Excavation system and method

Abstract

An excavation system has a soil-agitation arrangement including an agitator operable to disturb soil to facilitate removal of disturbed soil from the ground. Also included is a vacuum arrangement operable to remove the disturbed soil from the ground, and a sensor arrangement including at least one sensor configured to detect a presence of at least one type of buried infrastructure in the ground. A shroud arrangement including a shroud disposed over at least a portion of the agitator and may be movable relative to the agitator to selectively cover and uncover at least a portion of the agitator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An excavation system, comprising:
 a soil-agitation arrangement including an agitator with a cutting portion operable to disturb soil to facilitate removal of disturbed soil from the ground, the soil-agitation arrangement having a cover portion at least partially surrounding the cutting portion of the agitator when the soil-agitation arrangement operates; and   a vacuum arrangement operable to remove the disturbed soil from the ground.   
     
     
         2 . The excavation system of  claim 1 , wherein the soil-agitation arrangement includes a flexibly movable portion configured to inhibit damage to a buried infrastructure when the soil-agitation arrangement operates. 
     
     
         3 . The excavation system of  claim 2 , wherein the flexibly movable portion includes the cover portion. 
     
     
         4 . The excavation system of  claim 3 , wherein the cover portion is movable relative to the agitator to selectively cover and uncover at least a portion of the cutting portion of the agitator. 
     
     
         5 . The excavation system of  claim 4 , further comprising a sensor system including a sensor arrangement configured to receive input related to a reaction force on the cover portion when the cover portion contacts an object, and further configured to facilitate movement of the cover portion to selectively cover and uncover at least a portion of the agitator based at least in part on the reaction force. 
     
     
         6 . The excavation system of  claim 5 , wherein the soil-agitation arrangement further includes a support structure having at least one linear actuator attached to the cover portion and operable to move the cover portion relative to the agitator. 
     
     
         7 . The excavation system of  claim 6 , wherein the at least one linear actuator is configured to provide feedback to the sensor arrangement related to the reaction force. 
     
     
         8 . The excavation system of  claim 7 , wherein the sensor arrangement is configured to provide output to facilitate operation of the at least one linear actuator based at least in part on the reaction force. 
     
     
         9 . The excavation system of  claim 2 , wherein the flexibly movable portion includes the agitator. 
     
     
         10 . The excavation system of  claim 9 , wherein the agitator is configured as an elongate member supported on at least one end, and deflectable on contact with the buried infrastructure such that damage to the buried infrastructure from contact with the agitator is inhibited. 
     
     
         11 . An excavation system, comprising:
 a soil-agitation arrangement including an agitator operable to disturb soil to facilitate removal of disturbed soil from the ground, and further including a force-sensitive portion configured such that damage to a buried infrastructure during operation of the agitator is inhibited; and   a vacuum arrangement operable to remove the disturbed soil from the ground.   
     
     
         12 . The excavation system of  claim 11 , wherein the force-sensitive portion includes the agitator. 
     
     
         13 . The excavation system of  claim 12 , wherein the soil-agitation arrangement further includes a vacuum hood, and the agitator includes a flexible elongate member supported on the vacuum hood such that damage to a buried infrastructure is inhibited during contact between the buried infrastructure and the soil-agitation arrangement. 
     
     
         14 . The excavation system of  claim 11 , wherein the force-sensitive portion includes a shroud arrangement disposed at least partly over the agitator and being movable relative to the agitator to selectively cover and uncover at least a portion of the agitator. 
     
     
         15 . The excavation system of  claim 14 , further comprising a sensor system configured to process information related to a presence of the buried infrastructure, and wherein the shroud arrangement is configured to provide feedback to the sensor system related to a reaction force when the shroud arrangement contacts an object. 
     
     
         16 . The excavation system of  claim 15 , wherein the sensor system is configured to provide output to facilitate operation of the shroud arrangement based at least in part on the reaction force. 
     
     
         17 . An excavation system, comprising:
 a soil-agitation arrangement including an agitator operable to disturb soil to facilitate removal of disturbed soil from the ground, and further including a flexibly movable portion configured such that damage to a buried infrastructure during operation of the agitator is inhibited; and   a vacuum arrangement operable to remove the disturbed soil from the ground.   
     
     
         18 . The excavation system of  claim 17 , wherein the flexibly movable portion includes a shroud arrangement disposed at least partly over the agitator and being movable relative to the agitator to selectively cover and uncover at least a portion of the agitator. 
     
     
         19 . The excavation system of  claim 18 , further comprising a sensor system configured to receive input related to a reaction force on the shroud arrangement when the shroud arrangement contacts an object, and further configured to facilitate movement of the shroud arrangement to selectively cover and uncover at least a portion of the agitator based at least in part on the reaction force. 
     
     
         20 . The excavation system of  claim 19 , wherein the soil-agitation arrangement further includes a vacuum hood, and the flexibly movable portion includes the agitator, the agitator being configured as a flexible elongate member supported on the vacuum hood such that damage to the buried infrastructure is inhibited during contact between the buried infrastructure and the soil-agitation arrangement.