Abstract: A self starting diesel hammer (20) having a tubular casing (30) inside which a heavy ram (32) is driven up by means of an explosion and then falls back onto an anvil (46) while compressing air under the ram so that fuel injected under the ram (32) causes the air to explode and drive the ram (32) up again, and a source of compressed gas (106) and a valve (110) arranged to direct the gas under the ram (32) to throw it upwardly in the casing (30) to start operation of the hammer.

Abstract: A drilling rig comprises a platform (10) supported above a sea surface (14) by legs which extend to the sea bottom (16). A drill guide (30) of rigid open framework construction extends down from the platform to the sea bottom. The drill guide is only minimally affected by turbulent sea conditions because of its open framework construction. A hardenable substance such as concrete (54) is poured into a flexible bag (50) at the lower end of the drill guide to form a solid structure conforming to the uneven sea bottom and having a substantially flat upper surface. Drilling takes place through the hardenable substance and into the underlying sea bottom.

Abstract: A diesel hammer (20) is adapted to produce uplift blows by connecting its casing (30) via a pulling connection (52) to a case (24) to be pulled, removing vent plugs (76) from the top of the casing, sealing all other openings (78), (82), (94), in the casing, applying compressed air from an external source (106) under the hammer ram (32) to drive it upwardly and thereafter allowing controlled flow of air out of the casing via a bleed line (118) and an adjustable orifice (238) to cushion the subsequent fall of the ram.

Abstract: A drilling rig comprises a platform (10) supported above a sea surface (14) by legs which extends to the sea bottom (16). A drill guide (30) of rigid open framework construction extends down from the platform to the sea bottom. The drill guide is only minimally affected by turbulent sea conditions because of its open framework construction. A hardenable substance such as concrete (54) is poured into a flexible bag (50) at the lower end of the drill guide to form a solid structure conforming to the uneven sea bottom and having a substantially flat upper surface. Drilling takes place through the hardenable substance and into the underlying sea bottom.

Abstract: A distributor head for throwing mortar onto the wall of a pipe (12) being lined. A set of inner rotating vanes (56) throw the mortar onto an outwardly flared conical surface (40 ) and the mortar travels along the surface (40) to the outer vanes (48) on its outer edge from which the mortar is thrown in a high velocity, dense stream against the pipe wall. The inner vanes are individually and releasably fitted into a collar (60) at the inner edge of the flared conical surface.

Abstract: A drilling rig comprises a platform (10) supported above a sea surface (14) by legs which extend to the sea bottom (16). A drill guide (30) of rigid open framework construction extends down from the platform to the sea bottom. The drill guide is only minimally affected by turbulent sea conditions because of its open framework construction. A hardenable substance such as concrete (54) is poured into a flexible bag (50) at the lower end of the drill guide to form a solid structure conforming to the uneven sea bottom and having a substantially flat upper surface. Drilling takes place through the hardenable substance and into the underlying sea bottom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming rings that is particularly suited for forming plow rings from elongated lengths of stock having irregular cross sectional shape. A length of stock (12) is positioned against a mandrel (20), the end of the stock being pre-bent from a previous bending operation, with the free end of the stock extending beyond the mandrel. A movable bending element (24) is brought into contact with the stock opposite the point of contact with the mandrel, and advanced around the mandrel partially bending the stock. A clamp (82) clamps the partially bent stock against the mandrel and a cutter (98) then cuts the stock, leaving a partial bend in the newly formed free end of the stock, the cut portion of stock being clamped to the mandrel. The length of stock is moved away from the mandrel so that the bending of the cut portion around the mandrel can be completed.

Abstract: An offshore oil storage facility on a sea bed which can withstand the effects of waves, tides and oil transfer even though it is of lightweight steel construction. The oil in the tank floats on a layer of water and standpipes extend up from the water layer to a location under the sea surface. Oil containment casings in the form of tubular shells surround the upper ends of the standpipes and extend above the sea surface. Differential pressure sensors arranged to sense differential pressure across the tank walls are used to control the pumping of fluids into and out from the tank to minimize such pressure differentials.

Abstract: A ground anchor for resisting uplift loads is installed by forming a hole in the earth with an enlargement at the bottom, placing an anchor plate in the bottom of the hole with projectable toggle arms extending out into the hole enlargement and with at least one tension member extending up through the hole from the anchor plate and pouring concrete into the hole to fill at least the enlargement. The toggle arms effectively increase the size of the anchor plate and the effective size of the concrete enlargement so that a larger cone of earth above the anchor plate is utilized for uplift load resistance.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatus for lining or coating the interior of lengths of large diameter, e.g. sixty inch (152.4 cm) pipe by applying fluent material thereto, and more specifically relates to such apparatus wherein a pipe liner vehicle travels through the pipe applying the material as it moves therethrough.

Abstract: A concrete water retaining wall is formed by driving a plurality of concrete cylinder piles into the earth in closely spaced relationship along a line. Thereafter, elongated tubular flexible bags are inserted down into the spaces between adjacent cylinder piles and a cementitious hardenable material, such as grout, is pumped into the bags to expand them and to form a filler having an hourglass shaped cross section which interlocks with and forms a seal between adjacent piles.

Abstract: A pipe lining apparatus includes a distributor head which throws cement mortar centrifugally against the interior of a pipe, a trowel which smooths the cement mortar and a liquid coating spray applicator which applies a curing control substance to the trowelled lining. The spray applicator comprises an air atomizing device which produces a very fine coating spray and blows it onto the freshly applied mortar lining without disturbing the lining. Also, in one embodiment the coating spray application is mounted to swing laterally with the trowel so as to be maintained centrally in the pipe.

Abstract: Piles are driven underwater by feeding them through spaced apart, aligned, tubular guides mounted on a structure to be anchored by the piles. When the piles reach the sea bed an elongated follower is fed down through the guide sleeves to the top of the piles. A compressible fluid driven hammer is arranged to drive against the upper end of the follower which in turn drives the pile. The submerged depth of the hammer at the upper end of the follower is less than it would be at the top of the pile and accordingly the exhaust pressure at the hammer is minimized and the hammer effectiveness is enhanced.

Abstract: A self-contained jack up type drilling and production platform structure comprising a flotatable barge-like hull with support legs which can be jacked up and down to lower and raise the hull with respect to the surface of the sea. A removeable drilling module rests on top of the hull and extends over an opening therein between two of the support legs. Production equipment is arranged in the hull and communicates with the opening. Moveable conductor supports extend between the legs of the platform and serve to brace the drill string and production conduit conductors.

Abstract: A pipeline is installed by forming a ground surface below the desired grade of the pipeline, holding a pipe length at the desired grade while injecting a hardenable fluid material into a bag positioned between the pipe length and the underlying ground surface so that after the material hardens the bag provides a temporary support for the pipe length at the proper grade and thereafter installing a permanent support by placing hard granular material between the remainder of the underside of the pipe length and the underlying ground surface.