Automated Dual Excavation For Hydro/Pneumatic Vacuum Excavators

Abstract

A system and method is provided for enhancing the working end of a hydrovac boom hose having a longitudinal axis and a perimeter disposed transversely to the axis, the working end configured to vacuum earthy material from a digsite along the axis. A plurality of high pressure nozzles are disposable in spaced relation along the perimeter of the working end, and configured to emit high pressure fluid towards the digsite to dislodge the earthy material. The nozzles are angularly actuatable to selectively emit the high pressure fluid along a range of angles relative to the longitudinal axis, and are rotationally actuatable to selectively emit the high pressure fluid from a range of locations along the perimeter of the working end. The angular and rotatable actuation is independent of movement of the working end and/or of movement of the hydrovac boom hose.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for coupling to a working end of a hydrovac boom hose, the working end having a longitudinal axis and a perimeter disposed transversely to said axis, the working end configured to vacuum earthy material from a digsite along said axis, the system comprising:
 a plurality of high pressure nozzles disposable in spaced relation along the perimeter of the working end, said nozzles configured to emit high pressure fluid towards the digsite to dislodge the earthy material;   said nozzles configured for angular actuation to selectively emit the high pressure fluid along a range of angles relative to the longitudinal axis;   said nozzles configured for rotational actuation to selectively emit the high pressure fluid from a range of locations along the perimeter of the working end;   wherein said nozzles are configured for said angular actuation and for said rotational actuation independently of movement of the working end and/or independently of movement of the hydrovac boom hose.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said nozzles are configured for being pivotably disposed along the perimeter of the working end. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein said angular actuation comprises pivoting the nozzles. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the perimeter comprises a circumference. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the nozzles are configured to selectively emit the high pressure fluid from a range of circumferential locations along the working end. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein the system further includes a collar couplable concentrically with said working end, the collar pivotably supporting the nozzles thereon. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the collar is configured for rotation relative to the working end, about the axis. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the collar further comprises a motor supported thereon, the motor configured to effect said rotation. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the motor is driven pneumatically. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the motor is disposed in operative engagement with a drive wheel, the drive wheel configured to engage the circumference of the working end to effect said rotation. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the high pressure fluid comprises water and/or air. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller communicably coupled to said nozzles, the controller configured to actuate the nozzles. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein said controller is configured to effect said angular actuation and said rotational actuation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein said controller is configured to control supply of the high pressure fluid to the nozzles. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the controller comprises a pneumatic controller and the nozzles are pneumatically actuatable. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the pneumatic controller is electronically actuatable. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzles are configured to emit the high pressure fluid at a plurality of rates and/or pressures. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the nozzles are configured to emit the high pressure fluid between 0 pounds per square inch (PSI) and 3000 PSI and between 0 gallons per minute (GPM) and 80 GPM. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzles are configured to emit the high pressure fluid along a range of angles of plus or minus 20 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the nozzles are configured to emit the high pressure fluid from a range of positions extending plus or minus 180 degrees along the circumference of the working end. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the hydrovac boom hose is communicatively coupled to a vacuum that provides suction to the hydrovac boom hose and to the working end. 
     
     
         22 . A system for coupling to a working end of a hydrovac boom hose, the working end having a longitudinal axis and a circumference disposed transversely to said axis, the hydrovac boom hose configured to vacuum earthy material through the working end from a digsite along said axis, the system comprising:
 a collar couplable concentrically with, and configured for axial rotation relative to the working end;   the collar further supporting a pneumatically driven motor thereon to effect said axial rotation;   a plurality of high pressure nozzles pivotably disposed in spaced relation along the collar, wherein the nozzles are configured to emit high pressure fluid including water and/or air towards the digsite to dislodge the earthy material;   said nozzles configured for angular actuation by pivoting the nozzles to selectively emit the high pressure fluid along a range of angles relative to the longitudinal axis;   said nozzles configured for rotational actuation as the collar rotates to selectively emit the high pressure fluid from a range of locations along the circumference of the working end;   wherein said nozzles are configured for said angular actuation and for said rotational actuation independently of movement of the working end and/or independently of movement of the hydrovac boom hose;   an electronically actuatable pneumatic controller communicably coupled to said nozzles to actuate the nozzles and to effect said angular actuation and said rotational actuation;   the controller configured to control supply of the high pressure fluid to the nozzles.   wherein the nozzles are configured to emit the high pressure fluid at a plurality of rates and/or pressures ranging from 0 pounds per square inch (PSI) to 3000 PSI and from 0 gallons per minute (GPM) to 80 GPM, to dislodge the earthy material at the digsite while the working end vacuums the dislodged earthy material.   
     
     
         23 . A method for producing a system for coupling to a working end of a hydrovac boom hose, the working end having a longitudinal axis and a perimeter disposed transversely to said axis, the working end configured to vacuum earthy material from a digsite along said axis, the method comprising:
 disposing a plurality of high pressure nozzles in spaced relation along the perimeter of the working end, the nozzles configured to emit high pressure fluid towards the digsite to dislodge the earthy material;   configuring the nozzles for angular actuation to selectively emit the high pressure fluid along a range of angles relative to the longitudinal axis;   configuring the nozzles for rotational actuation to selectively emit the high pressure fluid from a range of locations along the perimeter of the working end;   wherein the nozzles are configured for said angular actuation and for said rotational actuation independently of movement of the working end and/or independently of movement of the hydrovac boom hose.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising configuring the nozzles for being pivotably disposed along the perimeter of the working end. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said angular actuation comprises pivoting the nozzles. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the perimeter comprises a circumference. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising configuring the nozzles to selectively emit the high pressure fluid from a range of circumferential locations along the working end. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the method further includes coupling a collar concentrically with said working end, the collar pivotably supporting the nozzles thereon. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising configuring the collar for rotation relative to the working end, about the axis. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising supporting a motor on the collar, the motor configured to effect the rotation. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the motor is driven pneumatically. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 30 , further comprising disposing the motor in operative engagement with a drive wheel, the drive wheel configured to engage the circumference of the working end to effect said rotation. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the high pressure fluid comprises water and/or air. 
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising communicably coupling a controller to the nozzles, the controller configured to actuate the nozzles. 
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising configuring the controller to effect said angular actuation and said rotational actuation. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising configuring the controller to control supply of the high pressure fluid to the nozzles. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the controller comprises a pneumatic controller and the nozzles are pneumatically actuatable. 
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the pneumatic controller is electronically actuatable. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising configuring the nozzles to emit the high pressure fluid at a plurality of rates and/or pressures. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising configuring the nozzles to emit the high pressure fluid between 0 pounds per square inch (PSI) and 3000 PSI and between 0 gallons per minute (GPM) and 80 GPM. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising configuring the nozzles to emit the high pressure fluid along a range of angles of plus or minus 20 degrees relative to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 41 , further comprising configuring the nozzles to emit the high pressure fluid from a range of positions extending plus or minus 180 degrees along the circumference of the working end. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising configuring communicably coupling the hydrovac boom hose to a vacuum that provides suction to the hydrovac boom hose and to the working end.