Vacuum excavation by John Mee and Vac-ex ltd

AIR-VAC p

Petrol powered chassis

The AIR-VAC vacuum excavator is a self-propelled machine used for safe, non-aggressive and non-invasive excavation around buried utilities and non-removable obstructions.

Mounted on a motorised 4-wheel drive chassis for ease manoeuvring, the AIR-VAC is powered by a standard 2-tool compressor. The AIR-VAC not only creates a powerful vacuum to remove material but it also supplies the AIR-EX with a feed to agitate more stubborn ground (compressor not supplied). Excavated material is drawn into the debris pod on the unit, while the air stream is cleaned and exhausted, via silencers, back into the atmosphere.

Extracting material

The Air-Vac features vacuum pumps, powered by compressed air and generates 700 m3/hr of airflow and up to 22in Hg of vacuum.

Having agitated the ground using the AIR-EX lance, the AIR-VAC system draws the excavated material via the vacuum digging pipe into a debris pod where it is separated from the air stream through a 5 stage process. Whilst the material is being collected in the debris pod, the air stream (by then carrying only minor particles) is moved through both a 5 micron filter and vacuum pumps before being exhausted via silencers back into the atmosphere.

The filtration on the AIR-VAC is designed to allow any loose material that has entered the system to fall into the debris pod automatically. This prevents any build up, ensuring the unit remains efficient, whilst also removing the need for repetitive cleaning and servicing.

Depending on the size of the host chassis, the AIR-VAC can be utilised with various sizes of debris pod, dependant on the job description and site requirements. Please contact VAC-EX Ltd for information.

Discharging material

The AIR-VAC sits on linear rollers that enable the unit to move from its normal operating position to a raised tipping position. This allows for the excavated material to be released into various collection facilities, such as a wheelbarrow, waste bag, skip, dumper or direct reinstatement.

By utilising the small debris pod, the operator is able to be more selective of the materials being excavated this prevents, cross contamination enabling the materials to be firstly dropped next to the excavation and then re-cycled back into the excavation.

To empty the AIR-VAC, there is a trap door in the base of the debris pod. The release handle is located on the front of the unit for easy access. Once emptied, the unit is closed by either lowering the pod (self-close mechanism), or while raised, simply making use of the slam-bolt mechanism. The front floating axle provides the additional support required to counteract the change in the centre of gravity while tipping.