A method of cutting a microtrench in which the buried utility is exposed by opening an access hole in a roadway above the buried utility using a roadway access hole drill that rotates and vibrates the drill bit. A roadway access hole drill having a down-the-hole jack-hammer drill bit and a motor to rotate the down-the-hole jack-hammer drill.

A machine and method utilize a tracked undercarriage including a frame with a central body, front and rear transverse assemblies connected to the central body and extending on opposite sides. Each of a pair of lateral tracks is connected, at the front and at the rear, to ends of the transverse assemblies. The base machine includes excavation equipment having different working positions/configurations. Each of a pair of front load cells of the tracked undercarriage is mounted between a lateral track and the front transverse assembly. Each of a pair of rear load cells is mounted between a lateral track and the rear transverse assembly. Each load detects force data indicating the reaction force exerted between the associated lateral track and the respective transverse assembly. A control system computes a barycentre planar position of the machine situated substantially at a reference plane computed as a function of the force data.

An assembly for driving excavating equipment for an excavating machine includes a drive assembly sliding along a mast of a machine, for driving the drilling equipment; and an actuator. The drive assembly includes a first structure with guide members for sliding along the mast; and a second support structure to support the drilling equipment. The first and second support structures are mutually movable. The drive assembly has at least two operating configurations, for setting at least two excavation center-to-center distances. In the operating configurations of the drive assembly, the first and second support structures are mutually rigidly and directly constrained. While switching between operating configurations, the first and second support structures are always directly mechanically constrained to each other. The actuator controls movement between the first structure and the second support structure and carries out further operative functions for driving parts of an excavating machine or drilling equipment.

An assembly for driving excavating equipment for an excavating machine includes a drive assembly sliding along a mast of a machine, for driving the drilling equipment; and an actuator. The drive assembly includes a first structure with guide members for sliding along the mast; and a second support structure to support the drilling equipment. The first and second support structures are mutually movable. The drive assembly has at least two operating configurations, for setting at least two excavation center-to-center distances. In the operating configurations of the drive assembly, the first and second support structures are mutually rigidly and directly constrained. While switching between operating configurations, the first and second support structures are always directly mechanically constrained to each other. The actuator controls movement between the first structure and the second support structure and carries out further operative functions for driving parts of an excavating machine or drilling equipment.

An apparatus for installing a land anchor of a foundation in an earthen surface includes an articulated arm assembly including a first linear actuator and a drill configured to releasably couple to a helical member, and a control system coupled to the articulated arm assembly and configured to operate the first linear actuator in a free-floating mode configured to maintain an installation angle between the drill and the earthen surface as the helical member is drilled into the earthen surface.

An apparatus for installing a land anchor of a foundation in an earthen surface includes an articulated arm assembly including a first linear actuator and a drill configured to releasably couple to a helical member, and a control system coupled to the articulated arm assembly and configured to operate the first linear actuator in a free-floating mode configured to maintain an installation angle between the drill and the earthen surface as the helical member is drilled into the earthen surface.

Construction equipment is provided that can include: a transport assembly operably supporting a platform, the platform having a leading edge opposing a rearward edge, the leading edge associated with a first direction of the transport assembly, and the rearward edge associated with a second direction of the transportation assembly; an operator cab above the platform and aligned closer to the leading edge than the rearward edge; an engine above the platform and aligned closer to the rearward edge than the leading edge; and a boom pivotably attached above the platform closer to the rearward edge than the leading edge, the boom being movable between a first position fully extended and a second position fully raised. Utility line pole placement and/or removal construction methods are provided that can include extending an extension assembly having a banana boom from a transport assembly to couple with a utility line pole.

The invention provides a transmission mechanism for an electric drill and the electric drill including the transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism includes a primary planet carrier, a gear assembly, a secondary planet carrier, and a secondary gear assembly. The gear assembly comprises a primary gear ring and a primary gear set located in the primary gear ring. The primary gear set has two primary planetary gear sets mounted on the primary planetary gear shaft. The secondary planet carrier is provided with secondary planetary gear shafts and an output shaft. The secondary gear assembly includes a secondary gear ring and a secondary planetary gear set. The secondary planetary gear set is pivotably mounted on the secondary planetary gear shafts, an outer side of the secondary planetary gear set engages with the secondary gear ring, and an inner side of thereof engages with the sun gear.

Construction equipment is provided that can include: a transport assembly operably supporting a platform, the platform having a leading edge opposing a rearward edge, the leading edge associated with a first direction of the transport assembly, and the rearward edge associated with a second direction of the transportation assembly; an operator cab above the platform and aligned closer to the leading edge than the rearward edge; an engine above the platform and aligned closer to the rearward edge than the leading edge; and a boom pivotably attached above the platform closer to the rearward edge than the leading edge, the boom being movable between a first position fully extended and a second position fully raised. Utility line pole placement and/or removal construction methods are provided that can include extending an extension assembly having a banana boom from a transport assembly to couple with a utility line pole.

A materials handling vehicle having a chassis, two front ground engaging wheels, two rear ground engaging wheels, a front loading arm pivotally mounted relative to the chassis about a generally horizontal front loading arm axis extending laterally relative to the vehicle, a rear arm being a single rigid rear arm and being pivotally mounted at a first end relative to the chassis about a generally horizontal first axis, the rear arm being pivotable relative to the chassis about a generally vertical second axis and a piling rig for removing spoil to form a hole, the piling rig being pivotally mounted at a second end of the rear arm about a generally horizontal third axis extending laterally relative to the arm.