Abstract: A method for renewing an existing pipeline comprises the steps of advancing a shield tunnelling machine from one end of an existing pipe defining the existing pipeline to the other end thereof, excavating at least the existing pipe by the machine and disposing a new pipe in an excavated spot while the machine is advanced, whereby the existing pipeline is renewed by breaking the existing pipe embedded in the ground while laying the new pipe therein. An existing pipeline renewing apparatus embodying the method described above comprises a shield tunnelling machine for excavating an existing pipe embedded in the ground so as to define an existing pipeline and a means for disposing a new pipe in a spot excavated by the machine. Accordingly, since the new pipe is disposed while excavating the existing pipe by the shield tunnelling machine, it is not necessary to excavate the spot, in which the existing pipe to be renewed is laid, by an open cut method.

Abstract: Disclosed is a continuous tunneling and lining machine. The machine is capable of simultaneously boring and lining a tunnel through a solid medium. The machine comprises four major components including: (1) an excavation system; (2) a debris removal system; (3) a lining system; and (4) a liner material retrieval system. The excavation system comprises a rotary excavator that excavates the tunnel bore. The lining system mixes liner materials at the bulkhead and pumps the mixed material into slipform. The slipform comprises an inner form, an outer form and a wall connecting the inner and outer form and at least one mandrel. The mandrels form cast in place passageways to accommodate liner component retrieval and excavation debris removal. The debris removal system pumps excavation debris through the excavated area into the mandrels and out the cast in place passageways.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for safely handling and detoxification of contaminated soil substantially saturated with PH contaminants such as fuel and petroleum hydrocarbons is disclosed which treats the contaminated soil with an additive consisting of low grade humic acid and lime that is mixed with the soil in the approximate ratio of nine parts soil to one part of additive. The treatment involves digging a trench while collecting toxic soil, reducing particle size to a fine silt or sand-like particle size followed by introducing the additive for mixing in a tumbler and, finally, discharge of the thoroughly covered additive and encapsulated toxic soil particles into the previously dug trench.

Abstract: The flexible ball joint is provided with a continuous ring mounted inside a casing and supported by an inner spherical surface of one of the segments of the casing and by a cylindrical portion of an end piece element. The respective contacting sides of the ring are concentric with the juxtaposed spherical and cylindrical surfaces, so that the ring is able to be slidably guided by those surfaces in response to an absorbing shock without losing the contact with the surfaces.

Abstract: A method of installing a floatable or buoyant body on the sea floor includes towing the body to an installation site at the sea surface and subsequently submerging the body towards the sea floor by supplying ballast to the buoyant body. The supply of ballast is discontinued when the buoyant body reaches a preselected sinking velocity and the vertical movement of the buoyant body is discontinued at a predetermined level above the sea floor by a floating vessel or the like which is floating at the sea surface. One end of the vessel is connected to the buoyant body by a connector system, the length of which is smaller than the sea depth at the installation site. The buoyant body is displaced laterally to a preselected final location, whereafter the buoyant body is further submerged towards the sea floor until the same is positioned on the sea floor at a preselected installation site.

Abstract: A benthic dredge has a hollow body provided with closures at its upper and lower ends which are movable between open and closed positions. The closure at the lower end of the body is in the form of clamshell jaws which are pivotable about an axis located between the upper and lower ends of the body. Movements of the jaws are controlled by vertically reciprocable operating members and a force transmitting toggle linkage. No part of the linkage extends at any time beyond the confines of the body and the linkage is of such construction as to be capable of applying substantial closing force on the jaws as they approach their closed position.

Abstract: A damage-protecting flexible rubber sheet dam uses a wear-resistant, cut-resistant member having a corrosion resistance embedded in at least a part of an outer surface portion of a rubber dam body. The member mitigates and prevents damage of the outer surface portion due to wear and other various external injuries to prolong the durable life thereof.

Abstract: A method of lining an existing pipe by pulling through it a collapsible, flexible, lay-flat liner having an innermost layer of impervious, elastomeric material which is compatible with the fluid to be carried by the pipe, a textile reinforcing intermediate layer, and an external protective layer of elastomeric material. The liner has an external circumference slightly less than the internal circumference of the pipe and is such that flow of fluid through the liner after the installation thereof expands the liner into non-binding contact with the internal surface of the pipe. The peripheral extension (diametral swell) of the liner at the intended working pressure of the relined pipe should be less than 10% and preferably less than 5%.

Abstract: A snowblade assembly is disclosed which is mechanically mounted to a motor vehicle in substantially the same manner as the original bumper and which has a snowblade which is moveable between a forwardly extending pointed position and a generally planar position. The snowblade is attached to the vehicle by a four bar linkage assembly having tubular telescoping portions therein and which is partially contained within box housing members. A pair of springs are also used to normally bias the snowblade in a perpendicular position relative to the traversed ground.

Abstract: A mining apparatus for utilization in recovering coal includes a series of four cooperating legs: a right fore leg, left fore leg, right rear leg and left rear leg. Each leg is formed from a box-like shield. An inflatable bag is provided in each leg. When a particular bag is inflated, the bag expands extending the leg between the floor and roof of the mine. When deflated, the leg retracts. A series of hydraulic rams connect the legs together. These rams may be expanded and retracted as desired to move the support legs relative to one another. In this way the apparatus may be moved in substantially any direction about a 360.degree. arc. A microprocessor controller controls the operation of the apparatus. In accordance with further aspects of the invention, a number of mining apparatus of the type described may be connected together in series to form a line for roof support.

Abstract: A method for attaching a sprinkler head to the free end of a length of pipe which has been laid within a trench. The method includes the step of excavating about the immediate region beyond projection of the free end of the pipe from the ground. This step is followed by the step of cutting the free end of the pipe which projects above ground level, such that a resulting new end of the pipe terminates several inches below ground level. Then a conduit is connected at a first end to the newly created end of the entrenched pipe and an opposite end of the conduit is positioned below first end within the trench at about the same depth as the rest of the pipe. At the opposite end of the conduit the sprinkler or related device is then attached.

Abstract: An anchoring device, such as a rock anchor, includes an anchor rod with force transmission ribs projecting outwardly from its outside surface. An anchor nut is in threaded engagement with the rod and has at least an axially extending portion formed of a material having lesser strength than the material of the rod. The anchor nut has at least two axially extending portions spaced apart by cuts through the nut, which cuts extend transversely of the nuts central axis. The portions follow one another in the central axis direction with at least the portion closer to the body into which the anchor rod extends having the lesser strength. The nut portions are dimensioned so that the portion closer to the body loses its force locking engagement with the ribs on the rod and its threads shear off when a predetermined load is exceeded. The nut portions are interconnected by narrow webs remaining after the cuts are made in the nut separating the portions.

Abstract: A device for assisting fish to circumnavigate obstacles such as dams is provided with a system of chambers within each of which is disposed an inclined, water permeable, floating screen movable up and down depending on the level of water in the chamber. The level of water is controlled by a system of strategically located gates and valves. The lowermost chamber is provided with a siphon-like arrangement assisting the draining of the chamber, without the need for a pump. The invention simplifies the overall arrangement and its operation.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing trees, bushes, and other plants for transplantation and other purposes consisting of an elongated, concave scoop mounted on a rigid frame. This apparatus may be adapted for attachment to any standard hydraulically-operated loader. Providing support to the scoop and increasing the rearward carrying capacity of the scoop are gussets which are affixed at the point at which the scoop attaches to the frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for making tunnels and for laying supply lines in the ground comprises an earth displacing machine which is guided by a sword projecting out of the ground to allow the attachment of a power drive engaging the free end of the sword, and makes it possible to lay the supply lines accurately over long stretches, in particular along walls or the line of roadways or paths or the like.

Abstract: Guards, usually used in pairs as replaceable attachments to snow plow blade, are shown. At least one of the pair consists essentially of a panel portion with an integral curb feeler extending therefrom and supported thereby that sweeps around a blade end and reaches rearwardly; the curb feeler extension on its mate is optional. The guards comprise deformable polymer. Advantageously the polymer is laminated with a lamina of a hard metal such as steel that is fitted with an especially abrasion-resistant bottom edge. An assembly of the laminae typically is held together with bolts to the plow, and the laminae can be adhesively bonded together also, if desired.

Abstract: In order to avoid the time-consuming transport by road or rail vehicles, in many cases, overburden is pumped to the outside of a tunnel under construction, where it is dumped onto dump-hills. In order to avoid such dump-hills as well as extended transport distances, according to the invention it is disclosed that the overburden is transported, dumped or stored, via channels drilled into the wall of the tunnel, inside of the mountain surrounding the tunnel, and also to transport the overburden, in case of a tunnel to be constructed under a waterway, by means of a pipe into the waterway or to the surface of the waterway.

Abstract: The mounting cross-piece or node assembly serves for the leak-tight connection of the cut ends of profile sections with one another. These profile sections are provided with an upper lengthwise extending opening and thus form a support or carrier construction or framework in the form of a grid or grid structure suspended at the ceiling of a room, especially a clean room. Filter frames and clean room filters can be mounted in gas-tight fashion in the grid structure. The mounting cross-piece assembly comprises at the cut surfaces of the profile sections to be interconnected and at the sides of the mounting cross-piece confronting such cut surfaces connection elements which can be secured in both of these components.

Abstract: A device for the automatic and pulsed delivery of an irrigation liquid, which can be connected, at its upstream side, to a source liquid under a constant or substantially constant pressure, and at its downstream side, to a distribution network equipped with pressure-responding valves. These valves are capable of closing, during the step charging of the distribution system, at a pressure equal to, or substantially equal to, the liquid feed pressure, and of opening, during irrigation liquid expelling, when the pressure decreases under said value. The device comprises a Venturi device, fed with the same irrigation liquid, from whose region of constricted stream a duct is branched off, to transmit to a sliding member depressure generated by the Venturi.

Abstract: A splicing device for concrete structural members includes two mating connectors positioned in axial alignment adjacent to each other that are interlocked by a key inserted through a keyway provided in the sidewalls of the connectors. Prestressing strands in the structural members to be spliced are fastened to the connectors by inserting them into axial holes located in the ends opposite the mating ends of the connectors, and thereafter wedging the strands within frustum-shaped cavities forming part of the holes, by means of frustum-shaped segments, or feathers, forced against the elements within the cavities. Apparatus and a method for installing the splicing device is also described.