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.

The present invention is directed to a drilling fluid reclaimer. The reclaimer has at least one adjustable screen assembly for providing a leveling filter for reclaimed drill fluid. Used drill fluid is placed at the screen assembly at the front the of the screen assembly. The at least one screen is vibrated to separate large particulate matter from liquid drilling fluid. A second screen is provided for additional filtering. Large particulate matter is expelled by a chute at the back of the screen assembly. Drilling fluid passing through the screen is “reclaimed” for use with a drilling system.

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

A marine positioning system can have a floating platform, an external vessel, a positioning module, and a control module. The external vessel can be configured to selectively tow and maintain the floating platforming in a preselected position. The external vessel can have a propulsion unit. The propulsion unit can be configured to propel the floating platform in a preselected direction between 0 and 360 degrees. The control module can be in communication with the propulsion unit and the positioning module. The control module can be configured to receive the location data from the positioning module. Also, the control module can be configured to determine if the floating platform is in the preselecting position. In addition, the control module can be configured to generate instructions including the preselected direction that the floating platform needs to travel to be positioned in the preselected position.

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.

Systems and methods of restoring a lake including dredging, island creation, water treatment, real estate development, computer modeling of environmental conditions, wave height reduction, sediment removal and encapsulation, bathymetry contouring, littoral zone restoration, plant restoration, and/or fish restoration.

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 silt filtering device includes a moving bottom plate. A first material conveying water pump, a stirring box, a filter box and a compression box are sequentially arranged on an upper portion of the moving bottom plate. A roller mechanism is arranged on each of four diagonal portions of a lower portion of the moving bottom plate. A controller, an infrared sensor and a high-definition camera assembly are arranged on the upper portion of the moving bottom plate. The first material conveying water pump conveys silt material to the stirring box through a convey pipe. A jitter mechanism assembly is arranged at a bottom portion of the stirring box to generate jittering. The jitter mechanism assembly comprises a plurality of identically shaking spring bodies and a driving cylinder arranged on the shaking spring bodies.

Systems and methods for predicting replacement of a component of an industrial machine. One system includes an electronic processor configured to determine a wear rate of the component based on a current dimension of the component and historical dimensions of the component and determine a replacement cost for the component. Determining the replacement cost includes determining a cost of downtime for replacing the component based on a time for replacing the component and a downtime cost for the industrial machine during the time for replacing the component, a material cost in replacing the component, and an operating cost of the industrial machine associated with not replacing the component. The electronic processor is also configured to determine a replacement recommendation for the component based on the wear rate, the replacement cost, and discard criteria and output the replacement recommendation.