"I've received the order yesterday afternoon. The quantity is correct and the shipment is faster than I expected. I've introduced your services to my tree climbing friends and I'm sure they will contact you later with your company's good service and competitive price."
The patented supersonic nozzle in the AIR-SPADE® turns compressed air into a high speed, laser-like jet moving at twice the speed of sound; Mach 2. All of the energy and momentum of this air moving at approximately 1200 mph is focused onto the soil, dislodging it in a fraction of a second. Soil is an unconsolidated assemblage of solid particles that may or may not contain organic matter. The voids between the particles are occupied by air and/or water. The aggregate nature of soil aids the ability of the air to fracture it; while stronger materials and ones that are not porous like metal or plastic pipes, cables, or even wooden tree roots are unaffected.
Why does the AIR-SPADE® outperform other air tools?
In head to head tests, the AIR-SPADE® dislodged harder clay soil and dug faster than other air digging tools. Soil fractures from compressive stress, tons per square foot (tsf), exerted on its surface. As shown above for the same pressure and flow, compressed air exiting from an improperly designed nozzle expands outward rapidly to 3 to 4 times the area versus the jet from the patented supersonic nozzle in the AIR-SPADE®.
In what types of soil will an AIR-SPADE® work?
Because of its unique, focused air-jet, the AIRSPADE® works in most soils, even hard clays. Cohesive soils can be classified and described by unconfined compressive strength as shown below. Tests have shown the AIR-SPADE® to be effective in compacted soils with unconfined compressive strengths, well above the values listed for hard clay. Watering the work area ahead of time can sometimes be helpful. Water reduces most airborne dust if the soil is extremely dry. It also reduces the soil’s strength making it easier to dig. Combining the use of the AIRSPADE® with a low pressure water jet is effective even with extreme cases of highly compacted or sun-baked soils. The AIR-SPADE® in general will not cut through rock. Shales, however, may be broken apart by the AIRSPADE® if the jet is directed between the laminations of the rock. Similarly, the AIR-SPADE® will not dislodge hard frozen soil which may behave like pavement or concrete.
Adobe Flash Player not installed or older than 9.0.115!
How should I dig with the AIR-SPADE®?
The AIR-SPADE® will dislodge 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. The AIR-SPADE® can be moved over the soil surface at a rate of about 1 to 2 feet per second. When several inches of soil have been loosened, the soil should be removed to expose a fresh working face for the air jet. Vacuum suction, as provided by our AIR-VAC unit, is an excellent companion to the AIR-SPADE® since it is likewise non-damaging.
Click here to download the free acrobat reader to view PDF files.
PADE® work?
