Abstract: What is provided is a system for supporting well production conductor and/or caisson which is extending above the water the line in an offshore setting, the system which includes a plurality of support clamps having a center located clamp portion for clamping around the exterior of the conductor and/or caisson, and four arm members radiating outwardly therefrom.

Abstract: A tooth point and adapter assembly has an adapter that is mounted to the bucket of an excavation apparatus and a tooth point that is mounted to the adapter. The tooth point has a cavity having a curved bottom wall and the adapter has a pointed end having a curved bottom wall. Within the tooth point cavity is a protrusion that is adapted to fit within a groove in the top surface of the adapter. Accordingly, the adapter supports the tooth point along its top edge by engagement between the protrusion and groove and the tooth point is supported with full contact between the adapter and tooth point along the curved bottom walls of the adapter and tooth point respectively. The tooth point further includes an indentation in the outer portion of the cavity side wall that matches the profile of the adapter pointed end. Thus, the extent of wear to the tooth point in relation to the adapter can be determined by visual inspection to prevent the tooth point from wearing through and damaging the adapter.

Abstract: A surface, subsurface continuous feed moisture maintenance system for microscopic volume irrigation utilizing a preset flow rate valve, provided in a single preset flow rate stage or multiple preset flow rate stages, a moisture actuated sensor valve and a plurality of permeating, moisture distribution tubes. The preset flow rate valves are selected and set according to plant moisture needs in the geographical area being irrigated. The moisture actuated sensor valve gradually opens or closes water flow to the system according to soil moisture level conditions and thus prevents over watering and conserves on water resources. The moisture permeating action of the distribution tubes complement the preset flow rate of the valve and the moisture actuated sensor valve to maintain the subsurface at a constant moisture level.

Abstract: A traveling culvert/tunnel forming structure including upright waler assemblies positioned in transversely spaced relation on each side of said forming structure, the waler assemblies being adapted to receive forms on outside surfaces thereof. Horizontally adjusted header assemblies are supported at opposite ends by the spaced upright waler assemblies. Collapsible braces are disposed between the upright waler assemblies enabling the upright waler assemblies to move towards and away from one another. Multi purpose mounting brackets are mounted in rows on the upright waler assemblies which brackets are positioned inwardly from the waler assemblies. Rows of casters are swivelly mounted on the brackets inside of the rows of upright waler assemblies beneath the header assemblies. A pair of rows of leveling jacks are provided for elevating the forming structure and its casters out-of-contact with a ground supporting surface. The leveling jacks each have an upstanding jack shaft.

Abstract: A cracking device for use in a dredger includes a housing body having an elongated cavity receiving an elongated piston and a hammer rod to be struck by the piston. The cavity forms a gas chamber around a top end of the piston for receiving an operating gas, an annular hydraulic chamber around the piston adjacent to the annular flange, and an impact chamber around a bottom end of the piston and around a top end of the hammer rod. The hydraulic chamber is divided into two variable volume upper and lower chambers by an annular flange of the piston. A passage is provided in the body to permit a hydraulic fluid to operate in the hydraulic chamber through the passage. A hydraulically operated control valve is connected to the passage and the hydraulic chamber for controlling the operation of the hydraulic fluid.

Abstract: This invention deals with a portable lifter of the kind designed to fit around the balled earth and root system or bagged earth and root system of a shrub or a tree. The device of the instant invention is fabricated from light-weight metal such as aluminum or very light steel. It is believed by the inventor herein that this device is most useful in tree and shrub nurserys to allow the transportation of such trees and shrubs.

Abstract: This invention provides a plurality of bearing stations in conjunction with traction and braking means to assemble and launch long pipelines where prior assembly and rapid installation are required. A method including prediction of wind, current, and other water forces, is provided for launching submerged pipelines.

Abstract: An electromagnetically operable friction-disk clutch for an impeller of a fan, in particular of motor vehicle internal-combustion engines, is proposed, in which the impeller can be driven at engine speed and two different windmilling speeds. To produce the engine speed, a first electromagnetic friction-disk clutch (4) is provided, which drives the impeller (2) via an armature ring (15) and an impeller hub (17). A lower windmilling speed is generated by a second electromagnetic friction-disk clutch (6) via an eddy-current coupling (7). A special, integral stepped ball bearing (19) serves for this purpose, the intermediate ring (22) of which serves as drive flange (22) for the eddy current coupling (7).

Abstract: A connection for connecting compressed-air lines arranged on the body of a floating dredge leading to measuring devices, control devices or the like, with measuring air lines mounted on a suction pipe of the floating dredge used for suction pipe position measuring units for the operation of pneumatic drives of throttle valves or the like arranged on the suction pipe. The measuring air lines are connected to a coupling component which is fastened on the sliding plate of the suction pipe elbow. A coupling countercomponent is fastened to the body of the dredge in the region of the sliding plate. The compressed-air lines lead from the coupling countercomponent to the devices arranged on the body of the dredge.

Abstract: The invention relates to a barrier for soil structures. The barrier is formed by creating a trench in a soil structure extending from the soil surface to an impervious layer in the soil. The trench is lined with a sheet of impervious material, which may be a fabric carrying a substantially dehydrated sodium-bentonite clay. The trench is especially well-suited for installation around the perimeter of a waste site from which contaminated fluids may be emanating. The barrier and the method of forming the barrier allow a toxic waste site to be easily and completely isolated from adjacent groundwater systems.

Abstract: Water is removed from an underground perforated pipe by a submersible pump inserted into an imperforate pipe extending from above ground to below ground level for communication with the perforated pipe. An inflatable bladder seals the submersible pump to the inner wall of the imperforate pipe for facilitating suction of water from the perforated pipe into the imperforate pipe. Water is drawn into a proximal end of the pump and expelled out of a distal end of a pump, and out of the imperforate pipe above ground level. By sealing the pump to the inner wall of the imperforate pipe, the pump is capable of drawing water from an underground perforated pipe located at a depth greater than the pumping capacity of the pump for drawing up water.

Abstract: An L-shaped digging tooth includes a trapezoidally configured shank having inner and outer sides. A toe portion projects laterally from one of its edges. An angle of about 90.degree..+-.30.degree. is defined between the general plane of the toe portion and the plane of the shank. The shank and toe portion terminate in a common, continuous cutting edge of L or V-shaped configuration having a convex outer boundary and a concave inner boundary. This cutting edge intersects at a leading cutter point, a free inner edge of the toe portion which extends along a line convergent with the shank portion plane. The tooth is hard-faced over a zone adjacent the common leading edge. The invention further relates to an endless chain excavating assembly which includes the described L-shaped teeth arrayed in a specific sequence with, and geometric relationship to, cup-shaped teeth of a known type, with both secured at spaced intervals to an endless chain.

Abstract: An improved water management system capable of application upon existing surfaces or beneath grade of existing surfaces comprising a system of enclosing borders, a first layer of a geocomposite drainage means covered with a water pervious geosynthetic filter fabric. A second layer of resilient material is placed above the first layer and said second layer is of sufficient depth to provide support or cushion for the user as required. Said second layer of resilient material terminates near the upper surface of the enclosing borders.

Abstract: A propelling clutch apparatus for a working vehicle comprises a friction type hydraulic clutch mounted on a propelling line, a valve for adjusting an oil pressure applied to the hydraulic clutch, a sensor for detecting angular acceleration of a rotary shaft included in the propelling line, and a control unit for controlling the hydraulic clutch in response to a change in a vehicle running state. The control unit effects controls in three stages. The first stage includes a preliminary step of narrowing spaces between friction disks of the hydraulic clutch by applying the oil pressure at a maximum level to the hydraulic clutch for a predetermined time from receipt of a clutch engaging command, and a subsequent main step of applying the oil pressure with predetermined characteristics. The second stage is for maintaining the hydraulic clutch in a half-clutch state when the angular acceleration in an accelerating direction or a decelerating direction reaches a predetermined value.

Abstract: A fluid containing barrier having a frame with a plurality of legs and a flexible container supported by the frame. The flexible container has a high point vent and a low point drain. The flexible container is capable of holding a fluid. A series of individual frames and flexible containers interlock to form a wall or flood barrier which is used as a dam structure.

Abstract: Concrete fender pile having prestressing members (19, 20) of elongated, high-strength fiber composite elements (21) with a low modulus of elasticity which, during a ramming impact (p), permit a large elastic deflection of the fender pile (14) and are insensitive to aggressive environmental effects.

Abstract: The orientatable blocking unit for the support of structures on cylindrical elements is composed of a lower annular body, secured to the structure, in which the lower body there is present an upper annular body, coaxial with it in at-rest conditions, secured to an intermediate annular body by means of a pair of aligned, radial pins, which intermediate body is, in turn, secured to the lower annular body by means of a second pair of aligned, radial pins, perpendicular to the first pair. This permits, in operating conditions, the free orientation of the axis of the upper body with respect to that of the lower body. The upper body possesses an internal surface on which there are present a plurality of upwardly converging slide seats, in which there are slidably supported movable jaws, equipped internally with members for coupling by friction to a tubular column. Elastic members effect translatory movement of the jaws from a lowered, unblocking position to a raised, blocking position, radially gripping the column.

Abstract: A locking assembly (10) having a female member (12) and a male member (22) particularly suited for use in an automotive arm rest. The female member (12) has a receiving cavity (14) with opposing and spaced walls (16a, 16b) extending along a receiving axis (18). The female member defines a plurality of locking recesses (20) spaced along the axis (18) on one wall (16a) of the cavity (14). The male member (22) has a plurality of tines (24) spaced apart longitudinally therealong for snapping into the recesses (20) to retain the male member (22) in the cavity (14). The assembly (10) is characterized by the female member (12) presenting a plurality of biasing beams (26) independent from one another and spaced along the opposite wall (16b) of the cavity (14) for respectively engaging the tines (24) to retain one tine (24) in each of the recesses (20 ).

Abstract: Resurfacing or conditioning of the ice surface of an ice rink in the area adjacent the edge of the ice and the kickboards defining the edge of the ice is carried out by a burner unit which applies a propane flame in a direction downwardly onto the ice in an area confined by a metal guide surrounding the flame. The unit melts the ice on the board and at the edge to prevent ice build up using a simple economic construction on a device which produces little or no toxic fumes.

Abstract: Tip retainer mechanisms are designed primarily to secure a tip to an adapter nose for use in a variety of applications. In applications where a spring retainer is located in a recess of the adapter nose and trapped in the recess by the assembly of the tip thereon, it is necessary for the spring retainer to be properly positioned in the recess to enable easy insertion of the pin through the respective holes in the tip, adapter nose, and spring retainer. In the subject arrangement, the holder substantially encircles the outer diameter of a spring retainer. When assembled, the holder and spring retainer are placed in a recess of the adapter nose and a bore of the spring retainer is substantially axially aligned with a transverse bore of the adapter nose. Furthermore, the holder is made of an elastomeric material and has a thickness greater than a depth of the recess.