Abstract: A retainer for rotatably retaining a mining tool or a wear resistant sleeve in a support block includes a removable collar consisting of at least two semiannular members each having a flange extending from its inside diameter and a groove disposed about its outside diameter. The removable collar is circumferentially mountable about a rearward portion of either the mining tool or the wear resistant sleeve extending from the support block when mounted therein. The extending rearward portion has a groove circumferentially disposed therein. When the semiannular members are mated thereabout, the flange of each member cooperates with the groove in the rearward portion of either the mining tool or the wear resistant sleeve. The groove about each semiannular member defines in combination a substantially continuous groove about the collar. A snap ring is removably mounted in the substantially continuous groove about the removable collar.

Abstract: A safety roadway delineator includes one or more elongate recessed marker surfaces which are coated with a reflective material, preferably a retroreflective material such as reflective glass beads. The recessed marker surfaces are vertical or at least inclined to the horizontal to insure water run-off and are formed either directly in cast-in-place concrete roadway members or in pre-cast polymer concrete facing panels which are attached to the cast-in-place concrete roadway members. The roadway delineator is substantially continuously protected from normal wear and reliably exhibits reflectivity both under dry and rainy weather conditions.

Abstract: A grass catcher (40) for a reel mower (10). Catcher (40) includes a vent (94) which is offset relative to the longitudinal axis (55) of the catcher (40). Catcher (40) also preferably includes a panel (78a) which prevents air and grass from escaping catcher (40) on the side of catcher (40) favored by spiral blades (27) of rotating cutting reel (26). Vent (94) is preferably formed by a pair of partitions (96 and 100) which intercept the flow of air and grass and serve to dissipate the kinetic energy of the air to the point where the grass is separated out and falls to the bottom of catcher (40). A pair of slots (108 and 110) permit the egress of air from within catcher (40).

Abstract: A new manhole cover support and its processes of manufacture and use are shown. Such cover supports are used to raise the effective grade of the existing manhole cover as before road resurfacing. The cover supports are mounted upon an existing manhole cover receiving structure which has an upwardly-extending shoulder surface and a sill therebelow for accommodating such cover. The new cover support comprises basically an expandable body and a flexible, compressible synthetic or natural resin-containing retention component. The body has a seat with a lateral keeper for the manhole cover, a base with an outer wall that is reactable against said shoulder surface, and an expander for the base and seat which provides at least one gap in the base and seat. The retention component is disposed between the outer wall of the base and the shoulder surface; it interacts with expansion of the base to enhance substantially the normal frictional grip between the body and the receiving structure.

Abstract: A tracer deployment tool for discharging a quantity of radioactive or other toxic tracer material into a wellbore for distribution into an earth formation with an injection fluid includes a first piston held in a predetermined position by shear pins and a member supporting a rupturable vial of tracer material. The member connected to the piston is formed as a generally cylindrical cage through which a knife member extends and responds to movement of the cage to rupture the vial. Movement of the piston uncovers passages which permit through-flow of liquid through the vial retaining cage to flush the tracer material thoroughly from the tool. An elongated actuating rod is connectable to a packer setting mechanism or the like for effecting operation of the tool. An alternate embodiment includes two pistons which define the tracer holding chamber.

Abstract: An improved manhole cover support having a metal body comprising base, seat, and keeper portions, the keeper portion rising above the seat portion and having at least a pair of opposing ends that define a gap between them, a bridging piece for spanning each gap, the bridging piece having at least one free end, a receiver for slidably retaining each free end of each bridging piece, the receiver attached to and protruding outwardly from the keeper portion near the top thereof, the bridging piece including 2 turnbuckle for exerting parting pressure against the receivers that retain it.

Abstract: A two piece power transmission component manufactured in segments, each segment having a central opening for assembly around a shaft, a pair of fastener flanges and mating sockets, each having a fastener flange and a mating locking ridge to facilitate assembly and mating holes formed axially with the central opening for convenient operation of a fastener such as a bolt and a mating nut, each socket and fastener flange has multiple, engaging thrust surfaces to enable the assembly to withstand large forces and the bolt head and nut, when assembled, are in recessed portions of the segments such that they do not extend past the outer surfaces of the assembled segments.

Abstract: A modular lightweight bridge comprises a pair of tubular truss formed spans, each of which include a plurality of modules hinged to one another at locations on the bottom of the bridge for folding the bridge for transport prior to deployment of the bridge. Each span has a unique high strength fabric deck or roadway surface tensioned across the upper side of the truss chord members. The bridge is uniquely captively mounted on a trailer by rollers for transporting the bridge when it is in its folded mode. When the bridge is to be deployed, each span is unfolded by pivoting the modules with respect to one another about vertical axes so that the spans expand longitudinally with respect to the trailer. The spans are then pivoted 90.degree. downwardly about longitudinally extending horizontal axes and the bridge rolled rearwardly from the trailer over the gap to be spanned.

Abstract: A mechanism for accurately positioning a well tool in axially concentric relationship to a well conduit comprises a housing having a plurality of stabilizer linkages mounted thereon with one end of each linkage being pivotally secured to the housing and the other end free to move in an axial direction. A compression spring engages a force transmitting connection to the other ends of the stabilizer linkages to bias same to a radially expanded position engaging the conduit wall. The connection between the compression spring and the stabilizer linkage includes two telescopically related sleeve elements which are secured together by a shear screw. In the event that the stabilizer linkage becomes stuck in the well, upward jarring movements of the housing will shear the shear screw and permit the stabilizer linkages to collapse radially inwardly and thus permit removal from the well.

Abstract: A system for applying a coating to a traffic surface utilizes a power driven apparatus that provides a plurality of sets of applicator tools that are rotated in tandem to effect mixing in situ of traffic surface coating constituents, and to effect a controlled application of the resulting coating. The apparatus includes a transport carriage that mounts an array of horizontally spaced bearing assemblies, each of which journals a separate vertically extending drive shaft for rotation about a separate vertically extending center axis. Each of the drive shafts drivingly connects with a separate set of the rotary applicator tools. The tools of each set extend substantially horizontally in a radial array about the center axis of its associated drive shaft. A power drive system rotates the sets of applicator tools in tandem as the carriage is moved across a traffic surface. Also described are methods of employing the apparatus to mix coating constituents in situ and to effect their appliction to a traffic surface.

Abstract: A method for reducing organic contaminants in a well initially breaks down complex organic compounds by radiation with gamma radiation. The remaining materials are subjected to oxygen radicals in the water, the oxygen radicals reacting with the materials to assist in the degradation. A carrier is formed with a plurality of containers fixed together by struts, and each container has a quantity of radioactive material to provide the radiation. Air, oxygen and or peroxide may be fed to the well to provide enough oxygen to produce the oxygen radicals, or the water may be cavitated to free the oxygen in the water.The apparatus & method may also be adapted with proper shielding for use in surface applications, such as surface water intakes (biofouling by Asiatic clams), general ground water and haz-waste treatment.

Abstract: In a rotationally driven cutting roll for a machine for cutting ore or other rock material from a drift face, the roll is axially divided into a plurality of roll portions arranged end to end in juxtaposition along the drift face. The roll portions are rotationally driven by a continuous, one-piece straight driving shaft. Lateral ones of the roll portions are supported coaxially with the shaft, but the medial roll portion or portions is or are supported in respective inclined positions relative to the longitudinal axis of the driving shaft. As a result, gearing ribs on the drift face are minimized in width.

Abstract: A method for staging a fracturing treatment in a horizontal wellbore where solidified gel is used as a diverting medium. A desired section of the horizontal wellbore farthest removed from the angle of deviation from vertical of the wellbore is perforated. Via perforations contained in the horizontal section, the desired interval is fractured hydraulically. The gel is displaced with a "wiper plug" and the gel confined to the fractured interval and wellbore area adjacent the fractured interval. Here the gel forms a solid gel in the interval and a gel plug in the wellbore. Afterwards, another section of the horizontal well is perforated. Thereafter, a second desired interval is fractured. After completion of the fracturing process, the gel plug breaks and the "wiper plug" is pumped to the farthest end of the horizontal wellbore.

Abstract: A rotatable sprocket assembly transmits force from a chain into rotation of a wheel on a bicycle. A plurality of sprocket segments having peripheral teeth are mounted on a pair of sprocket housings so that the combined periphery of the sprocket segments is substantially circular. The sprocket segments are slidable relative to the housing in a substantially radial direction so as to vary the diameter of the combined sprocket segments. Each sprocket segment is formed from a plurality of hinged subsegments, with each subsegment having a single tooth thereon. The sprocket segments of one housing overlap the adjacent sprocket segments on the other housing so that the pairs of overlapping teeth combine to effectively form a single tooth. The sprocket segments are movable angularly relative to the sprocket housings, so that in combination with the radial displacement of the sprocket segments, the total number of effective teeth on the sprocket assembly can be varied in increments of one tooth.

Abstract: A baler includes a bale chamber and a plunger movable relative to the chamber between a retracted position and an extended position. The plunger is provided with at least two crop engaging elements spaced from one another by a distance defining a clearance opening therebetween, and a drive crank assembly including a drive arm operates to shift the plunger between the retracted and extended positions in a series of operating cycles. A clearing assembly is included for clearing crop materials from at least a portion of the clearance opening in the plunger. The clearing assembly includes a clearing member mounted on the plunger for pivotal movement relative thereto about a pivot axis, and a drive link for effecting pivotal movement of the clearing member during shifting of the plunger between the retracted and extended positions.

Abstract: A grass cutter carriage is set forth wherein a conventional lawn mower is securable within an adjustable rectangular framework. A pair of laterally positioned wheels to said framework are pivotally mounted wherein the noted wheel height locations can be readily changed through the use of a unique hinged support. The intent of this improved design carriage is to extend the use of existing commercially available rotary grass mowers to enable their use to cut tall grass, weeds and other vegetation in open rock strewn field with terrain not compatible to existing rotary grass lawn mowers.In addition, the carriage is configured to accommodate a wide range of mower and mower wheel sizes without demanding modification of the existing mowers.

Abstract: A reversible connector and method of connection between a large road making machine and the fifth wheel of a tractor to facilitate towing of the machine. The connector has a downwardly projecting king pin which is adjustable between a retracted, operating position and an extended, towing position. It can be either slid or pivoted between those positions. The connector can be used on an apparatus having a chassis, a downwardly extending conveyor pivotally attached to an end of the chassis and a hydraulic cylinder to pivot the conveyor relative to the chassis. The hydraulic cylinder can lift the inlet end of the conveyor off the ground to put the fifth wheel connector in a position such that it can engage the fifth wheel of a tractor. The hydraulic cylinder also can be used to pull the front portion of the chasis up off the ground.

Abstract: A mobile collector or harvester for weed seeds that are normally discharged onto the ground during a combining operation, is connected to trail a conventional grain combine, and collects the straw and the tailings discharged from the separating sieve that normally discharges small chaff and seeds onto the ground. The harvester frame has a conveyor for conveying straw and chaff onto a separate shaker screening member, which is of size to let the small weed seeds drop onto a grain pan and then into a hopper, while the straw is retained on the top of the screen and discharged onto the ground. A separate auger conveyor is used for elevating the weed seeds from the hopper into a storage tank, which is then periodically emptied through the use of another auger conveyor. The entire unit is self-contained including an internal combustion engine power unit, that drives a hydraulic pump for operating hydraulic motors through suitable valves.

Abstract: A height control device for a fixture which comprises at least a pair of gauging devices each having an ultrasonic transceiver for gauging a certain distance. A signal generator is connected to both gauging devices for generating a signal representative of the change in the level height due to machining. A control device is also provided for elevating or lowering the machining fixture.

Abstract: A harvester for plants and weeds, particularly aquatic plants, pulls the plants by winding them onto a rotating, endless cable. Tension in the cable is controlled, and an operative portion of the cable is positionable for varying its height and angle to the horizontal. The harvester is mountable on a boat having an adjustable freeboard and multiple, individually driven, retractable paddle wheels provide maximum maneuverability during use and compactness during transport.