Cable following apparatus having cable cleaning capabilities and method

摘要

A cable following apparatus especially suitable for replacing existing underground cable is disclosed herein. This apparatus includes a tubular main body disposed around and movable along a particular cable in a forward direction while an arrangement of water jets are used to cut through the soil surrounding the cable in front of the forwardly moving main body. At the same time, a high pressure stream of air or similar gas is directed into a circumferential area between the front end of the main body and the cable in a way which is intended to prevent particulate material from passing therebetween and damaging or otherwise disrupting operation of the apparatus.