A boom assembly for an excavation vehicle includes a bracket configured to couple to a turret that is rotatably mounted to a debris body. Three or more telescoping support members. A first support member of the three or more telescoping support members is pivotably coupled to the bracket, a second support member of the three or more telescoping support members supports a shoe at a distal end, and a third support member of the three or more telescoping support members is disposed at least partially between the first support member and the second support member. The boom assembly also includes a single actuator. One end of the actuator is coupled to the first support member and the other end of the actuator is coupled to the second support member. The actuator is configured to extend and retract the second support member relative to the first support member.

A dredge system includes a dredger, a conduit and a self-priming pump. The dredger has an internal area and an outlet, and is configured to feed material into the internal area of the dredger. The conduit is coupled to the dredger adjacent the outlet and configured to transport the material from the internal area of the dredger to a receptacle. The self-priming pump is coupled to the conduit and is configured to pump the material from the outlet to the receptacle.

A method for converting material within a vacuum tank that contains a mixture of liquid and solid material into a solidified batch of material. The method utilizes various devices to measure different features and properties of the tank and its contents to determine an amount of drying agent to be added to the tank. The method further utilizes various devices and methods for adding the drying agent to the tank and mixing the drying agent with the material within the tank. The method described herein may be completed automatically in response to human input on a handheld display device.

A hydrovac with an engine compartment, cab, chassis frame and wheels, blower module, boom and a combined mud and water tank that has sliding rails, mounted to the chassis frame. The mud and water tank slide relative to the truck chassis on rails. The tanks move rearward and forward relative the truck chassis.

A method for controlling the movement of an articulated hose mount having at least n>2 members, wherein a change in angle can be induced between neighboring members with the help of a respective drive includes: a) determining the starting position of the n members with the help of sensors; b) input of a direction vector and a velocity parameter; c) determining a target position, which should be taken by a suction crown, on the free end of the last member; d) determining n angle changes which must be carried out on the n members in order to reach the target position while maintaining the following condition: d.i. the suction crown moves into the target position along a straight path of movement;
e) controlling the drives associated with the n members in order to perform the predetermined angle change on the n members; and
f) cyclically repeating the aforementioned method steps until the direction vector and/or the velocity parameter are zero.

An omnidirectional blast media dispensing apparatus mounted to an excavator and designed to dispense abrasive media from a blast pot is provided. The apparatus adjusts directional flow of the abrasive media exiting the apparatus to contact a desired target. The apparatus includes a housing coupled to the boom of the excavator, a hydraulic motor assembly coupled to the housing and operably connected to hydraulic lines of the excavator, and a main tubular member rotatably mounted to the housing and operably connected to the hydraulic motor assembly. The first end of the main tubular member is coupled to the blast pot and a nozzle is coupled to the second end of the main tubular member. Fluid flows from the hydraulic lines of the excavator to the hydraulic motor assembly to enable the hydraulic motor assembly to rotatably adjust the main tubular member to direct the nozzle toward the target.

A method of exposing a buried utility under a roadway by cutting an access hole in the roadway, vacuuming away dirt surrounding the buried utility, and spraying at least one of pressurized water or compressed air into the dirt to loosen the dirt. A vacuum device having a vacuum nozzle, a compressed air nozzle, and a pressurized water nozzle.

A method of exposing a buried utility under a roadway by cutting an access hole in the roadway, vacuuming away dirt surrounding the buried utility, and spraying at least one of pressurized water or compressed air into the dirt to loosen the dirt. A vacuum device having a vacuum nozzle, a compressed air nozzle, and a pressurized water nozzle.

Apparatuses that include a nozzle, vacuum units, and vacuum trucks for excavating material, for instance, around buried utility lines. Multiple embodiments include an (e.g., air and water) nozzle, for instance, that breaks up material (e.g., earth) that is picked up with vacuum. Various embodiments include vacuum, compressed air, and water systems. Various nozzles include two passageways or tubes (e.g., one inside the other), exit orifices (e.g., from each passageway), or a combination thereof. Tubes may be concentric or a passageway may be between inner and outer tubes. Nozzles may be configured to be hand guided by an operator while excavating the material. Embodiments may include air and water valves, controls, or both.

A remote debris tank includes a housing having a top and a bottom discharge opening, a pair of discharge doors mounted to opposing lateral sides of the bottom discharge opening and configured for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position, and an actuating shaft operably coupled to the first and second discharge doors. The remote debris tank also includes a crank lever having a plurality of vertices, where the crank lever is secured to the actuating shaft at a first vertex and configured to rotate with the actuating shaft. A first radial arm has a first end articulately connected to a second vertex of the crank lever and a second end articulately connected to the first discharge door. Similarly, a second radial arm is articulately connected to a third vertex of the crank lever and extending away from the actuating shaft to the second discharge door.