Underground Construction - July 2017 - 46

NEWPRODUCTS
New Configurations Available For Vactor
HXX Paradigm Unit
Vactor Manufacturing, an industry
leader in vacuum excavators,
industrial vacuum loaders and
sewer and catch basin cleaners,
has introduced two new versions of
the Vactor HXX Paradigm vacuum
excavator.
A new, air-only configuration
is equipped with the choice of air
compressor rated at 185 cfm @ 150
psi or 300 cfm @ 250 psi.
"Many of our contractor and
utility customers are looking at air
excavation as a method to solve
their spoil disposal issues," said Ben
Schmitt, product manager, Vactor
Manufacturing. "Air excavation
keeps the material dry and available
for backfill - which is very handy
for subsurface utility engineering
companies involved in mapping
utility infrastructure."
The new extreme terrain
configuration features a Mattracks
400 series rubber track conversion
system for pipeline, utility and

construction applications. With a
patented rubber torsion anti-torque
system, and 20-inch-wide front
track and 30-inch-wide rear track, it
includes steering assist and a rocker
suspension. The hub-mounted
design facilitates conversion -
approximately 45 minutes in a
shop - from tires to tracks, and
from the road to harsh conditions
and terrain.
"The track configuration of the
Vactor Paradigm vacuum excavator
is ideal for pipeline applications
where significant ground pressure
may cause damage to buried infrastructure," said Schmidt. "Previously,
pipeline contractors operating
vacuum trucks were required to lay
down wood matting on the job site
to prevent the trucks from applying
too much ground pressure, a
process that can be extremely time
consuming and expensive." (815)
672-3171, vactor.com

Akkerman's New GBM Allows Up To
42-inch Rock Installations
Up to 42-inch rock utility installations are now a reality for Guided
Boring Machine (GBM) contractors, with the release of Akkerman's
exclusive Rock Boring Unit (RBU). Using the 24-, 30-, 36- and
42-inch diameter RBU, contractors can use existing equipment for
a steel casing installation with pilot tubes in up to 18,000 psi UCS
ground conditions, or an unguided installation in up to 25,000 psi
UCS geology.
The RBU consists of a casing assembly specific to the project
pipe diameter; bearing assembly with a 4-inch hex connection; and
a high-thrust, load-bearing cutter head with disc cutters capable of
up to 90,000-foot-pound thrust loads. By fracturing and excavating
rock with aggressive 6.7-inch disc cutters, the RBU increases the
diameter of the bore. The cuttings enter the RBU face, and travel
through casings and augers for removal.
Rock boring can be achieved multiple ways using Akkerman
GBM equipment or any conventional auger boring machine system.
When guided, the RBU follows the pilot tube string, led by a Rock Drill Adapter (RDA), rock appropriate TriHawk drill bit, and lubrication regime to displace
cuttings. The RBU follows the pilot tube adapter and connects to the lead casing and auger hex.
Following the pilot tube pass, direct steel casing installations with an RBU can be powered by a GBM 4800 Series system with a high-torque casing
adapter for added torque, or an augering adapter assembly for rock discharge. Guided auger boring contractors use the GBM 240A system for RDA pilot
tube installation with any conventional auger boring machine system to power the RBU steel casing pass.
For unguided applications without a pilot tube installation, the RBU pilot tube hex connection void is filled with a full-face disc cutter insert, and the RBU
is launched by the auger boring machine. (800) 533-0386, akkerman.com

46

ucononline.com

Underground Construction July 2017
http://www.vactor.com http://www.akkerman.com http://www.ucononline.com
Underground Construction - July 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Construction - July 2017
