Abstract: A barrier dissipates energy from wakes from high speed vessels. Pilings embedded in the seabed slidably extend through openings in a flotation section below the surface of the water and through apertures in a gate section above the surface of the water. Struts on the flotation section extend through the surface of the water to hold the gate section a predetermined height above the surface. An inclined ramp extends from the flotation section below the surface and progressively reduces the depth of the water above the ramp portion as the distance to the flotation section becomes less. The progressively reduced depth builds-up the incoming wake, and the gate section cuts off the crest of the built-up wake to dissipate energy. Systems of barriers may be located in various patterns of spaced apart arrangements along waterways to intercept and reduce the effects of wakes produced by numerous high speed vessels.

Abstract: A tamping rammer capable of optimum tamping of the ground by its stable jumping behavior when tamping hard ground without giving rise to unstable jumping of the machine, includes a tamping foot having a tamping plate which has an area for supporting the machine body at the bottom of the tamping plate which contacts the ground parallel thereto. The support area comprises a flat range R around a perpendicular line B drawn from the center of gravity G of the machine to the ground. The range R has a radius r corresponding to the distance between the line B and the centerline A of the machine drawn to the ground along the longitudinal direction of the tamping foot.

Abstract: The device comprises a collar consisting of two shells, designed to provide a link with the load-transmitting element. The cable has an assembly of tensioned strands contained, at the level of the collar, in a matrix filling the interstices between the strands. This matrix is totally or partially made from a plastic material susceptible to creep under the effect of the clamping action of the collar. The clamping action is applied by elongate elements transmitting a clamping force to the shells of the collar. These elongate elements are stressed so as to produce a longitudinal elastic deformation that is much greater than the maximum settlement of the matrix due to creep. This prevents any undesirable loosening of the collar.

Abstract: A roof bolting apparatus comprising a frame, a rotary drive mounted on the frame for rotating a workpiece rod used in a mining operation, a timber jack rod supported by the frame, the timber jack rod having an upper end and having therein a hydraulic passage, a top plate mounted on the timber jack rod for movement therewith, the top plate having therein a hydraulic circuit communicating with the hydraulic passage in the timber jack rod, and first and second hydraulic cylinders movably mounted on the top plate, the cylinders communicating with the hydraulic circuit in the top plate, and each cylinder having an end defining a jaw, such that hydraulic fluid flow into the cylinders causes the ends of the cylinders to move toward each other, thereby causing the jaws to move together for holding the workpiece rod therebetween.

Abstract: A retaining element system is provided that improves face stability in poorer quality soils that are not suited to conventional soil nailing. The method includes inserting retaining elements substantially vertically into an earthen mass to shore the face of an excavation. The earthen mass can be any material or combination of materials, such as soil, clay or rock that requires excavation for the installation of a shoring wall. The plurality of retaining elements are placed side by side in a substantially linear arrangement. A plurality of soil nails are then inserted into the excavation plane, at the approximate midpoint between a pair of adjacent retaining elements. An exposed tip portion of each soil nail attaches to a wale, which is a substantially horizontal element that contacts a retaining element on both sides of each soil nail. The wale can be a beam, bracket, or a set of concrete reinforcement bars.

Abstract: Apparatus for transporting and installing a deck of an offshore oil production comprises a floating barge (10) adapted to support the deck (1) and provided with devices for moving the deck (1). The apparatus includes a support framework (11) for the deck (1) adapted to be placed on the barge (10) and including the devices for moving the deck (1) in the form of at least one rack (21) that can be moved vertically by drive mechanisms (20).

Abstract: An oilwell leak containment apparatus for a completed oilwell includes a body segmented into two or more segments. Each of segment has a non-mating edge and a mating edge. The non-mating edge has an upstanding containment wall. When the segments are coupled together to form the body the upstanding containment wall extends around a peripheral edge of the body and defines a liquid containment cavity. The mating edge mates with an other segments. Each mating edge has an arcuate portion. When the segments are coupled together to complete the body the arcuate portions form a circular collar. The segments are connected together with quick release couplers. It is preferred that the quick release couplers be positioned within the liquid retaining cavity for ease of access.

Abstract: A fixable-seal sluice gate has a valve vise (18, 19, 25, 26, 31, 32) that forces a sluice-gate valve uniformly and tightly in sealing-surface contact with a domed seal ring (4) that is fixable conveniently and removably intermediate a sluice-gate plate (3) and a sluice-gate wall (1) of a sluice-gate flange that encompasses a valve side of a sluice-gate aperture (2). A plate locator on the valve vice sets the sluice-gate plate in predetermined sealing-contact position for select structure of the fixable-seal sluice gate. The domed seal ring is a plastic material such as Hypalon® having predetermined toughness to resist particle embedment in combination with having predetermined softness for select uses and objectives. A dome flange (5, 6) on one or both sides of a base of the domed seal ring is bracketed removably to optionally the sluice-gate wall or the sluice-gate plate for rigid, reliable, long-enduring and yet quick and convenient attachment and detachment of the domed seal ring.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for inserting a new service pipe into an existing high pressure service pipe that contains a leak, without the necessity of excavation or separately shutting off the supply of the high pressure gas upstream of the effected pipe section. A nosecone coupled with a unique stopper assembly allows a temporary sealing of the high pressure pipe between the main and the leak point, and insertion flow of a sealer through the nosecone, such that the sealer fills the annular space between the new pipe and the old pipe, providing a gas tight permanent seal. The end of the stopper assembly has temporary stop plug that must be drilled open to reestablish the communication of high pressure gas into the new pipe without the chance of flow entering the old pipe.

Abstract: A tensionable mine roof cable bolt having a resin grouted upper portion and a mechanical anchor. The cable bolt is rotated during installation in a mine roof bore hole to mix resin and engage the mechanical anchor with the rock. A drivehead press fitted onto the lower end of the cable may be stripped off the bolt upon tensioning of the bolt to a predetermined load.

Abstract: A method and system for removing contaminants from the phreatic zone, also known as the saturation zone, or groundwater. The technique preferably involves gas sparging while slowing down the sparging process by placing packing balls into an eductor tube. A preferred embodiment of the system is comprised of a means for supplying gas to the lower extent of a well which induces a flow of groundwater and gas bubbles up the well. The system may also contain a conduit within the well which extends below the water table. The conduit has a lower fluid-permeable section which is located below the water table and an upper fluid-permeable section which is adjacent to the water table. The system may further comprise an eductor tube contained in the conduit which extends from the top extent of the conduit to the saturation zone. Packing balls may be located between the eductor tube and the means for supplying gas to the lower extent of the well.

Abstract: A turnable self-propelled, walk-along tractor vehicle, such as a plow for burying tubing is provided. The tractor vehicle has a pair of drive wheels rotatably mounted on a fixed axle in the front of the vehicle, a back support means, a U-shaped turning bracket mounted to the sides of the tractor vehicle, and optionally a vibrating blade for cutting a trench in the earth coupled at the rear of the vehicle. The back support means is mounted to the tractor vehicle at a first position elevated with respect to the ground and is adapted to engage the ground at a second position when downward force is applied to the turning bracket. The turning bracket comprises first and second portions, which may be flat or tubular in shape, which extend rearwardly from the sides of the tractor vehicle and substantially horizontally with respect to the ground when the back support means is in the first position.

Abstract: An apparatus for use in erosion control comprising a primary member and a secondary member pivotally connectable to the primary member to form a unit. The unit can be connected to another like unit to form a protective network of such units.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for producing subterranean walls comprised of granular material. The apparatus comprises a beam for making insertions into and extractions out of the ground to form a series of voids therein. The beam includes a hollow interior portion which receives a supply of granular material. The beam also has a plurality of outwardly projecting spurs on the outer faces thereof for scarfing the sidewalls of the void as the beam is extracted. The apparatus also includes a disposable shoe which is removably attached to the open bottom portion of the beam to prevent earthen material from entering the hollow interior portion of the beam as the beam is inserted into the ground. An actuating mechanism detaches the shoe from the open bottom portion of the beam after the beam has been inserted into the ground so that granular material is released into the void as the beam is extracted therefrom.

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: An apparatus for widening microtunnels and/or for the destruction and replacement of ground-laid pipework and for the laying of new pipework possesses a tool which displaces the earth and/or destroys and/or displaces pipework laid in the earth, having a housing which is provided with an axial linkage seating, for example a housing passage for a linkage and with a linear drive which moves the tool, for example, on the linkage automatically from a launch pit to an arrival pit and simultaneously lays a follow-up pipe or a follow-up cable in the earth.

Abstract: A drainage assembly is disclosed for draining water from the vicinity of a subterranean construction surface, such as a subgrade foundation wall. The assembly comprises a hollow drainage panel formed by a sheet-like base and a filter media, the filter media being spaced apart from the base by a plurality of members that project from the inner surface of the base. The base has at least one hinge, and preferably two closely spaced parallel hinges, extending along its entire length between adjacent side edges, thereby allowing the panel to be easily folded and set into place against a foundation, with the portion above the hinge resting against the vertical foundation wall and the portion below the hinge resting atop the foundtion's horizontal footing. The apparatus further comprises a connector assembly that connects the panel to a standard drain pipe to convey water away from the foundation.

Abstract: In an apparatus for drilling in earth, a push-pull linkage, especially a ladder-type linkage consisting of individual sections connected together in each case by a plug-in coupling, is connected to a push-pull drive, and a stationary locking pawl and a thrust pawl which is moveable in the longitudinal direction of the linkage and is connected to the drive, with two mutually opposite directions of action, can each be brought into active connection with the linkage in order to move the linkage forward stepwise and lock it temporarily after each movement step.

Abstract: A snowplowable pavement marker includes a frame member having primary spaced keel members with ramp surfaces which have upwardly inclined contours beginning at a forward end portion of each keel member and extending at a first acute angle, then transitioning to a second portion having a second acute angle which is greater than the first angle. Further, the frame member includes an auxiliary keel member having ramp surfaces disposed between the primary keel members and having the same contour as the primary ramp surfaces. The auxiliary keel member ramp surfaces extend inwardly of the frame member to a point proximate the marker's reflector and serve to prevent damage by a snowplow blade set at a wide angle to the direction of blade travel. Advantageously, the contour of ramp surfaces permits a higher frame member installation above the pavement and allows for greater exposure of the reflector.

Abstract: A trench shoring system using panels as shoring walls to prevent possible collapse of natural ground walls of trenches in trenches such as for burying pipes underground, having a sliding panels type trench shoring system that offers increased safety during the job, and higher job efficiency.