Abstract: A pile driving transition piece. The transition piece avoids the shock loading in the stabbing points of pile driving transition pieces that otherwise would be induced when the pile driving hammer strikes the transition piece. Avoiding the shock loading prevents the characteristic fatigue cracks from forming in the stabbing point and the consequent failure of the stabbing points from rapid growth of the fatigue cracks.

Abstract: A method to transport a deck at sea and install the deck on an offshore substructure. The deck is completely fabricated on a set of deep girders. The deck and deep girders are skidded onto two pontoons. The deck and deep girders are tied down together. A set of jacking units is installed into the deep girders prior to sail out. The complete assembly is towed to the installation site. At the site, the tie downs are removed. The girders are jacked up and the pontoons simultaneously ballasted down until the assembly is supported on the pontoons.

Abstract: An electronic feeler gauge for measuring the dimension of a gap. A flexible base in the general shape or a shoehorn has a raised shoulder portion of greater thickness substantially along its rear half with a forwardly extending tab that acts as a stop. A strain gauge mounted substantially in line with the tab at the lower portion of the concave curve of the flexible base only measures strain across the width thereof. Electrical signals from the strain gauge are conducted to a strain meter by electrical wires for analyzing the signals and converting them to readings indicating the size of the gap into which the flexible base in inserted.