydraulic coupling (20) in fluid flow communication with said hydraulic motor (2). Each of the mounting interfaces of the first and second excavation tools is suitable for releasably mounting the corresponding excavation tool in alternation under the support frame (34) of the excavation system, with the corresponding hydraulic coupling in fluid flow communication with said hydraulic circuit of the excavation assembly.

Described herein are tools, systems and methods for conditioning, strengthening and/or improving in situ soil geotechnical or agricultural properties while at least temporarily reducing soil density, energy requirements, and tool wear.