Abstract: A cutting/expanding tool includes a cylindrical support body having a guide side and a cutting side, a pair of guide rollers mounted in tandem along the longitudinal axis of the support body on the guide side, a cutting wheel mounted between the tandem guide rollers on the cutting side of the support body, and an expander connected rearwardly of the support body. A plurality of cutting wheels may also be provided, each of progressively increasing diameter. A scoring wheel may be mounted forwardly of the cutting wheels to prescore the surface to be cut, so as to facilitate the cutting action, and a deburrer may be mounted rearwardly of all the cutting wheels so as to smooth the cut edge. A method of using the cutting/expanding tool is also described, whereby after the tool has been propelled through a buried main to cut and to expand it, a replacement main is drawn back through the existing main. A conical or wedge shaped expander may be used.

Abstract: A ground anchor adapted to be driven into the ground comprises an elongated flat plate having a first bent portion at one end forming a U-shaped throat along one side of the plate and a second bent portion at the end opposite the first mentioned end slightly inclined relative to the flat surface of the plate in the direction opposite the throat. A cable is secured at one of its ends, to the plate, at an intermediate portion between both ends of the plate. The intermediate portion is located in the direction of the second bent portion relative to the center of gravity of the plate. The end of the cable forming a closed loop has an aperture adjacent the plate and on the same side of the plate as the throat. The loop and the throat are adapted to upstandingly retain the rod while the latter is impacted for driving the anchor into the ground, and the plate is adapted to tilt about the loop when the cable is pulled upwardly thereby imparting a plowing effect of the plate in the ground.

Abstract: A quick-convert bucket attachment for front end loaders has hydraulically positioned, interlocking bucket components that may be manipulated by controls at the tractor seat or other convenient location for rapid conversion of the attachment from a general purpose loading bucket to a side-shift angle dozer. The back wall of the bucket is formed by the dozer blade, while the side walls and floor of the bucket are formed by a clam which may be raised into an elevated position to expose the dozer, at which time the dozer may be either maintained in a centered, straight-forward position or shifted laterally into a left or right, obliquely angled position. The dozer blade is completely immobilized and is held solidly against a main base of the attachment when the clam is in its lowered position, thus presenting a rugged bucket capable of functioning in all respects as a conventional loader bucket at that time.

Abstract: Improved materials handling devices for removing materials from surfaces. The devices described herein efficiently and economically remove materials from a surface with little physical effort. Plows for manually removing materials from a surface comprise a first member having a first concave surface oriented in a first direction, a second concave member connected to the first concave member having a second concave surface oriented in a second direction, the second concave member and first concave member being connected at a single area to form a cutting surface, a bracing member connected to the first and second concave members opposite the cutting surface, and a driving member connected to the bracing member for providing driving power to the plow and force which removes the material from the surface.

Abstract: An oil containment boom and skimmer for extending at least partially about, containing against further dispersion, and skimming an oil spill from a body of water. A first longitudinally extending tubular member is placed adjacent to the oil spill area. It includes an inner open area and inlet means for receiving oil and water. A second longitudinally extending tubular member is placed parallel to the first member. The second member includes an inner open area which is in communication with the first inner open area. A passageway with a lip connects the members and is placed slightly above sea level for skimming the upper layer of oil. The second open area contains ports which allow the oil to drain out into a separate oil storage tank.

Abstract: For use in a panel locking system a connecting means (or connector) comprising a pin having two ends and having disposed proximate one end a first laterally or radially extending appendage and proximate the second end a laterally or radially extending second appendage, said appendages extending laterally (or radially) away from the pin, each appendage being radially offset a predetermined number of degrees about the circumference of the pin from the other appendage, each appendage having at least one end and having disposed proximate each end, cam portions for engagement with cam surfaces disposed proximate first and second channels or openings of a panel system, said first appendage being radially oriented extending substantially normal to the central axis of said pin in a first direction and said remaining appendage being radially offset, said pin having disposed intermediate its ends between the appendages detent means for rotating said pin when assembling said furniture system; whereby rotation of said pi

Abstract: For excavation of a clay seabed, particularly in a coffer dam to expose a buried pipeline, a minimum of three water nozzles producing water jets and the associated effects 16, 17 and 18 are used. The nozzles are mounted on a disc 12 which can move horizontally and vertically and which rotates in a horizontal plane. The effect 18 (if operated alone) would produce a trench 22 having sloping sides. The two effects 16, 17 enable a trench having vertical sides to be cut and enable the disc 12 to be moved downwardly until obstructed by the base of the trench. The three nozzles are equiangularly spaced about the axis. The rotation of the disc 12 makes the effect of the nozzles possible.

Abstract: A conduit for dispersing or gathering liquids in the earth has an arch shape cross section and alternating peak and valley corrugations along its length. At one end of the conduit is a sub-arch for receiving a pipe. In one embodiment there is a discontinuous valley by the sub-arch and a continuous web on the peak corrugation near the sub-arch in combination with cantilevered legs. In another embodiment the web is discontinuous while the valley is continuous in the region of the sub-arch. Both essential constructions provide a strong joint when conduits are mated to each other and are buried in the earth and subjected to a load.

Abstract: A snowplow deflector assembly is attachable to that type of snowplow which is mounted on the front end of a vehicle. The deflector assembly comprises a deflector member which is supported to extend over the top of the blade of the snowplow to deflect snow moving off the top of the blade, that snow being thereby substantially prevented from being thrown against the windshield of the vehicle and obstructing the view of a driver. Two embodiments of the invention are described.

Abstract: A fully portable flume for a canal or water channel comprising a horizontal sill across the width of said flume; means to raise or lower the sill while maintaining it in a horizontal position; a movable transverse wall connected at its upper edge to the sill's upstream edge, and, at its lower edge, to the channel's floor. Flow measuring means such as a stilling well may be operatively associated with the sill.

Abstract: An earth-retaining module for use in an interlocked, earth-retaining wall system, and to a method of preparing an earth-retaining wall system, wherein the module comprises a front wall and side walls, to form a structure to receive earth or sand therein, the side walls having a rear, straight, sloped, side section extending from the top of the side walls to a defined height of the rear of the side walls. The side walls have open notches in the top sections therein and longitudinally aligned, to permit the insertion of the front-wall section of another module in a higher row within the open notches. The side walls have inward, rear projections, to retain a dead-man slab element, with the removable dead-man slab element placed on the rear-mounting side walls. The module includes a plurality of holes in the side walls, to permit the side walls of adjoining modules to be secured together by pins or bolts.

Abstract: The present invention provides a foundation shoring and stabilizing apparatus comprising a support bracket extending longitudinally under the structure to be supported, a yoke assembly disposed in a vertically spaced relationship above the support bracket, a lifting cradle engageable upon the bottom surface of the support bracket, a pair of generally upright members to which the lifting cradle and yoke assembly are removably attached, and a pile driving means attached to the yoke assembly and engageable upon a piling to be driven into the ground into a supporting relationship with the support bracket and the foundation.

Abstract: An improvement in a dredging apparatus for cooperating in removing a mixture of liquids and solids from a selected site. The dredging apparatus includes a frame with means for moving the frame and an arm assembly having one end movably connected to the frame. The improvement includes an auger housing having an auger opening formed through a portion thereof. The auger housing is connected to the end of the arm assembly. An auger is rotatingly supported in the auger housing. A pump is disposed near the auger housing and positioned so that a pump inlet opening is fluidic communication with the auger opening. The mixture enters the auger opening and is augeringly moved toward the inlet opening in the pump. The pump pumps the mixture from the auger opening through a discharge opening of the pump.

Abstract: The support framework for supported mounting of a mounting arm of a wing plow blade includes two mirror image sections, one mounted on each side wall of a forward plow frame. Each section includes a substantially squared peripheral lip within which a first and second plate are contiguously seated in side by side manner, each securing the position of the other within the lip. The first plate is rotatable about a hinge to a position outside the lip, allowing the second plate, which is attached to the side wall of the forward plow frame by a pivot, to pivot forwardly and rearwardly within the confines of the lip, allowing for tiltability of a vertical mounting post of the wing plow which is engaged to the second plate by means of the wing plow mounting are extending therethrough.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are provided for dewatering an interior of a hollow tension leg connecting a tension leg platform to a floor of a body of water. The apparatus includes a pump having a suction inlet defined on its lower end and a discharge outlet on its upper end. An elongated storage tank is attached to the upper end of the pump above the pump and has a tank interior communicated with the discharge outlet. The assembly is lowered on an electric wireline through which power is conducted to the pump. The pump fills the tank and then the assembly is withdrawn from the tension leg and the water is drained therefrom. The assembly can be repeatedly lowered into the tension leg and withdrawn therefrom until the tension leg is substantially completely dewatered. Solid debris can be removed from the tension leg prior to dewatering.

Abstract: An auger dredge for removing toxic sediments wherein turbidity is minimized by attaching to the dredge a frame which first dislodges the material and feeds it to the auger for eventual transfer to a disposal site. Because the auger does not touch the dredged material directly turbidity which would otherwise be stirred up by the auger is vastly reduced.

Abstract: A trencher comprises a ground running, powered vehicle which travels in a forward direction carrying a trenching wheel driven by power to rotate in a vertical plane containing the forward direction so that cutting tips on the wheel's periphery excavate spoil from the ground leaving a trench therebehind. A plough just behind the front end of the trenching wheel pushes the spoil aside from the trench. The plough comprises two blades in V-shaped disposition, each blade being at a respective opposite side of the trenching wheel with leading ends of the plough blades being nearer sides of the wheel then their trailing ends. The plough blades, which are vibrated by vibrators driven by hydraulic motors, are mounted by elastically deformable anti-vibration mountings on respective supporting plates alongside the plough blades. The plough blades and these plates are raisable and lowerable hydraulically, and can be held braced in any desired V-shape by hydraulic struts.

Abstract: For gasketing slip joint applications, a method is disclosed for clean pipe laying involving shrink wrapping the bells and spigots of pipes and conduits prior to their installation in the field and circumferentially cutting an aperture in the shrink wrap at the end of the pipe to permit insertion of the end of a mating pipe. The above procedure provides a clean environment so that contaminants do not enter the pipe and eliminates the cleaning step normally necessary when joining or connecting water, sewer, or drainage pipe in an excavated trench. In the case of water, sewer, or drainage pipe, the O-ring seal of the bell is lubricated and then this end of the pipe is shrink wrapped, as is the mating tapered pipe to be inserted into the bell. The shrink wrap prevents contaminants from the excavation or otherwise from entering into either of the pipes to be joined, thereby eliminating joint failure due to contamination during installation as well as pipeline contamination in general.

Abstract: The invention provides a simple, economical and effective means of constructing a retaining wall from conventional concrete building blocks. A sheet member is provided, having protrusions which locate in the hollow core portions of the blocks to couple the blocks together. Where a tie-back is desired, the sheet member has an anchoring portion which extends back into the backfill to anchor the wall thereto. In one embodiment, the sheet member is plastic or other non-corrosive substance, with a matrix of dome-like protrusions. In another embodiment, the sheet member can be of a mesh-like construction. In another embodiment, the anchoring portion can be corrugated, with the corrugations running parallel to the wall. In another embodiment, the sheet member can be a sheet of stainless or galvanized steel or the like, or other suitable material, with tab portions stamped therefrom to form the protrusions.

Abstract: An attachment for securement to a bucket portion of a tractor is provided to include a mounting plate, with the mounting plate including hooks securable to a lower wall of the bucket and straps extending from a rear edge of the mounting plate to an upper wall of the bucket. A support leg extends orthogonally and downwardly relative to the mounting plate, with a scoop fixedly and orthogonally secured to the lower distal end of the support leg defining a scoop entrance oriented one hundred eighty degrees relative to an entrance of the bucket.