A dredge head assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes: a shroud having a generally open bottom end and a top end; a screen structure covering the generally open bottom end of the shroud; a suction pipe with a first end connected to the top end of the shroud and a second end configured to be operatively connected with a pump which induces suction; a handle connected to and extending from the shroud and having at least one grasping portion; and one or more vacuum relief valve assemblies, each comprising a valve, at least one opening configured to be in communication with water, and an actuation mechanism positioned to be accessible to a diver. Dredging systems and methods of dredging are also disclosed.

A water drilling system includes a handheld wand having a handle portion and a distal tip. A hose connects the handheld wand to a pressurized water source. The handheld wand is controllable to selectively discharge pressurized water from a nozzle at the distal tip. A non-metallic hollow shaft of the handheld wand is configured to be thrust into ground soil. The hollow shaft extends between the handle portion and the distal tip, and the hollow shaft has an outside diameter less than an outside diameter of the distal tip.

The present disclosure provides a material collection system. The material collection system includes a conduit, a vacuum generator coupled to the conduit, an engine powering the vacuum generator, and a container mounted to a chassis of a vehicle. The vacuum generator generates airflow for drawing material into a material inlet of the conduit. The container receives collected material from the conduit.

The invention relates to a material collection container of a suction excavator, having a suction connection at its rear end-face wall and a suction flow duct that leads from the suction connection through a collection chamber and a filter unit. The suction connection is positioned at the rear end-face wall in such a way that its cross section is intersected by the plane of symmetry of the material collection container. After passing through the collection chamber, the suction flow is divided into at least two subflows that are conducted in air ducts situated on both sides of the plane of symmetry.

The invention further relates to a suction excavator having this type of material collection container.

The invention relates to a vehicle comprising a tiltable material collecting container which is suspended in a tilt axle running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and a telescoping device. The tilt axle runs in a plane of symmetry of the material collecting container. The frame-side ends of the telescope arms are pivotably attached to the frame in the central plane. At least one rotary drive is arranged on the container-side end of at least one telescope arm to enable a rotation of the material collecting container about the tile axle. At least one pivot drive, which enables pivoting of the telescope arms out of the center plane of the vehicle in both angular directions, is provided.

A hydrovac having a chassis, a mud tank and water tank assembly mounted on the chassis, a hydraulic lift assembly capable of raising the mud tank and water tank assembly through a dump angle, the mud tank having a floor, and the floor of the mud tank deepens forwardly. A belt drive is provided for a blower of the hydrovac, along with belt tensioning system.

Systems for reducing or preventing pluggage of spoil material in an excavation vacuum apparatus wherein the pluggage prevention system of the excavation vacuum apparatus may trigger one or more mitigation operations (e.g., addition of water through spray nozzles) to loosen the build-up of spoil material and/or to at least partially shut down the excavation vacuum apparatus to prevent more material being fed to the system.

An aero-excavation apparatus for collecting a fractured soil material using a vacuum hose, the apparatus comprising: a main frame; a motor mounted on the main frame; a traction and direction system in driving arrangement with the motor for driving and operating the main frame; and a blower in driving engagement with the motor; wherein the blower is in fluid communication with the vacuum hose for collecting the fractured soil material.

An apparatus for sealing a vacuum tank door. The apparatus comprises a circular flange attached to a door panel of a vacuum tank, a horizontal crossbar connected to the center of the door panel and a lifting assembly. The lifting assembly comprises an upper linkage arm, a lower linkage arm, and a hydraulic cylinder. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder causes the linkage assembly to move downwards pulling on the horizontal crossbar and pulling the vacuum tank door towards the tank. Activation of the hydraulic cylinder also causes a connection point of the lower linkage arm and the upper linkage arm to move over-center of the connection between the lower linkage arm to the to the tank creating a tight seal between the vacuum tank door and the tank.

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