Abstract: A remote debris tank includes a housing having a top and a bottom discharge opening, a pair of discharge doors mounted to opposing lateral sides of the bottom discharge opening and configured for pivotal movement between an open position and a closed position, and an actuating shaft operably coupled to the first and second discharge doors. The remote debris tank also includes a crank lever having a plurality of vertices, where the crank lever is secured to the actuating shaft at a first vertex and configured to rotate with the actuating shaft. A first radial arm has a first end articulately connected to a second vertex of the crank lever and a second end articulately connected to the first discharge door. Similarly, a second radial arm is articulately connected to a third vertex of the crank lever and extending away from the actuating shaft to the second discharge door.

Abstract: A pulsating high pressure air and water nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle includes an impeller adapted to rotate about an axis, a housing adapted to secure the impeller therein, and a supply conduit secured to the housing. The supply conduit is orientated to direct a stream of pressurized fluid to impact the impeller to cause the impeller to rotate. The nozzle also includes a discharge port secured to the housing and is adapted to discharge a pulsating stream of fluid directly from the housing. The impeller includes a plurality of radial spaced vanes secured to a hub, where a cavity is disposed between each vane of the plurality of vanes. The plurality of vanes is adapted to intermittently block the discharge port as the impeller rotates. In addition, the nozzle includes a cover adapted to be removably secured to the housing to access an inside of the housing.

Abstract: A rotatable hydro excavation suction wand includes an upper section having an upper end configured to be connected to a suction hose, an angled lower section secured to a lower end of the upper portion and the angled lower section having an open end, and a rotary manifold connecting the upper section to the angled lower section and configured to rotate the angled lower section as the upper section remains fixed. The suction wand also includes a pressurized line coupled to the rotary manifold, where the angled lower section is adapted to rotate causing the open end to track in a circular motion covering an area larger than a diameter of the suction wand.

Abstract: A door locking device for hydro excavation equipment. The door locking device includes a grapple support housing secured to a door of a debris tank, a lower gripping jaw having a lower pin defining a lower axis about which the lower gripping jaw is configured to rotate, and an upper gripping jaw having an upper pin defining an upper axis about which the upper gripping jaw is configured to rotate. The locking device also includes a yoke having a first end coupled to proximate ends of the lower and upper gripping jaw, and an actuator coupled to a second end of the yoke and configured to extend and retract the yoke to cause the lower and upper gripping jaws to rotate in response thereto about the lower axis and the upper axis, respectively.

Abstract: A method to manufacture a native soil flowable fill includes hydro excavating native soil to form a hole at a first excavation, transferring the native soil from the first excavation to a debris tank, and adding a pozzolan component, cement and water to the debris tank. The method also includes mixing the native soil in the debris tank using a mixing apparatus to form the native soil flowable fill, and transferring the native soil flowable fill back to the first excavation into the hole. The native soil flowable fill comprises 30-90% by weight of native soil, 0-50% by weight of the added pozzolan component, 0-50% by weight of the cement, and 10-45% by weight of the water.

Abstract: A system to manufacture a native soil flowable fill onsite includes hydro excavation equipment having a suction hose. In addition, the system includes a plurality of onsite debris tanks, where each onsite debris tank is configured to be coupled separately to the suction hose and to store native soil vacuumed from an adjacent hole at an onsite excavation. The system also includes a mixing apparatus inside each of the onsite debris tanks configured to mix the native soil from the adjacent hole with additional components to form a native soil flowable fill for the respective adjacent hole.

Abstract: A system to excavate and remove underground noxious vapors includes a suction wand in fluid communication with a debris tank. A collar is fitted around the suction wand and is configured to seal noxious vapors within a hole around the suction wand. A primary valve is used to control whether the suction wand is being used to excavate material to send to the debris tank, or whether the suction wand is being used to remove noxious vapors from the hole to send to a filtration unit. A monitor is configured to detect explosive concentrates in the noxious vapors to determine whether the explosive concentrates exceed an acceptable level. In addition, the system is configured to dilute and filter the noxious vapors before discharging to the atmosphere.

Abstract: A strongarm device for use with a hydro excavation hose includes a support frame configured to carry hydro excavation equipment, a support post having first and second ends, the first end being secured to the support frame, and a boom having a first end and a second end, where the first end is pivotally connected to the second end of the support post and configured for the second end of the boom to rotate relative thereto. In addition, the strongarm device includes a bracket secured to and suspended from the second end of the boom, and a roller secured to the bracket and configured for the hydro excavation hose to roll back and forth over an upper surface of the roller.

Abstract: A rotating high pressure air and water nozzle is disclosed. The nozzle includes a head adapted to rotate, a housing adapted to secure the head therein, and a plurality of passageways disposed through the head. In addition, the nozzle includes a supply port disposed at a first end of each of the passageways, where each supply port has a funnel shape adapted to direct fluid into each passageway to reduce hydraulic losses, and a discharge port disposed at an opposing end of each of the passageways adapted to discharge a jet of fluid. Each discharge port is offset from the respective supply port to cause the head to rotate when fluid flows through the passageways.

Abstract: A method and system to recycle water for hydro-excavation includes a vacuum hose to remove a slurry of solids and liquid from hydro-excavation at a site. A debris tank is in fluid communication with the vacuum hose and is used to collect the slurry. The system also includes a filter drum, where a portion of the filter drum is configured to rotate through the slurry to filter the liquids from the solids, where dewatered solids are returned to the site for compaction. In addition, an outlet is in fluid communication with a central portion of the filter drum to return filtered water for use in hydro-excavation at the site.

Abstract: A mobile vacuum system includes a mobile support frame, a vacuum source connected to selectively vacuum materials into a primary collection tank and a secondary collection tank. The primary collection tank is mounted on the frame, while the secondary collection tank is connected to either the frame of the primary collection tank by a boom. The boom, which can be in the form of an articulated arm, allows the secondary collection tank to be moved through a wide range of motion relative to the frame, e.g., for dumping debris from the secondary tank.

Abstract: A method to manufacture native soil flowable fill includes hydro excavating native soil to form a hole at a first excavation, and transferring the native soil from the first excavation to a mixing tank. The method also includes adding a pozzolan component, cement and water to the mixing tank, mixing the native soil in the mixing tank with the added pozzolan component, cement and water to form the native soil flowable fill, and transferring the native soil flowable fill back to the first excavation and into the hole.

Abstract: A system to generate pressurized air for hydro-excavation includes an exhaust silencer configured to hold water and an exhaust manifold disposed through the silencer, where the exhaust manifold is configured to be in fluid communication with an internal combustion engine in order to receive exhaust gases to heat the exhaust silencer. In addition, the system includes a steam turbine configured to be driven by steam generated in the exhaust silencer, a primary steam line secured proximate to an upper end of the silencer to connect to the steam turbine, and an air compressor driven by the steam turbine to generate pressurized air. A secondary steam line is in fluid communication with the primary steam line and the air compressor to generate a mixture of the steam and pressurized air for use in hydro-excavation.

Abstract: A door lock system for a debris tank is disclosed. The system includes a door, a threaded bolt projecting from the door, and a rotary actuator coupled to a head of the threaded bolt for rotating the threaded bolt. In addition, the system includes a cross member spanning the inside of the tank and a nut secured to the cross member, where the threaded bolt and nut are positioned to engage the door to pull and secure the door over an open end of the debris tank by rotating the threaded bolt into the nut using the rotary actuator. A hinge assembly is associated with the door to mount the door to a periphery of the open end of the debris tank for swinging movement of the door between an open and a closed position.

Abstract: A system and method to excavate using a pneumatic shock wave includes a supply of pressurized fluid, a suction wand, and an air line in communication with the supply of pressurized fluid. A portion of the air line is integrated within the suction wand. The system also includes a dump valve interposed between the supply of pressurized fluid and the portion of the air line integrated within the suction wand. The dump valve is configured to rapidly discharge a pulse of the pressurized fluid out an open end of the air line to generate a shock wave at a distal end of the suction wand to fracture and dislodge soil so that the suction wand can excavate the soil.

Abstract: A folding hose storage rack is disclosed. The rack includes two spaced apart support members with each support member having a vertical member configured to rotate about a vertical axis, an upper arm extending outward from the vertical member, a lower arm extending outward from the vertical member, where the lower arm is aligned under the upper arm, and a boss along a lower edge of the lower arm. In addition, the rack includes a retainer having intersecting slots such that each slot is configured to receive the boss to prevent the support member from rotating. Each support member is configured to lift up to remove the boss from the intersecting slots, rotate to a desired position, and lower down to insert the boss into a desired slot of the intersecting slots. The intersecting slots form a T-configuration to rotate and secure each supporting arm to either side.

Abstract: An air diverter system for a vacuum excavator is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a bag house in communication with a debris tank. In addition, the system includes a filter housing secured to a side of the bag house and a valve housing interposed between the bag house and the filter housing. A valve member is mounted within the valve housing and is configured to rotate about an axis to define at least two different passageways for an air flow. The system also includes a selector for rotating the valve member and selectively aligning the passageway for the airflow between a vacuum pump inlet and either the filter housing or the bag house.

Abstract: A system and method to excavate and fill is disclosed. The system includes a canister adapted to receive and store excavated material. In addition, a plurality of blades are mounted inside of the canister about a horizontal shaft proximate a bottom end of the canister. A motor is adapted to rotate the plurality of blades to move the excavated material stored in the canister to the bottom end of the canister and a blower is adapted to blow the excavated material at the bottom end of the canister out of an opposing side of the canister through a discharge port. The canister includes a downward sloping lip disposed above the plurality of blades, where the downward sloping lip funnels the excavated material on to a downwardly rotating blade of the plurality of blades.

Abstract: An air diverter system for a vacuum excavator is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the system includes a bag house in communication with a debris tank. In addition, the system includes a filter housing secured to a side of the bag house and a valve housing interposed between the bag house and the filter housing. A valve member is mounted within the valve housing and is configured to rotate about an axis to define at least two different passageways for an air flow. The system also includes a selector for rotating the valve member and selectively aligning the passageway for the airflow between a vacuum pump inlet and either the filter housing or the bag house.

Abstract: A folding hose storage rack is disclosed. The rack includes two spaced apart support members with each support member having a vertical member configured to rotate about a vertical axis, an upper arm extending outward from the vertical member, a lower arm extending outward from the vertical member, where the lower arm is aligned under the upper arm, and a boss along a lower edge of the lower arm. In addition, the rack includes a retainer having intersecting slots such that each slot is configured to receive the boss to prevent the support member from rotating. Each support member is configured to lift up to remove the boss from the intersecting slots, rotate to a desired position, and lower down to insert the boss into a desired slot of the intersecting slots. The intersecting slots form a T-configuration to rotate and secure each supporting arm to either side.