Abstract: Riser clamps are installed onto fixed or compliant offshore platforms by a diverless technique. Each riser clamp is rigidly or hingedly attached to a heavy tapered wedge. Mating tapered receptacles are built into the platform, preferably at various levels along a corner leg. Only one lift line is utilized which may be either a drill string or wire rope, and one remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for observation, to lower and stab each riser clamp into one of the tapered receptacles on the platform.

Abstract: The invention provides automated adjustment of the height of a trenching blade. There is a blade holder having a generally vertical channel defined therein, and support means for carrying the blade holder behind a vehicle at a height above the ground. A trenching blade for dragging through the ground behind the vehicle has a shank portion extending upwardly therefrom into the channel and slidably engaging in the channel for vertical movement therewithin, whereby the depth of the blade may be varied. At least one hydraulic cylinder is connected between the blade holder and the blade shank for varying the position of the blade shank within the blade holder and thereby varying the depth of the blade. In the preferred embodiment, the support means is at the end of a boom which is pivotally connected to the vehicle for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, and the blade holder is pivotally mounted to the support means, for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis.

Abstract: An attachment arranged for mounting to an associated lawnmower in an operative relationship to include a snowblower housing operative through a plurality of inter-related belts and pulleys to effect rotation of a plurality of impeller blades mounted within the snowblower housing. A drive pulley is mounted to a lower terminal end of the lawnmower motor output shaft to operatively effect the aforenoted rotation of the impeller structure. A modification of the invention includes a granular hopper in operative association with an exit opening and conduit of the lawnmower apparatus to effect projection of the granular material in association with the exiting snow.

Abstract: A front hoe attachment for a loader includes a connecting frame which is capable of being attached to the manipulating mechanism at the front end of a loader such as a tractor. The connecting frame has a bucket secured to its outer end so that the bucket can be manipulated by use of the loader to perform various operations such as digging operations.

Abstract: A plow is constructed of a curved high density polyethylene moldboard and frame assembly. The moldboard can be constructed with a mounting collar that slides over and grips the frame or with the frame molded into and encapsulated by the polyethylene. A scraper blade is attached to the bottom of the frame for increasing the moldboard's ridigity and/or securing the moldboard to the frame.

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: Dredging apparatus comprises a modular, submersible, vertically positionable crater sink mechanism operable to form a crater in a bed of material beneath a body of water. The crater sink mechanism comprises an elongated tubular housing closed at its upper end and having a dredged material intake opening at its lower end. An auger mounted in the material intake opening is rotatable by a reversible hydraulic drive motor and is axially positionable by a linear hydraulic motor. The inner end of the auger cooperates with the closed end of the tubular housing to define a mixing chamber. A clear water inlet port and a mixture outlet port on opposite sides of the tubular housing each communicate with the mixing chamber. The auger is rotatable in one direction to dig into and ingest material (fluidized by ambient water) through the material intake opening and transport it into the mixing chamber.

Abstract: A device for attaching a plow to the front of a vehicle is described. It secures to the plow mechanism and serves to raise it in a balanced manner for convenient attaching to the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle-mounted apparatus for excavating and transplanting trees includes a plurality of blade assemblies mounted on a multi-sided, horizontally disposed frame for overlying and substantially surrounding an excavation site. Each blade assembly includes a curved tower and a blade mounted on a slide assembly for reciprocation along the tower to effect penetration of the excavation site, and hydraulic power means for effecting reciprocation of the blade and slide. The slide assembly includes pliable, replaceable materials such as plastic and brass as the contact and sliding surfaces between the tower and the slide assembly. The tower is pivotable between a plurality of operational positions so as to be useful with a plurality of blades to remove sections of earth from the excavation area having different sizes, i.e., widths and depths, and having different shapes, e.g., a conical shape having parabolically curved sides or a truncated shape having parabolically curved sides.

Abstract: A replaceable composite excavating tooth for excavating earth comprises wear-resistant material having a higher hardness than a tooth body and being insert-cast into the tooth body. The performance of the excavating tooth is improved by locating the wear-resistant material as an integral insert at a central part between the top and bottom surfaces and determining the width of the insert substantially the same as the width between both side surfaces of the tooth body, extending the insert from the tip end toward an attachment part of the tooth and terminating the insert at a position of limit of potential use for replacing the composite excavating tooth.

Abstract: A destructible multiple chamber cartridge for the in situ production of synthetic resin bodies from a reactive set for fastening anchoring elements in boreholes. The reactive set comprises between 18 and 25 parts by weight of a preaccelerated resin component composed of 3-60 parts by weight of a vinyl ester epoxy resin, 28-45 parts by weight of one or several ethylenically unsaturated monomer compounds, 63-3 parts by weight of an unsaturated polyester, and 10-0.1 parts by weight of epoxy resin. The reactive set further comprises 0.4-1.2 parts by weight of a hardener component comprising an organic peroxide, and 40-55 parts by weight of a filler component. The hardener component and the preaccelerated resin component are contained separate from each other in different chambers. When the fastening element is driven into the borehole, the cartridge is destroyed and the components are mixed and hardened, forming the synthetic resin body.

Abstract: Apparatus defined by an elongate truck body with a cab and truck bed housing overlying elongate truck frame plate. A forwardly oriented chute with an impeller drive at a forwardmost end of the chute directs snow upwardly through the chute by use of a drive belt into a receiving tank. The receiving tank includes a plurality of heater plates arranged in an angular relationship overlying the tank adjacent the uppermost end of the drive belt. The truck bed includes an auxiliary pump for directing fluid outwardly relative to the tank and further includes a drive motor for driving a generator to operate the heater plates, auxiliary pump, and heater unit positioned rearwardly within the truck bed housing with the heater unit underlying an apertured floor of the truck frame plate to direct heat therethrough to effect completion of snow removal underlying the truck body during its traverse over a road surface to be cleared of snow.

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: The present invention relates to a tool for removing a stump from the earth. In particular, the tool includes an elongated rod that is provided with a plate structure about a cutting end of the tool. The plate structure includes a bevelled cutting edge that is effective to cut through soil, rocks and roots that would typically surround and underlie a stump. In use, the tool is driven with a maul or hammer at approximately a 45.degree. angle so as to cut a conical shaped chunk of soil from the earth with the stump and attached roots being held by the chunk of soil or dirt surrounding the same.

Abstract: A storage system for solid waste material has a sloped storage basin with a subgrade covered by a 3-layer liner comprising top and bottom liquid impermeable layers separated by a drainage layer. The top layer drains into a leachate collection site and the drainage layer drains into a secondary collection site for detection of leakage through the top layer. A cap covers solid waste material stored on the liner. The top and bottom layers of the liner, and an upper layer of the cap are preferably dense-graded asphalt cement, and the drainage layer of the liner is preferably open-graded asphalt cement.

Abstract: A power broom assembly includes a vehicle, a rotatable broom mounted to the front of the vehicle, and an airblast assembly mounted to the front of the vehicle above the broom to suck up an overspray of material which has been swept up by the broom. An airblast assembly for use in the power broom assembly includes a casing, a cross flow blower in the casing, and at least two outlets in the casing which are selectively openable and closeable by flexible wall portions which are movable radially inwardly and outwardly to substantially change the inner contour of the casing. A drive system of the power broom assembly includes a first transmission unit which has first and second output shafts, and a second transmission unit which includes an input shaft. At least the first and second output shafts of the first transmission unit and the input shaft of the second transmission unit are aligned along a single axis.

Abstract: An offal scraper is provided for motorized farm implements and includes a rigid deck, skirt and resilient scraping element which form a cup shaped scraper for containing and pushing offal. The deck has a semicircular shape including a curved rear edge and a substantially flat upper mounting surface. The skirt drapes downwardly from the curved rear edge and provides a curvilinear mounting surface to which the scraper element is affixed. The scraper element takes the shape of the curved mounting surface and can be moved along a supporting floor surface in a squeegee type fashion. A second scraper element can be affixed to the front edge of the deck providing a second scraping action. Various attachment structures can be affixed to the upper mounting surface on the deck.

Abstract: An apparatus for removing compressed snow and the like, includes a steam cutter provided with a plurality of longitudinally extending steam pipes connected to a steam header, with each of the steam pipes having a steam discharging opening formed in its undersurface, and an excluding blade located behind the steam cutter. The blade is disposed at an angle of inclination with respect to an advancing direction of the removing apparatus, which angle can be adjusted.

Abstract: An earth moving machine is adapted to be pulled behind a tractor or other powered vehicle. The earth moving machine comprises a hitch at a forward end thereof adapted to be connected to the tractor and an axle assembly at a rearward end thereof. A trough-shaped scoop is pivoted on a frame of the earth moving machine at a point intermediate the forward and rearward ends thereof. A first hydraulic cylinder assembly is operable to control the height of the axle assembly relative to the frame, while a second hydraulic cylinder assembly is operable to pivot the trough-shaped scoop relative to the frame. By controlling the fluid pressure supplied to the first and second hydraulic cylinder assemblies, the scoop on the earth moving machine can be used to effect scraping, levelling, digging, carrying, and dumping of dirt. When the scoop is pivoted to its scraping position, a blade provided on the scoop for selectively cutting into the ground surface is located at a position rearward of the pivot point of the scoop.

Abstract: This assenbly (11) is an independent stabilizing/ballast weight frame (24) for under water scuba equipment. Frame (24) straps onto the external surface of any conventional scuba diving tank (22). Stabilizing legs (30L and 30R) provide a three point triangular support system to hold) the scuba tank (22) upright in a stable position with a lowered center of gravity. This aids the diver while he is getting into the equipment. Two separate and independent ballast weight modules (26L and 26R) attach to the frame (24). The weight ballast modules (26L and 26R) can be released by two separate and independent mechanisms. The weight frame (24) positions the ballast modules (26L and 26R) on either side and out in front of the divers waist to counterbalance the weight of the scuba diving tank (22), provide a low center of gravity and provide keel ballast in the horizontal swimming position. A waist belt (34) and frame (24) secures around the divers waist.