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 utility pole setting trailer includes a horizontal frame configured to carry utility poles to remote locations, a set of wheels supporting the horizontal frame, a hydraulic boom coupled to the horizontal frame and configured to load and unload the utility poles on to the horizontal frame, and a motor coupled to the hydraulic boom and configured to power the hydraulic boom. The hydraulic boom includes a first arm and a second arm, and a grapple is coupled to a distal end of the second arm. The grapple is configured to grasp a respective utility pole. In addition, the horizontal frame includes a front portion and a rear portion that are configured to extend apart from each other to increase a length of the horizontal frame.

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 utility pole setting trailer includes a horizontal frame configured to carry utility poles to remote locations, a set of wheels supporting the horizontal frame, a hydraulic boom coupled to the horizontal frame and configured to load and unload the utility poles on to the horizontal frame, and a motor coupled to the hydraulic boom and configured to power the hydraulic boom. The hydraulic boom includes a first arm and a second arm, and a grapple is coupled to a distal end of the second arm. The grapple is configured to grasp a respective utility pole. In addition, the horizontal frame includes a front portion and a rear portion that are configured to extend apart from each other to increase a length of the horizontal frame.

Abstract: A high pressure surface cleaner includes a housing having an open end, a high pressure coupling in fluid communication with the housing and having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to receive a high pressure water source, and a supply conduit rotatably secured to the second end of the high pressure coupling and configured to rotate about the high pressure coupling defining a horizontal plane within the housing. The cleaner also includes first and second nozzles having a vertical axis therethrough and secured proximate to the first and opposing second ends of the supply conduit, respectively, the vertical axis of the first and second nozzles approximately normal to the first horizontal plane, and a directional nozzle coupled to the supply conduit and having a directional outlet orientated to cause the supply conduit with the first and second nozzles to rotate when discharging water.

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 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 dewatering system is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the dewatering system includes a debris tank configured to receive a slurry through an inlet and a dewatering filter installed in the debris tank. In addition, the dewatering system includes a bar screen forming a curvilinear surface of the dewatering filter, where the bar screen is configured to prevent sediment from passing through and into an interior space of the dewatering filter. A first end of the dewatering filter is in communication with a discharge port to remove filtered liquid from an interior of the debris tank, and a vibratory device is configured to shake the dewatering filter to remove sediment from an exterior surface of the dewatering filter.

Abstract: A high pressure surface cleaner includes a housing having an open end, a high pressure coupling in fluid communication with the housing and having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to receive a high pressure water source, and a supply conduit rotatably secured to the second end of the high pressure coupling and configured to rotate about the high pressure coupling defining a horizontal plane within the housing. The cleaner also includes first and second nozzles having a vertical axis therethrough and secured proximate to the first and opposing second ends of the supply conduit, respectively, the vertical axis of the first and second nozzles approximately normal to the first horizontal plane, and a directional nozzle coupled to the supply conduit and having a directional outlet orientated to cause the supply conduit with the first and second nozzles to rotate when discharging water.

Abstract: A hydro excavation heating system includes an internal combustion engine having an exhaust gas stream, a heat exchanger coupled to the exhaust gas stream and configured to heat hydro excavation water by transferring heat from the exhaust gas stream to the hydro excavation water circulating therethrough, and a tank for storing the hydro excavation water. The system also includes a water pump having an inlet coupled to an outlet of the tank storing the hydro excavation water, a hydro excavation hose coupled to an outlet of the water pump, and a coupling coupled to the hydro excavation hose and to an inlet of the heat exchanger to define a closed circulation path through the system when heating the hydro excavation water, where the coupling is configured to disconnect from the heat exchanger in order to use the hydro excavation water during a hydro excavation operation.

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 system to drive vacuum equipment on a truck having an engine and a transmission includes a power take-off (PTO) unit configured to be coupled to a PTO port located on a side of the transmission. The system also includes a PTO shaft coupled to the PTO unit, vacuum equipment mounted to the truck, and a first gear box coupled to the PTO shaft and the first gear box configured to transfer power to the vacuum equipment. In addition, the system includes at least one belt coupled to the gear box, where the at least one belt drives additional auxiliary equipment. The additional auxiliary equipment comprises at least one of a water pump and a hydraulic pump, where the hydraulic pump is configured to stop and reverse a flow of hydraulic fluid to stop and reverse a rotational direction of air through the blower.

Abstract: A high pressure surface cleaner includes a housing having an open end, a high pressure coupling in fluid communication with the housing and having a first end and a second end, the first end configured to receive a high pressure water source, and a supply conduit rotatably secured to the second end of the high pressure coupling and configured to rotate about the high pressure coupling defining a horizontal plane within the housing. The cleaner also includes first and second nozzles having a vertical axis therethrough and secured proximate to the first and opposing second ends of the supply conduit, respectively, the vertical axis of the first and second nozzles approximately normal to the first horizontal plane, and a directional nozzle coupled to the supply conduit and having a directional outlet orientated to cause the supply conduit with the first and second nozzles to rotate when discharging water.