Abstract: The invention relates to a method of building a harbor structure suitable for communicating with a stretch of water. The invention is characterized in that the method consists in making, in a piece of ground, at least one curved continuous wall having a closed outline, in digging out the volume defined by the continuous wall, and in providing at least one opening in the continuous wall, said opening making it possible to cause said volume to communicate with the stretch of water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for scraping away sediment or the like deposited on the bottom of a gallery. The machine comprises: a first movable body suitable for moving over the bottom portion of the wall of the gallery; first movement means for moving said first movable body; scraper means for detaching sediment from the bottom; first buffer storage means mounted on said first movable body; first transfer means for transferring detached sediment into said first storage means; second transfer means for transferring sediment stored in said first buffer storage means to the outside of said first movable body; a second movable body; second movement means; and second storage means mounted on said second movable body to collect the transferred sediment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutter head for a ground cutter machine having at least one cutter motor. Each cutter motor comprises: two hydraulic motors, each comprising a stator and a rotor and having a common axis; a single shaft extending along said common axis and having two ends; two cutter drums mounted to rotate; two transmission assemblies for drivingly connecting each end of the common shaft to one of said cutter drums; and mechanical members for constraining the rotor of each hydraulic motor directly in rotation with the transmission assembly corresponding to the cutter drum that is closer to the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a drilling tool comprising: two pairs of rotary drums in axial alignment on parallel axes; a motor mechanism for driving rotation of the drums; a support element; and a support structure on which the drums are mounted to rotate and serving to connect the drums to the support element; the tool being characterized in that the motor mechanism is mounted inside the drums and in that the support structure comprises a plate forming bearings at its bottom ends for the drums; and a mounting pad for fastening to the support element.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutter head for an excavator machine including at least one cutter motor, each cutter motor comprising: a fastener plate; a mounting structure secured to the fastener plate and presenting a central portion and two mounting assemblies disposed on either side of the fastener plate; two hydraulic motors mounted in said mounting assemblies; a shaft common to both hydraulic motors; a plurality of conduits formed in the thickness of said fastener plate for passing the flow of the liquid used by the hydraulic motors; and a plurality of ducts formed in said central portion of the mounting structure, said ducts being connected to said conduits and to said hydraulic motors to connect each of the two motors to each of said conduits.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutter head for an excavator machine having at least one cutter motor, each cutter motor comprising: a fastener plate; a mounting structure comprising an end portion and a mounting assembly; a single hydraulic motor mounted in said mounting assembly and having an outlet shaft presenting two ends, said motor and the end portion of the mounting structure being offset in a direction that is orthogonal to said fastener plate; a plurality of conduits formed in the thickness of the fastener plate; and a plurality of ducts formed in said end portion of the mounting structure to connect the hydraulic motor to said conduits.

Abstract: The invention relates to an auger for making a borehole that presents in its inside wall a groove that is substantially helical, said auger comprising: a hollow core provided with an outer helical blade; a movable cutter gouge suitable for taking up an active position in which the gouge projects outside the volume defined by the periphery of the blade, and a retracted position in which it is placed inside said volume; and means for displacing said gouge from its retracted position to its active position and comprising an additional member mounted to move in said core in translation and/or in rotation, and placed at the bottom end of said core, together with control means for causing said gouge to be displaced from its retracted position to its active position in response to said additional member moving relative to at least the bottom portion of said hollow core.

Abstract: The invention relates to a machine for scraping away sediment or the like deposited on the bottom of a gallery. The machine comprises: a first movable body suitable for moving over the bottom portion of the wall of the gallery; first movement means for moving said first movable body; scraper means for detaching sediment from the bottom; first buffer storage means mounted on said first movable body; first transfer means for transferring detached sediment into said first storage means; second transfer means for transferring sediment stored in said first buffer storage means to the outside of said first movable body; a second movable body; second movement means; and second storage means mounted on said second movable body to collect the transferred sediment.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of building a harbor structure suitable for communicating with a stretch of water. The invention is characterized in that the method consists in making, in a piece of ground, at least one curved continuous wall having a closed outline, in digging out the volume defined by the continuous wall, and in providing at least one opening in the continuous wall, said opening making it possible to cause said volume to communicate with the stretch of water.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for digging a trench and making a wall in said trench, the machine being suitable for advancing along a path and having rear and front portions relative to the direction of advance of the machine, together with excavator means disposed in the front portion of the machine and defining a substantially vertical cutting front; wall-forming means situated in the rear portion of the machine; and propulsion means suitable for causing the machine to advance along said path. The machine also has a central portion, controllable brake means for slowing advance or blocking at least one portion of the machine, and controllable connection and disconnection means for connecting and disconnecting the central portion respectively with the front and rear portions of the machine, thereby enabling the type of excavator means and the type of wall-forming means to be changed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a cutting tool for digging vertical trenches, the tool comprising: a jib (B); a cutter structure (34; C) suspended from the jib via a cable; a plurality of cutter members (18) disposed on at least one cylindrical surface; a motor assembly (12); power supply means (46) for powering said motor assembly (12). releasable retention means (22; 44) for securing at least a portion of the motor assembly (12) having the cutter members (18) mounted thereto to the bottom end of the structure (34); relative positioning means between the structure (34) and the motor assembly (12); and means for connecting the power supply means (46) to the motor assembly (12); whereby at least a portion of the motor assembly (12) with the cutter members (18) can easily be separated from the structure (34) of the machine.

Abstract: The invention relates to a self-propelled carriage suitable for traveling in a gallery of substantially cylindrical shape. The carriage comprises a chassis (1) made up of two wheel sets (14); a skip (10); and a horizontal longitudinal support axis (16) on which said skip is pivotally mounted. Each wheel set comprises two arms (24, 26) each having a first end pivotally mounted on one end of said axis; two rotary drive shafts (32) extend orthogonally to the support axis and are mounted at the opposite ends of the arms; drive means (38) for rotating said shafts; and two wheels (40, 42), each wheel comprising a hub (54) secured to a respective drive shaft, at least one circular disk secured to the hub, and having its periphery fitted with a plurality of rollers mounted to rotate freely about axes that are orthogonal to the axis of the wheel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a head for injecting a fluid under pressure for breaking up the ground from a borehole and mounted at the end of a string of rods. The body of the drilling head has a bottom wall for mounting a mechanical drilling tool having a feed pipe, at least one injection nozzle, and duct-forming means for connecting the feed pipe with liquid at the inlet of said nozzle, the duct-forming means presenting a mean line having a radius of curvature that varies continuously, the right section of said duct-forming means decreasing regularly over at least half its length from its first end towards its second end. The injection head further comprises at least one pipe for feeding said mechanical tool, said pipe being connected at a first end to said duct-forming means and at a second end to a chamber disposed at the bottom end of said injection head and fitted with a controllable shutter member interposed between said chamber and the pipe for feeding said mechanical tool.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a machine for digging a trench and making a wall in said trench, the machine being suitable for advancing along a path and having rear and front portions relative to the direction of advance of the machine, together with excavator means disposed in the front portion of the machine and defining a substantially vertical cutting front; wall-forming means situated in the rear portion of the machine; and propulsion means suitable for causing the machine to advance along said path. The machine also has a central portion, controllable brake means for slowing advance or blocking at least one portion of the machine, and controllable connection and disconnection means for connecting and disconnecting the central portion respectively with the front and rear portions of the machine, thereby enabling the type of excavator means and the type of wall-forming means to be changed.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of boring a hole using a boring system constituted by a simple auger and a dip tube slidably mounted in said auger, said dip tube being provided at its bottom end with a tool. The method comprises the following steps: causing said auger and said dip tube to descend and to rotate simultaneously, said tool on the dip tube being substantially level with the bottom end of the auger; interrupting the descent and rotation of said auger so that the auger constitutes anchor means for anchoring the boring system in the ground; and causing the dip tube to descend and rotate on its own, whereby the tool of the dip tube performs boring by displacing ground at the bottom end of the borehole, thereby compacting the ground.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a drill string fitted with information transmission means. The hollow rods of conductive material have their inside faces covered in an insulating material. The transmission means comprise a first electrical unit having at least a first annular electrode secured to the insulating inside face of the drill string, said electrode being in electrical contact with the mud contained inside the drill string so as to establish a flow of current in the conductive mud; and a second electrical unit disposed in said borehole, close to the top end of the drill string in order at least to receive the information contained in said electrical current.

Abstract: The invention relates to equipment for drilling a vertical borehole in hard ground, the equipment comprising: casing put successively into place in the borehole; a drilling machine having a rotary cutting head and presenting a structural frame; torque and thrust transmission means having a first end secured to the structural frame of the drilling machine; and securing means for securing the second end of the torque and thrust transmission means in translation and in rotation to said casing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow drilling rod for transmitting information, said rod being for placing in a borehole filled with drilling mud. The rod comprises an electrically conductive cylindrical wall (521, 522) having an inside face, an outside face, a first end provided with a male coupling sleeve (62), and a second end provided with a female coupling sleeve (60), and being characterized in that it further comprises: a layer of electrically insulating material (70) covering the inside face over its entire length; and a conductive layer (80) covering said insulating layer and electrically connected at its ends to two electrically conductive rings, said conductive layer itself being covered by a second insulating layer (86) leaving said conductive rings in contact with the drilling mud.

Abstract: Excavator drum for the production of vertical trenches, including a cylindrical shell (22) mounted so sa to rotate about its axis of revolution and a plurality of excavating tools (28, 30) mounted on the external face of the shell. The tools include a plurality of first rollers (36) equipped with cutting elements (38) mounted so as to rotate about axes, the mid-plane of the rollers substantially merging with the mid-plane (P-P?) of the shell, and the length of which is less the an the length of the shell; and a plurality of pairs of second rollers (50, 52) equipped with cutting elements, the rollers of the same pair being mounted so as to rotate about cantilever axles (54, 56) each roller having a length at least equal to the distance that separates one end a first roller from the corresponding end of the shell, the casing of the external end of the second rollers being at least in the plane containing one end (32, 34) of the shell.

Abstract: An apparatus including a bore bit comprising a bottom part having an active bottom face and a top face substantially parallel to the active face; a top part fixed to suspension cables and having a bottom face facing the top face of the bottom part; a member for limiting the maximum spacing between the two parts; a cylindrical axial bore passing through both parts; a cylindrical guide penetrating into said bore; and at least one ramp-forming recess and at least one ramp-forming extension for co-operating with said ramp-forming recess in such a manner that movement of the top part towards the bottom part is converted into rotary movement of said top part about the vertical axis, with the end of said rotary movement of the top part imparting rotary movement to the bottom part.