Excavating systems and methods

Abstract

An excavating system may include a nozzle attached to an extendable arm of an excavating vehicle and a fluid supply. The fluid supply may supply fluid to the nozzle and create a fluid stream flowing from the nozzle, where the fluid stream may excavate earth away from an underground line. A method of excavating earth away from an underground line that may include the steps of generating a fluid stream flowing from a nozzle at a flow rate greater than approximately 11 gallons per minute, and excavating earth away from the underground line by directing the fluid stream toward the earth surrounding the underground line. A method of excavating earth away from an underground line that may include the steps of generating a fluid stream flowing from a nozzle, trenching alongside the underground line with the fluid stream, and excavating earth away from the underground line with the fluid stream.

1 . An excavating system, the system comprising:
 a nozzle attached to an extendable arm of an excavating vehicle, and   a fluid supply line which supplies fluid to the nozzle and creates a fluid stream flowing from the nozzle, wherein the fluid stream excavates earth away from an underground line.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the excavating vehicle manipulates the nozzle in at least one axis of rotation. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises at least one actuator, wherein the actuator manipulates the nozzle in at least one axis of rotation. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator is electrically controlled. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the actuator is hydraulically controlled. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the system further comprises a controller that controls the actuator and thereby manipulates the nozzle. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system manipulates the nozzle in three axes of rotation. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream excavates earth away from the underground line, while the system maintains greater than an  18  inch distance between the nozzle and the underground line during the excavation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the underground line is one of a pipeline, a utility line, and a fiber optic line. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the excavating vehicle is one of a backhoe, a trackhoe, and a boom truck. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream excavates earth away from an underground line without using hand tools. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the fluid stream is greater than approximately 11 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the fluid stream is greater than approximately 12 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein a flow rate of the fluid stream is greater than approximately 14 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid stream excavates earth away from the underground line without a vacuum. 
     
     
         16 . A method of excavating earth away from an underground line, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating a fluid stream flowing from a nozzle at a flow rate greater than approximately 11 gallons per minute, and   excavating earth away from the underground line by directing the fluid stream toward the earth surrounding the underground line.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the flow rate is greater than approximately 12 gallons per minute. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the step of directing includes the step of controlling a first actuator which rotates the nozzle about a first axis. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the step of directing includes the step of controlling a second actuator which rotates the nozzle about a second axis. 
     
     
         20 . A method of excavating earth from around an underground line, the method comprising the steps of:
 generating a fluid stream flowing from a nozzle,   trenching alongside the underground line with the fluid stream, and   excavating earth away from the underground line with the fluid stream.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , wherein the method further comprises the step of locating the underground line with the fluid stream, prior to the trenching step. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of the locating, trenching, and excavating steps is performed without using a vacuum.