Air/water vacuum excavators
Xtreme line offers big vacuum truck performance in a compact size
The Xtreme line of combination air/water vacuum excavators allow contractors the advantage of both systems in one self-contained unit.
McLaughlin first introduced the combination air/water technology to the underground industry in 2007. Combining both high-pressure water and compressed air into one simple unit provides contractors with a choice for varying soil conditions.
The Xtreme line takes the combination air/water technology to the next level, says Dave Gasmovic, president of McLaughlin. The unit features a 1,200 cfm (33.9 cubic metre/minute) positive displacement blower – the largest in its class – that provides unsurpassed power in difficult ground conditions.
Powered by a 99-hp (73.8kW) Kubota diesel engine and a 5.6-gpm (21.2L/m) water system, the Xtreme line produces up to 15 inches (381 mm) of mercury and 3,000 psi (206.8 bar) of water pressure for productive, efficient and safe soil removal.
Customers can custom build a unit to meet their exact needs. This includes a choice among 500-, 800- or 1200-gallon (1,893-, 3,028-, 4542-litre) spoil tanks and the unit can be set up in either a trailer or skid-mounted configuration. The Xtreme line comes standard with two 125-gallon (473-litre) saddle water tanks. However, customers can customize the size of the tanks to meet their potholing demands.
McLaughlin also uses an industry-exclusive, three-stage filtration system that allows for both wet and dry vacuum excavation. First, material enters the tank at 130 mph and the large soil particles lose velocity and fall out of the filtration system. Next, the air moves to a pre-filter cyclone where the remaining small particles drop into a collection tank. Finally, the pre-filtered air enters a washable micron-poly filter that traps the remaining fine particles.
“We designed the Xtreme line to offer big vacuum truck performance, but packaged it in a compact size that delivers a better cost per hole,” says Gasmovic.
