Abstract: Hydro excavation vacuum apparatus that process spoil material onboard the apparatus by separating water from the cut earthen material are disclosed.

Abstract: Shaker assemblies for dewatering slurries are disclosed. The shaker assemblies may include a positioning device which limits movement of the vibratory frame of the shaker assembly relative to a subframe when the vibratory frame is moved from a raised operating position to a lowered position. The positioning device may guide the vibratory frame as it is lowered from the raised position to the lowered position. In some embodiments, the shaker assembly includes a locking device for locking the vibratory frame to the subframe when the vibratory frame is in the lowered position.

Abstract: Hydro excavation vacuum apparatus that process spoil material onboard the apparatus by separating water from the cut earthen material are disclosed.

Abstract: A material reducing machine includes a rotary reducing drum that is rotatable about an axis of rotation and defines a reducing boundary that extends at least partially around the axis of rotation. The material reducing machine includes an infeed conveyor for transporting material to a front portion of the rotary reducing drum and defines a conveyor plane. The material reducing machine includes a mill box at least partially surrounding the rotary reducing drum and including a mill box lid mounted generally above the rotary reducing drum. The mill box lid has an inlet edge positioned above a rear portion of the rotary reducing drum and an outlet edge positioned above the front portion of the rotary reducing drum. The mill box includes an infeed opening that is configured to receive material from a feed table and has an upper opening defined by the outlet edge of the mill box lid.

Abstract: A shredder includes a shredder box having first and second opposite end walls, and first and second opposite side walls that extend between the first and second end walls. The shredder further includes a shredder rotor positioned within an interior of the shredder box, an access door that is pivotally moveable, and a control system for monitoring various parameters to operate the shredder. A side access region is defined between the first and second end walls when the access door is in the open position. The side access region provides access to the shredder rotor and includes an open region defined between the first and second end walls at the second side of the shredder. The open region has an open top which is free of obstructions extending between the first and second end walls.

Abstract: Three-point hitch mount systems for connecting an implement to a tow vehicle having two lower hitch arms and an upper link arm are disclosed. The hitch mount systems may include a lift bar configured to be attached to the two hitch arms of the tow vehicle. The hitch mount systems may include a yoke assembly. The yoke assembly includes a forward-facing slot and a downward-facing slot for removably receiving the lift bar.

Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling method includes operation of a HDD machine to power a drill string terminating at a drill head to create an underground borehole extending at least partially horizontally between an entry point and an exit point. A utility line and a pair of insulated wires are attached to the drill string at the exit point. An observation device is also attached to the drill string, and the observation device is connected with an uphole module via power line communication (PLC) over the pair of insulated wires. The horizontal directional drilling machine performs a pullback of the drill string, with the utility line, the pair of insulated wires, and the observation device connected thereto, back toward the entry point. Data from the observation device are displayed on the uphole module during pullback of the drill string.

Abstract: Loader apparatus configured for standing operator control are disclosed. The loader apparatus may include a loader adapted to carry a tool that is moveable between a down position and a vertically raised position. One or more linkages are connected to the first side of the loader support and connected to the loader. The apparatus includes a control station having operator controls for propelling the loader apparatus forward and for raising and lowering the loader. The apparatus includes an operator platform for standing operation of the operator controls of the control station.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for a material reducing machine that allows a reducing rotor to be selectively configurable in a plurality of different reducing configurations. The different reducing configurations in which the reducing rotor can be configured can include reducing configurations having reducers located at different positions, reducing configurations having different reducer densities (e.g., different overall densities and different regionalized densities), reducer configurations having different reducer counts, reducer configurations having different reducer patterns, and reducer configurations having different lay-outs.

Abstract: A material reduction machine including an engine, a material reduction tool, a drivetrain, and a control system. The drivetrain is between the engine and the material reduction tool, and includes a coupling and a power transfer element, the coupling having an engaged state and a disengaged state. When engaged, the coupling enables power transfer through the power transfer element and when disengaged, the coupling inhibits power transfer through the power transfer element. The control system includes a sensor to detect a speed of the engine or the material reduction tool, a drivetrain protection system to protect the power transfer element by disengaging the coupling, and a controller to enable the drivetrain protection system based on a first signal from the sensor indicating the speed is at or above a first threshold, and to disengage the coupling based on a second signal indicating the speed is below a second threshold.

Abstract: A method of unthreading an up-hole drill rod from a down-hole drill rod includes breaking a joint using a first vise and a second vise, the second vise being in a first axial position, rotating the up-hole drill rod to fully unthread the up-hole drill rod from the down-hole drill rod, moving the second vise to a second axial position and moving the unthreaded up-hole drill rod away from the down-hole drill rod and into alignment with a rod loading region of the rod storage structure, after the up-hole drill rod is aligned with the rod loading region of the rod storage structure, extending the rod handling device to receive the up-hole drill rod in rod receivers, moving the second vise axially to the first axial position, and retracting the rod handling device to move the up-hole drill rod to the rod storage structure.

Abstract: A drilling machine has a hybrid thrust/pull back system. The hybrid thrust/pull-back system includes at least two different types of drive mechanisms that can be operated concurrently or independently depending upon an operating state of the drilling machine.

Abstract: Rake wheels for a raking apparatus for gathering crop material into a windrow. The rake wheel may include a center hub and a plurality of tines that extend outward from the center hub. In some embodiments, the rake wheel includes support members such as disks for securing and limiting movement of the tines of the rake wheel.

Abstract: A self-propelled baling vehicle for forming a bale of material includes a drive system for propelling the baling vehicle, a baling system for forming the bale, and a control system coupled to the drive system and the baling system. The control system includes a controller configured to determine a proposed location for ejection of the bale, operate the drive system to maneuver the baling vehicle from a first position to a second position for ejection of the bale at the proposed location, operate the baling system to eject the bale at the proposed location, and operate the drive system to maneuver the baling vehicle back to the first position.

Abstract: A horizontal directional drilling system includes a drill head that includes a drive coupling with a central bore that is a through bore. The drill head includes a drive shaft that has an enlarged portion at a downhole end that defines a centroid positioned within the central bore of the drive coupling. The drive shaft includes a drive shaft axis that is misaligned and intersects with an end casing axis of an end casing at a balance point of the drill head. The centroid of the drive shaft is positioned to be coincident with the balance point of the drill head.

Abstract: A reamer for drill string pullback of a horizontal directional drill includes a shaft portion defining a central axis and a first end configured for attachment with a drill string of the horizontal directional drill. A plurality of vanes extend radially from an outer periphery of the shaft, each of the plurality of vanes defining an outer peripheral tooth base surface. On each of the plurality of vanes, a plurality of cutter teeth are individually and removably secured along the outer peripheral tooth base surface thereof, each one of the plurality of cutter teeth including a body and a PDC insert manufactured separately from the body and joined therewith. Each cutter tooth of the plurality is coupled to the respective one of the plurality of vanes by a removable fastener extending at least partially through the cutter tooth and at least partially through the one of the plurality of vanes.

Abstract: Steered caster wheel systems that include a disengagement system to enable a caster wheel steering mode and non-caster wheel steering mode are disclosed. In some embodiments, the caster wheels are mounted to a subframe that may be independently suspended from the chassis of a vehicle such as a self-propelled vehicle.