Pneumatic excavator and methods of use

A pneumatic excavator configured to be pneumatically actuated, comprising:

• a primary actuator;
• a secondary actuator fluidly coupled to the primary actuator;
• a shuttle valve comprising a first inlet port fluidly coupled to a delivery port of the primary actuator, a second inlet port fluidly coupled to a delivery port of the secondary actuator;
• a flow valve comprising a first port fluidly coupled to the primary actuator by at least one air actuation conduit and a second port fluidly coupled to an exit port of the shuttle valve;
• and
• a barrel coupled to an egress of the flow valve, wherein an egress of the barrel defines an outlet of the pneumatic excavator,
• wherein a primary flow passage is defined at least by the flow valve and the barrel,
• wherein actuating the primary actuator and the secondary actuator causes compressed air to be transmitted from the secondary actuator to the primary actuator and through the at least one air actuation conduit to the first port of the flow valve to cause the flow valve to move to an open position such that the compressed air from a supply of compressed air passes through the primary flow passage and exits through the outlet of the pneumatic excavator to break apart soil, and
• wherein actuating one of the primary actuator or the secondary actuator and not actuating the other causes the compressed air to be transmitted to the exit port of the shuttle valve fluidly coupled to the second port of the flow valve to cause the flow valve to move to a closed position, wherein in the closed position, the flow valve prevents the compressed air from the supply of compressed air from passing therethrough.