Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a slurry of liquid and a plurality of impactors are introduced into at least one cavity formed in a body member and are discharged from the cavity so that the impactors remove a portion of the formation. The impactors are separated from at least a portion of the fluid and the materials removed from the formation, so that the impactors can be reused.

Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors are introduced into at least one cavity formed in a body member and are discharging from the cavity so that the impactors remove a portion of the formation. The impactors are separated from at least a portion of the fluid, and are passed to a conduit so that the impactors accumulate in the conduit before being removed from the conduit.

Abstract: A method of forming an energy transfer loop in the earth has the steps of connecting a tubing to a nose member, extending a liquid delivery pipe to the nose member, pumping a liquid through the liquid delivery pipe to the nose member, jetting the liquid from the nose member so as to form an excavation in the earth and pushing the nose member downwardly through the opening in the earth a desired distance below a surface of the earth. A jacket can be affixed around the liquid delivery pipe so as to allow the liquid delivery pipe to be removed from the nose member subsequent to the installation in the earth.

Abstract: A system and method for excavating a subterranean formation, according to which a suspension of liquid and a plurality of impactors are passed between a drill string to a body member for discharge from the body member to remove at least a portion of the formation. The flow of the suspension between the drill string and the body member is controlled in order to present the impactors from settling near the bottom of the formation.

Abstract: The drill string is fitted for drilling activity in the formation expected, including a jet nozzle equipped drill head, and a near bit kick sub. The drill string is deflected to change the progressing well bore to a preferred direction. After the change in well bore direction is accomplished by jetting, the kick sub is straightened and drilling proceeds along the new well bore center line. Ideally, the kick sub responds to direction from the surface and produces a change in drilling fluid pressure at the surface to indicate which mode, straight or deflected, is being carried out down hole.

Abstract: A drill bit for drilling a well bore using solid material impactors comprising a nozzle and a cavity for accelerating the velocity of the solid material impactors and directing flow of the solid material impactors through the nozzle. The drill bit may also comprise a junk slot for return flow of the drilling fluid and solid material impactors.

Abstract: An apparatus for soil excavation having a vacuum hose, a vacuum holding tank and at least one air lance and/or water jet, in which a soil beneficiating agent is introduced into the soil during one or more of the steps of the vacuum excavation process.

Abstract: Rotary jetting tool including a rotor with axially-opposed pressure-balanced mechanical face seals. Vented upper mechanical face seal enables the rotor to be operated with the relativity low starting torque achievable using reaction forces from offset jets energized with a pressurized fluid. When rotor is displaced axially due to set-down conditions, a pressure chamber exerts a pressure imbalance on the rotor, forcing the rotor to return to a normal operating position. Alternate structure to achieve low starting torque includes a volume disposed adjacent to a lower mechanical face seal, the volume being coupled in fluid communication with the pressurized fluid. Mechanical face seal surfaces are fabricated from ultra-hard materials, such as tungsten carbide, silicon carbide, and diamond. A gage ring designed to ensure the jets remove all of the material from the gage of the protective housing before the tool can advance can be incorporated.

Abstract: A method of steering a fluid drilling head in an underground borehole drilling situation is provided by rotating the flexible hose through which high pressure is provided to the drilling head and providing a biasing force on the drilling head. The hose can be rotated from a remote surface mounted situation by rotating the entire surface rig (13) in a horizontal plane about a turntable (24) causing the vertically orientated portion of the hose (11) to rotate about its longitudinal axis. The biasing force can be provided in a number of different ways but typically results from the use of an asymmetrical gauging ring on the fluid drilling head.

Abstract: The invention relates to pumping engineering, mainly to well pumping devices for extracting oil from wells. The inventive method consists in assembling from the bottom upward an input cone provided with a shank, a packer and a jet pump and in running said assembly with the aid of a tubing string into a well. Afterwards, a receiver transformer of physical fields is also run into said well, background measurements of temperature and other physical fields are carried out, a formation is drained and the work of the individual interlayer of a productive strata is evaluated. An ultrasonic action is performed on the productive strata. The hydrodynamic action being performed on the productive strata during said operation, the entire formation is exposed to the combined action of ultrasonic oscillations and a hydrodynamic effect. Afterwards, the unit for ultrasonic effect is pulled out from the well to the surface.

Abstract: A decoking system that not only enables an operator to remotely switch the coke-cutting process from boring to cutting mode without removing the drill stem from the coke drum, but also to remotely determine the drill stem's mode so that efficiency, safety and convenience are not compromised, is provided.

Abstract: An orbital tool apparatus and method of using the apparatus for boring, drilling, reaming, and cutting having a tool housing, a tool collar located within the housing, the tool housing having the ability to couple to a conduit structure, fluid orbiting jets within the tool collar, and a tool funnel located below the tool collar and within a lower portion of the tool housing. The orbital tool creating a bore in a surface, when fluid flowing into the orbital tool via a conduit is directed out of the orbital tool towards the structure, a portion of the fluid flowing within the orbital tool being diverted through the fluid orbiting jets causing the diverted fluid to impinge against the tool funnel, causing the tool funnel to oscillate creating a sweeping flow towards the surface.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a nozzle capable of producing a high impact waterjet when supplied with a source of ulta-high pressure liquid. The nozzle is constructed and arranged to infuse fluid into a high velocity stream of liquid passing through the nozzle to create a bubble rich waterjet. When the waterjet strikes against a surface the bubbles implode, amplifying the impact of the water against the surface.

Abstract: According to one embodiment of the invention, a flow conditioning system for fluid jetting tools includes a housing having a plurality of jet nozzle openings and a fluid straightener disposed within the housing. The fluid straightener is defined by one or more vanes, and the vanes form a plurality of flow channels within the housing. Each flow channel is associated with at least one jet nozzle opening.

Abstract: A fluid drilling head has a plurality of nozzles (3, 4, 5, 6) in a rotatable nozzle assembly (2) to provide high pressure cutting jets (7). The head is provided with a gauging ring (10) having an annular clearance (11) to the rotatable nozzle assembly (2) to provide for the passage of rock particles eroded by the cutting action of the jets (7) while regulating the progress of the drilling head in the borehole and controlling drill stalling. A stepped rotatable nozzle assembly having a smaller diameter portion (8) and a larger diameter portion (9) to extend the cutting zone of a reaming jet closer to the outer diameter of the gauging ring (10) is also described and claimed.

Abstract: The proposed invention relates to wellbore technologies and is intended to produce action on productive rock. Device for hydrodynamic action on wall of a well comprising a casing jointed with the pipe conduit directly or via a roller support and inside of which the mechanism for cavitating of flow of a liquid, mechanism for directing and splitting of the flow and mechanism for interrupting of the discharge jets are sequentially placed. The mechanism for cavitating of flow of a liquid is made in form of an auto-oscillating system. And specifically it can be made in a form of a ball with its diameter ratio to inner diameter of the casing of 0.9–0.98 and a limiter of axial motion; or a ball with its diameter ratio to inner diameter of the casing less than 0.

Abstract: A jet cutting device having a cutter head provided with a nozzle for ejecting a stream of fluid against a body so as to create a selected cut in said body. The cutter head is provided with a deflector having a deflection surface arranged to deflect the stream of fluid ejected by the nozzle into a selected direction in accordance with the position of said cut to be created.

Abstract: The present invention provides a head for injecting a fluid under pressure for breaking up the ground from a borehole and mounted at the end of a string of rods. The body of the drilling head has a bottom wall for mounting a mechanical drilling tool having a feed pipe, at least one injection nozzle, and duct-forming means for connecting the feed pipe with liquid at the inlet of said nozzle, the duct-forming means presenting a mean line having a radius of curvature that varies continuously, the right section of said duct-forming means decreasing regularly over at least half its length from its first end towards its second end. The injection head further comprises at least one pipe for feeding said mechanical tool, said pipe being connected at a first end to said duct-forming means and at a second end to a chamber disposed at the bottom end of said injection head and fitted with a controllable shutter member interposed between said chamber and the pipe for feeding said mechanical tool.

Abstract: A vacuum boring and mud recovery method comprising a vacuum container, a vacuum producing device to create a vacuum within said container, a conduit to vacuum solid particles and liquids into the vacuum container and a dispensing device to dispense the liquid or solid particles from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container. Vacuum container contents are stored within the container while simultaneously dispensing the solid particles and or liquids. The vacuum container method may also have a separating device disposed within it to separate solids and liquids by category. The vacuum container method is a continuous operation vacuum container, which can simultaneously fill, store and dispense solid particles and liquids with the added ability to simultaneously separate the solids and or liquids before they are dispensed from the vacuum container. This is accomplished without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container.

Abstract: The invention relates to pumping engineering, mainly to downhole jet production units. The inventive downhole jet unit comprises a packer, a pipe column and a jet pump. An active nozzle is embodied in the body of the jet pump, and a pass channel provided with a mounting face for a sealing assembly with an axial channel is embodied therein. Said unit is also provided with an irradiator and a receiver transformer of physical fields which are mounted on a cable. The output of the jet pump is connected to a space around the pipe column. The input of a channel for feeding the pumped out medium of the jet pump is connected to the internal space of the pipe column below the sealing assembly. The input of a channel supplying a working medium to the active nozzle is connected to the internal space of the pipe column above the sealing assembly. The invention makes it possible to optimise dimensions of various elements of the unit, thereby increasing the operating reliability of the downhole jet unit.

Abstract: A downhole tool for fracturing a subterranean formation according to which a tool having a plurality of discharge jets or nozzles is located in a spaced relation to a wall of the formation to form an annulus between the nozzles and the formation. An acid-containing, stimulation fluid is pumped at a predetermined pressure through the nozzles, into the annulus and against the wall of the formation. A gas is pumped into the annulus so that the stimulation fluid mixes with the gas to generate foam before the mixture is jetted towards the formation to impact the wall of the formation. The tool is adapted to bend, or tilt, so that the discharge jets can come in to proximity to the formation being fractured.

Abstract: A method for facilitating horizontal drilling by positioning in a well casing a shoe defining a passageway extending from an upper opening in the shoe through the shoe to a side opening in the shoe. A rod is connected, through at least one block and pin assembly operative as a universal joint, to a casing mill end, and inserted into the well casing and through the passageway in the shoe until the casing mill end substantially abuts the well casing. The rod and casing mill end are then rotated until the casing mill end substantially forms a perforation in the well casing. The rod and casing mill end are then withdrawn from the well casing, and a nozzle attached to the end of a flexible hose is extended through the passageway to the perforation. Fluid is then ejected from the nozzle and impinges and erodes subterranean formation material.

Abstract: A self-advancing drilling system comprising a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus having at least one leading fluid cutting nozzle, an advancing device on the drilling apparatus to provide forward movement to the drilling apparatus, the drilling system further comprising a drill string formed from recoverable flexible hose and a steering device having at least one jet nozzle.

Abstract: This invention aims to provide a gas-hydrate extracting device and method whereby a high-performance jet fluid is injected from a nozzle at the tip of an extraction pipe inserted into a gas-hydrate stratum, and whereby said jet fluid breaks said stratum so as to form a gas-hydrate mixed fluid that is transferred to surface of the earth, and whereby the void resulting from the removal of said gas hydrate is filled with the components of said high-performance jet fluid and a void-refilling fluid.

Abstract: A drill bit shaft member for tapping a hole in a blast furnace is disclosed. The drill bit shaft member comprises an elongate rod, a first fluid pressure inlet, a second fluid pressure inlet, a chamber in fluid communication with the first fluid pressure inlet and the second fluid pressure inlet, and an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber. A liquid and a gas are combined in the drill bit shaft member to form a mist to provide cooling for the drill bit shaft member. By cooling the drill bit shaft member, certain components that would normally be destroyed may be re-used.

Abstract: A device for transporting particles of a magnetic material in a selected direction, having a support member having a support surface for supporting the particles, the support surface extending in a selected direction, a magnet arranged to generate a magnetic field retaining the magnetic particles on the support surface, the magnetic field having at least one region of reduced field strength at the support surface relative to a field strength of the magnetic field at the support surface outside said region, and drive means for moving each region of reduced field strength relative to the support surface in a direction having a component in the selected direction.

Abstract: A hand-held wand is disclosed for exposing buried objects such as utility lines or the like. The wand comprises an elongated, hollow tube having upper and lower ends with first and second water supply conduits being positioned adjacent the exterior surface of the tube. The lower end of the first water supply conduit has a digging nozzle mounted thereon. The lower end of the second water supply conduit extends upwardly into the lower end of the tube to create a vacuum or suction within the lower end of the hollow tube to remove muddy water from the hole being dug. A two-way valve is connected to the upper ends of the first and second water supply lines for alternately delivering water to the water supply conduits. The intake side of the two-way valve is in fluid communication with a source of high pressure water. The upper end of the hollow tube has a mud take-off hose connected thereto which may be utilized to convey the muddy water to a location remote from the hole being dug or to a container.

Abstract: A Borehole Mining method comprising driving a borehole, into a production zone under a low-degree angle &agr; (0<&agr;<35°), installation in said borehole a mining device with a hydromonitor and eductor, water-jet cutting of rock, pumping-out a slurry, and creating a cavity. Said tool is positioned such that the hydromonitor is oriented at an angle &bgr; to the horizontal plane. The projection on said plane of the water-jet equals to the desired span of the driven cavity. The borehole may be driven sinking or raising. The BHM tool is inserted/removed from the borehole while mining without rotation, extending said cavity along the borehole. Said borehole can be driven from a land or water surface trough the mother-well drilled vertically and then deviated. It also may be driven straight from an underground mine or open pit floor. After a creation of said cavity, it may back-filled with a waste or hardening material.

Abstract: A system and method for removing contaminated pilings is provided, the system including a casing to enclose the piling and a pressurized air system for excavating soil and contaminated materials from around the piling and material from the piling itself, capturing the excavated soil and contaminated material as it rises within the piling by action of the pressurized air, and a closure mechanism at the bottom of the casing for enclosing and removing the piling without spreading contamination to the surrounding environment. Clean fill material, such as sand, can be injected through the air nozzles or optional sand ports on the casing to fill the void left from the removed piling.

Abstract: A jet nozzle is provided for drilling holes through the earth, such as drainholes around a well. The nozzle may include orifices for discharging fluid to drive the nozzle forward and includes a disk or other device having orifices to produce a swirling motion to fluid in the body of the nozzle. Swirling fluid is discharged from a front orifice and an extension is placed forward of the front orifice to confine the swirling fluid in a radial direction.

Abstract: A method of fracturing a downhole formation according to which a plurality of jet nozzles are located in a spaced relation to the wall of the formation to form an annulus between the nozzles and the formation. A non-acid containing stimulation fluid is pumped at a predetermined pressure through the nozzles, into the annulus, and against the wall of the formation, and a gas is introduced into the annulus so that the stimulation fluid mixes with the gas to generate foam before the mixture is jetted towards the formation to form fractures in the formation.

Abstract: The invention provides a head for injecting a liquid under pressure from a borehole to break up the soil, said head being mounted at the end of a drill string including a liquid feed for feeding a liquid under pressure. The head comprises a body and an outside wall, the body having at least one injection nozzle mounted therein, the nozzle having an inlet diameter equal to d and presenting an axis (x-x′), the body also having a tube. The tube presents a mean line having a first end connected to the bottom end of the liquid feed and having a second end connected to the nozzle tangentially to the axis (x-x′). The mean line is defined by at least one curved portion presenting a radius of curvature that varies continuously. The right section of the tube decreases regularly over at least half of its length from its first end to its second end.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for sawing or drilling concrete or like material comprises use of a fluid flow device for transmitting a stream of water from a pressurized water supply to the cutting elements of a masonry saw or core drill and for injecting a speed-enhancing compound into the stream of water, with the compound being injected under the influence of a venturi-induced suction force created by the stream of water as it flows through the device. Preferably the device includes means for varying the rate at which the speed-enhancing compound is sucked into the water stream.

Abstract: A self-advancing drilling system comprising a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus having at least one leading fluid cutting nozzle, means on the drilling apparatus to provide forward movement to the drilling apparatus, the drilling system further comprising a drill string formed from recoverable flexible hose.

Abstract: Methods and materials for chemically enhanced drilling of oil/gas wells are disclosed. The use of drilling fluids containing chemicals that dissolve formation constituents results in the creation of boreholes. Fluids containing acids such as hydrochloric acid, formic acid, acetic acid, or combinations thereof have been found to be especially useful in chemical drilling of formations containing basic minerals such as calcium carbonate. The use of acid has the further advantage of simultaneously stimulating the borehole.

Abstract: A fusion drilling process and device for the placement of dimensionally accurate borings, particularly those of large diameter, in rock, in which the waste melt is pressed into the surrounding rock, which is cracked due to the effect of temperature and pressure, and in which a borehole lining is produced by solidifying melting during boring, with a melt containing metal supplied through pipeline elements as a boring medium to the base of the borehole to be removed through melting. For this purpose a melt made of magnetic metal is preferably used.

Abstract: A method and system for drilling or cutting a subterranean well or formation 52 using a drilling rig 5, a drill string 55, a plurality of solid material impactors 100, a drilling fluid and a drill bit 60 is disclosed. This invention may have particular utility in drilling wells for the petroleum industry and for cutting formation in the mining and tunnel boring industries. In a preferred embodiment, a plurality of solid material impactors are introduced into the drilling fluid and pumped through the drill string and drill bit to impact the formation ahead of the bit. At the point of impact, a substantial portion by weight of the impactors may have sufficient energy to structurally alter, excavate, and/or fracture the impacted formation. The majority by weight of the plurality of solid material impactors may have a mean diameter of at least 0.100 inches, and may structurally alter the formation to a depth of at least twice the mean diameter of the particles comprising the impacted formation.

Abstract: A system and method for removing contaminated pilings is provided, the system including a casing to enclose the piling and a pressurized air system for excavating soil and contaminated materials from around the piling and material from the piling itself, capturing the excavated soil and contaminated material as it rises within the piling by action of the pressurized air, and a closure mechanism at the bottom of the casing for enclosing and removing the piling without spreading contamination to the surrounding environment. Clean fill material, such as sand, can be injected through the air nozzles or optional sand ports on the casing to fill the void left from the removed piling.

Abstract: A flexible hose assembly for horizontal well drilling is provided. The flexible hose assembly has a number of spaced thruster couplings along its length to impart drilling force to a nozzle blaster at an end of the flexible hose. The thruster couplings have rearwardly oriented holes which impart a forward drilling force upon the exit of high pressure water through the holes. A method of horizontal well drilling using the above-described flexible hose is also provided. The method is particularly useful for shallow wells, such as 50-2000 feet.

Abstract: A bioremediation method and system for destroying of reducing the level of contaminants in a contaminated subterranean body of water includes a plurality of spaced injection sites. The injection sites extend below ground and intersect a body of groundwater. Each of the plurality of injection sites are in communication with a supply of concentrated oxygen. The oxygen is conveyed by a delivery mechanism from the supply of oxygen to the injection points to naturally reduce the contaminants in the groundwater.

Abstract: A drilling assembly for drilling a borehole into an earth formation is disclosed having a drill string extending into the borehole and a jetting device arranged at a lower part of the drill string, the jetting device is provided with a mixing chamber having a first inlet in fluid communication with a drilling fluid supply conduit, a second inlet for abrasive particles and an outlet which is in fluid communication with a jetting nozzle arranged to jet a stream of abrasive particles and drilling fluid against at least one of the borehole bottom and the borehole wall. The jetting device is further provided with an abrasive particles recirculation system for separating the abrasive particles from the drilling fluid at a selected location where the stream flows from the at least one of the borehole bottom and the borehole wall towards the upper end of the borehole and for supplying the separated abrasive particles to the second inlet.

Abstract: Method for installing a duct in the ground, whereby a longitudinal organ is already present in the ground near the route along which the duct is to be installed, whereby the existing longitudinal element is used as a guide for the duct to be installed and the duct is pushed into the ground with the aid of a fluid under pressure fed through the duct, whereby the duct to be installed is coupled to the existing longitudinal element by means of at least one divisible coupling piece and whereby the coupling element is advanced along the existing longitudinal element. The invention also provides a coupling piece for guiding the duct along the longitudinal element.

Abstract: A hand-held wand is disclosed for exposing buried objects such as utility lines or the like. The wand comprises an elongated, hollow tube having upper and lower ends with first and second water supply conduits being positioned adjacent the exterior surface of the tube. The lower end of the first water supply conduit has a digging nozzle mounted thereon. The lower end of the second water supply conduit extends upwardly into the lower end of the tube to create a vacuum or suction within the lower end of the hollow tube to remove muddy water from the hole being dug. A two-way valve is connected to the upper ends of the first and second water supply lines for alternately delivering water to the water supply conduits. The intake side of the two-way valve is in fluid communication with a source of high pressure water. The upper end of the hollow tube has a mud take-off hose connected thereto which may be utilized to convey the muddy water to a location remote from the hole being dug or to a container.

Abstract: A self-advancing drilling system comprising a drilling apparatus, the drilling apparatus having at least one leading fluid cutting nozzle, means on the drilling apparatus to provide forward movement to the drilling apparatus, the drilling system further comprising a drill string formed from a recoverable flexible hose.

Abstract: A borehole mining tool comprising a drill string having an inner pipe column and an outer pipe column. Water is forced under high pressure down an annulus between the outer pipe and inner pipe. A hydromonitor is attached to the end of the drill string. A nozzle in the hydromonitor directs the pressurized water into a stope or work area, thereby loosening the material to be mined. The slurry is educted from the mined area by the action of a venturi attached downstream of the hydromonitor. Water flow through the venturi creates a vacuum which draws the pregnant slurry from the work area up through the inner pipe to the surface. A plurality of tools may be attached to the hydromonitor by a connection comprising a gasket having an interference fit. The gasket allows quick connection and removal of a plurality of tools from the hydromonitor. A radar is include to provide an image of the stope being worked.

Abstract: A vacuum boring and mud recovery system comprising a vacuum container, a vacuum producing device to create a vacuum within said container, a conduit to vacuum solid particles and liquids into the vacuum container and a dispensing device to dispense the liquid or solid particles from the vacuum container without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container. Vacuum container contents are stored within the container while simultaneously dispensing the solid particles and or liquids. The vacuum container system may also have a separating device disposed within it to separate solids and liquids by category. The vacuum container system is a continuous operation vacuum container which can simultaneously fill, store and dispense solid particles and liquids with the added ability to simultaneously separate the solids and liquids before they are dispensed from the vacuum container. This is accomplished without eliminating the vacuum environment within the vacuum container.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a tire comminution apparatus that is of simple construction and that can be operated without excessive maintenance. According to the present invention, a vehicle tire of any size or composition can be comminuted with essentially the same comminution apparatus. The comminution apparatus includes a freely moving lance with a nozzle for transforming a liquid into a high velocity liquid jet. The lance is positioned and controlled such that the liquid jet impacts the tire thereby separating it into its component parts. The comminution apparatus may be computer controlled.

Abstract: A method and system for accessing subterranean zones from the surface includes a substantially vertical well bore extending from the surface to a target zone, and an articulated well bore extending from the substantially vertical well bore to the target zone. The articulated well bore diverges from the substantially vertical well bore between the surface and the target zone. The system also includes a well bore pattern extending from the articulated well bore in the target zone operable to collect resources from the target zone. The system also includes a subsurface channel operable to communicate resources from the well bore pattern to the substantially vertical well bore. The system further includes a vertical pump disposed in the substantially vertical well bore and operable to lift resources collected in the substantially vertical well bore to the surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a head for injecting a liquid under pressure from a borehole to break up the soil, said head being mounted at the end of a drill string including liquid feed means for feeding a liquid under pressure. The head comprises a body and an outside wall, the body having at least one injection nozzle mounted therein, the nozzle having an inlet diameter equal to d and presenting an axis x,x′, the body also having duct-forming means. The duct-forming means present a mean line having a first end connected to the bottom end of the liquid feed means and having a second end connected to the nozzle tangentially to the axis x,x′. The mean line is defined by at least one curved portion presenting a radius of curvature that varies continuously. The right section of the duct-forming means decreases regularly over at least half of its length from its first end to its second end.

Abstract: A vacuum excavation system which incorporates a low consumption air lance, a highly efficient multi-stage vacuum generation system effectively isolated from the waste stream and the air source, and a highly portable material collection system. The air lance includes a cylindrical main body which narrows to a flat taper nozzle at the digging end, and a tee-shaped handle with a swivel type air fitting at one end, while the vacuum generation system is a multi-stage ejector fitted onto a collection drum and consisting of successive venturi tubes with pressure equalizing check valves on the second and higher stages, the material collection system consisting of the drum and hoses or pipes connected to the drum through a separate opening.