Improvements in a backfilling sled is disclosed the slurry sled for filling trench holes is pushed or pulled and receives a poured, flow-able medium such as sand or cement for example. The slurry sled self-centers itself over a trench dug or cut in various road or ground surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. The poured flow-able medium enters the top of the unit and flows through the bottom into a trench cut to a specific width and depth as it backfills and levels the backfill material to an evens surface to restore the road or ground surface.

A mobile volumetric concrete mixing system includes a suction system that vacuums up trench spoils while a trench is being cut. These trench spoils are then screened on-site for particle size to be reused and mixed with water, cement, and/or other admixtures at an auger mixer to form a backfill mixture. This backfill mixture may then be loaded into a hopper that continuously agitates the mixture so that the mixture does not harden before pouring. The agitating hopper is coupled to a discharge chute of the auger mixer and includes one or more augers disposed at various orientations that the backfill mixture is channeled through. From the agitating hopper, the backfill mixture is channeled to an applicator that moves along the trench and that enables the mixture to be quickly poured into the trench with little clean-up required.

Improvements in a backfilling sled is disclosed the slurry sled for filling trench holes is pushed or pulled and receives a poured, flow-able medium such as sand or cement for example. The slurry sled self-centers itself over a trench dug or cut in various road or ground surfaces such as concrete or asphalt. The poured flow-able medium enters the top of the unit and flows through the bottom into a trench cut to a specific width and depth as it backfills and levels the backfill material to an evens surface to restore the road or ground surface.

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 vertical cutter for a machine that can move on wheels includes, a motorized cutter rotatable with respect to its own vertical axis, elements for containing transmission elements which are integral with the cutter, supporting elements for elements for feeding and dispensing wire or cable which can rotate freely about the axis of the cutter. The cutter further includes a roller having a horizontal axis for adjusting a height of the cutter with respect to a walking surface and therefore a depth of a trench generated by it, and for covering the trench with an adjacent soil displaced by the cutter and accumulated in the vicinity of the trench, the wire or cable being accommodated and conveyed by the machine. Also included at the sides of an assembly constituted by containment elements of the transmission elements which are integral with the cutter and by supporting elements for elements for feeding and dispensing a cable, two sliding guides, which rotate freely about the axis of the cutter, for guiding and conveying an additional cable already on the ground.

A method for excavating a ditch and installing an underground pipeline. The method includes excavating a ditch utilizing a predetermined GPS model having grading and alignment requirements for the ditch and the underground pipeline and inserting pipes into the ditch. A laser beam is projected from a laser beam apparatus in association with a first pipe section that utilizes the grading and alignment requirements of the predetermined GPS model to guide excavation and installation of one or more sections of pipes. A remote-controlled vehicle is inserted into the first pipe and is configured to focus the projected laser beam to guide excavation and installation of successive pipe sections. The remote-controlled vehicle is navigated through the pipeline during installation to guide grading of subsequent ditch sections and alignment of additional pipe sections.

A machine for filling a trench. The machine comprises a tub, release assembly, and a hopper. The tub mixes a material to be filled into the trench. The release assembly releases the material into the hopper and the material flows from the hopper and into the trench. The machine moves parallel to the trench as the trench is being filled. A compactor assembly may follow behind the hopper and pack material into the trench. An operator controls the movement of the machine from an operator station on the machine.

A mobile digging and backfill system for removing and collecting material above a buried utility. The system comprises a mobile chassis, a collection tank mounted to the chassis, a water pump mounted to the chassis for delivering a pressurized liquid flow against the material for loosening the material at a location, a vacuum pump connected to the collection tank so that an air stream created by the vacuum pump draws the material and the fluid from the location into the collection tank, and at least one backfill reservoir mounted to the chassis for carrying backfill for placement at the location.

A machine for filling a trench comprises a tub, release assembly, and a hopper. The tub mixes a material to be filled into the trench. The release assembly releases the material into the hopper and the material flows from the hopper and into the trench. The machine moves parallel to the trench as the trench is being filled. An operator controls the movement of the machine from an operator station on the machine.

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.