Abstract: The invention relates to a device for affixing cutter drums on an apparatus designed to cut trenches in the ground.The driver includes a revolving plate 4 disposed perpendicular to its axis and to the end of the latter, the plate having on its periphery a convex polygonal shape 9. A cutter drum 8 is provided with a portion 8a including a central hollow of concave polygonal shape 10 corresponding to the convex polygonal shape 9 of the plate 4 and of slightly greater dimensions. Bolts 11 unite the cutter drum 8 to the said plate 4 such that the rotational driving of the cutter drum 8 by the plate is performed through the medium of the aforesaid polygonal surfaces 9, 10 which come into engagement with one another.

Abstract: A cutting machine for cutting trenches in the ground, including a flat bottom face portion for supporting a pair of motor blocks; two motor blocks, with parallel axes, adapted to mount half-drum cutters; each motor block comprising a central vertical keel projecting downwardly from a horizontal top plate; connection means securing each motor block top plate to said bottom face; the inner edge of each top plate being provided with a beveled surface; an abutment member having parallel beveled edges complementary in shape to the beveled edge of each top plate; means mounting said abutment member to the central portions of said bottom surface; locking means urging the beveled edge of each top plate against the beveled edges of said abutment member.

Abstract: Apparatus including a rotary drilling cutter and a spoil removal conduit for the digging of a deep trench, characterized in that the spoil removal conduit is gradually adjustable in length during excavation and comprises: (a) a first conduit section, arranged proximate to said rotary cutter, and comprised of associated slidingly adjustable rigid male and female telescopic tube elements; (b) a second conduit section comprising a flexible tube having two ends, said flexible tube being connected to said first conduit section by one of its ends, its other end being disposed in the vicinity of the ground at a predetermined spoil discharge point, (c) a pulley supporting said flexible tube between said two ends; (d) lifting gear for suspending said pulley; and (e) a first cable associated with said lifting gear for supporting said pulley at selected adjustable heights.

Abstract: A device for injecting grout around a tubular pile driven into the ground. The tubular pile has a given diameter and is formed by a tubular wall of a given wall thickness defining the inside and outside of the tubular pile. A grout feed channel capable of being driven into the ground with the tubular pile is disposed inside the tubular wall having a diameter which is small relative to the diameter of the tubular pile. A check valve is connected to the grout feed channel at a position along the tubular wall and extends through the thickness of the tubular wall so as to communicate from the grout feed channel through the outside of the tubular wall. An injection device is inserted in the grout feed channel having one plug which is fitted in the grout feed channel and located above the check valve so as to inject grout under pressure through the injection device and the check valve to the outside of the tubular wall.

Abstract: A process for attaching an injection pipe with injection valve means to the inside wall of a tubular pile section comprising: drilling holes at a plurality of points along a generatrix of the pile section said holes passing through the wall of the pile; preparing an injection pipe having substantially the same length as the section of the pile to which it is to be attached; connecting said injection pipe with injection valve to said pipe, the spacings between said valve means corresponding to those of the said holes drilled in the wall of the pipe; engaging said injection pipe in the interior of the pile while positioning the injection valve means into said holes drilled in the pile; and welding said valve means to the wall of the pile from the exterior of the pile.

Abstract: The invention is a method for installing a piling of a predetermined target depth in the ground, particularly on the ocean floor. A pipe is lowered into the ground together with a drilling machine having rotatable cutters movable from a first position in which their transverse dimension is less the inner diameter of the pipe to a second position in which their transverse dimension is greater than the outer diameter of the pipe. The cutters are lowered to a location below the pipe, moved to the second position, and rotated to drill a hole having a diameter larger than the outer diameter of the pipe. After the cutters are retracted and the drilling machine is raised back within the pipe, the pipe and drilling machine are lowered to the bottom of the hole. The steps are repeated until the total target depth is reached. The drilling machine is then removed and the anular space between the wall of the hole and the exterior surface of the pipe is filled with cement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the reinforcement of anchoring pilings used particularly in the oil-drilling industry, where a tubular steel piling (1) is driven into the ocean floor. Successive injections of a grout which can harden are made into the ground (7) which is contained inside the piling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for propping or supporting the vertical support walls of deep ditches.After having freely constructed the ditch, to a depth compatible with the resistance of the support walls (1), a ring-shaped plate (3) is provided at the bottom of the ditch, which bears at its periphery against the vertical support walls (1), and which rests on the bottom of the ditch; after the setting of this ring-shaped plate (3), it is attached to the upper part of the support walls (1) for being supported, by means of braces (5); and then, the ditchs is continued, through the orifice (4) of the ring-shaped plate (3), down to the bottom of the work.

Abstract: The invention relates to a motor-driven milling machine construction for cutting trenches in the ground, in which there are two rotating semi-drums with cutting tools at their periphery. The drums are mounted on a central support. The sole function of the motor is to transmit a rotational torque to the semi-drums without transmitting any other forces. The stress exerted on the cutting tools is directly transmitted to the central support without going through the motor frame.

Abstract: The invention relates to an excavating bucket including two scoops (13) mounted movably, with respect to a frame (1), from an open terrain-engaging position to a closed position in which they enclose a certain quantity of cuttings. It comprises a central bucket body (5), integral with said frame and including at least two lateral walls (6), the scoops being arranged so that, in closed position, they come toward the central body from both directions with their lateral walls extending from the lateral walls of the central body.

Abstract: A milling machine for digging trenches in the earth, of the type comprising at least one substantially vertical support plate on both sides of which two milling drums are mounted for rotation about an axis substantially perpendicular to the plate, each of the drums carrying, on the one of its edges which is adjacent to the support plate, at least one tool which projects laterally with respect to this edge, and the support plate including opposite the trajectory of said tools, circular channels coaxial with the drums, through which the ends of these tools pass when the drums turn. The projecting tools of one of the drums redisposed at a distance from the axis which is different from the distance to the axis from the projecting tools of the other drum, the channels having, correspondingly, different radii.

Abstract: A dam formed of roll-compacted concrete having an upstream side and a downstream side is provided with an impermeable membrane curtain. The curtain includes a vertical planar wall portion extending for the full depth of the dam and transversely for the full width of the dam. A series of vertical ribs are connected to and spaced transversely along the curtain. The ribs project toward the upstream side of the dam and extend for the full depth of the dam.

Abstract: A milling engine for cutting trenches in ground or soil provided with at least one vertical support plate on both sides of which milling drums are supported for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said plate. One or more movable fingers are mounted on the lower edge of the plate for oscillating movement aobut the central axis of the plate during the rotation of the drums to remove a web of soil beneath the plate. Oscillation of the fingers is effected through camming surfaces formed on opposing inner ends of the drums which camming surfaces cooperate with a cam disposed at the inner ends of said movable fingers.

Abstract: A drilling machine for digging trenches in the ground of the type comprising at least one substantially vertical support plate (3) on which are mounted two drilling drums (2) one one each side of it for rotation about an axis (4) substantially perpendicular to the plate.The downwardly facing edge surfaces of said plate have portions (13) inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to said plate.

Abstract: The invention concerns an arrangement for underwater drilling of foundations, comprising at least one cutter (27) and one pump (29) for discharge of excavated material, and hydraulic motors for driving the said cutter and the said pump.It comprises an hydraulic turbine (16) capable of functioning by means of a fluid such as sea water, and an hydraulaic plant driven by the said turbine and designed for feeding the said hydraulic motors.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of rendering a soil or another material like a mortar, a binder, or a concrete impervious by injecting it with a silica solution. A finely ground powdered compound containing calcium with a solubility in water of between approximately 0.01 g/l and approximately 2 g/l is mixed into the silica solution, which has a ratio of SiO.sub.2 to Na.sub.2 O of between 1 and 1.3, before injection.

Abstract: A device for submarine foundation drilling includes: a drilling unit including a head and body interconnected by at least one cylinder, the body being equipped with at least one cutter, the drilling unit being equipped with at least one excavating pump, and hydraulic motors to operate the cutter and the pump; a rigid tubular assembly (2) containing at least one discharge pipe, and pipes for feeding hydraulic fluid to the cylinder and the motors; connecting means (12) between the head of the drilling unit and the lower part of the tubular construction; support means (13) able to be placed at the ocean bottom in front of the head of the drilling unit, means for clamping the tubular assembly; means for suspending the device from a ship, means (5) being provided to furnish hydraulic power, and connecting pipes being provided between the means of furnishing fluid and the upper end of the tubular assembly.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the production of circular boreholes in soil, of the type incorporating a pair of bits driven in rotation in opposite directions, the said bits being equipped with teeth or similar members for breaking up the soil.It comprises a first pair of bits (6) which are equipped with teeth, rotating in opposite directions around two parallel axes, each of these bits having the external shape of a volume of revolution the generatrix of which consists of a circular arc corresponding to the circular cross-section of the borehole which it is intended to dig, and a second pair of bits (7) situated above the first, and the bits (14a,14b) of which have the same structural characteristics as the bits of the first pair but whose axes of rotation are offset relative to the latter.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus for cleaning, during its extraction without rotation, of a drill formed from a helical surface wound around an axial stem. It comprises a scraper blade capable of being inserted at will between two turns of the helical drill, and that it comprises a motor for causing the scraper blade to revolve around the stem substantially in synchronism with the speed of extraction of the drill.

Abstract: A device for determining the position of a moving part, particularly to a device containing a sensor carried by the moving part and designed to supply two out-of-phase signals, each assuming alternately the value 0 or 1 as the sensor is carried in one or the other direction.