An apparatus for installing multiple strands of hose below a surface of terrain is provided. The apparatus comprises a chassis and rotating trenching blade assemblies connected to the chassis. The trenching blade assemblies are configured to dig parallel trenches when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain. Curved hose guides are connected to the chassis in trailing positions behind the trenching blades. Each hose guide receives hose from a hose reel on reel mounts connected to the chassis and deposits the hose into a trench dug by a trenching blade assembly. Trench fillers connected to the chassis trail the hose guides. Each trench filler is aligned with a respective hose guide and comprises a number of blades configured to push soil excavated from a trench back into the trench when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain.

An apparatus for installing multiple strands of hose below a surface of terrain is provided. The apparatus comprises a chassis and rotating trenching blade assemblies connected to the chassis. The trenching blade assemblies are configured to dig parallel trenches when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain. Curved hose guides are connected to the chassis in trailing positions behind the trenching blades. Each hose guide receives hose from a hose reel on reel mounts connected to the chassis and deposits the hose into a trench dug by a trenching blade assembly. Trench fillers connected to the chassis trail the hose guides. Each trench filler is aligned with a respective hose guide and comprises a number of blades configured to push soil excavated from a trench back into the trench when the apparatus is pulled along the terrain.

A ditch digging and cleaning apparatus comprising a housing adapted for being moved along a longitudinal axis of the ditch. The housing has an inlet opening at a bottom front portion thereof for transmitting therethrough debris disposed in the ditch and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof. An impeller is disposed in the housing and rotatably movable mounted thereto. The impeller receives the debris from the inlet opening and propels the same through the outlet opening. A drive is connected to the impeller for driving the same, the drive has a power of at least 30 hp.

A ditch digging and cleaning apparatus comprising a housing adapted for being moved along a longitudinal axis of the ditch. The housing has an inlet opening at a bottom front portion thereof for transmitting therethrough debris disposed in the ditch and an outlet opening at an upper portion thereof. An impeller is disposed in the housing and rotatably movable mounted thereto. The impeller receives the debris from the inlet opening and propels the same through the outlet opening. A drive is connected to the impeller for driving the same, the drive has a power of at least 30 hp.

A blade drive shaft assembly (100) for a road saw comprising a shaft (120), a first mounting plate (125), a spacer removably fitted (126) on the shaft (120), a second mounting plate (127) removably fitted on the shaft (120), a mounting plate fixing adapted to secure the second mounting plate (127) to the shaft, a first circular saw blade mounted between the first mounting plate and the spacer (126), and a second circular saw blade mounted between the second mounting plate (127) and the spacer (126), wherein the first mounting plate (125) is integrally formed with the shaft (120) from a single piece of metal. A road saw incorporating the assembly is also described, as well as a method of forming, filling and compacting a trench and a method of making a blade drive shaft assembly.

A blade drive shaft assembly (100) for a road saw comprising a shaft (120), a first mounting plate (125), a spacer removably fitted (126) on the shaft (120), a second mounting plate (127) removably fitted on the shaft (120), a mounting plate fixing adapted to secure the second mounting plate (127) to the shaft, a first circular saw blade mounted between the first mounting plate and the spacer (126), and a second circular saw blade mounted between the second mounting plate (127) and the spacer (126), wherein the first mounting plate (125) is integrally formed with the shaft (120) from a single piece of metal. A road saw incorporating the assembly is also described, as well as a method of forming, filling and compacting a trench and a method of making a blade drive shaft assembly.

A laybox having a body formed from opposing first and second elongated sheets of steel defining an elongated chamber between them, a front end of the body configured to face a microtrencher cutting blade and a back end of the body opposing the first end; a microtrench plug installer; a cable guide disposed in the elongated chamber configured to guide an optical fiber cable and/or microduct/innerduct through the chamber, and a microtrench plug installer. A method of cutting a microtrench and installing optical fiber cable and/or innerduct/microduct in the microtrench and securing the optical fiber cable and/or innerduct/microduct with a microtrench plug.

A ditch forming apparatus having: a frame; a primary ditch forming assembly having: a) a first subassembly for penetrating and separating subjacent ground material; and b) a second subassembly for directing separated ground material away from a ditch being formed; and a ground treatment assembly to facilitate delivery of ground material to the second subassembly and having a ground engaging component that is turned around a first axis. At least one of: a) a vertical height of the first axis relative to the frame; b) a variable vertical force generated between the at least one ground engaging component and frame; c) a fore and aft position of the first axis relative to the frame; d) a speed of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis; and e) a direction of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis, can be changed.

A ditch forming apparatus having: a frame; a primary ditch forming assembly having: a) a first subassembly for penetrating and separating subjacent ground material; and b) a second subassembly for directing separated ground material away from a ditch being formed; and a ground treatment assembly to facilitate delivery of ground material to the second subassembly and having a ground engaging component that is turned around a first axis. At least one of: a) a vertical height of the first axis relative to the frame; b) a variable vertical force generated between the at least one ground engaging component and frame; c) a fore and aft position of the first axis relative to the frame; d) a speed of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis; and e) a direction of turning of the at least one ground engaging component around the first axis, can be changed.

A boring machine for producing a trench in the ground including a chassis that extends in a longitudinal direction, the chassis having a lower end, the machine including a boring device mounted at the lower end of the chassis, the boring device including a first boring member which is rotary about a first axis of rotation, and a second boring member which is rotary about a second axis of rotation, the second axis of rotation and the first axis of rotation extending in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, wherein the first axis of rotation is inclined with respect to the second axis of rotation.