Brochure

HOW SHOULD I DIG WITH THE UTILITY
AIRSPADE?
Each pass of the Utility AirSpade dislodges material up
to several inches deep in a medium to stiff soil. Unless
the soil is highly compacted, dwelling on the same spot
is unnecessary and tends to increase spray. Ideally, the
Utility AirSpade should be moved laterally at a rate
of about 1 to 2 feet per second. When several inches
of soil have been loosened, soil should be physically
removed to expose a fresh working surface for the
nozzle. Vacuum suction, as provided by the AirVac
®
Vacuum Unit, is an excellent way to remove loosened
soil.
FREQUENTLY ASKED TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
47 Veterans Drive
Chicopee, MA 01022
Phone: [phone]
Fax: [phone]
www.airspade.com
Distributed by:
UTILITY AIRSPADE 4000
AIR EXCAVATION TOOL
PHONE [phone] FAX [phone] www.airspade.com
IN WHAT TYPE OF SOIL WILL
UTILITY AIRSPADE
®
WORK?
Because of the focused air-jet generated from the
supersonic nozzle, Utility AirSpade works in most soils,
including compacted soils, and hard clays. In general,
Utility AirSpade will not cut through rock. However, shales
may be broken apart by Utility AirSpade if the jet is
directed between the laminations of the rock. Similarly,
Utility AirSpade will not dislodge hard frozen soil which
tends to behave like pavement or concrete.
WHAT SIZE NOZZLE SHOULD I USE?
This depends on the desired rate of soil excavation
which is in turn dependent upon the air delivered
from the AirSpade nozzle. Soil excavation rates
are summarized in the table below:
WHAT SIZE AIR HOSE DO I NEED FOR
THE UTILITY AIRSPADE?
Generally a 1 inch ID air supply hose is recommended for
use with the Utility AirSpade.
WILL HIGHER AIR PRESSURE MAKE THE
UTILITY AIRSPADE WORK BETTER?
All AirSpade nozzles are developed to operate optimally
at 90 psi. Supplying higher air pressure to the AirSpade
supersonic nozzle that has been optimized for 90 psi
actually de-focuses the air jet, thus degrading performance
while consuming more air. In addition, energy required to
operate the compressor at higher air pressure increases
dramatically due to increased fuel consumption.
Recommended Compressor Size
Nozzle Size Minimum Compressor Size
(cfm) (cfm @ 100 psi)
105 125
150 175 - 185
Always wear eye and ear protection when operating air tools and related equipment.
PRODUCTS, PARTS & ACCESSORIES
WHAT SIZE AIR COMPRESSOR DO I NEED
TO PROPERLY RUN THE UTILITY AIRSPADE?
Portable air compressors have model numbers that
nominally reect the approximate air delivery in
cubic feet per minute (cfm) at a gauge delivery
pressure of 100 pounds per square inch (psi). For
example, a 185 compressor will deliver 185 cfm
at 100 psi. AirSpade nozzles are rated at 90 psi
and are designated by their air consumption at this
pressure. To size an AirSpade nozzle to a given
compressor simply ensure the compressor size is
larger than the nozzle size.
Soil Excavation Rates
Nozzle Size Soil Excavation Rates
(cfm) (cubic ft / min)
105 0.9 to 1.5
150 1.2 to 1.8
Part # Description
ASU4105G4 Utility AirSpade 105 cfm w 4 ft Barrel
ASU4150G4 Utility AirSpade 150 cfm w 4 ft Barrel
ASU4105KT Utility AirSpade 105 cfm Kit
ASU4150KT Utility AirSpade 150 cfm Kit
ASU4004BD Utility AirSpade 4 Ft Barrel w Dirt Shield
ASU4002EX Utility AirSpade 2 Ft Extension w Coupler
ASU4003EX Utility AirSpade 3 Ft Extension w Coupler
ASU4004EX Utility AirSpade 4 Ft Extension w Coupler
ASU4005EX Utility AirSpade 5 Ft Extension w Coupler
ASU4000CP Utility AirSpade Barrel/Extension Coupler
ASU4105NZ Utility AirSpade 105 cfm Nozzle
ASU4150NZ Utility AirSpade 150 cfm Nozzle
ASU4045AA Utility AirSpade 45 Degree Angled Adapter
HT133 Sliding Dirt Shield
HT180 Auxiliary Handle
ASU4000HA Utility AirSpade Handle Assembly
ASU4000HR Utility AirSpade Handle Repair Kit
A DIVISION OF
CORPORATION