Abstract: A boom for collecting material floating on the surface of a body of water comprises a first collapsible tube which can be stored either as flat layers of folded material or by rolling it on a roller. Transverse seals are provided along the length of the tube to provide a longitudinal sequence of compartments. A reactant body is disposed in at least one compartment, and being capable of producing an inflating gas. The reactant body is disposed within a pouch which is frangible under pressures applied by rollers or the like during the deployment of the boom from its stored condition. In a modification, a small collapsable tube is provided in longitudinally secured relationship to the first tube and the interior of the small tube is provided with fluid connection to each of the successive compartments.

Abstract: Municipal solid waste ash is utilized in the manufacture of an aggregate and is processed to form a cold bonded pellet which, when tested by means of TCLP leaching extraction tests using TCLP No. 2 extraction fluid, does not exceed the 1990 limits for the RCRA priority heavy metals. The pellets may be surface coated with defined agents to seal the pellet or to provide properties which enhance the use of the pellet in either asphaltic or cement concrete mixes.

Abstract: A system for shifting won minerals with a continuous conveyor such as a belt or chain conveyor has a machine frame and a shovel pivotably coupled to booms. The booms are aligned in a vertically pivotable manner with a rocker arm that is pivotably coupled to the front end of the machine frame. The booms and the rocker arm are connected to the front end of the machine frame by hydraulic cylinder units. The loading shovel is swivel-mounted about at least one essentially horizontal axle to dump the debris into a feed chute provided at the front end area of the continuous conveyor. The rocker arm has at least one hydraulic cylinder unit supported at the front end of the machine frame and behind the corresponding rocker arm support to provide a compact design with improved load-bearing capacity and a reduced danger of tipping.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for replacing an individual conduit located within a bank of individual conduits, without rendering inoperable the surrounding adjacent individual conduits of the bank. A conduit expander is pulled through the subject individual conduit to break it and push the pieces out. Knife blades may be used to split the individual conduit. A rearward flared out portion pushes the broken conduit outwardly far enough for a new conduit to be moved therethrough, but not far enough to render inoperable the surrounding adjacent individual conduits of the bank. A replacement conduit is attached to the rear end of the conduit expander and moved into the individual conduit as the conduit expander moves therethrough.

Abstract: The method essentially creates a lake, if one does not already exist, and uses this lake as a "moving" treating pond for soils contaminated with toxic radicals or compounds containing higher valence state metals. Reducing agent compositions such as saccharides, disaccharides, polysaccharides, FeS.sub.4, Na.sub.2 SO3, NaSO.sub.2, Na.sub.2 S, and Na.sub.2 S.sub.2 O.sub.5 are introduced into the lake. Contaminated soil from one side of the lake is dragged into the lake, the water of which contains the reducing agent compositions, then is tilled at the bottom of the lake to fully expose the soil to the reducing agent composition, and then is raked upwardly along an opposite side of the lake to form a shoreline of cleaned soil material. Contaminant-consuming micro-organisms and plant life may also be introduced into the lake. The earthmoving process is repeated until lake has passed through and treated all of the contaminated soil site.

Abstract: Underground cables are laid in a concrete box which is to be buried in the ground. According to the present invention, an adapter is formed with a hole, and a bushing is mounted on the adapter through the hole. Subsequently, a cable duct is fitted into the bushing, and the resultant adapter is attached to the concrete box so as to conceal an opening provided in the concrete box beforehand.

Abstract: A boom includes a plurality of boom sections joined end to end. Each boom section includes two or more parallel inflatable chambers which are joined with a weighted curtain which is reinforced for strength. Boom sections are stored compactly on respective reels. A substantial number of reels are arranged compactly in the hold of a carrier vessel which is smaller in size and has greater speed and maneuverability than vessels carrying known oil spill containment systems. Boom sections are consecutively unwound from their respective reels and connected end-to-end as they are deployed to form a continuous boom. The boom sections unwind naturally from the reels as the carrier vessel moves through the water away from a tender vessel holding the first end of the boom. The boom's deployment is controlled by a brake on an idler roller and a hydraulic crane's drive wheel on the reel, thus limiting manual handling to lighter-weight tasks.

Abstract: A crumber mechanism including a crumber shoe mounted on a support boom for powered movement between operative and non-operative positions. A fluid powered motor coacts with a linkage mechanism to move the shoe between positions in response to operation of the motor. An automatic locking device releasably holds the crumber shoe in a working position. The automatic locking device includes a slidable lock which moves into locking coaction with a locking channel defined by the shoe in response to extension of the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A rectangular shield excavating machine comprises a quadrangularly tubular shield body having a space for receiving an excavated matter at the front end, a rotor disposed in the space so as to be capable of being rotated onward and backward angularly around an axis extending in the direction orthogonal to a pair of facing exterior portions of the body, and excavating means disposed in the body, drive means for rotating onward and backward the rotor angularly around the axis, and for driving the excavating means. Large gravels contained in the excavated matter are crushed by being put between the rotor and a member defining the space with the rotationally reciprocating motion of the rotor.

Abstract: A plow assembly useful for moving material from surfaces such as roadways in various selectable discharge directions includes a moldboard assembly and pivotable frame. The moldboard assembly is capable of being oriented in a right side discharge or a left side discharge in response to pivoting movement of the pivotable frame. A tripping mechanism is included to prevent damage of the plow assembly from obstacles located on the plowing surface. A cutting edge of the plow assembly is secured to the moldboard assembly by a wedge mechanism thus allowing quick cutting edge replacement.

Abstract: An elongated resilient retainer is positioned between an excavating tooth and tooth holder such that the tooth and tooth holder compress and, thus, deform the retainer to frictionally secure the tooth to the tooth holder. The resilient retainer includes ribs that extend longitudinally along its outer surface. These ribs are circumferentially spaced such that when the retainer is under compression, the ribs engage and grip the upper and lower edges of the tooth adjacent thereto. In this way, the area of surface contact between the resilient retainer and the surface between which it is compressed is augmented to more securely hold the tooth in the tooth holder.

Abstract: A semi-automatic coupling apparatus is installed at the terminus of a backhoe dipper stick, crane boom or similar device and facilitates connection and disconnection of various earth working and material handling attachments. The coupler includes first, forward facing throats which engage a forward crossbar on an attachment such as a bucket and second, downward facing throats which engage a rear crossbar. A latching mechanism includes a pawl actuated by advance of the rear crossbar into the rear throats. The pawl releases a spring biased wedge member which retains the rear crossbar in the rear throat. A reset linkage may be manually activated to retract the wedge and permit release of the bucket from the coupler. An alternate embodiment of the coupler includes a remotely activated hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder which is coupled to the spring biased wedge member.

Abstract: A discharge chute assembly (30) includes a chute (32) and a pivotal deflector (34), the overlapping end portions of which define a partial spherical or ball joint (40) which maintains a tight seal against backflow and leakage over the entire range of rotation and deflection of the assembly. The assembly (30) is preferably secured to a rotatable base (54) by means of lower pivots (70) and a releasable fastener (72) for collapsibility.

Abstract: A roof support for the ceilings of excavated spaces underground and particularly for supporting caving edges for pillar recovery in coal mines is described. The roof support has a roof bar connected to a base frame by hydraulically extendable props and by a lemniscate mechanism. The props are articulated to the base frame and to the roof bar. A link of the lemniscate mechanism has a predetermined bending point. Since this link fails when overloaded before the remainder of the apparatus, it is the only element that need be replaced when the apparatus is overloaded. Thus, the device may be economically repaired.

Abstract: This invention is an erosion control device in the form of a plurality of nestled, triangular-in-cross-section modules forming units. These units can be interconnected to form erosion control device of any desired length. These erosion control and refurbishing devices are preferably made from recycled plastic and can be sand colored to blend with the natural scenery. They also will not harm the environment nor injure people who come into contact with the same.

Abstract: The lower end of an outwardly tight shaft structure (3) for a bore shaft (1) rests on a tilting joint arrangement (15, 20). This arrangement includes a hydraulic thrust bearing (15) at the end face of the shaft structure (3) and a hydraulic annular cylinder (20) at the circumference of the lower end of the shaft structure (3). Thus, this tilting joint arrangement (15, 20) is located between the shaft structure (3) and the base (10) and permits tilting of the shaft structure (3) relative to the ground (12) without impairing the water-tightness of the bore shaft foundation.

Abstract: A snow thrower incorporating a device fixed relative to the auger housing around the auger shaft for generating a downward thrust on the auger shaft which opposes and balances the upward thrust caused on the auger shaft by the cooperation of the auger with the snow. The downward thrust is provided by shaping a portion of the housing for the drive of the auger shaft in such a way so as to create a static downward thrust.

Abstract: Apparatus for laying flexible pipe within a trench and for embedding the flexible pipe within a bed of gravel in a single operation. The apparatus includes a gravel hopper and a guide sleeve for guiding a pipe to be laid within the trench. The hopper includes a skid or sled arrangement to permit it to be pulled along the trench bottom, and has a width to permit it to be completely positioned within the trench and thereby accommodate a wide variety of trench depths. A feed guide support stanchion extends from the front portion of the hopper for facilitating the feeding of a flexible pipe into a pipe guide inlet positioned adjacent the bottom portion of the front wall of the hopper. The hopper interior is divided into a main, narrow portion, and a rear, enlarged portion, the side walls of which are adapted to engage the side walls of the trench. The hopper rear portion side walls have a small surface area to minimize sliding friction with the trench walls.

Abstract: Pin retainers are normally used to secure a pin in its assembled so that one member can be releasably secured to another member, such as, securing a tooth to an adapter nose. Many times the pin retainer is not sufficiently strong to hold the pin in place under adverse operating conditions. Known pin retainers that are effective to hold the pin in place are not readily available and are expensive to produce. In the subject arrangement, a pin retainer assembly is provided which can be made from known components and is effective to hold a pin in place under adverse operating conditions. The pin retainer assembly includes a split retaining ring loosely sandwiched between at least two retaining members and held together by various known bonding or securing methods.

Abstract: A shovel for earthmoving equipment such as excavators, wheel loaders, etc., has two side walls, which are interconnected by a shovel bottom positioned between the side walls. The shovel bottom is at least zonally formed by a lattice-like grating, which is movably mounted on the shovel and which can be vibrated. The lattice-like grating is preferably mounted in vibration-damped manner and is driven by a hydraulic motor, which is connected to the hydraulic circuit of the excavator or wheel loader.