Industry News, trenchless products
November 2019: Barbco, Inc. Co-Owner and CEO, Anthony R. Barbera was granted U.S. Patent #10465460 for the Barbco FlexBor tooling and technology on November 5, 2019! This is a proud moment in this East Canton, Ohio manufacturer’s storied 30-year history of driving the trenchless technology, horizontal boring, and underground manufacturing industries forward with world class capital equipment and cutting-edge technology. The FlexBor is an extremely cost-effective, environmentally safe trenchless method and tooling. The FlexBor is designed to virtually eliminate “frac-outs” / ”inadvertent returns” that are often associated with horizontal directional drilling and the use of bentonite.
The Patent Abstract reads: “A cutting assembly and method for drilling an underground borehole. The cutting assembly includes front and rear cutting heads of different diameters mounted on a shaft. An air passage defined through the cutting assembly may be placed in fluid communication with a pressurized remote air source and with a bore of a casing extending rearwardly from the cutting assembly. Pressurized air flows through the air passage and entrains cuttings produced by the front and rear cutting heads. A housing extends rearwardly from the larger diameter rear cutting head and an auger provided within the housing aids in directing cuttings into the casing. The auger rotates independently of the rest of the cutting assembly and may be configured to further reduce the size of the cuttings. A collar on the housing seals the borehole cut by the rear cutting assembly and aids in preventing frac-out.”
Visit the Barbco website for more details.
Industry News
Join NASSCO in an industry-wide webinar as the Trenchless Technology Center at Louisiana Tech (TTC) presents their findings on the Cured-in-Place Pipe (CIPP) Emissions Testing Study – Phase II.
In response to published reports on the safety of styrene emissions used in cured-in-place pipe (CIPP), NASSCO, Inc. proactively supported research in its quest to ensure workers and the public are safe.
Phase 1 was a four-month study which focused on the review of published literature pertaining to chemical emissions during CIPP installations using styrene-based resins. The study, completed on April 6, 2018 by researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA)’s Center for Underground Infrastructure Research and Education (CUIRE), and the Institute for Underground Infrastructure (IKT) in Germany, found that existing studies do not adequately capture worker exposures or levels in the surrounding areas to which workers or citizens may be exposed. The team further determined that spatial variation of concentrations, and variations in concentrations with different meteorological conditions, are not well determined.
Phase 2 of a larger, in-field study conducted by the Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) at Louisiana Tech, recently concluded and findings will be shared via webinar on December 17, 2019. The year-long study included measurement of styrene and other organic compounds at multiple CIPP installation sites across the country, representing different pipe diameters (8”, 12”, and larger), and lengths, in order to capture variation in emissions. Measurements were conducted before, during, and after curing at the termination manhole, as well as various locations in the surrounding outside area and inside nearby buildings. Worker exposure was also measured via personal exposure monitors. Finally, dispersion modeling was conducted to estimate compound concentrations at different locations for a wide variety of meteorological conditions. Measured and modeled concentrations were compared to appropriate health-based action levels to determine if any potential health risks exist for workers or citizens in the surrounding communities.
The webinar is on December 17, 2019 at 2:00 p.m. Eastern and will cover TTC’s findings and recommendations. Registration is open to all. Click here to register for the webinar.
The Trenchless Technology Center (TTC) at Louisiana Tech University is a cooperative research center for academia, government, and industry. The Center’s mission is to advance trenchless technology by serving as an independent source of knowledge, research, and education in the field. Trenchless technology includes a large family of methods used for installing and rehabilitating underground utility systems with minimal surface disruption and destruction resulting from excavation. The TTC utilizes a three-pronged approach to accomplish its mission: research & development, education, and technology transfer.
Click here to register for the webinar.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless products
Conyers, GA – November 15, 2019 – USL Group announced today that it has acquired Logiball Inc., a leading manufacturer of trenchless pipe rehabilitation equipment headquartered in Quebec, Canada. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Founded in the early 1980s, Logiball holds a leading position in the manufacturing and supply of inflatable pipe plugs and test-and-seal injection packers for the maintenance and trenchless rehabilitation of collection systems and gravity pipes compromised by groundwater intrusion – a sizable segment of the general infrastructure sector known as the Inflow and Infiltration (I&I) market.
Logiball’s main product range is test-and-seal injection packers, which are used to confine and apply grouts for the repair of points of water ingress and egress from pipes, such as leaking joints or cracks. Logiball is the primary producer of these specialized products, which has allowed the company to forge a strong position in the niche of the I&I market.
“This acquisition provides channel synergies for both Logiball and our Prime Resins business, which makes chemical grouts. It will enable both companies to expand their reach in the growing I&I market space by leveraging their joint reputations and product offerings” said John Taylor, Director at USL Group. “Prime Resins has actively pursued growth in this market space, and the clear synergies with Logiball will lead to product improvement and expansion of use that will benefit the Trenchless Rehabilitation industry as a whole”.
About USL
Founded in 1981, USL Group of companies are market leaders in the provision of specialist civil engineering and construction solutions. For nearly four decades, USL Group has been at the forefront of cutting-edge resin and cementitious technology, combining high performing innovative products, first class operations, expert technical support and unrivalled customer service. Specializing in expansion joints, structural and liquid waterproofing, construction chemicals, concrete repair systems, injection resins and specialist safety & anti-slip products, USL boasts a comprehensive portfolio of products and a highly developed global network. For more information about USL, visit www.uslgroup.com.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless products
Recently two of NASTT’s very dedicated volunteers, Dennis Walsh and George Ragula, both of PSE&G, met with our Rutgers Student Chapter to give a presentation.
The presentation covered a project that is the new world record diameter 42” CIPL renewal that included an extremely complicated piping geometry involving seven bends in a u-tube configuration crossing a major parkway with a significant change in vertical elevation.
The project presentation was fascinating and the students were thrilled to have two industry experts on hand to answer questions and provide insight. Future presentations and job site visits are in the works.
Pictured are volunteers and student members:
Left to right, front row: Max Ritner, Sharon Xiao, Riya Maniar and Kendi Bailey.
Left to right, back row: Amil Muminovic, Demetra Tampasis, George Ragula, Ian Walczak, Anthony Genchi, Dennis Walsh and Troy Dittenhofer.
Industry News, trenchless products
New concept in vacuum excavator technology delivers on productivity
PELLA, Iowa, October 22, 2019 — Vermeer continues to propel the utility industry forward with the introduction of a new advancement in hydro-excavation. The Vermeer XR2 vacuum excavator is the industry’s first vacuum excavator equipped with a shaker deck that separates liquids and solids to allow contractors to stay on the jobsite longer, work efficiently and reduce disposal expenses. Material excavated with the XR2 is fed through an onboard deceleration tank that exits through an airlock onto a shaker deck where solids and liquids are then separated. The solid material is moved by conveyor toward the rear of the machine where it is discharged and can be carried away or left on the jobsite, depending on the material. Used, slurry water is pumped into one of the four XR2 holding tanks for disposal. This new concept in vacuum excavation allows contractors to carry 1500 gal (5678.1 L) of water to the job, work longer on the jobsite and can reduce hydro-excavator transport weights.
According to Adam Bates, product manager at Vermeer, the XR2 can help utility contractors mitigate utility strikes, improve operational efficiencies and create new opportunities. “Soft excavation methods are effective at reducing utility strikes, which have spurred the growth of the vacuum excavator market,” he explained. “However, DOT truck and trailer weight restrictions can impact the amount of material that crews can transport over the road, and the design of the XR2 helps teams get more hours of production.”
Digging performance
The Vermeer XR2 vacuum excavator has 1,500 gallons (5,678.1 L) of freshwater storage capacity capable of delivering up to 150 minutes of wand time at a rate of 10 gallons per minute (37.8 L/min). The adjustable pressure wand has a maximum output of 3,000 psi (206.8 bar) for challenging conditions but can be dialed back when working in sensitive areas.
The XR2 6-inch (15.2 cm) diameter hose produces up to 3,400 cfm (5,776.6 cmh) of suction for maximized digging performance. The excavator’s 21 foot (6.4 m) boom gives crews 260 degrees of swing, and the unit has a reverse flow feature to dislodge large chunks of material from the hose. All of these functions can be controlled through the unit’s fully functional remote.
For efficient truck repositioning, the design team integrated a unique power takeoff (PTO) feature that automatically transitions power from the vacuum system to the truck drive system and back. Crews no longer need to manually disengage and reengage the system every time the vacuum excavator is moved.
Separation design
Unlike traditional vacuum systems with spoil tanks, solids and liquids are separated using a shaker deck with auto-leveling capabilities up to a 10% grade. The deceleration tank includes six cyclones to aid with the separation process. The onboard, foldable 14 foot (4.3 m) solid material conveyor is controlled through the remote control, has a 180° rotating radius and a discharge height of 80 inches (203.2 cm) for efficient truck loading.
Capable of storing up to 1,500 gallons (5,678.1 L) of freshwater, the XR2 has four 500 gallon (1,892.7 L) liquid storage tanks. Processed liquids are first pumped into the unit’s reserved empty tank and then automatically switched to another tank as the freshwater supply is depleted and the reserve tanks fill up. The tanks are designed with sloped bottoms, so slurry can be efficiently pumped out before freshwater is replenished. Fresh and dirty water tank levels can be viewed anytime from the control station located on the side of the hydro-excavator.
Truck body
The Vermeer XR2 vacuum excavator is built on the back of a Kenworth T8800 truck with an Allison automatic transmission and Chelsea PTO. The unit has a curb weight of 39,000 pounds (17,690.1 kg), a freshwater transport weight of approximately 51,000 pounds (23,133.2 kg), at recommended capacity, and a return weight of an estimated 53,000 pounds (24,040.4 kg) when at the recommended full capacity of 10.5 ppg (1.26 SG) of slurry. With the conveyor in transport position, the truck measures 36 feet (11 m) long, has a width of 102 inches (259.1 cm) and a height of 138 inches (350.5 cm).
Expanding applications
“The XR2 was developed after listening to contractors talk about the limitations associated with traditional hydro-excavators,” explained Bates. “Contractors understand the soft excavation advantages of hydro-excavators but also felt limited by the production of many units because of weight concerns and water storage capacities. The design of the XR2 can help expand the use of vacuum excavation for everything from utility potholing and stitch boring to slot trenching and general construction.”
The Vermeer XR2 vacuum excavator was unveiled at the International Construction and Utility Equipment Exposition (ICUEE) and will be available in early 2020 in select regions. You can watch the unveiling on the Vermeer YouTube Channel.
For additional information, connect with your local Vermeer dealer or visit Vermeer.com.
Industry News, trenchless products, trenchless projects
The following is a post from Akkerman. For more details and additional job site photos, visit their website.
Northwest Boring Co. Inc. (NWB) of Woodinville, WA was subcontracted by Shoreline Construction for an emergency replacement of the City of Mill Creek’s failed 30-inch CMP stormwater pipeline that had been causing flooding in the suburban neighborhood, just north of Seattle.
The need for the stormwater system’s repair became apparent when a sinkhole appeared in December 2017, between the Sweetwater Ranch and Douglas Fir neighborhoods. Temporary repair work was conducted, but another sinkhole developed in the same location just one month later. After inspection, it was determined that a failed coupler and damage to the 36-inch corrugated metal stormwater pipe was the root cause.
Because the City of Mill Creek had declared this an emergency project with a budget less than $300,000, a public bidding process was not required. Shoreline Construction was selected as the contractor, who subcontracted the trenchless work to NWB.
The alignments scheduled for replacement were positioned within a narrow easement between two homes at an 11-foot depth in difficult ground. With minimal real estate, the depth of installation and geological conditions, NWB knew that their guided boring system would be an ideal installation choice for the new stormwater connections.
NWB employed the use of their Akkerman GBM 4800 Series Jacking Frame with a high-torque casing adapter attachment for auger boring. The combination made it possible to install the pilot tube passes and 10-foot pipe segments with the torque and jacking force of an auger boring machine but within a smaller shaft. The design utilized one launch shaft to initiate the runs from both directions which further reduced disruption to resident’s properties and saved on project costs.
The ground conditions present were glacial till with rock, which is typical for this region. This ground cannot be displaced with a standard pilot tube steering head so NWB arranged to use special tooling for up to 12,000 psi UCS ground. The drill bit of choice, the Rock Drill Adapter with TriHawk® drill bit, lead the pilot tube passes which established the 140 and 110-linear foot alignments at the necessary line and grade for gravity flow. Simultaneously, a soil appropriate lubrication regime was applied to flush the excavated cuttings back to the launch shaft for removal. (continued)
Crews then prepared to direct jack the 110 and 140-linear foot, 36-inch steel casing. In advance of the casing, NWB launched a guide rod swivel with a 36-inch cutter head which matched the 36-inch casing diameter. The swivel portion of the tooling absorbed the auger rotation while the cutter head, equipped with durable carbide gage cutter bit tooling, excavated the difficult ground. This second pass was completed with the guide rod swivel with cutter head for both stormwater sections.
The alignments were then finished with 27-inch Vylon® carrier pipe was positioned inside the casing and connections to the existing infrastructure were made.
From start to finish the entire project was finalized in just under a month, resolving the City’s dilemma in a timely manner with minor intrusiveness to residents.
November 2019: Barbco, Inc. Co-Owner and CEO, Anthony R. Barbera was granted U.S. Patent #10465460 for the Barbco FlexBor tooling and technology on November 5, 2019! This is a proud moment in this East Canton, Ohio manufacturer’s storied 30-year history of driving the trenchless technology, horizontal boring, and underground manufacturing industries forward with world class capital equipment and cutting-edge technology. The FlexBor is an extremely cost-effective, environmentally safe trenchless method and tooling. The FlexBor is designed to virtually eliminate “frac-outs” / ”inadvertent returns” that are often associated with horizontal directional drilling and the use of bentonite.
The Patent Abstract reads: “A cutting assembly and method for drilling an underground borehole. The cutting assembly includes front and rear cutting heads of different diameters mounted on a shaft. An air passage defined through the cutting assembly may be placed in fluid communication with a pressurized remote air source and with a bore of a casing extending rearwardly from the cutting assembly. Pressurized air flows through the air passage and entrains cuttings produced by the front and rear cutting heads. A housing extends rearwardly from the larger diameter rear cutting head and an auger provided within the housing aids in directing cuttings into the casing. The auger rotates independently of the rest of the cutting assembly and may be configured to further reduce the size of the cuttings. A collar on the housing seals the borehole cut by the rear cutting assembly and aids in preventing frac-out.”
