Digging and backfill apparatus
A mobile digging and backfill system for removing and collecting material above a buried utility. The system comprises a mobile chassis, a collection tank mounted to the chassis, a water pump mounted to the chassis for delivering a pressurized liquid flow against the material for loosening the material at a location, a vacuum pump connected to the collection tank so that an air stream created by the vacuum pump draws the material and the fluid from the location into the collection tank, and at least one backfill reservoir mounted to the chassis for carrying backfill for placement at the location.
1. A mobile digging and backfill system for removing and collecting material from a location, comprising:
a mobile chassis having a front end, an opposite back end, a first side, an opposite second side, and a plurality of wheels attached to the first side and the second side;
a collection tank mounted to the chassis and defining an interior thereof;
a tool defining an interior passage therethrough having an opening at an end thereof in fluid communication with the interior passage;
a hose in fluid communication with the interior passage and the interior of the collection tank;
a vacuum pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the interior of the collection tank so that operation of the vacuum pump draws an air stream through the opening, the interior passage, the hose, and into the interior of the collection tank;
a backfill reservoir having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and defining an interior thereof, wherein
the backfill reservoir is disposed on the chassis so that the first end is disposed at the back end of the chassis,
a first door is disposed pivotally on the first end at an opening through the first end to the interior of the backfill reservoir,
the backfill reservoir is disposed movably on the chassis between a first position of the second end with respect to the first end and a second position of the second end with respect to the first end,
the second end is higher, with respect to the first end, in the second position than in the first position,
a first door is disposed pivotally on the first end at an opening through the first end to the interior of the backfill reservoir so that, in the second position of the backfill reservoir, opening of the first door allows flow of material from the interior of the backfill reservoir through the opening through the first end,
a latch between the first door and a body of the backfill reservoir that is actuatable to secure the first door in a position that closes the opening through the first end, and
the backfill reservoir has a second door that defines an upper surface of the backfill reservoir and that is pivotal between a closed position that blocks access to the interior of the backfill reservoir from an area above the backfill reservoir and an open position in which the interior of the backfill reservoir is accessible from the area.
2. A method of digging and backfilling a location, comprising the steps of:
providing a mobile digging and backfill system for removing and collecting material from a location, comprising:
a mobile chassis having a front end, an opposite back end, a first side, an opposite second side, and a plurality of wheels attached to the first side and the second side,
a collection tank mounted to the chassis and defining an interior thereof,
a tool defining an interior passage therethrough having an opening at an end thereof in fluid communication with the interior passage,
a hose in fluid communication with the interior passage and the interior of the collection tank,
a vacuum pump having an inlet in fluid communication with the interior of the collection tank so that operation of the vacuum pump draws an air stream through the opening, the interior passage, the hose, and into the interior of the collection tank,
a backfill reservoir having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, and defining an interior thereof, wherein
the backfill reservoir is disposed on the chassis so that the first end is disposed at the back end of the chassis,
a first door is disposed pivotally on the first end at an opening through the first end to the interior of the backfill reservoir,
the backfill reservoir is disposed movably on the chassis between a first position of the second end with respect to the first end and a second position of the second end with respect to the first end,
the second end is higher, with respect to the first end, in the second position than in the first position,
a first door is disposed pivotally on the first end at an opening through the first end to the interior of the backfill reservoir so that, in the second position of the backfill reservoir, opening of the first door allows flow of material from the interior of the backfill reservoir through the opening through the first end,
a latch between the first door and a body of the backfill reservoir that is actuatable to secure the first door in a position that closes the opening through the first end, and
the backfill reservoir has a second door that defines an upper surface of the backfill reservoir and that is pivotal between a closed position that blocks access to the interior of the backfill reservoir from an area above the backfill reservoir and an open position in which the interior of the backfill reservoir is accessible from the area;
actuating the vacuum pump;
placing the opening at the end of the tool proximate the location so that material from the location is drawn by the air stream into the interior of the collection tank;
opening the second door and disposing material into the interior of the backfill reservoir;
disposing the chassis so that the first end of the backfill reservoir is proximate the location; and
following the placing step, opening the first door and moving the backfill reservoir to the second position so that the material disposed into the interior of the backfill reservoir flows out of the interior of the backfill reservoir through the opening in the first end to the location.