Hydro excavation vacuum apparatus that process spoil material onboard the apparatus by separating water from the cut earthen material are disclosed.

An apparatus for use with an excavation machine to move ground material comprises a bucket configured for collecting ground material and an internal material expulsion device in the bucket and configured for discharging the collected ground material through a rear opening of the bucket, which is opposite to a front opening through which material passes into the bucket during digging. The apparatus includes a deflection member outside the bucket and at or adjacent the rear opening, which is configured to direct discharged material. Thus is provided an apparatus which can be used to substantially simultaneously dig and discharge the excavated material away from the excavated location, in a common digging action.

A method of analyzing minerals received within a mining shovel bucket includes collecting data associated with ore received in the bucket, where the bucket includes at least one active sensor, where the ore includes one or more mineral, and where the ore is within a field of the active sensor. The method further includes determining a content of the minerals using the data, transmitting information relating to the content of the minerals to a decision support system, and sorting or processing the ore based on an output of the decision support system. Collecting data associated with the ores may include generating source signals, applying the source signals to the active sensor, collecting a response from the active sensor, and comparing the response with a reference or threshold. Other features are disclosed.

A method of analyzing minerals received within a mining shovel bucket includes collecting data associated with ore received in the bucket, where the bucket includes at least one active sensor, where the ore includes one or more mineral, and where the ore is within a field of the active sensor. The method further includes determining a content of the minerals using the data, transmitting information relating to the content of the minerals to a decision support system, and sorting or processing the ore based on an output of the decision support system. Collecting data associated with the ores may include generating source signals, applying the source signals to the active sensor, collecting a response from the active sensor, and comparing the response with a reference or threshold. Other features are disclosed.

Microdredging systems comprising a pumping platform and loading platform. In certain embodiments, system operates autonomously and is adapted to allow the loading platform undock from the pumping platform for disposal of the removed sediment.

Provided is a sample collecting method for collecting a sample of soil at a predetermined depth by excavation on an extraterrestrial body or the earth. The method comprises forming a first borehole 70 that reaches a first depth from a land surface 69 by preliminary excavation of soil, the first depth being less than a predetermine sampling depth from the land surface 69; and forming a second borehole 73 that has a smaller opening than the first borehole and reaches a second depth from the land surface by further excavation of soil in the first borehole, the second depth being equal to or greater than the sampling depth, wherein, while forming the second borehole 73, part of soil present at the sampling depth in the second borehole 73 is transferred to the land surface 69 as a sample for analysis.

Embodiments of the invention provide apparatus and method for seabed resources collection. The apparatus comprises a main module and a plurality of seabed resources collecting devices releasably attached to the main module, wherein the main module and the plurality of collecting devices are configured to be launched from a surface vessel towards a seabed; the main module includes a control module which is configured to determine a mining path for each of the collecting devices based on characteristics of the seabed, control each of the collecting devices to collect seabed resources along the determined mining path and control transfer of the seabed resources collected by the collecting devices, wherein each collecting device is configured to be released from the main module after the apparatus is launched, and to collect seabed resources along the mining path determined by the main module after being released.

The invention relates to a suction excavator having a vehicle chassis, a suction fan, and a dumpable material collection container. The material collection container has a collection chamber and is swivelable about a tilt axis that extends parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis, between a working position and an emptying position. Furthermore, a filter unit is provided which is situated in a filter chamber in the material collection container and through which suction flow passes. The filter unit is rotatably mounted on a rotational axis that extends parallel to the tilt axis of the material collection container, wherein in an unlocked state, swiveling of the filter unit about the rotational axis is enabled in order to swivel the filter unit out of the filter chamber, at least in sections.

The invention relates to a device for sorting particulate materials of different grain size that can be part of a construction machine or digger's scoop. The device for sorting has a plurality of helical rollers, each exhibiting at least one helix, wherein each helical roller rotates about a rotary axis of its own, at least two adjacent helical rollers exhibit the same direction of rotation, and the rotary axes of at least three helical rollers are not arranged in a common plane. At least some of the helical rollers are held and rotatably mounted exclusively at one end.

The invention relates to a device for sorting particulate materials of different grain size that can be part of a construction machine or digger's scoop. The device for sorting has a plurality of helical rollers, each exhibiting at least one helix, wherein each helical roller rotates about a rotary axis of its own, at least two adjacent helical rollers exhibit the same direction of rotation, and the rotary axes of at least three helical rollers are not arranged in a common plane. At least some of the helical rollers are held and rotatably mounted exclusively at one end.