A method of using a fill mask to prevent overfill and/or spillage of a fill material from bonding to the roadway surface or staining the roadway surface during filling of a microtrench.

A padding machine for moving along a side of a ditch, scooping up excavated material from the side of the ditch, and sifting the excavated material into padding material for falling in the ditch comprises a frame comprising side frame members and frame rails spaced apart from the side frame members. A screening belt is driven around pulleys supported by the frame. The screening belt comprises a screen for collecting and conveying the excavated material upwardly. The screen comprises apertures for sifting the excavated material into padding material by permitting the padding material to fall through the apertures of the screen. The screen runs over the frame rails which support the screen. A discharge conveyor is mounted to the frame beneath an upper run of the screening belt. The discharge conveyor receives the padding material passing through the screen and discharges the padding material into the ditch.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Provided is a microtrench fill comprising cement, a polymer, and a colorant. Also provided is a method of using the microtrench fill to fill a microtrench in a roadway.

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.