A system for excavating sediment deposits from water storage reservoirs that equalizes the mass flow of sediment entering the reservoir with the sediment mass in the combined discharge from a dredge and the reservoir outlet system to the downstream water course. One or more remote instrument stations located on the inflow streams to the reservoir collect data that is used by the dredge control system to adjust the mass flow output from the dredge using data collected from the remote reservoir outlet instrumentation located downstream of the reservoir.

A system for excavating sediment deposits from water storage reservoirs that equalizes the mass flow of sediment entering the reservoir with the sediment mass in the combined discharge from a dredge and the reservoir outlet system to the downstream water course. One or more remote instrument stations located on the inflow streams to the reservoir collect data that is used by the dredge control system to adjust the mass flow output from the dredge using data collected from the remote reservoir outlet instrumentation located downstream of the reservoir.

The present invention relates to a laying machine for laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire including: a blade arrangement (2) for making a trench (5) in the ground, a consolidation and laying means (3) being arranged behind the blade arrangement (2), for clearing and safeguarding the trench (5) from collapsing while laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire into the trench. A blade assembly comprising compartments for cooling fluid.

The present invention relates to a laying machine for laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire including: a blade arrangement (2) for making a trench (5) in the ground, a consolidation and laying means (3) being arranged behind the blade arrangement (2), for clearing and safeguarding the trench (5) from collapsing while laying at least one flexible casing or tube, cable or wire into the trench. A blade assembly comprising compartments for cooling fluid.

An offloading vacuum system. The system has a tank to capture debris from an excavation site. The debris is pulled into the tank due to a blower pulling air into an attached hose. An internal conveyor within the tank conveys material to an offloading hub. The offloading hub has a ground-facing door which opens to deposit debris into an external conveyor. The external conveyor, when deployed, can move debris from below the tank to a dump container with a wall greater than a height of the tank.

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.

A system and method for various levels of automation of a swing-to-hopper motion for a rope shovel. An operator controls a rope shovel during a dig operation to load a dipper with materials. A controller receives position data, either via operator input or sensor data, for the dipper and a hopper where the materials are to be dumped. The controller then calculates an ideal path for the dipper to travel to be positioned above the hopper to dump the contents of the dipper. In some embodiments, the controller outputs operator feedback to assist the operator in traveling along the ideal path to the hopper. In some embodiments, the controller restricts the dipper motion such that the operator is not able to deviate beyond certain limits of the ideal path. In some embodiments, the controller automatically controls the movement of the dipper to reach the hopper.

A ditch cutting and excavation spoil removal apparatus creates ditches and land contours while simultaneously removing excavation spoil from the banks of newly created ditches. The apparatus includes an excavation spoil collection box and an adjustable plow saddle that supports a plowshare. The spoil collection box has a vertically adjustable rectangular frame with an open front and bottom. The pivotally mounted plow saddle may be tilted upward and downward through the bottom of the excavation box frame for adjustment of the plowshare and, correspondingly, the depth of the ditch being cut. Excavation spoil is collected in the spoil collection box as the apparatus is moved along the ground surface and is removed by raising the spoil collection box.

A ditch cutting and excavation spoil removal apparatus creates ditches and land contours while simultaneously removing excavation spoil from the banks of newly created ditches. The apparatus includes an excavation spoil collection box and an adjustable plow saddle that supports a plowshare. The spoil collection box has a vertically adjustable rectangular frame with an open front and bottom. The pivotally mounted plow saddle may be tilted upward and downward through the bottom of the excavation box frame for adjustment of the plowshare and, correspondingly, the depth of the ditch being cut. Excavation spoil is collected in the spoil collection box as the apparatus is moved along the ground surface and is removed by raising the spoil collection box.

A system and method for various levels of automation of a swing-to-hopper motion for a rope shovel. An operator controls a rope shovel during a dig operation to load a dipper with materials. A controller receives position data, either via operator input or sensor data, for the dipper and a hopper where the materials are to be dumped. The controller then calculates an ideal path for the dipper to travel to be positioned above the hopper to dump the contents of the dipper. In some embodiments, the controller outputs operator feedback to assist the operator in traveling along the ideal path to the hopper. In some embodiments, the controller restricts the dipper motion such that the operator is not able to deviate beyond certain limits of the ideal path. In some embodiments, the controller automatically controls the movement of the dipper to reach the hopper.