Abstract: Oil dispersions of water-soluble anionic polymer particles and water-soluble cationic polymer particles are mixed with water to form an aqueous solution containing one polymer in an amount in the range 10 to 40 mole % (moles of anionic groups) and the other polymer in an amount in the range 60 to 90 mole %. The solution is immediately applied to a surface to suppress release of dust from that surface.

Abstract: A multiple pipe chute installation for continually and progressively excavating a trench, laying flexible utility pipe a predetermined vertical distance apart, refining and refilling the soil around the laid pipes, and compacting the refilled soil is disclosed. The installation includes a trenching chain assembly pivotably mounted to the rear of a vehicle for excavating a trench. A multiple pipe chute assembly including a plurality of chutes is pivotably attached to a support frame extending from the trenching chain assembly. A support arm is pivotably attached to the support frame and extends rearwardly of the chute. A backfiller assembly is attached to the end of the support arm and a compacting rod is attached to the support arm adjacent the backfiller assembly. A hydraulic cylinder is attached between an extension of the support frame and the support arm. The chute assembly may be selectively linked to either the trenching chain assembly or the support arm.

Abstract: A tooth for a digging bucket of an excavator has a wedge-like profile formed by an end face (6) and two surfaces (4, 5) extending at an angle with respect to each other, one of which is undulated with at least two convex portions (8, 9) conjugated by a concave portion (11). The profile of the undulated surface (4) in the concave portion (11) is in the form of brachistochrone. A groove (7) is made in the end face (6) of the tooth to extend widthwise of the tooth.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating snow traction-improving material contained in a bin mounted on a motor vehicle, such as a truck. Panels are attached to the side of the bin to form a sealed cavity surrounding the bin. Hot exhaust from the motor vehicle engine is then piped into and flows through the cavity so as to heat the cavity, whereby heat from the cavity warms the contents of the bin. The exhaust then flows out an exit portal from the cavity to permit continued flow-through. Provision is made to form holes in any buttress supports, supporting the bin on the truck, which might obstruct the flow of hot exhause. Finally, a drain is provided, allowing any condensation formed in the cavity to escape.

Abstract: An auxiliary equipment attachment adapter, to be used in pairs, semipermanently attaches to the customary mounting fixtures on a vehicle for commonly available equipment including snow plows. The adapter has open horizontally diverging jaws, upwardly inclined to direct the attachment plate of the equipment to be attached into a retaining slot of the adapter. The equipment is modified by having a retaining bar placed between its attachments plates to engage a latch that holds the attachments plates in their retaining slots. The rearward portion of the adapter is an I-beam that rigidly encompasses the mounting fixtures of the vehicle and is pinned thereto through the web of the I-beam. This adapter and method provides a safe and easy method for engaging and disengaging attachments by one person from within the cab of any vehicle with no manual positioning of the attachment from outside the vehicle.

Abstract: A rotary trench excavator comprising a prime mover (1) pivotably connected to a movable frame (2) carrying a working member having the form of a system of drive rotors (9 to 11). To drive each such rotor (9 to 11), its interior accommodates a support frame (6) with support and guide rollers (7 and 8), and a drive mechanism. In order to ensure turning of each rotor (9 to 11) 180.degree., or of the entire system of rotors, there is provided an additional frame (4) connected to the frame (2) of the excavator and to each of the rotors (9 to 11) by way of detachable flanges (13 to 26).

Abstract: A snowplow leveling system is described for use on a standard plow mounting structure having a reversing table mounted to a plow blade system and rotatably mounted on a support frame. The support frame is pivotally mounted about a horizontal axis onto a motor vehicle which has an elevatable lifting point. The snowplow leveling device is mounted on the support bar of the reversing table. The leveling device may include two slider mechanisms mounted on support tracks located on opposite ends of the support frame of the reversing table. Positioning struts hingedly connect the slider mechanisms to the support frame. Additionally, a lifting chain connected at each end to the slidable mechanisms and in the middle to a lifting hitch attached to the support frame aids in maintaining the leveling position of the snowplow system of the present invention.

Abstract: A land grader for grading an unprepared or partially prepared soil surface, as a step in the preparation of a roadbed. The land grader has a frame fixed at a forward end to the tractor and is supported at a rearward end to a plurality of tamping wheels. On the frame are mounted a plurality of rotary cutters which are offset laterally and axially from one another along an angle to the direction of travel. The rotary cutters have scraper blades mounted between them.

Abstract: Device for the precision-positioning of bodies on fixed structures on the sea bottom in high-depth waters. The device comprises a fixed structure and an articulated structure. One end of the articulated structure is fastened to the body to be positioned, and the other end is engaged inside a reference seat of the fixed structure on the sea bottom. The precision-positioning of the body is carried out by linearly and/or angularly displacing the articulated structure with respect to the fixed structure.

Abstract: In an operating dump, intermediate sealing layers which are provided with a drainage layer are applied for the production of a multibarrier system to prevent the penetration of seepage water, the seepage water which is collected in the drainage layer being removed and fed to a disposal system. Plastic films or sheets overlapping in the form of roofing tiles or laid as webs have proved suitable as an intermediate covering.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for grading and measuring surfaces such as roadbeds which have curved and inclined profiles which may have different shapes in successive transverse sections of the roadbed. A blade and screw cutter are supported by a frame which extends over the surface being worked, and these tools are movable along this frame. The tools are movable toward and away from the surface being shaped in response to a control means which has memorized the appropriate positions, or by reference to a deformable rule which may also be reshaped in response to computer-memorized data. According to a disclosed method, the rule is reshaped for different sections of the surface.An apparatus for checking and measuring a surface which has a curved profile includes a plurality of piston-cylinder units which are mounted on a main frame.

Abstract: A side wing blade assembly for a vehicle, comprising an elongated blade, an articulated coupling between the front end of the blade and the vehicle, and an articulated attachment system to connect the rear end of the blade to the vehicle. The articulated attachment system includes a pair of vertically spaced apart and generally parallel arms, each of these arms including one end universally mounted to the rear end of the blade and another end universally mounted to the vehicle. A fluid ram having one end connected to the vehicle and another end slidingly engaging one of the arms is used for raising the blade off the ground toward a retracted position. Stops are provided on the arm receiving the fluid ram in order to limit the sliding movement thereon, forcing the fluid ram to act as a dampener as a result of an excessive upward movement of the blade caused by an impact on an obstacle.

Abstract: A system for filling a spatial volume below the earth's surfaces with a dry fill material by supplying the dry fill to a borehole at the surfaces, the fill falling generally vertically through the borehole so as to exit vertically at an exit thereof into the spatial volume. An ejector is positioned below the exit and provides a high velocity air stream which intercepts the dry fill as it exits from the borehole so as to direct the fill in a generally horizontal direction away from the borehole into the spatial volume.

Abstract: There is provided a new and useful combination deck support leg holder and rub strip comprising a support leg holder comprising a first section adapted to have a support leg secured thereto, a second section adapted to be secured to a deck or dock, and means for securing a rub strip to be disposed about at least a part of the holder remote from the deck or dock, and a rub strip adapted to be secured to the means for securing and to be disposed about at least a part of the holder remote from the deck or dock.

Abstract: Method of erecting a minimal structure offshore platform around an existing caisson or drive pipe without any bolted, grouted, or underwater welded connections. This method involves the welding of a stop ring onto the caisson at a point just above the water line. A template having two sleeves for receiving piles and a sleeve for receiving a caisson is lowered over the caisson until the template rests on the stop ring. The template is concentrically aligned by a shim mounted to the top of the caisson sleeve. The caisson sleeve is centered around the caisson by inserting shims between the caisson and the caisson sleeve, and then the caisson sleeve is welded to the caisson and the stop ring. Piles are driven through the pile sleeves to grade using shims on the high point of the pile sleeve to align the pile with the axis of the sleeve as the pile sections are welded together. Once the piles are driven, the pile sleeves are centered around the piles by inserting shims between the piles and the piles sleeves.

Abstract: A bumper guard for protecting a boat at a dock includes a longitudinal body composed of molded urethane, a fastener extending through at least one opening formed in the body for fastening the body to a dock, and a reinforcing disk molded into the body at the location of each opening. The reinforcing disk is engageable by the fastener to prevent the fastener from pulling through the opening during fastening of the body to the dock.

Abstract: An apparatus for ditch digging or root pruning having a main frame on which a motor drive mechanism and a cutting wheel are supported. A secondary frame portion or undercarriage is pivotally attached to the main frame. The cutting wheel is preferably mounted on a transverse shaft parallel to the wheel axis, the cutting wheel rotating in a substantially vertical plane located outside the apparatus wheels. An actuation device is provided to pivot the frame portions thereby raising or lowering the cutting wheel.

Abstract: A lightweight, pre-cast, reinforced, module used to build a structurally engineered retaining wall system. Each module has a panel with a front and rear surface with at least one horizontal reinforcing rod. In the preferred embodiment, a portion of each rod horizontal transverse an integrally attached flange located at each opposite end of the panel. On the outside surface of each flange, there is a recess across which a portion of each reinforcing rod is exposed to be subsequently surrounded by concrete of a poured-in-place reinforced column. A horizontal row of adjacent modules is positioned on a constructed, reinforced footing. The front surface of each module is exposed and each flange is positioned opposite to a flange located on an adjacent module with a column space created between opposite flanges. Alignment elements are attached to the upper surface of each flange and successive horizontal rows of modules are then positioned above until the desired height is achieved.

Abstract: A powered method and apparatus for raising and lowering a boat in a boat lift with quick connection to and use of the boat battery to power a DC electric motor on the lift. A method of converting a manual lift to a powered lift is provided. The lift drive has a tractive drive unit with a friction wheel and the motor and a reduction drive, a drive unit subframe, a drive unit mount adjustable on the frame of the lift, adjustment structure to locate the subframe in a desired position in any one of a variety of boat lifts and with respect to a variety of manually operable lift actuator wheels, structure to resiliently bias the friction wheel against the actuator wheel, structure to stably remove the friction wheel from the actuator wheel, a quick connector for connection to a boat battery, and a switch for selective control of motor operation and direction of rotation.

Abstract: A soft backpack for SCUBA diver air tanks wherein a bladder filled with fluid is secured to the driver's tank and disposed between the tank and the diver's body.