Abstract: A method and apparatus for supporting pipe employing a plurality of spaced pipe carriers driven into the ground. Each pipe carrier includes a straight rigid body formed from rod stock of rectangular, i.e., square, cross-section. The lower portion of the body is provided with opposed, rigid upwardly diverging barbs, also of rectangular, i.e., square, cross-section. The upper end portion of the body carries a rigid pipe cradle. In one embodiment, the cradle is formed by spaced, laterally projecting, brackets. In other embodiments, the cradle is curvilinear, opening upwardly or downwardly. In still other embodiments, the cradle is an annulus. The cradles and barbs are formed of the same rectangular, i.e., square, rod stock as the body. The opposed surfaces of each cradle is in the same common plane with the opposed surfaces of the body and these planes are perpendicular to the surfaces of the barbs. The cradles, radially, partially or completely circumscribe the periphery of the pipe.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fabricating an offshore structure intended to be installed at sea comprising a support structure and a platform mounted on the structure. The platform is made up of one or more pieces that are floatable in water. The support structure is immersed to a depth sufficient for the portion thereof intended for the reception of the platform to be situated near the level of the latter. The platform is then fixed to the support structure which is then made lighter and brought to the place where it has to be installed.

Abstract: A mine roof support comprising a floor-engaging member, one or more shielding members above the floor-engaging member, a flap pivotally mounted on the or on a shielding member and a sealing member pivotally mounted on the flap.

Abstract: A method for constructing a soil structure comprising a step of disposing reinforcements into a ground to thereby unify the soil structure by the friction force caused between the reinforcements and soil particles, said reinforcements being principally of rigid structure which possess a property of flexibility at the time of at least the disposition of said reinforcements to accommodate the same to any displacements of soil, the friction force being caused between said rigid structures and said soil particles, to thereby unify the soil structure.

Abstract: A shear key unit for attachment rigidly to the base of a foundation raft for a maritime structure comprises an open ended thin walled cylinder, which when its open end is facing downwardly beneath the raft, acts as a fluid tight chamber of variable volume - the volume being diminished as the cylinder penetrates the seabed strata. The foundation raft can be lowered by controllably allowing sea water to escape from the chamber. A slidable closure may be provided at the distal end of the cylinder to isolate the interior of the cylinder from the seabed. It is a feature of the invention that the cylinder assembly can be installed through an opening extending downwardly through the foundation raft, and can thereafter be fixed in a position projecting beneath the base of the raft.

Abstract: A method of laying an offshore pipeline employs a pipe laying vessel with a fixed stern ramp and includes repeated steps of launching pipe while allowing pipe tension to drop between safe limits. Fresh pipe sections are welded on during the forward movements of the vessel.

Abstract: A system for measuring and displaying the side and top profiles of an underwater pipeline as the pipeline is being laid on the sea floor by a pipe laying vessel. The profiles are determined by sequentially measuring the position of points spaced apart along the pipeline with respect to a point on the vessel. The measurements are accomplished by sequentially transmitting an acoustic signal from three, non-colinear transducers. The acoustic signals from each transmission is detected by a plurality of receivers spaced apart along the pipeline. As each receiver detects a transmission it produces an indicating signal on a pair of electrical conductors which are connected to the vessel and all of the receivers on the pipeline. The elapsed time between a transmission from a given transducer and detection of that transmission by each receiver is an indication of the distance between the transducer and each receiver.

Abstract: Mechanisms for joining two telescopic cylinders underwater in a temporary and inexpensive manner are disclosed, particularly when used in anchoring piles or in offshore tower legs. A gun fires projectiles radially from internally of the pile formed of telescopic cylinders to form the plurality of outwardly extending anchoring bumps in the walls of the cylinders. The projectiles are fired in a horizontal plane radially outwardly and from within and normal to the two telescopic cylinders underwater, for example, with two bumps being formed by each projectile, which bumps overlie each other tightly prior to their being penetrated by the projectile which holds the two bumps together. A number of radiating guns form a like number of pairs of bumps in a circle around the periphery of the telescopic cylinders to form an efficient, inexpensive, and simple temporary connection holding the two cylinders together.

Abstract: A tunnel drive shield is provided with a plurality of bracing units spaced around its periphery. The bracing units are expansible against the surrounding tunnel wall to control the direction of shield advance. A bracing unit is provided in each of the four shield quadrants defined by the vertical and horizontal center planes of the shield. Each of the bracing units is expansible in a non-radial direction.

Abstract: A combination floating breakwater and wave energy collecting system in which a pair of joint floating spread wings are provided between which a vessel can be moored. The spread angle of the wings is adjustable and the wings can be jointly swung about their juncture so as to extend from the juncture generally in the direction of wave and wind travel so that the vee-shaped area between the wings is on the lee side. The wings have rows of improved wave energy collecting cells used to drive air turbines coupled to electric generators without intermediate compressed air storage and this energy conversion assists in dampening the wave action in the moorage zone between the wings.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for setting pilings, and to apparatus for use in conjunction therewith. More particularly, the invention relates to a new and improved method for temporarily setting and holding a piling in place for subsequent filling, packing and setting of material surrounding the ground imbedded portion of the piling. The present invention finds particular, but not necessarily exclusive utility in connection with setting pilings in frozen ground such as arctic tundra.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for supporting an underground mine roadway or tunnel having a series of spaced rigid support members installed along the roadway or tunnel, the rigid support members being erected in turn adjacent to newly exposed mine or rock surface as the roadway or tunnel is extended. Deformable bags are arranged between the rigid support members and the adjacent mine or rock surface. In addition deformable limbs extend from the last installed support towards the next support to be erected, the bags and the containers being filled with flowable material including cement and a conveying medium.

Abstract: Apparatus for driving tunnels or the like employs a drive shield known per se, with drive members supported and guided on a frame. Rear extension members are linked to the drive members, preferably through units permitting relative displacement therebetween and these rear members form a rear shield for receiving supports and reinforcements for a permanent lining for the tunnel. A concrete spraying nozzle or the like applies a strip of concrete to the tunnel wall each time a rear member is shifted in the advancing direction. In this way a series of strips, preferably shape locked together at their ends, can be built up stage by stage to create the lining.

Abstract: The invention consists of an apparatus for laying a pipeline, such as an oil duct or a gas duct, in a body of water, wherein the pipeline, or a section thereof, is enclosed within a ballast tube such that an intermediate space is formed between the pipeline or pipeline section and the ballast tube, said space being filled with a liquid less dense than water, such as a light hydrocarbon, while the pipeline is being laid, but may be filled, after the pipeline has been laid, with soft water or with a liquid heavier than water such as a grouting having a base of a hydraulic or hydrocarbon binder. The invention also comprises the provision of a plug at one end of an assembly of pipeline section and ballast tube whereby a free end of said assembly may be secured as by welding to a second assembly of pipeline section and ballast tube at a position remote from the liquid contained in the intermediate space in said first assembly.

Abstract: The forward movement of a pipe-laying vessel when laying pipe offshore is controlled to maintain the position of the pipe as laid on the sea bed as close as possible to the desired track. The position of the touch down point on the sea bed of the pipeline suspended from the vessel is measured at periodic intervals by driving a survey vessel fitted with an echo location device along the already laid line. The measured position of a touch down point is compared with the desired track and any deviation is computed. Further movements of the pipe-laying vessel are adapted to minimize this deviation.

Abstract: A marine platform comprises a caisson unit adapted to be placed onto the submarine ground at a desired offshore site. A tower-like tubular structure comprising a plurality of columns extends vertically upwardly from said caisson unit and with their lower ends integrally fixed to said caisson unit. A deck unit adapted to be provided with petroleum drilling equipment or the like is integrally fixed to the upper ends of said columns. A floating unit is adapted to be displaceably and removably fixed to said columns.

Abstract: Apparatus for constructing an island in a body of water including a plurality of caissons and means for connecting the caissons in an end-to-end configuration to form a ring. Once the caissons have been connected together to form a ring and ballasted to set the caissons upon the bottom of the body of water, sufficient fill material is placed inside the ring of caissons to construct an island in the body of water.

Abstract: Process and equipment for laying on the ocean floor a pipeline for the transfer of liquids or gas. In this process, the pipeline is constructed in a staging or shallow water area where the pipe is equipped with separate buoyancy and handling means, the conduit is submerged, towed to a location vertically above the pipeline route, the conduit is raised to the surface for inspection and preparation, one resumes in a controlled fashion and completes the submersion and positioning on the ocean floor, and finally the buoyancy and handling means are recovered. This process, due to its use of buoyancy and handling devices, considerably lowers the installation cost of underwater pipelines.

Abstract: Low-cost and very effective retaining walls are constructed with stacked, generally rectangular, trays of steel wire fabric sheets, each with one end bent up to form a portion of the wall face. In constructing a wall, a first course of trays is set in place and filled, with filtering rocks and/or mats being placed toward the front and against the bent-up face section and fill soil being placed to the rear of the tray. A second course of trays is then placed on top of the first course and the corner of the face bend of the second course is securely fastened to the top of the lower course. Thus, the top of each face is supported and each course is anchored by the next course, thereby resulting in a strong monolithic and permeable wall that will readily conform to irregularities and settling of the foundation surface.

Abstract: Submarine pipe trenching apparatus for digging a trench below submarine pipelines, wherein jet supports having nozzles for digging into the ground are supported for oscillatory movement on a frame, and wherein a crawler assembly is mounted on the pipe for moving the jets supports along and below the pipe when the liquid is propelled through the nozzles for digging out the soil below the pipe. The nozzles may include orifice plate means defining their outlets and inclined so that liquid emanating therefrom strikes the earth formation at a small acute angle.