Abstract: A levee gate and the process for the production thereof. The levee gate of the invention includes a rectangular sheet of thermoplastic material with a rectangular sleeve located on one edge of the thermoplastic material, the rectangular sleeve being a portion of the rectangular sheet fused to the rectangular sheet. The process for the production of the levee gate includes extruding a cylindrical tube of thermoplastic material, inflating the cylindrical tube as it is extruded to provide an inflated length of tube, flattening the inflated length of tube without fusing the opposed walls of the tube to each other, and continuously fusing a portion of the opposed walls together to form a seam.

Abstract: An interlocking retaining wall apparatus includes a collection of plural, annular structures which frictionally interlock with one another to form a wall. The structures making up the wall have a generally truncated, right conical exterior surface and a generally right, cylindrical interior surface. The structures are stacked, one atop the other, to form a wall of desired height. A variety of sizes of structures are provided to meet the needs of the individual wall which is being constructed.

Abstract: An attachment, adapted to mount to the front edge of an excavating bucket, includes a working structure and a base. The front edge of the bucket defines an inner surface, an outer surface, and a beveled surface oriented at an inclination to the inner and outer surfaces. The base of the attachment includes a single leg or pair of legs having opposed engagement surfaces. The engagement surfaces on the two legged attachments diverge from one another to define a gap therebetween for receiving the lip of the bucket. One of the engagement surfaces defines a convex surface which enables the attachment to be mounted to a variety of different buckets irrespective of the inclination of the beveled surface of the front edge.

Abstract: Apparatus for mooring attachment of a floating tension leg platform to a subsea anchorage. The apparatus includes a tendon with an enlarged connector on one end, the connector being formed by a frustoconical bearing surface extending away from the end to which it is connected. A connector shroud partially surrounds the frustoconical surface and is connected to it by an elastomeric bearing. An inwardly sloping surface engages a supplementarily sloped surface formed on the attachment receptacle load ring to increase hoop strength. A side-entry bottom receptacle is also disclosed.

Abstract: The in situ process for increasing the capacity of a municipal solid waste landfill involves disturbing the municipal solid waste present within a landfill site, adjusting the moisture content of the waste material, adding a lime reagent, stockpiling the waste material and allowing the temperature to increase so that aerobic biostabilization is facilitated and allowing the temperature of the municipal solid waste material to decrease to a stable point. The process can be practiced with the use of currently available types of earth moving and refuse handling equipment and involves the addition of no other substances to the municipal solid waste except lime and water.

Abstract: The present dump block (100) comprises an internal plate (106) attached to an external plate (108) with a rotatably mounted sheave (110) therebetween. The external plate (108) presents a smooth convex surface. Bearings (126) are mounted between the sheave (110) and a centrally located shaft (122). The position of the bearings (126) is maintained by a bearing side plate (116) A side plate bearing cushion (124) is located between the bearing side plate (116) and the bearings (126). The bearing cushion (124) absorbs the force of any impacts experienced by the dump block (100). Likewise, the convex surface of the external plate (108) turns any impact into a glancing blow, thereby extending the life of the dump block (100).

Abstract: A method of driving a sectional hollow concrete pile comprises applying a direct driving force to the upper end of a first pile section and driving it into the ground. Thereafter, a second similar pile section is applied to the top of the first driven pile section and the composite sectional pile is driven to the required depth. Further, similar sections may be applied one on top of the other and the composite pile thereby formed after the application of each further pile section is driven to the required depth.

Abstract: The yieldable load support comprises a compressible support member in the form of an elongate timber pole. The load support or pole is asymmetrically modified at or near one end thereof in a manner to positively induce sideways brushing of the pole at the modified end, in a preferential direction transverse to the length of the pole, when the support member is placed under longitudinal compressive load of sufficient magnitude.

Abstract: A small utility tractor having a front-end loader which is modified to include a backhoe digger mounted on the front-end loader is disclosed. The backhoe digger is readily attached to or detached from the front-end loader to provide a digging function at the front of the tractor. The backhoe bucket is coupled to the front-end loader using an attachment device which releasably attaches the backhoe bucket to the front-end loader so that the backhoe bucket is located below the bottom of the front-end loader and the bucket front opening faces in the opposite direction to which the front-end loader opening faces.

Abstract: This invention relates to the draining of foundations by using an elongate subterranean drainage structure located approximately horizontally and parallel to the foundation in combination with a plurality of elongate upwardly extending hollow drain structures extending from the structure toward the surface of the earth. Hydrostatic pressure of water in the soil forces water through holes in the upwardly extending drain structures. The water then passes rapidly to the bottom of the upwardly extending drain structures by the force of gravity and thereupon into the horizontal drain structure wherein it is carried away from the foundation.

Abstract: A self propelled apparatus for digging a shallow trench along one side of a roadway is disclosed, and which is useful as part of a roadway widening operation. The apparatus comprises a cutter drum mounted to one side of the chassis of the apparatus, and a conveyor belt is mounted to the same side of the chassis with an inlet end positioned immediately adjacent the cutter drum and an elevated outlet end positioned beyond the forward end of the chassis. An enclosure surrounds the cutter drum so that the drum may be rotated in a downwardly cutting direction, and the loosened soil or other material may be lifted and guided around the drum and deposited onto the conveyor. The cutter drum includes one or more extensions which may be coaxially mounted thereto, so as to permit the width of the cutter drum and thus the width of the resulting trench to be selectively varied.

Abstract: The inspection of underwater structures and the repair of leaking cracks or oints therein is effected by the use of a platform positionable at the work site and supporting an equipment cart movable therealong with the cart carrying an underwater light and television camera system for viewing the site and a number of tools for cleaning the site, injecting a leak detecting dye thereon and injecting a sealant to close the cracks or joints. Movement of the equipment cart and operation of the tools are remotely controlled, preferrably with air motors.

Abstract: A boom for collecting material floating on the surface of a body of water comprising: a first collapsible tube which can be stored either as flat layers of folded material or by rolling it on a roller; transverse seals along the length of the first tube to create a longitudinal sequence of first compartments; and, a second tube within the first tube, the second tube having transverse seals to form a longitudinal sequence of second compartments, these second compartments being generally concentric with the first tube and the first compartments. Pressurized gas communicates with each of these separate compartments so as to provide pressurization thereof.

Abstract: Propulsion apparatus is disclosed for urging a trenching arm forward against the advancing face of an elongate trench being dug by the trenching arm. The propulsion apparatus includes a propulsion member which is engageable with the base wall of the trench such that the trenching arm may be urged forward relative to the engaged propulsion member. The propulsion member may then be withdrawn from engagement with the base wall and retracted towards the trenching arm before commencing a further propulsion cycle. The propulsion member is also operable to cooperate with the trenching arm in excavating a starting slot at the beginning of a new trench.

Abstract: A hybrid dredging apparatus uses a clamshell attached to a rigid boom to dig and remove material. The clamshell then deposits the material into the hopper of a positive displacement pump for discharge at low velocities and with minimal water content. Transducers are be used to determine and control the area of excavation.

Abstract: A scooping apparatus is disclosed having a carrying frame coupled with a vehicle.A cage having two cage parts, namely a scooping part and a lid are carried by the frame. The rotation axis of the lid part relative to the scooping part extending on a radial distance from the rotating axis of the cage amounts to zero to two thirds of the radius of the cage.A first driving means for rotatably driving at least one of the cage parts. A second driving means for moving the cage parts between the closed position and the open position such that a rotation axis of the lid part relative to the scooping part extending on a radial distance from a rotating axis of the cage amounting to zero to two thirds of the radius of the cage.

Abstract: Method and device for driving a pile (5) into and out of the ground. The device comprises a hammer (2) provided with a bush (8) protruding away from the hammer in an axial direction and being supported by the hammer and rotatable in relation thereto by remote control means (10). The inner surface of the bush (8) and the pile (5) to be extracted from the ground have been provided with locking dogs (11, 12 respectively). The bush (8) can be partially shoved and rotated onto the pile (5) in an axial direction, so that the top plane of the dogs (11) connected to the bush will come to lie beneath the bottom plane of the locking dogs (12) connected to the pile (5). Thereafter, the pile (5) can be driven out of the ground.

Abstract: A subsoil structure for sodded ground comprising a water-retaining layer filling a pan-like cavity, a sand layer covering the water-retaining layer, and a soil-improving layer covering the sand layer and incorporating a soil-improving material which is of a porous structure.Since the soil-improving layer has a good water-retentivity and the water-retaining layer is provided for retaining or storing water, the number of watering times can be extremely reduced, thereby saving time and labor for watering.

Abstract: A high production dragline bucket which has a low profile in the back wall as well as fewer components than those commonly in use. The bucket is not only lower in production costs, but has higher operating efficiencies. It is adaptable to both single or double sheave dumping assemblies. A replaceable basket portion for the bucket is also described.

Abstract: A trenching apparatus (10) is for excavating deep trenches in which inground concrete retaining or foundation walls may be formed. The trenching apparatus (10) has a crawler base (11) on which a carrier assembly (14) is pivotally supported by pivots (16) whereby it may be tilted by rams (17) to maintain the platform horizontal. An automatic control device (64) is provided for this purpose. The carrier assembly (14) has a pair of rails (18/19) along which a carriage (21) may move. The carriage (21) supports a sleeve (24) through which a trenching arm (25) may be lowered to excavate a trench section as the carriage (21) is driven along the rails (18/19).