Underground Infrastructure - May 2023 - 14

Trenchers
of the trencher, vibratory plow or HDD
used on a job.
For example, if a contractor is installing
small-diameter electrical or fiber
lines at a shallow depth in soft soil
conditions, a vibratory plow is likely the
best option. However, if installing larger
distribution lines and depths of more
than a few feet, contractors will likely
need to choose a mid-size trencher.
In rock and when installing large-diameter
products at depths greater than
5 feet, they may consider using a higher
horsepower trencher with a larger boom
and chain configuration that allows
them to cut a trench the required width.
One more consideration that can
influence the decision between HDD
and trenching is equipment availability.
Unlike directional drills, trenchers are
typically available at rental stores. Renting
can be an attractive solution if the
contractor only has a minimal amount
of product to install.
What are the most common
applications for trenchers?
Seabolt: Water, sewer, power, gas and
telecommunications, including coaxial
and fiber optic cables.
What sizes of trenchers
are used for utility work?
Seabolt: Smaller walk behind trenchers
and stand-on mini skid steers are often
used for short/shallow electrical installations,
yard lights, buried dog fences,
and household power connections. Bigger
ride-on trenchers are used for longer
runs, tougher conditions, and/or deeper
depth requirements.
Savage: Everything from small pedestrian
trenchers to large trenchers
with a track undercarriage is used to
perform electrical work. The size of the
unit depends on where the work is being
done, the installation depth and the
size of the electrical bundle. Pedestrian
Trenchers that dig a relatively narrow trench to the
depth necessary for each type of utility, remain the
fastest, least costly method of putting utilities in
the ground. An important added benefit is when
utilities can be placed in the same trench.
trenchers are used for doing electrical
drops at homes and businesses. Midsize
trenchers are typically used for small
electrical distribution line installations
over greater distances in soft ground
conditions. Large trenchers are used for
installing
large
electrical
distribution
and transmission lines in rocky grounds.
What types of trenching drives
and digging components are
used for utility work?
Seabolt: Most trenchers doing electrical
installations are either gasoline or
diesel powered, with only the smallest
units using gasoline. The power is typically
transmitted hydraulically except
on the biggest of rock trenchers, which
often use mechanical power transmission
to maximize the digging force available
and overall productivity.
Units are available with tires, rubber
tracks, steel tracks and quad tracks, so
the customer should think about the
need for drawbar, flotation, turf preservation,
terrain, soil moisture, inclement
weather operation, maneuverability, and
then discuss the best solution with an expert
at the local trencher dealership.
Most trenchers utilize digging
chains, but a few use wheels or discs.
Bucket wheels are for soft soils and wide
ditches, disc " saws " are most often for
rock or asphalt, and microtrenchers utilize
a smaller-diameter disc for cutting
asphalt while simultaneously removing
the spoils. This leaves a narrow, clean
ditch, perfect for small-diameter conduit
or direct-bury cables.
Savage: The cutting system on a trencher
is dependent on project needs. On
many mid-size trenchers, attachments
can be swapped out. Contractors can
outfit the tractor with a chain trencher,
a rock wheel or micro-trencher, a vibratory
plow or even a backhoe. On some
large trenchers with track undercarriages,
the chain trencher can be swapped
with a rock wheel or bucket wheel.
How would you summarize the role
and importance of underground
work in the utility market?
14 MAY 2023 | UndergroundInfrastructure.com
http://www.UndergroundInfrastructure.com
Underground Infrastructure - May 2023

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