Abstract: A method of constrcuting a precast, modular marine structure for offshore use, including but not limited to drilling, oil and gas production, and oil storage in a variety of water depths. The marine structure includes an equalized pressure system and concrete modular components cast with at least one cell and a central longitudinal passageway. The equalized pressure system fluidly connects the cell(s) to the adjacent body of water by at least one substantially vertical segmented water column to equalize the hydrostatic pressure differential experienced at a wall of the marine structure. A truss section may be attached to the concrete portion of the marine structure to form a truss spar. A mooring and tether system may be included to maintain the marine structure's station and attitude.

Abstract: A method of constrcuting a precast, modular marine structure for offshore use, including but not limited to drilling, oil and gas production, and oil storage in a variety of water depths. The marine structure includes an equalized pressure system and concrete modular components cast with at least one cell and a central longitudinal passageway. The equalized pressure system fluidly connects the cell(s) to the adjacent body of water by at least one substantially vertical segmented water column to equalize the hydrostatic pressure differential experienced at a wall of the marine structure. A truss section may be attached to the concrete portion of the marine structure to form a truss spar. A mooring and tether system may be included to maintain the marine structure's station and attitude.

Abstract: A precast, modular marine structure and method of constructing the same for offshore use, including but not limited to drilling, oil and gas production, and oil storage in a variety of water depths. The marine structure includes an equalized pressure system and concrete modular components cast with at least one cell and a central longitudinal passageway. The equalized pressure system fluidly connects the cell(s) to the adjacent body of water by at least one substantially vertical segmented water column to equalize the hydrostatic pressure differential experienced at a wall of the marine structure. A truss section may be attached to the concrete portion of the marine structure to form a truss spar. A mooring and tether system may be included to maintain the marine structure's station and attitude.

Abstract: A precast, modular spar system (10) having a cylindrical open-ended spar of relatively uniform cross section. The spar has a freeboard section (50), a buoyancy section (70), and a ballast section (90). The sections are formed by joining arcuate segments and stacking the sections. A pressurizing system allows for the injection of air into the segments to vary the buoyancy of the modular spar system.

Abstract: A repetitive combustion coating apparatus for applying coatings of particulate materials such as powdered tungsten carbide and other metal alloys by discharging discrete quantities of material encapsulated in an elongated tape into a combustion chamber and igniting a fuel-air mixture therein to deliver the charge of combustion gases and entrained particulate material through a nozzle to impact the article to be coated. The apparatus includes a rotary indexing wheel over which the encapsulated tape is trained with the spaced apart capsules nested in circumferentially spaced supporting receptacles. The indexing wheel is mounted on support arms which permit limited linear reciprocation so that a ratchet mechanism incrementally indexes the wheel and permits linear movement of the wheel to successively clamp the tape capsules against a clamping die.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for digging deep vertical walled trenches in solid rock such as limestone. The apparatus comprises a base supported by four crawler type traction means. A turntable is translatably carried by the base and in turn supports a prime mover and a pivoted extendable boom including means for rotating the boom about its longitudinal axis. A dual cutter is supported on the end of the thus articulated boom and is assembled so that the outermost cutter teeth are wider than any other part of the boom assembly. The trenching method includes cutting a pair of narrow slots by means of the rock saws and then removing material between the slots.

Abstract: A system for coating work pieces with particulate material is disclosed. A predetermined quantity of the particulate coating material is encapsulated per unit length of a polyethylene tape. The encapsulating tape is then moved at a controlled rate past a stripping station where the particulate material is stripped from the encapsulated tape and entrained in a gaseous stream. The gaseous stream injects the particulate material into a chamber having an open inlet in which the particulate material is both heated and accelerated to a high velocity for impacting a work piece and thus form a coating. In one embodiment of the invention, the particulate material is encapsulated in a plurality of discrete pockets, each containing a measured quantity of the particulate material. The particulate material is stripped from the package by pneumatic pressure and injected in the combustion chamber in timed sequence with ignition of a charge of combustible gases.