Abstract: A soft excavator (10, 90, 110, 130) is disclosed which utilizes a jet of high velocity fluid flow such as air or water flow, preferably supersonic, through a nozzle (48, 92, 112) to excavate a material, such as the ground. A second passage for air flow is provided which is directed by an evacuator skirt (52, 102) in a direction along the excavator generally opposite the direction of discharge of the high velocity excavating flow to entrain the material excavated for disposal.

Abstract: A soft excavator (10, 90, 110, 130) is disclosed which utilizes a jet of high velocity fluid flow such as air or water flow, preferably supersonic, through a nozzle (48, 92, 112) to excavate a material, such as the ground. A second passage for air flow is provided which is directed by an evacuator skirt (52, 102) in a direction along the excavator generally opposite the direction of discharge of the high velocity excavating flow to entrain the material excavated for disposal.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a rod pusher device which moves a drill string having a directional boring bit at its leading end. The invention includes a conversion device to automatically and simultaneously convert the axial movement of the drill string into a combined axial and rotational movement of the drill string. The conversion device is selectively engageable so that the push rod operator can readily select between axial movement of the drill string or combined axial and rotational movement, and thereby control the path of the borehole.

Abstract: A cable feed subassembly for use with a vibratory plow in placing a cable or tube in the earth. The plow includes a plow blade and an associated vibratory unit. A cable guide assembly is mounted on the rear side of the plow blade and an incremental cable feed subassembly is mounted in association with the vibratory unit so as to be oscillated in synchronism with the vibratory cycles of the vibratory unit. The cable feed subassembly includes a pair of cooperating rollers through which the cable is passed, and by which it is forced downwardly by the periodic, incremental rotation of at least one of the rollers.

Abstract: An assembly such as for a tile chute tool for laying tile, plastic pipe or the like or for a crumbing tool either of which tools is adapted to be connected to the digging boom and mobile chassis of a ditching or trenching machine by a four-bar linkage. The linkage is connected to the boom by extensible arm means which can be fixed at one length to maintain the boom and tile chute tool in operable relation to each other for digging and tile laying or other tool function, or released to be telescopically extendible for the digging boom to proceed with digging with the tile chute tool remaining at ground level. A control member tiltable relative to the pivot axis of the digging boom connects to the linkage to alter the position of the tile chute tool bottom.

Abstract: A single lever control adapted to actuate spaced control devices such as hydraulic valves is provided wherein a housing mountable on the body of one device and containing the actuator for that device supports both the actuating mechanism for an adjacent control device and the single control lever to actuate both devices. The mechanism has a yoke carried by a hub rotatable on the housing through which actuation of the first device is effected with the yoke pivotally supporting a single control lever which carries an extension connected through an easy assembly linkage to actuate the other control device.

Abstract: A trench digging machine is supplemented by a spoils removal conveyor mountable on a frame intermediate the trench digger and the powered vehicle which carries the digger so as to be readily removable and replaced by auger spoils removal for moving spoils laterally from the trench being dug by the trench digger.

Abstract: A foot for the stabilizer arm of a backhoe or like construction equipment having a plurality of ground-engaging faces suitable for use in stabilizing with different ground surfaces. The foot comprises a detachable pad which may be pivotally attached to the stabilizer arm and retained in selected different orientations, with each orientation providing a different ground-engaging face.