A mobile digging and backfill system for removing and collecting material above a buried utility. The system comprises a mobile chassis, a collection tank mounted to the chassis, a water pump mounted to the chassis for delivering a pressurized liquid flow against the material for loosening the material at a location, a vacuum pump connected to the collection tank so that an air stream created by the vacuum pump draws the material and the fluid from the location into the collection tank, and at least one backfill reservoir mounted to the chassis for carrying backfill for placement at the location.

A mobile digging and backfill system for removing and collecting material above a buried utility. The system comprises a mobile chassis, a collection tank mounted to the chassis, a water pump mounted to the chassis for delivering a pressurized liquid flow against the material for loosening the material at a location, a vacuum pump connected to the collection tank so that an air stream created by the vacuum pump draws the material and the fluid from the location into the collection tank, and at least one backfill reservoir mounted to the chassis for carrying backfill for placement at the location.

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.

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.

The disclosure relates to a suction generation device for the removal of matter from a submerged surface, including: a housing including a fluid inlet, a suction inlet, an expulsion outlet, and defining a cavity therein; the fluid inlet being configurable to direct a supply of fluid into the cavity and to establish a flowpath from the fluid inlet to the expulsion outlet, the flowpath extending through the cavity, and fluid flow in the flowpath generating a reduction in pressure at the suction inlet to generate a flow of fluid therethrough and into the flowpath; and the fluid inlet includes an array of inlet fluid ports. The disclosure further relates to an operation apparatus for the suction generation device and a method for the removal of matter from a submerged surface.