Dig under apparatus and process

An apparatus for removing soil material comprising:

• a motive power unit movable along a ground surface, wherein the motive power unit comprises a power plant, and a pair of drive tracks supporting the power plant;
• an excavator including an elongated support member coupled to the motive power unit by a coupler, the elongated support member extending laterally of the motive power unit, wherein the excavator is attached to a front-end of the motive power unit;
• wherein the excavator is configured for excavating laterally beneath a pipe to be maintained whilst the motive power unit is moving in a path across the ground surface;
• wherein the coupler includes a manipulator for manipulating the excavator to loosen and displace soil material in a path lateral to a path of movement of the motive power unit along the ground surface;
• wherein the coupler comprises a mount that is attached to the motive power unit and attached to the excavator;
• wherein the manipulator comprises a pivot pin connecting the mount to the motive power unit at one location and a lift cylinder having a first end attached to the motive power unit and a second end attached to the mount, wherein the lift cylinder is configured to rotate the mount in a vertical direction to adjust an attitude of the excavator;
• another coupler, wherein the other coupler comprises a brace and the mount is hingeably attached to the brace, the brace having a horizontal hinge allowing movement of the brace and the mount in a substantially horizontal direction;
• another manipulator, wherein the other manipulator comprises an extendable rod attached to the brace;
• a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the excavator to power rotation of the excavator, wherein the motive power unit is the hydraulic power source of the hydraulic motor;
• a remote configured to communicate remotely from and with the motive power unit or controlling the motive power unit, the excavator and the manipulator;
• wherein the ground surface has a trench adjacent to the pipe;
• wherein the trench is at a depth substantially defined by a horizontal plane located approximate a required clearance beneath the pipe;
• and
• wherein the motive power unit is on the ground surface of the trench.

A method of undercutting a pipe for removing a volume of soil comprising:

• digging a trench adjacent the pipe to a depth substantially defined by a horizontal plane located approximate a required clearance beneath the pipe, wherein the pipe is to be maintained;
• positioning a motive power unit in the trench adjacent to the pipe;
• selectively halting and moving the motive power unit along a ground surface of the trench;
• selectively loosening and displacing the volume of soil from a selected clearance from beneath the pipe performed while said step of selectively halting and moving the motive power unit along the ground surface of the trench is performed;
• wherein said step of selectively loosening and displacing the soil further comprises loosening and displacing the soil in a path lateral to the trench;
• and
• remotely operating the motive power unit for said steps of selectively halting and moving the motive power unit, and selectively loosening and displacing the volume of soil.