A filled trench is disclosed. The filled trench comprises: a pair of conduits (3a, 3b) for delivering fluid with a different temperature in each of the conduits (3a, 3b), the pair of conduits (3a, 3b) being surrounded by filling material; a first section (5a) filled with a filling material of a first type (4a), wherein the first filled section (5a) of the filled trench occupies a space in between the pair of conduits (3a, 3b); and a second section (5b) filled with a filling material of a second type (4b). The filling material of the first type (4a) has a first thermal conduction coefficient and the filling material of a second type (4b) has a higher second thermal conduction coefficient. Further, a method for filling such a filled trench is disclosed.

A vibratory compactor is provided. The vibratory compactor may include a compactor plate, a frame coupled to the compactor plate, wherein the frame may include an inner space and a housing. The frame may include a plurality of mounting brackets coupled between a first side member and a second side member of the frame. The vibratory compactor may include a vibration generation device coupled to the compactor plate within the inner space of the frame. The vibratory compactor may include a plurality of isolators, each isolator coupled to one mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets. The housing may be coupled to the plurality of isolators, wherein the housing may include couplers removably coupled to a top surface of the housing. The couplers may be configured for coupling the vibratory compactor to an excavator type vehicle.

A method for excavating a ditch and installing an underground pipeline. The method includes excavating a ditch utilizing a predetermined GPS model having grading and alignment requirements for the ditch and the underground pipeline and inserting pipes into the ditch. A laser beam is projected from a laser beam apparatus in association with a first pipe section that utilizes the grading and alignment requirements of the predetermined GPS model to guide excavation and installation of one or more sections of pipes. A remote-controlled vehicle is inserted into the first pipe and is configured to focus the projected laser beam to guide excavation and installation of successive pipe sections. The remote-controlled vehicle is navigated through the pipeline during installation to guide grading of subsequent ditch sections and alignment of additional pipe sections.

A jetting system for an undersea trencher has jetting conduits extending aftward of its trench-cutting jetting swords. Jetting conduit nozzles direct liquid radially from their jetting conduits into the trench after the trench is excavated by the jetting sword cutting nozzles. The jetting conduits direct sufficient liquid into the trench to maintain the mix of trenched soil and water in the trench along the length of the conduits at not more than a super-critical density, extending the distance in which the product being laid in the trench is able to descend in the trench and increasing the likelihood that the product will be buried at the intended trench depth.

A vibratory compactor is provided. The vibratory compactor may include a compactor plate, a frame coupled to the compactor plate, wherein the frame may include an inner space and a housing. The frame may include a plurality of mounting brackets coupled between a first side member and a second side member of the frame. The vibratory compactor may include a vibration generation device coupled to the compactor plate within the inner space of the frame. The vibratory compactor may include a plurality of isolators, each isolator coupled to one mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets. The housing may be coupled to the plurality of isolators, wherein the housing may include couplers removably coupled to a top surface of the housing. The couplers may be configured for coupling the vibratory compactor to an excavator type vehicle.

A vibratory compactor is provided. The vibratory compactor may include a compactor plate, a frame coupled to the compactor plate, wherein the frame may include an inner space and a housing. The frame may include a plurality of mounting brackets coupled between a first side member and a second side member of the frame. The vibratory compactor may include a vibration generation device coupled to the compactor plate within the inner space of the frame. The vibratory compactor may include a plurality of isolators, each isolator coupled to one mounting bracket of the plurality of mounting brackets. The housing may be coupled to the plurality of isolators, wherein the housing may include couplers removably coupled to a top surface of the housing. The couplers may be configured for coupling the vibratory compactor to an excavator type vehicle.

A mobile volumetric concrete mixing system includes a suction system that vacuums up trench spoils while a trench is being cut. These trench spoils are then screened on-site for particle size to be reused and mixed with water, cement, and/or other admixtures at an auger mixer to form a backfill mixture. This backfill mixture may then be loaded into a hopper that continuously agitates the mixture so that the mixture does not harden before pouring. The agitating hopper is coupled to a discharge chute of the auger mixer and includes one or more augers disposed at various orientations that the backfill mixture is channeled through. From the agitating hopper, the backfill mixture is channeled to an applicator that moves along the trench and that enables the mixture to be quickly poured into the trench with little clean-up required.

A compaction wheel assembly includes a shaft, a plurality of compaction wheels along the shaft, and at least one bushing assembly. The bushing assembly includes first and second split bushings axially spaced-apart to form a space the upper and lower bushing housings removably secured together with the first and second split bushings therebetween to clamp the first and second split bushings about the shaft and at least one first shim located between the bushing housings at a front side of the shaft and at least one second shim located between the bushing housings at a rear side of the shaft to space the upper and lower bushing housings and upper and lower halves of the first and second split bushings. At least one of the first and second shims includes a slot configured for feeding grease to the space between the first and second split bushings.

A vibratory compactor is provided. The vibratory compactor may include at least one load bearing member coupled to a load bearing base and a frame coupled to a compactor plate with the load bearing base coupled to the frame. The frame and compactor plate are configured to vibrate. The vibratory compactor may also include a housing having an inner volume, the housing coupled to the frame by at least one isolator with the frame and the at least one load bearing member located within the inner volume. The housing may be coupled to an arm of an excavator. In response to force being applied to the housing by the excavator during compaction, the housing moves with respect to the frame until a top member of the housing contacts the at least one load bearing member and compacts soil more effectively than a vibratory compactor without the load bearing member.

A pipeline padding machine is disclosed. The pipeline padding machine includes a machine main frame, a cabin coupled to the machine main frame and an extension mechanism. The extension mechanism can couple the cabin to the machine main frame. The extension mechanism can be configured to translate the cabin vertically relative to the machine main frame. Because the extension mechanism can translate the cabin vertically, the pipeline padding machine can allow for improved operator access and improved operating positions. Alternatively, or additionally, the cabin may be horizontally translated and/or rotated about a vertical axis.