Abstract: A self-connecting, reinforced retaining wall is provided comprised of precast, stacked concrete block masonry units stabilized with reinforcing members which extend from the masonry units at selected intervals into the adjacent reinforced soil to form a mechanically stabilized earthen wall construction. The reinforcement members are generally in the form of horizontally oriented “U”-shaped members which extend from within the adjacent soil bank, to and through voids of the masonry units, thereby providing self-connecting devices thereat, and thence returning into the soil bank, forming a stabilized, retained and reinforced soil embankment. Suitable reinforcements may include metallic grids, geotextile and geogrid sheets, and other similar reinforcement devices. Concrete masonry units especially adapted for use in the aforesaid self-connecting soil reinforced retaining walls are also provided.

Abstract: A damming device for forming a liquid-damming protective bank comprises at least one first board (1), in the active state laying, intended to be urged by the liquid against the surface and thereby anchoring the device, as well as at least a second board (2), in the active state up-right, intended to dam the liquid. There are liquid-draining means (5) on the bottom side of the anchoring board (1). Devices (9, 9′) act between the two boards (1, 2) with the purpose of inhibiting tilting of the damming board (2) from the active position in the direction towards the dry the side, when liquid simultaneously affects the anchoring board (1) with a vertical force and the damming board (2) with a horizontal force.

Abstract: A raking device for breaking up a surface has a plurality of rakes mounted on a rake frame and arranged to produce an upwardly directed result in force in response to a horizontally directed force arising from encountering an obstruction in a path of travel of the raking device. A rake frame support mounts the rack frame to a rake frame carrier structure and allows controlled movement of the rakes in a vertical direction. A force applicator acting between the rake from carrier and the rake frame support is provided to apply at least a downward force to the rake. The force applicator is responsive to an increase in the upwardly directed result in force above a preset amount to allow the rakes to move upwardly in response to the increase in force.

Abstract: A bridge pillar debris deflection apparatus (10), which attaches to a pillar supporting a structure located on a water way, such as a river or ocean. The apparatus (10) deflects debris to maintain the pillar clear from any unwanted build-up of rubbish. The apparatus utilizes at least one finned cylinder (30) that is rotatably held in place in front of a pillar (50) with an upper attachment bracket (26) and a lower attachment bracket (28). The cylinder is rotated by the force of the water impinging on a multiplicity of fins (44) extending from the outer surface of the cylinder to deflect the debris and prevent any accumulation. An axle (38) is positioned between the brackets and extends through the cylinder in the preferred embodiment. Any number of cylinders may be used in tandem, according to the need and environmental conditions.

Abstract: A floating construction (11) such as for instance a SPAR buoy, which is connected to the seabed (32) by tethers and/or risers (15, 16). At the top part the floating construction (11) comprises a displacement member (17′) mounted on a mounting frame (17). Two risers (15, 16) and/or tethers that are placed on respective sides of a vertical center line (22) of the mounting frame (17) are connected to the displacement members for causing oppositely directed and substantially equal displacements thereof upon tilting and/or the sideways excursion of the floating body (11). Hereby a substantially similar tension in the connecting elements (15, 16) is maintained. In one embodiment displacement member comprises a pivotable arm (5) or pivotable deck structure connected near the upper end of the floating body to provide a dry tree. Alternatively the displacement member may comprise pressure fluid cylinders (39) or a cable construction (51, 52).

Abstract: A powered rotary screed provides a powered strike tube that rotates to provide a finish to wet concrete during screeding and a drive tube that provides motive power to the screed to assist with the difficult task of removing excess concrete from a poured pad, or other horizontal concrete surface. The drive tube is split to provide two separate portions that can be independently controlled for easy control of the screed as the screed works concrete. The drive tube portions are elongate cylinders that are axially aligned and rotatable relative to one another. Separate motors drive respective drive tube portions and can be individually controlled to prevent skewing of the screed.

Abstract: A vertical panel system has a vertical panel and a base. The vertical panel has one or more panels. Each panel has opposing first and second panel surfaces and a plurality of edges, wherein the plurality of edges has a base edge. A tab extends from the first panel base edge and terminates at a tab bottom edge. The tab has two opposing side surfaces extending between two opposing side edges. At least one of the tab side surfaces has a tab groove extending from the tab bottom edge and towards the first panel base edge. The base has a top surface and a slot extending from the top surface and into the base. The slot complements at least a portion of the tab and the tab groove. The tab bottom edge extends a length that is shorter than the length of the panel base edge. When assembled, a portion of the vertical panel is in contact with the base top surface, which stabilizes the vertical panel laterally. The edges of vertical panel are raised to protect the panel surfaces.

Abstract: A vibratory roller R comprises a pair of rolls 5 axially supported at both sides of a body 1 in a cantilevered fashion, a pair of vibration generating devices 6 for vibrating each of the rolls 5, a pair of vibrating motors 7 for driving each of the vibration generating devices 6 and a pair of roll-driving motors 8 for rotating each of the rolls 5. The rolls 5 are connected to each other through the roll-driving motors 8 and by a connecting member 29, and the connecting member 29 is attached to the body 1 through vibration isolating members 30. The vibratory roller R enables a compacting operation with both rolls 5 vibrating simultaneously, and the service life of the vibration isolating members 30 can be extended.

Abstract: A bridge deck construction form is provided capable of being used in a series of interlocking forms. The system uses an interlocking grid of plastic forms upon which the concrete is poured. The forms have male and female interlocking connectors around their perimeter to allow the forms to lock together end to end and side to side. The top surface of the form is smooth, and a series of hand grip indentations and fork lift fork receiving recess indentations are provided about the vertical perimeter apron to allow for easy handling and manipulation of the forms, whether by hand or by fork-lift, during placement, removal, shipping, storage, transport, or the like.

Abstract: A discontinuance device for a central reserve is fitted with a permanent separator for a communication zone between carriageways, provides a closing position to ensure continuity of the separation of the carriageways and opening positions, for traffic emergency and diversion opening positions where the carriageways are connected. The device is made of fabricated metal modules comprising supports driven into the ground. The device includes at least one arm having at least one arm module. The module has two lateral walls. The arm is mobile in rotation around a vertical axle forming a joint at one end thereof. The arm includes at least one pivoting retractable foot containing castors to lift and bring the arm into rotation, and to ensure an easy opening for traffic diversion. A transitionally mobile locking module on the arm provides an emergency opening.

Abstract: A deck drain apparatus is provided that allows builders to inexpensively configure deck drainage systems from standard AASHTO M180 highway guardrail. The apparatus includes a number of deck drain sections, butted together to form a drain channel. Each of the drain sections consists of a pan section and an inverted W-beam section. The pan section has a longitudinally elongated and flat conducting surface and two perforated sides. The two perforated sides project upwardly along opposite lateral edges of the conducting surface. The inverted W-beam section has a first perforated wall, a first upper surface, a lower surface, a second upper surface, and a second perforated wall. The perforated walls are longitudinally elongated and formed along opposite lateral edges of the inverted W-beam section. The first upper surface is formed between the first perforated wall and the lower surface. The second upper surface is formed between the lower surface and the second perforated wall.

Abstract: A vibration plate has a sole element that can be fastened durably and without difficulty by straightforward techniques. This is achieved in that, rather than being fastened on the ground-contact plate or the oscillation generator of the bottom mass, the sole element is fastened on the top mass with the drive motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a capping beam across two or more cast-in-situ piles (11), wherein a precast or preformed guide wall structure (1) having holes (5) for receiving and guiding a piling auger is placed into an excavation, forming a number of cast-in-situ piles (11) by applying a piling auger to the ground through the holes (5) in the guide wall structure (1), removing the guide wall structure (1) and filling the excavation with concrete so as to form a capping beam. This results in much improved construction times, since it is not necessary to remove excess hardened concrete before forming the capping beam, and also results in less waste, since the guide wall structure can be reused.

Abstract: An apparatus for laying a pipeline (2) in water, comprising a vessel (1) with devices for assembling a pipeline from pipe parts, an elongate curved guide body (4) arrange on the hull of the vessel for guiding the pipeline from the vessel into the water, and a device (3) for carrying the guide body into respectively out of the water, wherein the elongate guide body is box-like, whereby a part of the forces exerted by the pipeline is absorbed by the guide track and the load on the hull is reduced.

Abstract: An above-grade trafficway barrier adapted to arrest heavy vehicles, with an obstruction member extending between opposite sides of the trafficway, and controlled by its known mass deposed upon the grade level and preferably by spaced inertia blocks deposed at opposite sides of the trafficway, the known mass not to exceed the strength of the obstruction member and coupling thereof regardless of the vehicle mass. Impact force being gradually applied and dissipated by the known mass through a lever system with simultaneous roll, turn and sliding movements of said spaced masses; whereby the obstruction member is not subjected to greater force exerted by the impacting vehicle.

Abstract: Ecotechnical pavement comprising a draining and wearing course (1) and at least a second lower layer (2) of analogous structure. The particular granulometry of the layers (1, 2) and the choice of aggregates, insure both an optimum adherence and the absorption of medium and high acoustic frequencies produced by vehicle traffic. Between the two layers (1, 2) and the lower supporting layer (5) there is provided a “cooperating separation layer” (3) which transmits the forces produced by vehicle traffic to the supporting layer (5). The layer (3) acts as a Helmhotz resonator in order to absorb sound at low frequencies, besides allowing an easy transversal flow of rainwater, the passage of powder of heavy metals or the passage of other types of liquids; the latter, which may be dangerous or polluting, are collected in a lateral “reservoir pavement” (9). The separation layer prevents cracks due to fatigue from rising.

Abstract: A flexible support is constructed by mechanically laminating a plurality of relatively wide, thin, elongate flexible members together. The members are preferably formed of spring steel, and each individually is quite flexible due to the thin configuration. Preferably, each of the members is curved about its longitudinal axis to provide additional rigidity. The members are used to support traffic delineators, road signs, and/or other objects as desired, with the strength and resiliency required being adjusted by adjusting the number of individual members comprising each laminated support. The flexibility may be further adjusted by placement of one or more tension adjusters at one or more points along the length of the laminated support, with the attachments for the tension adjusters also being used to secure the laminations together. The fasteners used may be installed through holes formed through the support, or may pass laterally about the sides or edges of the support.

Abstract: A construction method for widening road, superhighway or railway tunnels, without interrupting the traffic flow includes a first stage of excavation; in steps, of the ground between the theoretical profile of the future widened tunnel and that of the original tunnel, after having reinforced the ground between the theoretical profile of the future widened tunnel and that of the original tunnel by reinforcement operations on the face, and a second stage in which the final lining, comprising one or more arches of prefabricated segments is placed close to the face.

Abstract: A drainage device and method of inserting drainage devices in the ground characterized in that the ground is drilled in one or more places with a tubular drilling rod fitted with a bit and containing drainage slits in the side wall. When the required depth is reached, the drilling rod is left in the ground in order to act directly as a drainage pipe. A sheath of water-soluble material, designed to prevent debris from clogging the drainage slits during the drilling stage, is applied to the outer surface of the drilling rod.

Abstract: A retaining wall system comprised of units having a front planter compartment with a drainage channel, and a rear hydro-drainage compartment. The front planter compartment accepts soil and vegetation therein, and the drainage channel drains water and other fluids from the first compartment into the second compartment to prevent hydrostatic pressure from building up within the front compartment. The rear hydro-drainage compartment is open on its bottom for draining and may be filled with angular gravel or other hydro-drainage aggregate to properly weight units to maintain unit placement. The units contain angle of installation guides that aid in vertically aligning the units to achieve a desired face setback, and angularly aligning the units to achieve a desired angle of repose between layers of units. The units contain horizontal alignment guides to aid in side-to-side unit placement.