Potholing has become a popular, safe and efficient method to find and expose underground pipes, cables, and utilities. It is important to have the right nozzle at your disposal, though, when performing the work. A new nozzle introduced by Vermeer — the QuickDig — is specifically designed to help vacuum excavation crews maximize their efficiency while potholing and daylighting utilities, hydro/slot trenching, and digging pile holes.
According to an internal study, the Vermeer QuickDig nozzle is up to 35% more efficient than a traditional rotary nozzle because of its 18-degree cone rotation and laminar flow design. All water molecules flow in the same direction at the same speed to slice through the ground, minimizing water use and delivering a high aperture of coverage. It also rotates at a slower rpm than other hydroexcavation nozzles, which maximizes its digging power.
“When it comes to potholing and hydro trenching, productive digging and efficient water usage helps crews maximize their time on the job,” says T.J. Steele, product manager for Vermeer MV Solutions. “An often-overlooked component of a vacuum excavator is the nozzle a crew uses to dig with. It can significantly impact digging performance and the volume of water used during the process.”
All Vermeer truck vacuum excavators and many Vermeer trailer vacuum excavators built this year will come equipped with the QuickDig nozzle. In addition, according to Steele, this latest technology in hydroexcavation will be available at Vermeer dealers throughout North America and is compatible with most industry vacuum excavator makes and models.
“The Vermeer QuickDig nozzle is extremely efficient with the water used, so material doesn’t become oversaturated during the digging and excavation process,” says Steele. “It helps crews maximize digging time from their onboard water tank while extending their time between emptying the spoils tank.”
The Vermeer QuickDig nozzle is also durable, with a stainless steel body, tungsten carbide nozzle tip and a heavy-duty nonconductive coating for maximum durability. It can also be rebuilt in the field quickly using a QuickDig nozzle repair kit. Simply match the repair kit to the original nozzle size to help the crew run more efficiently.
Vermeer offers six sizes of the QuickDig nozzle for contractors to choose from. Each comes with a 1/2-inch inlet connection (common on truck vacs) and a 1/4-inch adapter (common for trailer vacs). 888-837-6337; www.vermeer.com
