The 29th Annual Pumper & Cleaner Environmental Expo International drew an optimistic crowd to the Kentucky Exposition Center Feb. 25-28.
While the economy may have kept some visitors away, the event drew representatives from 3,780 organizations and a total of 8,868 attendees. The prevailing attitude was that the industry will endure, and that no matter what may be happening in the financial sector, there is work to be done in the streets.
Attendees visited 519 exhibits in more than 500,000 square feet of show space. Education Day seminars and additional seminars during exhibit hours on Thursday and Friday drew full meeting rooms.
There certainly has been no slowdown in manufacturers’ innovation: Attendees discovered the usual wide array of new tools and technologies that make pipe cleaning, maintenance and rehabilitation easier and more effective. Here is a look at some highlights from the exhibit floor.
High-flow jetting
The Hi-Flow Ultimate Warrior water jetter from Spartan Tool LLC has a fully enclosed, sound-damping fiberglass body, a 3,000 psi/35 gpm pump, and a 180-degree pivoting hose reel with optional six-function remote control for ease of operation in tight quarters. A dual-axle configuration gives it a towable capacity of 600 gallons.
The jetter is designed for cleaning pipes from 4 to 36 inches. Standard hoses include 500 feet of 5/8-inch high-pressure cleaning hose, 100 feet of 5/8-inch rubber supply hose, 75 feet of 1/4-inch trap-cleaning hose, and 15 feet of color-coded leader hose. The unit weighs 4,955 pounds empty and 9,935 pounds full. It is powered by an 83 hp electronically controlled turbo diesel engine.
Marine-grade gauges and Dial-A-Pressure psi settings simplify operation. All controls move with the hose reel when the rear hatch is opened for operation. Call 800/435-3866 or visit www.spartantool.com.
Digging up a storm
The Hydrovac unit from Tornado Technologies Inc. has an integrated water tank and cyclone for reduced space, lower noise and freeze prevention. The CAT water pump delivers 10 to 25 gpm at up to 3,000 psi. The direct-driven positive displacement blower delivers 27 inches Hg vacuum. A three-stage filter design provides a high degree of filtration.
A 740,000 Btu/hr boiler for working in frozen or compacted soils has an independent diagnostic system and thermostatic control. The electrical panel records blower, boiler and pump hours individually.
A head-mounted boom allows 342-degree rotation and a 26-foot stretch. The 48-inch dump door has a hydraulic gate for fast unloading. A hydraulic mud sweep pushes with 50,000 pounds of force to move any size debris. Water and debris have separate chambers, both epoxy-coated for durability. Dual silencers reduce noise for working in urban areas. Call 403/244-3333 or visit www.tornadotrucks.com.
Locating for all materials
The Innspector 07 locator from Subsurface Instruments locates utilities of virtually any material to depths of 10 to 12 feet. The self-contained unit weighs less than 2.5 pounds and requires no setup clamps or cables. It works in clay soils and is unaffected by moisture or salinity.
The unit can locate metallic or nonmetallic pipes and cables and almost any object — including septic tanks; graves, vaults and skeletons; buried walls and foundations; concrete storm sewer pipes, rebar in concrete, and water pipes in concrete floors. Call 920/328-8066 or visit www.ssilocators.com.
Sewer foam
Sewer Foam from Chempace Corp. is designed to reduce the solids and hydrogen sulfide odors caused by naturally occurring bacteria in sewer lines. The foam works by removing the organics in the line on which bacteria feed.
It can be used during sewer line maintenance by adding one to two gallons of cleaner per 100 gallons of water. Available in 5-gallon pails or 55-gallon drums, the foam is applied while jetting up the line, then waiting five to 30 minutes, depending on conditions, and dosing on the way out. Call 800/423-5350 or visit www. chempace.com.
Enhanced combination cleaning
The Vactor 2100 Plus combination truck from Vactor Manufacturing adds new functionality to a proven cleaning platform. A new IntelliView control combines all functions into a single centrally located system that provides diagnostics, keeps operators from changing settings in ways that could compromise safety, helps operators locate machine errors, and provides a troubleshooting tool to diagnose fault codes quickly.
The hose reel, nozzle storage, toolboxes and controls are front-mounted for quick access.
A pivoting control arm and rotating hose reel create a flexible and expansive work area.
The fully hydraulic boom rotates up to 180 degrees. The hose reel telescopes forward and back up to 15 inches to allow cleaning of multiple inlets without moving the truck. Twist-and-lock pipe storage makes it easy to load and unload pipe.
Both centrifugal compressor and positive displacement models are available. A multi-flow system lets users set water flow at lower rpm to save fuel while increasing cleaning effectiveness. A repositioned water fill simplifies refills. A new debris body design shields the operator from potential contamination and allows maximum separation of materials in a variety of payload offerings.
Enhanced centrifugal cyclones accommodate increased air routing performance and improve filtration. A 60-inch high-dump is standard. A Jet Rodder Water Pump uses a slow pump stroke to deliver maximum continuous flow and pressure with minimal wear. Call 815/672-3171 or visit www.vactor.com.
Testing lines
The hydrostatic line tester from Cam Spray helps identify defects in pipes. The unit includes a 10.5 gpm/560 psi diaphragm pump driven by a 5 hp Honda GC engine. It has an easy-to-operate regulator and controls, a panel-mounted stainless steel line and bleeder valve, and dual pressure gauges.
The water system includes a 20-gallon tank, garden hose hookup, and overflow hose and tank bypass. The heavy-duty frame is powder-coated and has 13-inch pneumatic tires and swivel casters with brakes. The toolbox has quick couplers and adapters. A remote valve and gauge assembly allows for testing of lines away from the machine. Call 880/648-5011 or visit www.camspray.com.
Down the hole
The Panoramo SI (shaft inspection) system from RapidView IBAK North America lets users inspect manholes and other structures up to 50 feet deep and from 16 inches to 10 feet in diameter in less than three minutes. The user sets up over the shaft, lowers a special camera to the bottom, and raises the camera back to the surface. There is no confined-space entry.
Once the camera has captured visual and geometric data, the user can analyze them using special software. Features include an “unfolded” side wall view for visual measurement and a 3-D model for verifying diameter and defects. Users can view any manhole feature anytime and from any angle. Call 800/656-4225 or visit www.rapidview.com.
Laser and sonar
A complete pipe inspection package from CUES Inc. combines laser profiling, sonar technology and a conventional camera on a float for large-diameter lines. The float is rated for 3,000 meters (9,840 feet) of travel in pipes from 60 to 138 inches that are one-fourth to three-fourths full.
Sonar detects and measures pipe bulges, records the shape and diameter of holes, measures obstructions and foreign objects, detects pipe ovality, and measures debris quantity and level. The FLYEYE laser profiler measures internal pipe conditions with accuracy within 0.1 percent. Call 800/327-7791 or visit www.cuesinc.com.
Inspection on the go
The Portable Inspection System from Cobra Technologies is designed to let users inspect anywhere with the full functionality of a truck-based system. The unit operates all Cobra crawlers with straight-line or pan-and-tilt and zoom cameras. It can be installed in a pickup truck, Jeep, Humvee or ATV, providing access to locations not easily reached with conventional equipment.
The console contains a CD/DVD writer, crawler control, pan-tilt-zoom camera control, and the Cobra data logger. It operates on 100 V AC power. Case dimensions are 22 inches high, 19 inches wide, and 14 inches deep. A portable reel is installed on a lightweight hand cart. It is designed to hold up to 800 feet of 7/16-inch cable. It has an electric rewind gear motor with electric clutch and speed control. Call 800/443-3761 or visit www.cobratec.com.
Comprehensive pipe surveying
The Infrastructure Technologies (I.T.) version of WinCan pipe survey software from WinCan America is a comprehensive collection, analysis and reporting application that is simple and fast to install. As a full computer-based digital solution, it eliminates hardware such as overlay or digital capture devices.
The workflow is designed to be simple to use, from creation of an asset or inspection to full synchronization and project management tools. A free viewer requires no registration and can be played on any computer with Windows Media Player. An open access database policy adheres to recognized industry software design standards.
Integration modules are complete for GBA, Cityworks, Cartegraph, Hansen and others. New, comprehensive GIS solutions work directly with ESRI products by tying assets to inspections, plotting visuals on maps for filtered data inside I.T., importing GPS data, and more. Call 505/341-0109 or visit www.wincanamerica.com.
Advance in nozzles
Nozzles from USB-Sewer Equipment Corp. include Advanced Optimized 3-D Hydro-mechanics for high cleaning efficiency and safety. The hydromechanics are designed and engineered from one part, and the channels are manufactured from single-piece material. This eliminates the risk of nozzles bursting at welding or bonding seams and extends nozzle operating life.
In operation, pressurized water from the hose connection is distributed among the channels, oriented toward the jetting direction and redirected at the lowest possible point, ensuring high stability of pressurized water. Precise 3-D manufacturing of the interior reduces friction losses, increases hydraulic pressure, and enhances effectiveness and performance. Call 866/408-2814 or visit www.usbsec.com.
Compact hydroexcavation
The Hydrodig vacuum excavator from Hydrodig USA LLC comes mounted on a 4-wheel-drive for maneuvering around congested sites, accessing back alleys, and significantly reducing ground disturbance and site restoration. It can be used for a wide range of hydroexcavating applications, including pipeline and utility exposure; posthole digging; slot trenching; catch basin, manhole and culvert cleanouts; and curb box water valve repairs. Call 403/748-2110 or visit www.hydrodig.com.
Looking deep
The RD100 portable ground-penetrating radar system from Pearpoint/Radiodetection, an SPX Company, simplifies location of buried infrastructure. Using radar technology, it creates and displays an image map of underground features. Technicians can see a pipe or cable in its topographical context, making it easier to locate and excavate utilities.
The unit displays the subsurface map in real time on a high-contrast 7.25-inch color LCD screen. Integrated digital color and gain enhancements let operators maximize locate quality. Advanced digital filtering helps operators eliminate unwanted signals and improve accuracy. One-touch image recording helps technicians document findings. Images are saved to compact flash cards that can be copied to a PC using an inexpensive third-party card reader.
The device has an ergonomic handle and all-terrain wheels for easy operation across any surface. The battery pack is portable and weatherproof. Selectable depth lets users survey utilities buried up to 26.5 feet. Call 877/247-3797 or visit www.pearpoint.com.
