Abstract: At least two plates hinged along a confronting pair of edges by hinge members having depending feet which hold the two plates slightly elevated along the hinge and allow the plates to assume relative positions which subtend whatever appropriate angle is necessary for the unhinged ends of the plates to establish contact with a loading dock surface and truck cargo area surface when the two plates are used as a ramp for transferring cargo on dollies or the like between the dock and truck.

Abstract: A method to distribute wear from passing vehicles to a road surface, according to which individual marks (3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5') are applied to the road surface of each lane (1, 1') spaced apart from each other and extending in the direction of the road. The marks are applied in a side-by-side related distance that mainly corresponds to the width of each lane (1, 1'), and located in the lanes (1, 1') in such a way, that vehicles travelling in the lanes (1, 1') and passing over the marks (3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5') with the wheels adjacent to the marks (3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5') maintain the normal distance between each other corresponding to vehicles travelling in the center of the lanes (1, 1'). When the marks (3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5') are mainly removed, due to the wear from vehicles passing over the marks (3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5'), a new set of marks (3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5') are applied, moved slightly sideways in relation to the marks (3, 3', 4, 4', 5, 5') first applied.

Abstract: Apparatus for compacting soil or the like which is designed to be an attachment to a back hoe and to be powered by a hydraulic fluid motor. The drive motor is disposed on a vertical axis and rotates an element which has a generally planar surface oblique to its axis of rotation. This surface moves against a cylindrical drive member and causes it to wobble back and forth thereby providing a reciprocating action which is used to drive shafts on which are mounted tamping feet. The shafts are provided with contact surfaces at their upper ends against which the cylindrical drive member acts. The shafts are round and are closely fitted inside of round sleeves. These sleeves are greased to provide an effective dirt seal. There is a cam follower coupled with each of the round shafts and fitted inside of guide plates to assure a reciprocal action. A similar cam follower prevents rotation of the cylindrical drive member.

Abstract: A cylindrical housing with either substantially straight or with inwardly tapering sidewalls is formed with a bottom portion that either tapers or curves inwardly until it meets a flat bottom area. A bracing section is connected within the housing to support a motor with fan or propeller blades operated thereby below the open top of the housing and above the bottom portion thereof. A plurality of openings are formed around and through the side wall above the bottom portion but below the motor so that when the housing is disposed in a body of water, and the motor operated, water from within the housing is directed upwardly to the surface of the body of water and additional water is drawn into the housing through the openings of the housing sidewall.

Abstract: An elastomeric seal member for sealing roadway and structural expansion joints. The seal member is of generally rectangular configuration and includes top, bottom, and side walls, the side walls being linear and the top and bottom walls including means to cause deflection thereof to occur in a downward direction. Internal support members include right and left spaced apart struts, upper and lower spaced apart ribs, and corner trusses. The struts extend from the top wall to the bottom wall, each strut including generally straight upper and lower portions, the spacing between the upper ends of the upper portions either being the same or slightly greater than the spacing between the lower ends of the upper portions, and the lower portions of the struts extending downwardly and outwardly from the upper portions. The upper and lower ribs are positioned between the top and bottom walls and extend transversely from one of the side walls to the other side wall.

Abstract: This invention relates to a device for driving and positioning, by vibration, dowels into concrete slabs during the construction of roads, on both sides of points between said slabs and perpendicularly to said joints, comprising a horizontal beam which is provided with vibrators and with maintaining elements suitable for gripping the dowels and which is carried by an independent frame, so as to be vertically movable by displacement means above a joint, in order to drive said dowels into a lower position in the still unhardened concrete of the slabs.

Abstract: Machine including a powered truck-like vehicle having a support base at the rear end and an apparatus for cutting a drive-in passage across a concrete curbstone, a sidewalk or the like. The apparatus is mounted on the base and essentially comprises two spaced parallel booms mounted at one end on the base and an elongated bridge structure extending between and perpendicularly to the booms, being connected to them and provided with a drive so that it can be displaced along the booms with respect to the support base of the vehicle. The booms and bridge structure are pivoted from an inoperative position where the bridge structure is above the support base to an operative position where the booms and bridge structure are swung outwardly of the support base in a position for cutting the curbstone, sidewalk or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in driving tunnels or the like comprises a front drive shield composed, for example, of elongate cutter knives supported for longitudinal displacement on a frame. In order to control turning motion of the shield the shield is connected via hydraulic control rams to a rear abutment such as a follow-up ring structure. The rams are all inclined relative to the longitudinal axis of the apparatus. The rams are divided into two groups inclined in opposite directions and the rams of each group can be subjected collectively to pressure fluid to impart a corrective torque to the frame.

Abstract: A vibrating float for prefinishing concrete. The float includes a float member with a planar surface, an elongated handle for manipulating the float member over the concrete with its planar surface in contact with the surface of the concrete, and a pair of pneumatically driven vibrators. The vibrators are mounted on the upper surface of the float member on either side of the centrally attached handle and can be adjusted easily and quickly to vary the vibrational pattern of the float member for the most efficient and effective working of the particular concrete mix. Each vibrator has an exterior housing member with a rotatable mounted collar member within it. The collar member is cylindrical and end pieces are provided to confine a ball member within the collar member. The housing member has an air hole through it and the collar member has at least two air holes in it of different sizes.

Abstract: A roof support suitable for use in mines includes roof-engageable means provided with a roof-engageable pad which is so mounted with respect to the remainder of the roof-engageable means as to be movable with respect thereto for exerting a thrust on the mine roof. A linkage is pivotally connected between the pad and the remainder of the roof-engageable means. Actuator means is so pivotally connected to and supported by the linkage that when operated it effects movement of the pad with respect to the remainder of the roof-engageable means, being itself constrained, simultaneously upon such movement, to move bodily with the pad.

Abstract: A ramp bridging device including a pivotable bridge plate and an extensible extension portion. Stop buffers, pivotable between a vertical operative position and an inoperative position beneath the bridge plate, are provided for protecting the plate and the extension portion. In the operative position, the upper free end of the stop buffers are braced against the bridge plate.

Abstract: A self-cleaning reflective road marker comprises a housing formed of a generally cylindrical portion insertable into the road and a flanged portion for lying on the road surface connected thereto. The housing contains a stud mounted on a rubber hemisphere. The stud contains a circular reflector and the housing contains a circular o-ring located in the flanged portion opposite the reflector. In response to the passing of a tire over the marker, the stud is depressed and the reflector is wiped clean by the o-ring. On removal of the tire force, the resilience of the rubber hemisphere forces the stud into its original position and the reflector is further cleaned by the o-ring.The stud consists of two parts connected together, from above by a threaded bolt such that when the marker is fixed in the road the part can be removed to enable removal or replacement of the reflector and the o-ring.

Abstract: A mineral winning plough, such as a coal plough, has a plough body adapted to be moved to and fro alongside a mineral face on a plough guide. The plough body is provided with a pair of vertically-adjustable carriers, each of which is provided with floor cutters. The plough body is provided with setting means for raising and lowering the carriers into rest and working positions respectively. The setting means comprises a slide plate, and an intermediate member. The slide plate is mounted in an aperture in the plough body for limited movement relative thereto. The slide plate is attachable to a plough drive chain. The intermediate member forms a mechanical operative connection between the slide plate and the two carriers. The intermediate member is rotatably mounted on the plough body, and is positioned between the two carriers.

Abstract: A grade control alignment device and method used in combination with a machine having an automatic grade control system to control the grade or elevation of a working implement. The alignment device is mounted on the machine and a sighting reference is visually aligned with a grade reference line which is set at a predetermined desired elevation. By periodically viewing the alignment device the operator determines if the automatic control is maintaining the working implement at the proper grade. If the proper grade is not being maintained, the operator overrides the automatic control to adjust the grade of the working implement.

Abstract: A runner to keep snowplows off of a pavement or surface area for the protection of ground markings, comprising an upper portion 12 having a base 1 to be placed on the street surface 21 and upward sloping surfaces 2 and sloping sides 3 and an anchoring portion 5 to be inserted into a corresponding recess in the pavement 20, whereby the longitudinal side walls 6 of the anchoring portion 5 are perpendicular to the base 1 and extend longitudinally beyond the base 1 and the upward sloping surfaces 2 extend below the base 1.

Abstract: A support structure (20) for supporting the freestanding portion of a mudline suspension wellhead includes first and second support arms (56) attached to and extending from an offshore drilling platform (24). The structure is aligned below a cantilevered type drilling derrick (40). A gantry (60) is supported by and slidable relative to these arms. A cradle structure (66) is mounted for lateral movement on the gantry. Structure is provided for positioning the gantry along the longitudinal length of the arms and for positioning the cradle along the longitudinal length of the gantry. Movement of the cradle structure relative to the gantry and of the gantry relative to the support arms defines a zone between the support arms and between the drilling platform and the outermost point of travel of the gantry in which the cradle may be selectively positioned. The gantry and cradle are aligned relative to the wellhead, and structure (290, 320) associated with the cradle is provided for clamping the wellhead thereto.

Abstract: Clamping device having clamping members cooperating via a pressure area and an intermediate member with a pressure member, the intermediate member consisting of a slide member having a cross section in the form of a segment of a circle, a plane surface cooperating with the pressure area and a circular arc-shaped surface in a corresponding seating provided in the associated clamping or pressure member.

Abstract: An expansion joint and seal structure for the variable width space between roadway, bridge or like sections subject to expansion and contraction is provided in the form of an elongate elastomer member having spaced transverse passages of generally rectangular cross section with rounded corners in which metal bars of like cross section but shorter length are inserted, both the passages and bars have cooperating indexing devices which center the bars in each passage spaced equidistant from the ends thereof so as to maintain them over the space between the roadway, bridge or like sections.

Abstract: A manually manipulatable applicator mechanism for applying and embedding crushed rocks on selected areas of a paved surface. The mechanism includes a first gate structure by which an operator can vary the width dimension of the pattern of applied rocks and a second gate structure for controlling the quantity of rocks applied by the mechanism and thus controlling the thickness of the pattern of applied rocks.

Abstract: Apparatus for extruding a continuous concrete structure along a surface such as a curb and gutter. The apparatus includes an open bottom hopper for containing a supply of concrete mounted to a vehicle. An open bottom mold extends rearwardly from the open bottom of the hopper and causes the concrete flowing from the hopper onto the surface to be provided the proper cross-sectional shape as the vehicle moves along the surface. The lower leading face of the hopper is slanted rearwardly. Vibrators are immersed within the concrete overlying the open bottom of the hopper and in an area generally horizontal with and to the rear of the lower leading face of the hopper. The combination of the slanted lower leading face and the properly situated vibrator causes the apparatus to creep or walk forward so that very little if any motive power need be applied to the vehicle.