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

A method of moving a ground coupled member by driving, deploying, pressurizing, rotating, conducting, positioning and lifting. Driving of a casing into a soil proximate to the ground coupled member. Deploying of a wand from the casing about a pivoting axis, the wand having nozzles that are coupled to a fluid conduit. The nozzles are directed parallel to the pivoting axis. Pressurizing of the fluid conduit to send fluid through the nozzles to soften the soil in a direction in which the wand deploys. Rotating of the pivoting wand. Conducting of the softened soil up through the casing to form a cavity in the soil at least partially beneath the ground coupled member. The cavity in the soil having a shape reflective of the movement of the pivoting wand in the rotating step. Positioning of a grouting system in the cavity. Lifting the ground coupled member using the grouting system.

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

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.

A hydrovac is provided having, an engine, a transmission comprising a power take-off connected to a hydraulic pump, a debris tank, a vacuum hose connected to the debris tank, a boom carrying the vacuum hose, a blower operative to create a vacuum in the debris tank, a hydraulic motor connected to the blower to drive the blower, the hydraulic motor connected to the at least one hydraulic pump, an emergency shutoff valve connected in fluid communication with the debris tank, a boom isolation assembly which in a closed position fluidly isolates the debris tank from the vacuum hose, and a controller. A controller operative to, in response to the controller losing communication with a remote control, open the emergency shutoff valve, close the boom isolation assembly, disengage the power take-off, and after the power take-off is disengaged, slowing a speed of the engine to an idle speed.

A hydrovac is provided having an engine mounted on the frame, a transmission connected to the engine with a power take-off, a hydraulic fluid pump connected to the power take-off, steering wheels operative to steer the hydrovac, ground wheels operative to be driven by the engine through the transmission, a debris tank, a vacuum hose fluidly connected to the debris tank, a boom pivotally carrying the vacuum hose, a blower operatively connected to the debris tank to create a vacuum in the debris tank, and a hydraulic motor connected to the blower, the hydraulic motor connected to the hydraulic pump. A controller can be provided, operative to vary a speed of the engine between a first RPM and a second RPM, whereby operating the engine at the first RPM drives the hydraulic pump faster than operating the engine at the second RPM.

A hydrovac and a method of conducting an emergency is provided. The hydrovac has an engine, a transmission, steering wheels, ground wheels, a debris tank, a vacuum hose connected to the debris tank, a boom carrying the vacuum hose, a blower operative to create a vacuum in the debris tank, a hydraulic fluid pump, an emergency shutoff valve connected in fluid communication with the debris tank, at least a solenoid valve connected between the hydraulic fluid pump and the emergency shutoff valve, a relay connected between a voltage source and the hydraulic solenoid valve, and an emergency stop buttons operative to interrupt voltage when the emergency stop buttons is pressed. Pressing the at least one emergency stop button interrupts voltage to the at least one hydraulic solenoid valve, stopping supply of hydraulic fluid to the emergency shutoff valve, opening the emergency shutoff valve and venting the debris tank.

A hydrovac and method for measuring the current weight of the hydrovac in real-time is provide. The current weight of the hydrovac can be determined by determine a weight of water in the at least one water tank using a pressure sensor, determining a weight of debris in a debris tank using at least one load cell, and using the determined weight of the water in the at least one water tank, the determined weight of the debris in the debris tank, and a predetermined empty weight of the hydrovac to determine a current weight of the hydrovac.

Non-conductive hydro-excavation wands incorporating wear sleeves are disclosed. In one embodiment, a non-conductive hydro-excavation wand includes a non-conductive pipe, a non-conductive hose within the non-conductive pipe, a hand-actuated on/off valve connected to the non-conductive hose, a rigid, non-conductive tip at one end of the non-conductive pipe, the tip having an opening that is open to the interior of the non-conductive hose; and a wear sleeve of non-conductive material surrounding at least part of the non-conductive pipe.