An excavation system has a soil-agitation arrangement including an agitator operable to disturb soil to facilitate removal of disturbed soil from the ground. Also included is a vacuum arrangement operable to remove the disturbed soil from the ground, and a sensor arrangement including at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of at least one type of buried infrastructure in the ground. A shroud arrangement including a shroud disposed over at least a portion of the agitator and may be movable relative to the agitator to selectively cover and uncover at least a portion of the agitator.

A method and apparatus for digging and removing excavated material from a selected site provides a mobile device having a chassis that is movable or self-propelled. The mobile device has an elongated, preferably articulated boom with a free end portion having a digging implement that can include a digging tool, excavating tool or jetting tool. The boom preferably comprises at least three sections. The boom sections are foldable to a storage position on the chassis wherein one boom section stacks upon or is aligned with another boom section. The vacuum line is supported upon the boom wherein the vacuum line extends between the free end portion of the boom and the chassis. The boom attaches to the chassis at a base that can include a rotary or pivotal connection. The vacuum line supported by the boom extends along the boom and above the earth's surface. A selected material is excavated with the excavating implement (e.g., jetting tool or digging tool). The excavated material is vacuumed with the vacuum line into a collection vessel or tank that can be a part of a wheeled vehicle thus enabling transport to a disposal site. A separate vacuum truck can provide a vacuum to a selected collection tank.

A system and method for utility maintenance may include a robotic system having an articulating arm capable of utilizing a variety of tools and sensors for locating and accessing underground structures. The robotic system may be contained within a truck or other vehicle that provides access to the ground through the floor of the vehicle or truck bed. A curtain may be extended from a bottom of the vehicle to the ground to enclose a work site and inhibit visual and physical access to it.

A mobile vacuum system includes a mobile support frame, a vacuum source connected to selectively vacuum materials into a primary collection tank and a secondary collection tank. The primary collection tank is mounted on the frame, while the secondary collection tank is connected to either the frame of the primary collection tank by a boom. The boom, which can be in the form of an articulated arm, allows the secondary collection tank to be moved through a wide range of motion relative to the frame, e.g., for dumping debris from the secondary tank.

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.

Vacuum units and vacuum trucks, for example, for excavating material, for instance, around buried utility lines. Multiple embodiments include an air and water nozzle that provides air and water to break up material (e.g., earth) that is picked up by a vacuum system. Various embodiments include a vacuum system, a compressed air system, a water system, and an air and water nozzle configured to be hand guided by an operator while excavating the material. In a number of embodiments, the air and water nozzle can include a body that is hand held by the operator while excavating the material, an air passageway through the body, a water passageway through the body, an air valve, a water valve, an air control that opens and closes the air valve, and a water control that opens and closes the water valve.

A boom turret for a debris body. The boom turret includes an inlet defining an inlet axis and configured to couple to a hose. An outlet defining an outlet axis and configured to rotatably couple to the debris body. The inlet axis is substantially orthogonal to the outlet axis and a debris flow path is defined within the boom turret between the inlet and the outlet. A plate is disposed between the inlet and the outlet and has a surface at least partially defining the debris flow path through the boom turret. A nozzle is coupled to the plate and extends into the debris flow path. A pressure vessel is configured to hold a charge of pressurized fluid, and the pressure vessel is coupled in flow communication with the nozzle and selectively releases the charge of pressurized fluid through the nozzle to dislodge accumulated debris within the debris flow path.

A material collection system is provided. The system can include a vacuum generator having a fan to develop an airflow and draw material into a conduit. The system can also include a transmission, a power source to selectively power at least one of the vacuum generator and the transmission, a variable power divider to divide a power output from the power source to the transmission and the vacuum generator, and a control system to control the variable power divider in a first mode and a second mode.

A water tank for a hydrovac is provided. The water tank can have a top end, a bottom end, a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side defining an interior space, and at least one baffle port forming an aperture passing through the water tank from the first side to the second side, at least one baffle port passing through the interior space. The water in the interior space must flow around the at least one baffle ports. A bottom strap passing through the at least one baffle port can secure the water tank to the hydrovac. A front strap at the first end of the water tank, passing through the at least one baffle port can secure the water tank to the hydrovac.

A method of shutting down operations of a hydrovac when a weight limit is reached is provided. A current weight of the hydrovac is determined and this current weight of the hydrovac is compared to a weight limit. When the current weight of the hydrovac reaches the weight limit, an emergency shutoff valve is opened to vent a debris tank to atmosphere, a boom isolation assembly is closed to isolate a vacuum hose from the debris tank, and a power take-off is disengaged to stop a blower creating a vacuum in the debris tank.