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Vacuum trucks were initially built to remove water from natural and man-made waterways to reduce the effects of pooling and flooding; however, because of the development of high capacity and high flow vacuum systems, there are now recent applications for these vehicles. One of the ways for them to be used is in the repair of underground cables. Conventional Methods In order to service underground cables, workers have to dig through several feet of soil before being able to access the cables, which is a back-breaking and time-consuming process. Using automated machines to speed up digging, such as a digger derrick or backhoe, has the potential to add further damage to the cable that already needs to be repaired and possibly even cause damage to other cables that are still in good working condition. Due to the amount of effort and risk involved in servicing underground cables, a new method of unearthing them has been developed by using a high flow vacuum system. How it Works A high flow, high capacity system is basically a gigantic vacuum system on wheels and the truck is equipped with two systems. The first one is a high pressure pump that is paired with a supply of fresh water; the second is a high flow vacuum that is connected to a massive holding tank. These two systems work in tandem whenever the equipment is used for a digging operation. The pump is used to blast water into the ground that is to be unearthed. A crew operates the jet spray to loosen and cut the chunks of soil, making them easier to suction. The water also serves as a lubricant for the loose dirt as it travels inside the machine, keeping the vacuum line from easily wearing out. As the soil is soaked and loosened, the high flow vacuum is powered and the negative pressure from the tip of the suction line collects all the dirt that gets in its way. The mixture of water and soil goes straight to the vehicle's holding tank to be disposed at the end of the day’s work. Advantages This method of digging by using water and a vacuum system is called hydro-excavation; unlike the conventional digging method with pick axes and shovels, there are several distinct advantages for excavating the ground in this manner. Fast – The high pressure water is used to cut through the soil like a hot knife through butter, then the debris is removed using vacuum pressure. This combination of water pressure and vacuum suction enables workers to complete a task that would normally take hours in a matter of minutes. Effortless – The digging only requires one or two workers as the job simply involves pressing buttons to control the pressure as well as the vacuum intensity, and then spraying the ground with high pressured water, making this job very easy to perform. No Mess – All the dirt is immediately suctioned into a holding tank. This leaves a clean hole without any dirt pile-up to be handled. The collected dirt can be taken directly to a treatment facility where the soil and water can be separated and reused. Non-Destructive – The last major advantage is that hydro-excavation is non-destructive. The water pressure can be set to be powerful enough to cut soil yet still remain gentle enough to not damage the underground cables, which makes the equipment ideal for locating damaged underground utility installations. A vacuum truck is a fast and convenient means of digging and is used in many applications, including underground cable repairs. Hopefully, this article has provided helpful information regarding hydro-excavation, the equipment involved, and the advantages of using this method! Christopher M. Hunter is an expert in commercial specialty trucks. To find out more about Vac Truck For Sale, go to the main website at:http://www.vacuumtrucksales.net.
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