Patent ID: 7725978

Claim:
An apparatus for cleaning a culvert, comprising: a rod pushing and pulling machine that comprises a motor vehicle; a rod string comprising a series of extension rods coupled end to end, which rod string is mounted at a proximal end to the rod pushing and pulling machine and extends forwardly from the rod pushing and pulling machine; wherein the rod pushing and pulling machine is a directional drilling rig capable of rotating the rod string about its lengthwise axis and a debris removal tool mounted on a distal end of the rod string, comprising a rod having a center longitudinal axis, a proximal end, and a distal end, the rod having a coupling at its proximal end configured for connection to a distal end of the rod string, and a bucket at its distal end, which bucket has an end opening positioned so that lengthwise movement of the bucket along the culvert scoops debris into the bucket.