Abstract: A sealing device that ensures the hermetic securing of the lid (5) in the access mouth (2) in order to prevent any infiltration of fluids from the outside or escape of gases from the interior. The device comprises a frame (1), a lid (5) that rests on said frame (1) with interposition of a sealing joint (6), and a crosspiece (12) in order to facilitate the securing of the lid (5) with the aid of a screw (21). The sealing joint (6) permits complete imperviousness be obtained in the sealing of the device.

Abstract: A manhole/handhole includes a cover and a frame base. A plurality of elastic fixtures are bonded below through holes of the frame base. The through holes are corresponding to fixing holes of the cover so that screw bolts pass through the fixing holes of cover and the through holes of frame base and are locked to the fixtures. The cover is combined with the frame base so as to prevent the cover from jumping. Besides, at least a heightening base is installed between the cover and the frame base. The heightening base is stacked on the frame base so that the manhole/handhole is leveled with road surface for economizing working and time of roadwork.

Abstract: An intersection system which can do without, or drastically minimize, the frequency of having to wait for traffic signals in order to relieve traffic of congestion and minimize the land occupied by an intersection system.

Abstract: An improved storage reservoir assembly has increased resistance to leakage of fluid from the assembly into the ground. The assembly comprises a storage reservoir suitable for being buried beneath ground level and suitable for containing a fluid, at least one support unit attached to the reservoir and suitable for attachment to an above-ground canopy and an enclosure suitable for partially surrounding the reservoir. The enclosure is spaced from the reservoir so as to define a void therebetween, and the void is filled with a filling material suitable for decreasing leakage of fluid into the ground and/or assisting maintaining the buried condition of the reservoir within the ground. In an alternative embodiment, a reservoir includes at least one fluid-tight passageway therethrough for accommodating the insertion of at least one support unit suitable for attachment to an above-ground canopy and for supporting the above-ground canopy external to the reservoir.

Abstract: A recessed hinge is disclosed that allows a door to open to an angle greater than 90 degrees. The hinge has a hinge pin with two free ends so that the hinge is also fully reversible, for use either on the right hand or left of an enclosure. The hinge also provides for simplified horizontal adjustment by having oval mounting holes for attaching the hinge to the enclosure, and the hinge provides for vertical adjustment by disposing one or more washers on the free end of the hinge pin. Vertical adjustment of the door as well as door removal may be accomplished without tools.

Abstract: Apparatus for removing protective coverings from temporary raised pavement markers (TRPM) fixedly secured upon roadway surfaces comprises a platform, and a plurality of toothed implements disposed beneath the platform for encountering and removing the protective coverings mounted upon the upstanding vertical reflective portions of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPM). The toothed implements are mounted upon a chain which is driven by a motor mounted upon an upper surface portion of the platform, and a blower is also mounted upon the upper surface portion of the platform. An exhaust duct, fluidically connected to the intake side of the blower, passes through a suction port defined within the platform so as to be fluidically connected to the underside of the platform, and in this manner, the removed protective coverings of the temporary raised pavement markers (TRPM) may be removed from the roadway surface and conveyed to a suitable debris collection bag.

Abstract: A method for launching a steel catenary riser (SCR) from the seabed to the surface comprising three stages. During the first stage, joints are continually welded to the metal pipe resting on the seabed to form the length of the steel catenary riser (SCR) in contact with the seabed. In the second stage a length of pipe previously wound onto a receiving device is welded to the free end of the last joint welded and then it is unwound and launched to form the intermediate length of the steel catenary riser (SCR). In the third stage joints are again welded to the intermediate length of the steel catenary riser (SCR) to form the top length of the said steel catenary riser (SCR).

Abstract: A screed with a trussed beam having a cross-section in the geometrical shape of an equilateral triangle used to support tools for working plastic concrete. The beam is supported between spaced apart, wheeled carriages riding forms bounding the plastic concrete. The beam is oriented such that the cross-sectional triangle is inverted with the wide base at the screed top and the apex at the bottom. The inverted triangular truss beam has sufficient space to suspend working tools substantially within the peripheral edges of the beam. The screed uses upstanding integral outriggers so that the pitch at the center of the screed can be adjusted exteriorly to the pour site.

Abstract: An adjustable anchor for a cable bearing a civil engineering structure, comprising two anchoring parts designed to be fixed to a cable and to the civil engineering structure. These anchoring parts are coupled by a linking part including two threaded ends with inverted threads which are screwed to the two anchoring parts.

Abstract: An assembly for adjusting the elevation of a structure such as a manhole or a catch basin to be surrounded by pavement. A one-piece is formed to be inserted between a base rim and a cover of the structure. A lower member of the adapter is received in the base rim to be supported on an internal shoulder. An upper member extends outwardly of the lower member to receive the cover and upwardly to engage the upper end of the base rim and form an upward extension of the rim. The elevation of the structure may be increased by inserting the adapter between the base rim shoulder and the cover and decreased by removing the adapter from between the base rim shoulder and the cover. Additional adapters of identical construction may be inserted to further increase the elevation of the structure, all the adapters being nestable within one another.

Abstract: A method for providing secondary roof support in an underground mine such as to reduce the hazard of localized crumbling or deterioration of a mine roof. The apparatus generally comprises a slightly convex steel plate, crafted to cradle a roof bolt and which is supported by the base plate of the primary roof control system. The apparatus is utilized with standard primary roof bolt systems. By applying an upward pressure on the roof and effecting a larger coverage area for each roof bolt, the opportunity for drawrock separation to begin is reduced, and the exposure of the elements to drawrock strata in the vicinity of the bolt is eliminated. The method includes the step of utilizing the apparatus, with convex portion of the lateral plate facing upwards, before the placement of the base plate and roof bolt.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of constructing barrier wall structures. More particularly, the invention relates to a manner in which to use common building materials and methods in erecting a barrier wall system more efficiently than in the past. The apparatus includes among its essential elements a formed reinforcement cage; a plurality of spacers that are used to support the reinforcement cage; a plurality of cable anchors each being an elongated member having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is anchored to the ground and the second end is adapted to be attached to a cable; a plurality of elongated cable members that connects the reinforcement cage and the anchor member; a plurality of cable gripping members for holding the cables taut wherein the cables secures in place the reinforcement cage; and, a formed outer concrete layer that is molded over the reinforcement cage.

Abstract: Method of replacing a blind flange manhole cover of the type including a bolted on blind flange mounted on a bolting flange of a negative pressure storage tank manway with a manhole cover having a hinged door assembly includes the step of removing the blind flange manhole cover from the bolting flange of a tank-installed manway. The manhole cover may be attached to the bolting flange of the existing manway. A seal may be provided for creating a leakproof joint between the cover and a cover receiving surface when the hingedly attached manhole cover is in a closed position. A manway having a hingedly attached manhole cover may be provided with a hinge frame. A locking assembly may be provided adjacent the cover that includes a locking and sealing element for engaging the cover with a seal for locking and sealing the manway.

Abstract: This highway device includes a frame and an element (14) for covering the frame, the frame (12) including a peripheral border with two walls delimiting a groove and the covering element being equipped with a projecting peripheral lip (32) engaging in the groove in the frame-covering position. The covering element (14) includes at least one ramp (44) extending between the lip (32) and the internal surface of the element, the ramp or ramps being intended to bear on the end edge of the peripheral border of the frame and thus guiding the covering element during the displacement of the latter with respect to the frame, under the action of a force exerted on the element in a zone opposite the ramp or ramps (44).

Abstract: A method of erecting a new elevated roadway (41) above an existing roadway (21) in order to increase traffic capacity of bridge roadway (23) with minimal disruption of existing traffic. Roadway (41), which comprises a plurality of interconnected ramp units and bridging units, is erected in multiple steps by initially erecting entrance/exit ramp unit (46) and moveable ramp unit (45) with their uppermost ends facing each other, then intermittently, during periods of off-peak traffic, creating a gap in a previously erected portion of roadway (41) by moving ramp unit (45) along roadway (21), erecting a bridging unit in the gap, and opening an extended portion of roadway (41) to traffic in time for the next period of peak traffic. This method can be used for reconstructing different types of bridges and highways.

Abstract: A ramp enabling vehicles to smoothly traverse a steeply inclined curb situated between a street and a driveway includes an elongate planar ramp surface having upper and lower edges. The ramp includes a base portion integrally connected to an underside of the ramp surface. The base portion includes a curb contact surface adjacent the ramp surface upper edge which includes a configuration complementary to that of the inclined curb wall. The base portion includes a street contact surface adjacent the ramp surface rear edge. The base portion includes a support member intermediate the contact surfaces and spaced apart therefrom to define at least one longitudinally extending drainage channel. When placed adjacent a curb having an inclined wall, the ramp rests in planar contact with both the street and inclined curb wall with the ramp surface extending at an inclined configuration therebetween.

Abstract: A drilling and anchoring device comprises a drilling pipe (8), a drilling tool (12) mounted at the end of the pipe, and one or several cables (4) and/or other anchoring reinforcements. The cables and/or other anchoring reinforcements are so attached to the drilling tool that the drilling tool remains in a grout body (7) formed by cement injection in the ground surrounding a drilling hole (6).

Abstract: A towable scraper system for contour surface grading. The system includes a rigid chassis member that has a coupler configured for attachment to a conventional three-point tractor hitch. A scraper blade is pivotally suspended from the rigid chassis member and is equipped with a blade motivator for causing an angular rotation of the blade around an axis aligned with a towing direction. A lift assembly raises and lowers the rigid chassis member to control a height of the scraper blade relative to a work surface to be graded. The towable scraper system is provided with a carriage assembly that offers rolling support for the rigid chassis as it moves over the work surface. The carriage assembly is pivotally coupled to the rigid chassis at a location opposed to the coupler and is configured for angular rotation around a second axis aligned with the towing direction.

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 ripper attachment (22) for an excavation device (20) includes first and second support members (50, 52) configured for connection to the excavation device (20). In particular, first and second support members (50, 52) are adapted to connect to a coupling apparatus (30) of a tool coupler (28) so that the ripper attachment (22) is fixed relative to the coupling apparatus (30). A body (54) of the ripper attachment (22) is disposed between the first and second support members (50, 52). The body (54) has a ripper tip (60) disposed on a distal end (62) and first and second mounting sections (64, 66) disposed on a proximal end (68). The first and second mounting sections (64, 66) of the body (54) are removably attachable to an interface area (70) of the first and second support members (50, 52). A brace element (56) of the ripper attachment (22) is interposed between and couple together the first and second support members (50, 52).