Abstract: The invention relates to a stone, in particular a dam stone for a flood dam. In order to be able to build a stable flood dam in an easy way, according to the invention a cover surface is provided with at least two ribs and an opposing base surface is provided with at least two grooves corresponding to the ribs so as to create an indirect connection between two stones by means of a third stone that can be detached by applying a tensile force perpendicular to the base surface. The invention further relates to the use of such a stone. In addition, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a mass retention structure, in particular a flood dam.

Abstract: A cutting tool holding device for holding a cutting tool is provided. The cutting tool holding device includes a base, a holder, and a fastening member. The base includes a rabbet, an angular receiving hole, and a positioning hole. The holder includes a main body and a tool receiving corner post. The main body includes an engaging portion which is detachably engaged into the rabbet. The tool receiving corner post extending projects from the main body and is correspondingly set into the angular receiving hole, wherein a position limiting groove is formed on the tool receiving corner post corresponded with the positioning hole. The fastening member is fastened in the positioning hole and pressed against the position limiting groove.

Abstract: An underground ventilated system for storing nuclear waste materials. The system includes a storage module having an outer shell defining an internal cavity and an inner shell. A majority of the height of the outer shell may be disposed below grade. The outer shell may include a hermetically sealed bottom. First and second canisters are positioned in lower and upper portions within the cavity respectively in vertically stacked relationship. A centering and spacing ring assembly is interspersed between the first and second canisters to transfer the weight of the upper second canister to the lower first canister. The assembly may include centering lugs which laterally restrain the first and second canisters in case of a seismic event. A natural convection driven ventilated air system cools the canisters to remove residual decay heat to the atmosphere. In one non-limiting embodiment, the shells are made of steel.

Abstract: A cutter head for a mining machine includes a drum defining a drum axis with a drum plane extending perpendicular to the drum axis. The cutter head includes a plurality of cutting bit assemblies secured to an outer surface of the drum proximate a first end. Each cutting bit assembly includes a block and a bit. The bit includes a tip configured to engage a mine surface. The bit defines a bit axis, and the bit axis defines a first lean angle relative to the drum plane. The plurality of cutting bit assemblies includes a first series having four first bits, a second series having two second bits, a third series having two third bits, and a fourth series having two fourth bits. Each of the first bits includes a first tip and defines a first bit axis oriented at a first lean angle relative to the drum plane. The first lean angle is between about 60 degrees and about 75 degrees.

Abstract: A method of open cut mining comprising carrying out mining operations in an area of an open cut mine with manned resources and unmanned resources and providing separate access for these resources to the mine area at selected locations. Alternatively, or in addition, the method comprises carrying out mining operations in the mine area with manned resources and unmanned resources operating in selected, separate unmanned and manned zones, respectively within the mine area.

Abstract: A substantially rectangular trench shoring sheeting panel made primarily of polyethylene includes at least one pair of hand holes. In some embodiments, the sheeting panel includes a plurality of buttons protruding outwardly from one of the sheeting panel's surfaces. As compared to three-quarter inch FinnForm, the polyethylene sheeting panel typically has (i) equivalent or superior structural properties and (ii) a significantly lower useful-life cost.

Abstract: A method for geo-sequestration of a carbon dioxide includes selection of a target water-laden geological formation with low-permeability interbeds, providing an injection well into the formation and injecting supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and water or bine into the injection well under conditions of temperature, pressure and density selected to cause the fluid to enter the formation and splinter and/or form immobilized ganglia within the formation.

Abstract: Described herein are tools, systems and methods for conditioning, strengthening and/or improving in situ soil geotechnical or agricultural properties while at least temporarily reducing soil density, energy requirements, and tool wear.

Abstract: A fixed-cutter earth-boring tool includes a first blade substantially comprising a first material having a first elastic modulus at a temperature, and a second blade substantially comprising a second material having a second elastic modulus at the temperature. The second elastic modulus is different from the first elastic modulus. A method of forming an earth-boring tool includes forming a bit body having a plurality of blades, and providing at least one cutting element on at least one of the plurality of blades. Some fixed-cutter earth-boring drill bits include a first blade exhibiting a first deflection when subjected to a load, and a second blade exhibiting a second deflection when subjected to the load. The first deflection may be a continuous function of the load, and the second deflection may be a discontinuous function of the load.

Abstract: A method of controlling a shearer is disclosed. The shearer may be configured to travel along a longwall face to extract material with a first cutting drum and a second cutting drum. The method may include setting a first cutting profile including a plurality of desired positions (Di) to be approached by the first cutting drum in a first travel direction (E). Further, the method may include determining a plurality of actual advancing vectors (vi) indicating a change of a position of the shearer resulting from advancing the shearer towards the longwall face. The method may also include determining a plurality of shearer orientations (Oi) along the longwall face. In addition, the method may include generating a second cutting profile to be approached by at least one of the first cutting drum and the second cutting drum in a second travel direction (F) of the shearer.

Abstract: A corrugated thermoplastic leaching chamber has sidewall louvers that define sidewall slot openings. Each louver comprises an outward extending canopy, a cap integral with the outer end of the canopy, having a down slope greater than the slope of the canopy, and a preferably concave fence at the inner end of the canopy, for inhibiting ingress of soil. The chamber may be made by first thermoforming sheet material, preferably two-layer PET plastic sheet to the shape of the chamber, followed by mechanically cutting and deforming the sidewall, to create the opening and the fence.

Abstract: A method of solution mining a subterranean mineral ore deposit such as trona ore in which a borehole is drilled from a subterranean mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation to connect a mineral ore bed to be solution mined, using subterranean drilling apparatus located proximate to the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation. The mineral ore bed is isolated from the mechanically-worked mineral ore mining operation by passage of the drilled borehole through an impermeable layer adjacent to the mineral ore bed to be solution mined. The mineral ore bed is then solution-mined using a mining solvent introduced into the mineral ore bed to solubilize the mineral and form a mining solution, and the resulting mining solution is withdrawn from the mineral ore bed.

Abstract: The invention relates to an ejector unit, in particular for a road milling machine, having an ejector that is replaceably mounted on a carrier. In one aspect the ejector is curved in a scoop-like fashion. In another aspect the ejector is reversible upon the carrier to allow the ejector to be reversed after one wear surface is worn, thus presenting a new second wear surface.

Abstract: A process for treating a tailings stream comprising water, solids, and optionally polyacrylamide. The process involves (a) contacting the tailings stream with a silicate source for a pre-determined period of time to form a mixture; b) after a pre-determined period of time of at least 5 minutes, contacting the mixture with an activator to initiate gel formation, wherein the gel entraps the solids within the gel; and c) allowing the gel to strengthen and solidify; wherein the gel formation is delayed compared with a non-delayed process.

Abstract: An improved bypass valve assembly for a plunger lift apparatus comprises a bypass valve cage having improved flow characteristics and a simplified clutch assembly having enhanced durability and low cost.

Abstract: A self-propelled construction machine, in particular a road milling machine, is described. It has a main drive for driving a rotating working means in a working operation and an auxiliary drive for driving the working means in a maintenance operation and a gear transmission on the working means. Lubricant oil is applied to the gear transmission via a lubricant oil circuit and a lubricant oil pump in the lubricant oil circuit, the lubricant oil pump being in drive connection to the gear transmission. An auxiliary pump is provided, which is optionally switchable into the lubricant oil circuit, so that, with reversal of the pump principle, the lubricant oil pump is operated as a hydraulic motor, wherein the drive connection of the lubricant oil pump and the gear transmission is also reversed to drive the gear transmission.

Abstract: A running tool for deploying a tubular string into a wellbore and methods for operating a wellbrore using the running tool are disclosed. The running tool includes a tubular body and a latch for releasably connecting the tubular string to the body. The running tool further includes a lock to keep the latch engaged.

Abstract: A seal of a tool of a breaking hammer, a sealing arrangement, a breaking hammer and a method of sealing a tool of breaking hammer is provided. The seal is a sealing ring having an outer periphery provided with several projecting elements, which are slanted. The projecting elements generate torque in the sealing ring when being pushed in a transverse direction during use of the breaking hammer. Thus, the sealing ring may rotate relative to the tool.

Abstract: A process for remediating salt-impacted soils includes forming a heap of salt-impacted soil on an impermeable surface; irrigating the salt-impacted soil heap with at least one amendment solution; and collecting a leachate containing sodium ions at a base of the heap. A system remediates salt-impacted soil.

Abstract: The subject matter of the invention is a bit holder for an earth working machine, in particular a road milling machine, having a support member onto which an insertion projection is indirectly or directly attached on an insertion projection side, the insertion projection comprising at least one convex abutment surface and one pressure surface. In a bit holder of this kind, working forces can be dissipated in stress-optimized fashion into an attached base part when provision is made that the insertion projection comprises two convex abutment surfaces that are arranged at a distance from one another.