Hydro excavation remote dig system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vacuum truck systems face inefficiencies in excavation, such as material becoming overly wet with water-based systems and excessive dust with air-based systems, and lack effective solutions for handling debris and protecting underground utilities during excavation.
Innovation Solution
A dig tube attachment system for vacuum trucks, featuring a reinforcement bar with releasable clamps, a debris box with a safety valve, and a dig tip rock guard, which maintains corrugated tubing in an elongated state, prevents large rocks from being sucked up, collects debris, and allows secure handling, enabling remote dig setups.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If water is used to break up material in excavation, then material can be effectively excavated, but material becomes overly wet and is poorly suited for backfilling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces air as an intermediary medium to break up material instead of using water directly. The air-powered excavation system uses compressed air to fragment soil and debris, allowing the material to remain relatively dry and suitable for backfilling while still achieving effective excavation. This mediator approach resolves the contradiction between excavation effectiveness and material moisture control.
2Quantity of substance
If air is used to excavate material, then material remains dry for backfilling, but excessive dust is created
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines air-powered excavation with a vacuum collection system into an integrated remote dig setup. The vacuum truck collects the material excavated by air, simultaneously achieving dry material extraction and dust control by containing and removing airborne particles. This merging of excavation and collection functions resolves the contradiction between keeping material dry and preventing excessive dust.
3Productivity
If traditional excavation methods are used around buried utilities, then excavation can be performed, but risk of damaging buried equipment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical excavation equipment (such as backhoes and excavators) with an air-powered excavation system. Compressed air is used to break up and remove soil without the physical contact and force that could damage buried utilities. This substitution of mechanical systems with pneumatic systems maintains excavation productivity while significantly improving the safety and reliability of buried utility protection.
4Adaptability or versatility
If vacuum trucks are used for remote dig setups, then excavation can be performed in difficult locations, but effective debris handling and tubing stability become problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the vacuum truck system, including excavation, material collection, debris handling, and tubing support. The vacuum truck serves as a multi-functional platform that performs remote dig operations while simultaneously managing debris through its collection system. This universal approach reduces the need for separate specialized equipment, simplifying the overall system while maintaining adaptability for remote locations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively prevents debris from entering the vacuum truck, maintains tubing rigidity, and protects underground utilities, enhancing excavation efficiency and safety by managing debris and maintaining tubing integrity during vacuum operations.
Implementation Method 1
a vacuum system, wherein the corrugated tubing is connected between the vacuum source and the distal end of the extensible and articulating arm
Data Source
AI summary
The hydro excavation remote dig system provides for a primary and secondary dig tube attachments that permit a vacuum truck to be used for a remote dig setup. Specifically, the attachments include various attachable handles, corrugated tubing that connects to a reinforcement bar device with releasable clamps to maintain the corrugated tubing in an elongated state during use, a debris box with an integrated safety valve, and a dig tip.