A trencher with a depth indicator enables determination in real time of the depth of a trench being dug. The trencher comprises: an arm about which digging implements are moveable; a foot operably connected to the arm and being in contact with the ground when the trencher is in use excavating a trench, the foot comprising a ground contacting region; an inclinometer or orientation sensor operably connected to the arm to measure or determine an angle of inclination of the arm; a calculating element operably connected to the arm for calculating a depth of an end of the arm by using a determined angle of inclination of the arm; and an indicating element operably connected to the arm for indicating either a depth of the arm or a depth of the trench being excavated, or indicating whether the depth of the arm or the depth of the trench being excavated has deviated from a desired depth.

A work machine includes a mainframe, a boom moveable relative to the mainframe, a work implement coupled to and moveable relative to the boom. The work machine further includes a work-implement operator control configured to transmit a signal indicative of a work-implement movement command, a boom operator control configured to transmit a signal indicative of a boom movement command, and a boom sensor configured to detect a movement of the boom and transmit a signal indicative of the detected movement of the boom. The work implement further includes a controller configured to receive signals from the work-implement operator control, the boom operator control, and the boom sensor. The controller is further configured transmit a signal to cause movement the work implement relative to the boom based on the detected movement of the boom and the work-implement movement command.

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.

Disclosed is a full-hydraulic automatic diaphragm wall cutting-grooving machine, which includes a supporting frame, a cutting device, a cutting driving device and a verticality detection device. The verticality detection device is used to detect the verticality and flatness of the diaphragm wall during the cutting process, the cutting device is used to drive the supporting frame and an equipment arranged on the supporting frame to move and cut, the cutting driving device is used to drive and adjust the cutting device in different directions. The verticality detection device is used to realize the automatic measurement of the verticality of the wall and the bottom surface and the flatness of the wall during the cutting process.

De-trenching apparatus (100) for extracting a buried line, such as a cable or pipeline, is disclosed. The de-trenching apparatus comprises a channel (112) configured to receive a buried line to be extracted, the channel comprising a first flared opening (114) at a front end of the de-trenching apparatus and a second flared opening (115) at the rear end of the de-trenching apparatus, the first and second flared openings each having a curved surface (111) configured to support the line during extraction, and material removal means for removing material from around the buried line ahead of the de-trenching apparatus.

This description provides an autonomous or semi-autonomous excavation vehicle that is capable of navigating through a dig site and carrying an excavation routine using a system of sensors physically mounted to the excavation vehicle. The sensors collect one or more of spatial, imaging, measurement, and location data representing the status of the excavation vehicle and its surrounding environment. Based on the collected data, the excavation vehicle executes instructions to perform an excavation routine by excavating earth from a hole using an excavation tool positioned at a single location within the site. The excavation vehicle is also able to carry out numerous other tasks, such as checking the volume of excavated earth in an excavation tool, navigating the excavation vehicle over a distance while continuously excavating earth from a below surface depth, and preparing a digital terrain model of the site as part of a process for creating the excavation routine.

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.