Apparatus for use with hydrovac truck

Abstract

An apparatus is for use with a hydrovac truck having a vacuum assembly for connection to a holding tank, with a water supply configured to provide pressurized flowing water. Apparatus includes an elongated hollow assembly configured to be fluidly connectable with the vacuum assembly. A water jet assembly is mounted to the elongated hollow assembly. The water jet assembly is configured to be fluidly connectable with the water supply, so that the water jet assembly ejects pressurized flowing water toward the soil. Pressurized flowing water cuts into the soil, and urges formation of a slurry. Pressurized flowing water moves the water jet assembly along a circular path outlined by a cross-section of the elongated hollow assembly in the soil while the elongated hollow assembly and the water jet assembly move deeper into the soil. The vacuum assembly moves the slurry along the elongated hollow assembly and toward the holding tank.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use with a hydrovac truck having a vacuum assembly for connection to a holding tank, with a water supply configured to provide pressurized flowing water, the apparatus comprising:
 an elongated hollow assembly being movable along a longitudinal axis of the elongated hollow assembly, and the elongated hollow assembly being configured to be fluidly connectable with the vacuum assembly; and   a water jet assembly being mounted to the elongated hollow assembly, and the water jet assembly being configured to be fluidly connectable with the water supply in such a way that:
 the water supply, in use, provides the pressurized flowing water to the water jet assembly; 
 the water jet assembly, in use, ejects the pressurized flowing water, which was received from the water supply, toward the soil; 
 the pressurized flowing water, which was ejected from the water jet assembly toward the soil, cuts, in use, into the soil being positioned proximate to the water jet assembly, and urges, in use, formation of a slurry having mixed water and soil positioned proximate to the water jet assembly with the slurry positioned, at least in part, within the elongated hollow assembly; 
 the pressurized flowing water, which was ejected from the water jet assembly toward the soil, moves, in use, the water jet assembly along a circular path outlined by a cross-section of the elongated hollow assembly in the soil while the elongated hollow assembly and the water jet assembly move deeper into the soil; and 
 the vacuum assembly, in use, moves the slurry having mixed water and soil away from the water jet assembly along the elongated hollow assembly and toward the holding tank. 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the elongated hollow assembly includes:
 a relatively stationary hollow tube assembly being configured to be fluidly coupled to the vacuum assembly of the hydrovac truck in such a way that the relatively stationary hollow tube assembly is in fluid communication with the vacuum assembly once the relatively stationary hollow tube assembly is fixedly attached to the vacuum assembly. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the water jet assembly includes:
 a water connection assembly being configured to:
 be fixedly attachable to the relatively stationary hollow tube assembly; and 
 be fluidly couplable to the water supply in such a way that the water connection assembly, in use, receives the pressurized flowing water from the water supply. 
 
   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the elongated hollow assembly further includes:
 a relatively rotatable hollow tube assembly, including:
 a first end section being configured to be fixedly attachable to the water connection assembly in such a way that once the water connection assembly is fixedly attached to the relatively stationary hollow tube assembly and fixedly attached to the relatively rotatable hollow tube assembly, the relatively rotatable hollow tube assembly is: (A) rotatably movable relative to the relatively stationary hollow tube assembly, and (B) in fluid communication with the relatively stationary hollow tube assembly. 
 
   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the relatively rotatable hollow tube assembly further includes:
 a second end section being positioned opposite from the first end section, and the second end section being configured to be positioned on the soil. 
   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the relatively rotatable hollow tube assembly further includes:
 a water line assembly extending, at least in part, along a longitudinal length of the relatively rotatable hollow tube assembly, and the water line assembly being configured to be fluidly connectable with the water connection assembly in such a way that the water line assembly receives the pressurized flowing water from the water connection assembly once the water line assembly is fluidly connected with the water connection assembly. 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein:
 the water jet assembly is positioned proximate to the second end section at a perimeter of the second end section, and the water jet assembly is fluidly connected to the water line assembly, and the water jet assembly being configured to eject, in use, the pressurized flowing water toward the soil in such a way that the pressurized flowing water that is ejected from the water jet assembly, in use, urges (A) the relatively rotatable hollow tube assembly to rotate while the relatively stationary hollow tube assembly remains stationary, and (B) loosens a portion of the soil positioned proximate to the perimeter of the second end section; and (C) mixes the soil that is loosened with the pressurized flowing water to form the slurry having mixed water and soil.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7 , wherein:
 once the vacuum assembly of the hydrovac truck is activated, the vacuum assembly urges flow of the slurry having mixed water and soil from the second end section along the relatively rotatable hollow tube assembly and along the relatively stationary hollow tube assembly toward the vacuum assembly.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the water connection assembly includes:
 an inner rotatable shell; and 
 an outer stationary shell surrounding, at least in part, the inner rotatable shell. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the inner rotatable shell includes:
 a water outlet being configured to be fluidly connectable with the water jet assembly. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the outer stationary shell includes:
 a water inlet being configured to be fluidly connectable with the water supply. 
   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the inner rotatable shell includes:
 a water outlet being configured to be fluidly connectable with the water jet assembly; and 
   the outer stationary shell includes:
 a water inlet being configured to be fluidly connectable with the water supply; and 
 the water inlet also being configured to be fluidly connectable with the water outlet. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the inner rotatable shell includes:
 a rotatable body assembly configured to rotate. 
   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the inner rotatable shell includes:
 a first bearing plate abutting one side of the rotatable body assembly, and the first bearing plate being configured to be relatively stationary; and 
 a second bearing plate abutting another side of the rotatable body assembly, and the second bearing plate being configured to be relatively stationary. 
   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 the inner rotatable shell further includes:
 a seal bearing having an inside section being configures to rotate, and the seal bearing being fixedly attached to the outer stationary shell, and the seal bearing being configured to friction fit to the inner rotatable shell. 
   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a fin assembly extending radially from the rotatable body assembly, and the fin assembly extending between the first bearing plate and the second bearing plate, and the fin assembly being configured to turn the rotatable body assembly in response to the fin assembly receiving a flow of water from a water inlet.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the fin assembly includes:
 instances of the fin assembly being spaced apart along a circumference of the rotatable body assembly. 
   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 a water outlet is configured to receive water that rotates along the rotatable body assembly.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the water connection assembly includes:
 a water seal being positioned between the inner rotatable shell and the outer stationary shell. 
   
     
     
         20 . A method of operating a hydrovac truck having a vacuum assembly for connection to a holding tank, with a water supply configured to provide pressurized flowing water, the method comprising:
 fluidly connecting an elongated hollow assembly with the vacuum assembly, and the elongated hollow assembly being movable along a longitudinal axis of the elongated hollow assembly; and   fluidly connecting a water jet assembly with the water supply, and the water jet assembly being mounted to the elongated hollow assembly;   providing the pressurized flowing water via the water supply to the water jet assembly;   ejecting, via the water jet assembly, the pressurized flowing water, which was received from the water supply, toward the soil in such way that the pressurized flowing water that is ejected from the water jet assembly toward the soil: (A) cuts into the soil being positioned proximate to the water jet assembly, (B) urges formation of a slurry having mixed water and soil positioned proximate to the water jet assembly with the slurry positioned, at least in part, within the elongated hollow assembly, and (C) moves the water jet assembly along a circular path outlined by a cross-section of the elongated hollow assembly in the soil while the elongated hollow assembly and the water jet assembly move deeper into the soil; and   moving the slurry having mixed water and soil, via usage of the vacuum assembly, away from the water jet assembly along the elongated hollow assembly and toward the holding tank.