An apparatus for installing multiple strands of hose below a surface of terrain is provided. The apparatus comprises a chassis and rotating trenching blade assemblies connected to the chassis. The trenching blade assemblies are configured to dig parallel trenches when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain. Curved hose guides are connected to the chassis in trailing positions behind the trenching blades. Each hose guide receives hose from a hose reel on reel mounts connected to the chassis and deposits the hose into a trench dug by a trenching blade assembly. Trench fillers connected to the chassis trail the hose guides. Each trench filler is aligned with a respective hose guide and comprises a number of blades configured to push soil excavated from a trench back into the trench when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain.

A trench cutting apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising a central support element comprising at least one jetting outlet and a cutting element configured to be driven around the central support element. The trench cutting apparatus is configured to be operable in a mechanical cutting mode in which the cutting element is driven around the central support element to cut material forward of the trench cutting apparatus, and a jet cutting mode in which a pump is activated to eject fluid from the at least one jetting outlet to fluidize or cut material forward of the trench cutting apparatus.

A ground level primary electrical distribution system deploys terrain mounted or essentially terrain flush pipes that protect suppress ignition from fires that may occur if components fail within the pipes. The pipes can be deployed in remote and rugged terrain where overhead power lines poses fire risks from wind damage and it is impractical and disruptive to bury the electricity conducting cable or deployed along roadways or field at ground level or essentially flush with the ground to avoid excavation yet avoid the use of overhead power lines that can be subject to damage from high wind. The pipes can follow the terrain between junctions over rigid segments formed by a plurality of end-to-end coupled enclosures, while the conductors are protected within jacketing or flow through flexible insulating and isolating conduits within the more rigid pipes.

A hot patch box and spray wand configured to install a hot patch fill into a microtrench cut into a roadway. A method of sealing a microtrench using the hot patch box.

A microtrench gravel installer configured to install gravel into a microtrench at a precise gravel layer thickness using a gravel leveler and/or a premeasured gravel box. A hot patch fill wand and box surrounding the wand configured for installing a hot patch fill sealant into a microtrench. A method of filling and sealing a microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct using the microtrench gravel installer to precisely fill a microtrench to a desired gravel layer thickness.

A microtrench gravel installer configured to install gravel into a microtrench at a precise gravel layer thickness using a gravel leveler and/or a premeasured gravel box. A hot patch fill wand and box surrounding the wand configured for installing a hot patch fill sealant into a microtrench. A method of filling and sealing a microtrench containing an optical fiber and/or innerduct/microduct using the microtrench gravel installer to precisely fill a microtrench to a desired gravel layer thickness.

A laybox having a body formed from opposing first and second elongated sheets of steel defining an elongated chamber between them, the body having a thickness of 1 to 6 inches to fit within a microtrench, and a front end of the body configured to face a microtrencher cutting blade and a back end of the body opposing the first end; and a cable guide disposed in the elongated chamber configured to guide an optical fiber cable and/or microduct/innerduct through the chamber. A method of cutting a microtrench and installing optical fiber cable and/or innerduct/microduct in the microtrench.

A laybox having a body formed from opposing first and second elongated sheets of steel defining an elongated chamber between them, the body having a thickness of 1 to 6 inches to fit within a microtrench, and a front end of the body configured to face a microtrencher cutting blade and a back end of the body opposing the first end; and a cable guide disposed in the elongated chamber configured to guide an optical fiber cable and/or microduct/innerduct through the chamber. A method of cutting a microtrench and installing optical fiber cable and/or innerduct/microduct in the microtrench.

A vehicle is provided for installing in a prepared area along a ground surface a protective structural support proximate a buried pipeline in an automated manner. The vehicle includes a chassis with a plurality of wheels and a payload release mechanism coupled to the chassis and including a roller for holding the protective structural support. The payload release mechanism is configured to dispense and lay down the protective structural support in the prepared area. The vehicle includes a liquid dispensing mechanism that is coupled to the chassis and is located downstream of the payload release mechanism. The liquid dispensing mechanism includes a liquid source and a dispenser that is in fluid communication with the liquid source and is configured to dispense liquid across a spray area.

A vehicle is provided for installing in a prepared area along a ground surface a protective structural support proximate a buried pipeline in an automated manner. The vehicle includes a chassis with a plurality of wheels and a payload release mechanism coupled to the chassis and including a roller for holding the protective structural support. The payload release mechanism is configured to dispense and lay down the protective structural support in the prepared area. The vehicle includes a liquid dispensing mechanism that is coupled to the chassis and is located downstream of the payload release mechanism. The liquid dispensing mechanism includes a liquid source and a dispenser that is in fluid communication with the liquid source and is configured to dispense liquid across a spray area.