Abstract: A remote-controllable screw connection includes a nut, a first flange relvely closer to and a second flange relatively further away from the nut. At least one screw bolt connects the flanges to the nut. A sheath surrounds the screw bolt between the nut and the first flange. The sheath is non-rotatably but axially displaceably connected to the screw bolt.

Abstract: An artificial reef for marine life consisting of a system of flexible, buoyant geometric bodies. The bodies are each walled members formed of a plastics material and having a large plurality of holes or openings therein. Each of the bodies is buoyant and is anchored on the sea floor via respective variable length cable so that the bodies float within the water at various elevations. The bodies may be formed of the same size and shape or different sizes and shapes, with the openings therein also being of the same shape or different shapes and sizes. In certain embodiments the bodies are telescoped within each other, and in other embodiments the bodies are interconnected together in a manner such that their axes are in a nonparallel relationship to each other.

Abstract: A rock anchor consists of a body member formed as a drilling-rod (1), which at one end carries a drill-head (2) and has externally over its whole length a coarse thread, for example an approximately round thread (3). The drill-head (2) is welded to the drilling-rod (1). The drilling-rod (1) has only at its forward region, that is adjacent the drill-head (2) peripheral bores (6), whereby the aforesaid forward region, from the drill-head (2), extend over a length of at most 20 cm. The bores (6) extend at an angle to the axis of the drilling-rod (1), namely, from inside to outside in a direction from the drill-head (2). This rock anchor serves simultaneously for making a drilling, whereby the tubular body member serves for the supply of the hydraulic fluid, which passes into the bore-hole via an hydraulic bore (5) in the drill-head (2) and the aforesaid peripheral bores (6) and passes back to the outside of the drilling-rod (1) with the drilling fines produced.

Abstract: Dome for waste dumps with at least one outside filter layer and one draining and/or degassing area arranged within the outside filter layer, characterized in that the draining and/or degassing area is formed by at least one shaped body of plastic material, having a hollow space volume of at least 70% and that a continuous supporting tube is placed in the shaped body having a length corresponding to the height of the dome. These shaped bodies may consist of three-dimensionally shaped panels of plastic material or of a multitude of intersecting filaments of melt-spun polymers arranged in loops and having a filament diameter of at least 0.1 mm, and which are bonded to each other at their points of intersection. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the supporting tube is coupled to a base plate. The shaped body may consist of a rolled-up mat, on which the filter layer is covered.

Abstract: Mud is taken into a vertical screw conveyor while an inlet device is rotating or without the use of such an inlet device. The mud is sent from the discharge port of the conveyor into a transport pipe. The mud is forcibly sent by a compressed air. Screens are provided to take only the mud into the screw conveyor. Paddles for stirring mud are provided on the vanes of the screw. A check valve and/or a pressure feeder (transport pump) is provided between the discharge port of the conveyor and the transport pipe.

Abstract: An angled release clutch system provides a low bearing load at a relative constant pressure plate load throughout the life of either a pull-type or a push-type clutch. In a preferred form, the angled release clutch system includes an inverse Belleville spring compressed between a clutch cover and a plurality of levers for biasing the levers against the pressure plate for engagement of a friction disc secured to an input shaft. The spring includes an inner annular edge portion engageable with the levers, in an outer annular edge portion engageable with the cover, which is inverse to the normal Belleville spring clutch arrangement. The pressure plate in the preferred form includes an annular inclined surface portion for the cooperating with the levers, each lever having a pressure plate contacting portion for engaging the inclined surface portion of the pressure plate.

Abstract: A high production dragline bucket which has a low profile in the back wall as well as fewer components than those commonly in use. The bucket is not only lower in production costs, but has higher operating efficiencies. It is adaptable to both single or double sheave dumping assemblies. A replaceable basket portion for the bucket is also described.

Abstract: Magnesium oxide is included in a bentonite clay anti-friction composition in an amount of 0.025-0.5% based on the dry weight of the clay to substantially improve the efficiency of underground cable or pipe installation. The anti-friction composition is applied between an outer surface of the cable or pipe and tunnel walls to substantially and unexpectedly reduce the amount of force, e.g. hydraulic pressure, necessary to push or pull the cable or pipe into its intended location within the tunnel. The composition includes a water-swellable colloidal smectite clay, such as bentonite, and magnesium oxide in an amount of 0.025-0.5% based on the dry weight of the clay. In another embodiment, the composition also includes a polymeric fluid loss reduction agent, such as carboxymethyl cellulose to decrease the amount of the clay composition absorbed into the tunnel walls. Soil is extracted underground to form a tunnel and the cable or pipe is forced by a hydraulic jack, into the tunnel.

Abstract: A self-contained dredging module includes a unitary body adapted to be attached to the stick of conventional back hoe apparatus to convert it with minimum modification from dry land to sub-aqueous excavation. The body carries a dual cutter wheel, suction pump, and separate motors for driving the cutter wheel and the pump. The cutter wheel is arranged on the module in such a position that dredging is permitted when the stick is moved in one direction and also permitted when the stick and module are turned upside down and the stick is moved in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A method of constructing a vertical barrier wall in the ground (1,3) wherein two spaced apart, deep wells (2) are excavated in the ground. The walls (2) are interconnected near the bottom thereof by a substantially horizontally extending canal (7). Subsequently, there are provided in the wells (2) and the canal (7) a looped, closed chain (11) carrying excavators (12). The two ends of the chain are interconnected above the ground level. The closed chain loop is then driven in a direction of circulation and moved simultaneously upwards. The soil material 1 present between the wells (2) is thus "sawn through", thereby forming a narrow trench (26),which is filled with a supporting fluid (4).

Abstract: An anchorage line comprising a large number of successive elements interconnected in an articulated way and each including a closed watertight tube delimitating an interior volume full of air. The anchorage line comprises a shallow depth extremity providing the link with a floating vehicle and a very deep anchorage extremity providing anchorage on an ocean bottom. The floatability of the anchorage line varies according to its length. The tubular essential parts of the anchorage line have a wall thickness related to their diameter and which is thicker the nearer these parts are to the anchorage extremity of the line. The anchorage line may be assembled on site and put in place by a suitable device.

Abstract: An excavator has a frame attached to its rear side for mounting of an implement. The frame includes lateral limit vertical beams which are connected by upper and lower horizontal rails. The rails are separated vertically. A slide member has guide grooves which engage the top surface of the upper rail and bottom surface of the lower rail to slidably mount the slide member on the frame. A toothed rack is attached to the underside of the upper rail and is disposed behind the front surface of the rail. A drive motor attached to the slide has a pinion meshing with the toothed rack. Actuation of the motor causes the slide member to slide on the rails.

Abstract: A jack-up rig includes a cantilever beam assembly and a drilling module is mounted on the cantilever beam assembly. The jack-up rig also includes means for moving the cantilever beam assembly from the storage position to extended positions wherein a rearward end of the cantilever beam assembly is extended from the jack-up rig. The fixed platform comprises a fixed platform support structure having a drilling module support surface and a beam opening. The jack-up rig is positioned near the fixed platform with the cantilever beam assembly generally aligned with the beam opening in the fixed platform support structure. The cantilever beam assembly then is extended through a portion of the beam opening to an extended position wherein the drilling module is supported on the cantilever beam assembly a distance generally above the drilling module support surface. The jack-up rig then is lowered to a position wherein the drilling module is supported on the fixed platform support structure.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method of grouting a slipliner in a sewer or drain pipe using foam cements having a specific gravity less than 1.0 and have adequate compressure strength to maintain the slipliner in position within the sewer or drain pipe.

Abstract: A system of ocean floor dredging comprises a first vessel, two rotatable rollers on the vessel, a third roller lying on the ocean floor, and an endless net extending around the three rollers.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to stabilize a columnar platform for deepwater offshore applications. An added mass stabilizer system is utilized to control first order heave, pitch, roll, surge and sway motions of the floating platform. The stabilizer is suspended beneath the platform by a set of tendons a sufficient distance to (1) enter a quiescent zone beneath the action of waves and currents, (2) provide a sufficiently long movement arm to resist pitch and roll torquing, and (3) incorporate sufficient flexibility into the suspension system to avoid shock loads. The stabilizer is sized to (a) provide sufficient submerged weight to maintain the tendons in constant tension and, (b) create adequate added mass (actual stabilizer weight plus mass of water moved by the stabilizer) to provide the desired control of first order motions. A secondary mooring system such as a spring-buoy mooring or dynamic positioning system can be provided to control drift produced by higher order motions and first order yaw.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laying pipes of low bearing force like a polyvinyl chloride pipe and others in the ground with a propulsion pipe laying method, wherein an excavation device to excavate a tunnel to lay pipes therein is propelled into the ground by a propulsion force exerted on a propulsion shaft joined behind an excavation device while the pipes to be laid are run over the propulsion shaft and propulsion shaft bodies are joined one after another to propulsion shaft bodies and the pipes are joined one after another to pipes. The propulsion shaft bodies have a supporting device on the outer periphery thereof which rigidly supports the inside surface of pipes run over the propulsion shaft. With this supporting power, pipes to be laid are propelled into the tunnel in accordance with an advancement of the propulsion shaft.

Abstract: An offshore subsea well includes a wellhead to which is connected an elongated somewhat flexible riser extending to the sea surface. The riser pipe is unstayed and is buoyed at least partially by a buoyancy member connected to the riser between the sea surface and the wellhead. Flow control valves and well access components are disposed at the upper end of the riser pipe and extend only a few feet above the sea surface during a normal or calm sea condition. A production fluid flowline returns to the sea floor alongisde the riser for extension to a central platform for the reservoir. The well support system provides for a low cost surface disposed Christmas tree arrangement which does not require a fixed support platform. The buoyancy member is preferably an annular can which is connected to an upper end of an elastically bendable section of the riser and which supports a tower for a work platform and hazards to navigation aids.

Abstract: A roof support for an underground mine or the like is disclosed. The roof support is comprised of two roof anchors that are secured in bore holes formed in the mine roof with a cross member tensioned between the roof anchors. The roof anchors have eye-bolt heads formed on the ends which protrude from the roof and to which the cross member is readily secured. A tensioning means is provided to tension the cross member and the major portion of the cross member may be either a rigid metal rod or a flexible wire rope cable. The present invention also provides for a roof anchor that is formed from concrete reinforcing bar which has an eye-bolt head that is hot forged onto the reinforcing bar.

Abstract: An underground storage tank installation apparatus and method for installing the same. The apparatus includes a fiberglass vault into which one or more underground storage tanks are secured and buried in a suitable excavation. Structural support members are formed within the walls of the fiberglass vault to provide adequate strength for the walls of the fiberglass vault so that the chances of cave-ins are minimized. Internal and external observation wells are provided, with automatic leak detectors, so that any leakage either inside or outside the fiberglass vault is automatically detectable. The preferred method for installing the fiberglass vault is to excavate a pit of predetermined dimensions and pour a concrete base in the bottom thereof. The sides of the pit are lined with sheetrock panels and a liquified fiberglass mixture is sprayed on to the panels and concrete slab, with vertical support members being secured to the sheetrock panels between subsequent layers of the fiberglass coating.