Abstract: A helical displacement well with preassembled segments includes a preassembled shaft-forming penetrator tube including helical plates mounted to its exterior that may be rotated to propel the casing into the ground. A hydraulic drill motor rotates the penetrator tube as it moves deeper into the ground. Extension tubes may be added to and coupled to the penetrator tube. A bolt including a threaded stem sized to engage the threaded bolt opening of the male connector and a cap of larger breadth than the threaded stem and sized to fit within the unthreaded tension bolt opening of the female connector for connecting the female connector about the male connector.

Abstract: A friction reducing jacket is applied to a pile. The jacket comprises a sheet material and is formed in a shape that can conform to the exterior surface of the pile. The sheet material comprises a thermoplastic, e.g., polyolefin, and a slip agent, e.g., amide. A method of shielding a pile from downward force exerted by backfilled earthen materials during settlement includes the steps of providing a friction reducing jacket constructed of sheet material comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an amide slip agent; driving the pile into soil, leaving a portion of the pile above the soil exposed; wrapping the friction reducing jacket around the exterior surface of the exposed portion of the pile such that the interior surface of the jacket contacts the exposed exterior surface of the pile; and placing backfilled earthen materials around the jacketed section of the pile.

Abstract: A friction reducing jacket is applied to a pile. The jacket comprises a sheet material and is formed in a shape that can conform to the exterior surface of the pile. The sheet material comprises a thermoplastic, e.g., polyolefin, and a slip agent, e.g., amide. A method of shielding a pile from downward force exerted by backfilled earthen materials during settlement includes the steps of providing a friction reducing jacket constructed of sheet material comprising a thermoplastic polymer and an amide slip agent; driving the pile into soil, leaving a portion of the pile above the soil exposed; wrapping the friction reducing jacket around the exterior surface of the exposed portion of the pile such that the interior surface of the jacket contacts the exposed exterior surface of the pile; and placing backfilled earthen materials around the jacketed section of the pile.

Abstract: A helical displacement well with preassembled segments includes a preassembled shaft-forming penetrator tube including helical plates mounted to its exterior that may be rotated to propel the casing into the ground. A hydraulic drill motor rotates the penetrator tube as it moves deeper into the ground. Extension tubes may be added to and coupled to the penetrator tube. A bolt including a threaded stem sized to engage the threaded bolt opening of the male connector and a cap of larger breadth than the threaded stem and sized to fit within the unthreaded tension bolt opening of the female connector for connecting the female connector about the male connector.

Abstract: A helical displacement well with preassembled segments includes a preassembled shaft-forming penetrator tube including helical plates mounted to its exterior that may be rotated to propel the casing into the ground. A hydraulic drill motor rotates the penetrator tube and as it moves deeper into the ground. Extension tubes may be added to and coupled to the penetrator tube. A hydraulic drill motor is attached to the upper end of the extension tubes in order to continue the rotation of the assembled helical displacement well. The filter screen and the piping are installed concurrently with the addition of the extension tubes at the surface of the ground.

Abstract: A helical displacement well with preassembled segments includes a preassembled shaft-forming penetrator tube including helical plates mounted to its exterior that may be rotated to propel the casing into the ground. A hydraulic drill motor rotates the penetrator tube and as it moves deeper into the ground. Extension tubes may be added to and coupled to the penetrator tube. A hydraulic drill motor is attached to the upper end of the extension tubes in order to continue the rotation of the assembled helical displacement well. The filter screen and the piping are installed concurrently with the addition of the extension tubes at the surface of the ground.

Abstract: The foundation stabilizer includes a bearing plate (31) that is mounted in a stationary position on the upper end of a ground anchor (20). A foundation lifting bracket (28) is positioned below the bearing plate (31) and lifting screws (57, 58) are connected at their lower ends to the foundation lifting bracket (28) and extend upwardly through openings in the bearing plate (31) for lifting the foundation lifting bracket with a jack (63) temporarily mounted on the bearing plate. The foundation lifting bracket (28) is configured so that it does not exceed the height of the bearing plate (31) when it is raised by the lifting screws (57, 58).

Abstract: A positioning device for positioning a reinforcement bar within a masonry block. The positioning device includes a core with a central opening and an openable seam, a support structure having support arms connected to the core and arranged and configured for holding the positioning device in a desired position in a cavity of the masonry block. The core is arranged and configured such that a gap can be formed along the seam, the gap being configured to receive the reinforcement bar, and the core encloses the reinforcement bar within the central opening when the gap is closed.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the reduced skin friction bore casing is particularly suited for driving into, and removal from, soils. Preferably the bore casing is composed of a material such as steel, and includes both an exterior and interior surface that are substantially concentric about a longitudinal axis. A friction reduction coating is applied to portions of both the exterior and interior surfaces with enough strength and abrasion resistance to withstand abrasion forces applied to the bore casing during driving operations into the soils as well as extraction when required.

Abstract: A positioning device for positioning a reinforcement bar 11 within a masonry block 20. The positioning device includes a core 110 with a central opening 112 and an openable seam 114, a support structure having support arms 122 connected to the core and arranged and configured for holding the positioning device in a desired position in a cavity 22 of the masonry block. The core 110 is arranged and configured such that a gap 118 can be formed along the seam, the gap being configured to receive the reinforcement bar 11, and the core 110 encloses the reinforcement bar within the central opening when the gap is closed.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the reduced skin friction bore casing is particularly suited for driving into, and removal from, soils. Preferably the bore casing is composed of a material such as steel, and includes both an exterior and interior surface that are substantially concentric about a longitudinal axis. A friction reduction coating is applied to portions of both the exterior and interior surfaces with enough strength and abrasion resistance to withstand abrasion forces applied to the bore casing during driving operations into the soils as well as extraction when required.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the reduced skin friction driven sheet pile is particularly suited for driving into soils having compressible soil disposed above harder soil, with the sheet pile being configured to extend downwardly through the compressible soil into the harder soil. Preferably, the sheet pile is of formed sheet material, and incorporates an elongated opposed exterior surfaces and elongated opposed side edges which are shaped for interlocking with side edges of duplicate ones of the sheet pile. A friction reduction coating is adhered to the opposed exterior surfaces over a predetermined portion of the length of the sheet pile so that when the sheet pile is driven through the compressible soil and into the harder soil, the friction reduction coating contacts the compressible and/or harder soil and decreases the coefficient of friction between the opposed exterior surfaces of the sheet pile and the compressible and/or harder soil.

Abstract: A reduced skin friction driven pile which reduces the downward frictional force applied to the pile by the settling of compressible soils surrounding the pile after the pile is driven, comprising a pile which may include a friction reduction coating located about a portion of the exterior of the pile which is expected to have soils settling relative to it. Additionally, a friction reduction collar may be placed at a location along the pile which will create a void between the soil and the portion of the pile above the collar when the pile is driven, so that soils may settle relative to the pile with the void providing reduced contact between the settling soils and the pile so that the downward force of settling soils is reduced.

Abstract: The disposable pet utility system (10) for providing prepackaged absorbent cat litter and the like for household pet care, includes a container (11) formed of a material and having creases at each of its corners for collapsing the container about its contents during shipment and disposal, and for erection during use. The container (11) includes a top wall (40), having perforations and creases formed in the top wall (40) to allow sections (41) and (42) of the top wall to tear and separate from each other to fold back reversibly and to be positioned underneath the container (11) for a rigid support. After contents of the container (11) have been used, the sections (41) and (42) of the top wall are resealed and the container (11) is collapsed so as to allow a compact and sanitary method of disposal.

Abstract: The spacer support (20) includes a support base (22) and a receptacle (26) which are welded together at interfitting annular flanges (46 and 64). A bearing plug (24) includes a circular support plate (48) covering the upper surfaces of the radial walls (36), with a tapered stem (50) projecting into a tapered center opening (34) of the support base (22). The flexible engagement fingers (66) allow one way movement of the rebar rod (14) into the receptacle (26), and the protrusions (18) of the rod engage the ends of the fingers (66), prohibiting separation of the spacer support (20) frown the rod (14).