Provided is a microtrencher having a utility avoidance system that detects objects buried under the roadway, identifies whether the buried object is a utility and determines whether the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel. If the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel, an alert is sent to the operator, the vehicle is stopped, and/or the cutting wheel is raised in relation to the roadway. Also provided is a method of using the microtrencher to cut a microtrench in a roadway and to avoid cutting a buried utility in the path of the cutting wheel.

The present invention relates to a bucket wheel excavator whose bucket wheel is rotationally drivable and is supported at a pivotable bucket wheel boom and to a method of controlling such a bucket wheel excavator. In accordance with the invention, a mass flow and/or material flow adopted on the removal conveyor after a specific advance on the pivoting of the bucket wheel at the predetermined pivot angle speed is/are determined over the pivot angle, a desired mass flow and/or volume flow is/are specified on the removal conveyor, and then the previously specified pivot angle speed is automatically corrected using the determined mass flow and/or volume flow and the specified desired mass flow and/or volume flow to then perform the pivot cycle at the corrected pivot angle speed of the bucket wheel.

Provided is a microtrencher having a utility avoidance system that detects objects buried under the roadway, identifies whether the buried object is a utility and determines whether the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel. If the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel, an alert is sent to the operator, the vehicle is stopped, and/or the cutting wheel is raised in relation to the roadway. Also provided is a method of using the microtrencher to cut a microtrench in a roadway and to avoid cutting a buried utility in the path of the cutting wheel.

A trench wall apparatus includes a base frame held at its top end by a holding means held by at least one soil excavation means, which is positioned at a bottom end of the base frame. When soil is excavated while forming the trench, the trench wall apparatus is held by a clamping means that includes at least two clamping elements on opposite sides extended laterally by at least one actuating cylinder, whereby at least one part of the trench wall apparatus is clamped in the trench, and a pressing means applies a pressing force on the at least one soil excavation means. The clamping elements and clamping cylinder are positioned on an intermediate frame displaceably mounted along the base frame. The intermediate frame is clamped and fixed to the ground by the clamping means. The base frame having the soil excavation means is pressed downward by the pressing means.

A vehicle for producing trenches in the ground is provided. The vehicle generally includes a chassis having a motor unit, a controllable digging device mounted on the chassis to dig a trench, and a controllable suctioning and collecting device configured to suction and collect rubble produced during the digging of the trench. The vehicle may include a driver station for the movement on the ground of the vehicle during a transfer phase, and a portable and remote control unit configured to enable an operator to remotely control the digging device, the suctioning and collecting device, and the advancing of the vehicle during digging in the course of a working phase.

A hydraulic control for an attachment on a work vehicle. The attachment is mounted on the chassis of the work vehicle and movable between a first position and a second position. A hydraulic cylinder is operable to power movement of the attachment. A fluid circuit communicates with the hydraulic cylinder and is configured to carry hydraulic fluid. A fluid reservoir is in communication with the fluid circuit. Accumulators that are in communication with the fluid circuit automatically store and release hydraulic fluid in response to movement of the attachment. A valve assembly controls fluid communication between the fluid reservoir and the fluid circuit in response to movement of the attachment to its second position.

Provided is a microtrencher having a utility avoidance system that detects objects buried under the roadway, identifies whether the buried object is a utility and determines whether the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel. If the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel, an alert is sent to the operator, the vehicle is stopped, and/or the cutting wheel is raised in relation to the roadway. Also provided is a method of using the microtrencher to cut a microtrench in a roadway and to avoid cutting a buried utility in the path of the cutting wheel.

Equipment for machining solid surfaces such as for example, surfaces made of asphalt or concrete or similar solid materials, in particular for making sound strips, said equipment comprising rotating machining or digging means carried by a main frame, and rotating means which engage said main supporting frame, wherein the rotation of said rotating means in a predefined direction of rotation results in said main supporting frame being rotated alternately in two opposite directions of rotation.

Provided is a microtrencher having a utility avoidance system that detects objects buried under the roadway, identifies whether the buried object is a utility and determines whether the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel. If the buried utility is in the path of the cutting wheel, an alert is sent to the operator, the vehicle is stopped, and/or the cutting wheel is raised in relation to the roadway. Also provided is a method of using the microtrencher to cut a microtrench in a roadway and to avoid cutting a buried utility in the path of the cutting wheel.

A system for uncovering a trench. The system comprises several subsystems, including a work machine and a frame for providing a seal with the surface to be trenched with a saw blade contained therein. The blade is supported on a hub which is slidably movable relative to the frame by operation of a linear actuator, which may be a hydraulic cylinder or the like. The vertical location of the blade within the frame is continuously adjustable to create a deeper or shallower trench. A monitoring system is provided to monitor the vertical location from an operator station.