Rapid deployment boom improves productivity for Vactor sewer cleaners

For most wastewater and sanitary system cleaning jobs, it takes several minutes for sewer cleaner operators to lift additional debris tubes off the racks, maneuver the truck's boom and clamp the tubes into place - a process that can lead to operator fatigue. To improve this time-consuming process, Vactor Manufacturing introduced the Vactor RDB 1015 rapid deployment boom as an option for the company's 2100 Series combination sewer cleaners, which include the Vactor 2100i and 2100 Plus trucks.

Designed in Vactor's research and development facility and proven in the field, the patent-pending boom telescopes 10 feet out and extends the debris hose an additional 15 feet down for faster cleaning of catch basins, manholes and lift stations.

"The performance-driven RDB 1015 is changing how public works professionals and contractors quickly and efficiently accomplish sewer line cleaning jobs," said David Brockman, product manager at Vactor Manufacturing. "The RDB 1015 boom has quickly proven itself in the field since it was introduced as an option on the new Vactor 2100i earlier this year."

The rapid deployment boom's ability to extend and retract 15 feet of vacuum hose drastically reduces - and in most cases, completely eliminates - the set-up and tear-down time required to assemble additional debris tubes. The boom can also maintain a lower profile, which allows the combination sewer cleaner to clear low overhead obstacles and still reach needed depths.

"With the RDB 1015, an operator can arrive at a job site and start the vacuum system as soon as the boom is positioned, which is a huge time-saving advantage," Brockman said. "The operators can focus on the work before them, without worrying about the time, stress and strain of assembling and disassembling additional tubes."

The rapid deployment boom starts with a telescoping tube-within-a-tube design. A flexible hose resides inside the inner tube. "The hose extension assembly uses a positively driven belt to advance the flexible hose from inside the telescoping tube," Brockman said. "When positioned for work, the hose remains securely in place."

The RDB 1015 boom can stow with the catch basin tube attached on the truck, making it even easier to begin work immediately.