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 system for installing continuous elongated tubular material (e.g. fiber optic cable) in the ground is provided. The system utilizes an agricultural tractor, preferably having rubber tires or tracks, to draw a plow for creating a trench in the ground in which to install the tubular material. The system is equipped with one or more of a specialized plow mount, an infinitely variable speed transmission on the tractor, a “power beyond” valve on the tractor and global positioning systems on the tractor and plow to more effectively install the tubular material in the ground.

A the installation plow connected to a mechanical arm of a vehicle to install a tile below a ground surface, the tile installation plow including a main body to be inserted at least partially within the ground surface, a boot removably disposed on at least a portion of an inner surface of the main body to direct the tile along a portion of the main body under the ground surface, and a tile cart connected to the vehicle to hold the tile thereon.

A tile plow system, comprising a force sensor configured to detect an amount of tension on a conduit being fed through a tile plow, a system module in communication with the force sensor, and a display in communication with the system module. The system module comprises a processor and a memory. The tile plow system wherein the amount of tension on the conduit is compared to a threshold tension range, and wherein when the amount of tension of the conduit is outside of the threshold tension range corrective action is taken by the system.

A pipe laying plow (100), for operating by moving it forward while pipe (201) is fed therethrough to be laid at a pipe laying depth (D). The plow has a boom (15) held by an above-ground structure (16), and includes a substantially linear pipe feeding tube (3) defining a longitudinal axis (33) in a vertical plane; and a plurality of substantially identically shaped, planar blades (2) attached at regular intervals (BSp) along the tube; a blade length (BL) line intersecting the longitudinal axis (33) at an attachment angle (B), and blade width (BW) lines extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal vertical plane; wherein, when the boom is held in operating position, the tube (3) extends longitudinally downward and rearward at a boom angle (C) relative to ground level, and the blades extend lengthwise downward and forward at a plowing angle (A) relative to ground level.

A system for installing and labeling lay flat irrigation pipe in flooded rice and furrow irrigated fields, and a trailer for laying a roll of pipe in an irrigated field. The trailer includes a flexible hitch assembly positioned at a first end of the trailer, wherein the hitch assembly couples the trailer to a vehicle. The trailer also includes a distribution assembly positioned at a second end of the trailer, wherein the distribution assembly includes a spindle and wherein the distribution assembly couples the roll of pipe to the trailer; and a gooseneck frame including a first end coupled to the hitch assembly and a second end coupled to the distribution assembly, with an upper member between the first end and the second end of the gooseneck, wherein the upper member of the gooseneck is elevated relative to the hitch assembly. The trailer may also include offset tandem wheels with a furrow assembly to facilitate the creation of a furrow ditch and for traversing flood irrigated levees for the purposes of installing lay-flat polyethylene pipe for irrigation. The trailer may also include an adjustable telescoping hitch to adjust to various vehicle hitch heights. The system includes a labeling system for indicating the punch size needed along the pipeline during installation. A computerized hole selection plan is developed and transferred to a microprocessor device, where sensors or a global positioning system is co-locate the device so the punch label can be applied along the pipe during installation.

A system for installation of continuous elongated tubular material in the ground involves: an agricultural tractor having a rear three-point tractor hitch, a rear drawbar and rotatable elastomeric ground-engaging interfaces; a plow mount comprising a front three-point mount hitch for connection to the rear three-point tractor hitch and a clamping connector for connection to the drawbar; and, a plow comprising a depth-adjustable blade, the plow mountable on the plow mount.

A plow assembly for forming a trench within soil of a selected land area. The plow assembly has a blade element, a displacement element, and an attachment element that permits attachment of the plow assembly to a vehicle, such as a tractor. A first end of the displacement element is secured to a distal end of the blade element, and a second end of the displacement element is spaced from a rear edge of the blade element and connected to a pipe. The displacement element has a variable diameter that increases moving from the first end of the displacement element to the second end of the displacement element. As the plow assembly is advanced within soil, the cutting edge of the blade element cuts through the soil and the displacement element displaces the soil to form the trench and pulls the pipe into the trench as the trench is formed.

A sub-surface membrane deposition device including a movable frame, at least one chisel attached to the frame, hydraulics to raise and lower the at least one chisel from the frame, and a membrane deployable to a sub-surface level by the at least one chisel as the movable frame is moved. Also provided is a method of deposing a membrane to a sub-surface level that includes providing a movable frame, at least one chisel attached to the frame, hydraulics to raise and lower the at least one chisel from the frame, and a membrane. The method including lowering the at least one chisel with the hydraulics to the sub-surface level, moving the frame and at least one chisel forward, and deploying the membrane to the sub-surface level with the at least one chisel.

A trenchless system for subsurface delivery of a polymer-based mesh to protect an underground structure is provided. The system includes: a body for moving above the ground and over the underground structure while the system delivers the mesh below the ground; a polymer mesh supply coupled to the body and configured to supply the mesh during the moving of the body; and a ripper assembly coupled to the body and configured to move through the ground in response to the moving of the body without digging a trench and while receiving and delivering the supplied mesh below the ground and above the underground structure to protect the underground structure. In an embodiment, the polymer mesh supply includes a polymer mesh spool configured to rotate during the moving of the body in order to supply the mesh. A method of trenchless subsurface delivery of the mesh is also provided.