Abstract: A synthetic cover for waste piles may be formed from a mixture of liquid, binder, cellulose fibers and plastic fibers. These constituents may be mixed and applied to cover a waste pile. The cover will harden to minimize odor and affinity to birds, flies and other insects. The liquid may include water; the binder may include cement kiln dust with or without bentonite, or portland cement with flyash or stone dust. The cellulose fibers may comprise shredded paper or wood.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to the field of the storage of toxic wastes, in solidified form, without the creation of any pollution, on appropriate artificial sites. Briefly, a concrete raft is cast on a ground stabilized in depth, said concrete raft being constituted by slabs having joints between them and being arranged in a diamond moulding. This raft can support a tight-sealing material. Wastes are then piled up on the raft in maintaining the shape of a tumulus-like mound, the positioning being done under the protection of a movable cover comprising a travelling crane provided with rolls of plastic film.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the cementitious encapsulation of waste materials and/or contaminated soils containing heavy metals, to render them immobile, and particularly to the immobilization of metals, in regulated amounts, in such wastes. A waste product comprising the metals is provided. A mixture is prepared comprising said wastes and/or contaminated soils containing heavy metals, water, and a cementitious composition. The cementitious composition comprises magnesium oxide and magnesium chloride in proportions effective to produce, with said water, a magnesium oxychloride cement. The cementitious composition is present in an amount which, on setting, is effective to immobilize the metals in said waste and/or contaminated soils. The mixture of waste and/or contaminated soils and cementitious composition is introduced to a disposition site, and allowed to set and harden at said site. The present invention is particularly useful for the remedial treatment of landfill sites.

Abstract: A method of processing contaminated soil whereby the soil in the form of feed stock is heated in a combustion chamber of a processor with the hydrocarbons being evacuated to a condensing system resulting in a petroleum product while the soil feed stock is detoxified in an afterburner to form clean soil for general use.

Abstract: An improved railway deck drainage system includes an electrically non-conducting material formed into a plurality of hemiarcuate drain sections, each having a conduit and a coupling flange. The coupling flange of each section is matingly engaged with the conduit of the adjacent section, and the conduit is integrally coupled with a planar base to form a drain of overall hemicylindrical shape. The base of the drain extends transversely to form a pair of flanges suitable for weighting with ballast. A mounting strap couples the drain to the railway deck. Preferably, the conduit includes apertures to permit passage of water into the drain.

Abstract: A roof bolt comprising a bar with a plurality of tabs at locations on the bar spaced longitudinally thereof, the tabs projecting radially outwardly from the bar. In the use of the roof bolt, the bolt is inserted into a hole drilled in a roof of an underground passage and anchored in the hole by resin adhesive held in a bag inserted into the hole prior to the insertion of the roof bolt. The roof bolt punctures the bag upon insertion into the hole and is rotated about its longitudinal axis to facilitate setting the resin adhesive for anchoring the roof bolt in the hole. The tabs thoroughly blend the resin adhesive upon rotation of the bar thereby improving the bond of the resin adhesive to the bolt. The tabs also engage the hardened resin adhesive to provide a support for loads directed generally outwardly of the opening.

Abstract: An Enhanced Deep Soil Vapor Extraction Process and Apparatus utilizes heaters placed into the soil at least to the depth of contamination and a vapor/condensate extraction system that withdraws volatilized contaminant vapors from the subsurface and any condensate that collects in the extraction well. Depending on the rate of formation of condensate in the well, a second conduit may be placed inside the well for the collection and removal of condensate by a downhole pump or a suction device located at ground surface. The process is directed towards contaminants trapped in or below the normal groundwater level. Groundwater extraction wells are also employed to create a "cone of depression", or local draw-down of the groundwater to expose those soils that are normally water saturated and thereby permit decontamination of such soils. Conduits may be placed within the groundwater extraction wells for the purpose of extracting groundwater.

Abstract: A starting material is provided having a rectangular grid of holes and the starting material is stretched in the MD to such an extent that the junctions are not significantly oriented, is stretched in the TD to such an extent that the junctions are not significantly oriented, and is finally stretched in the MD to such an extent that the junction centres thin down by at least 30% and there is significant narrowing down of the junction The resultant MD stretch is substantially greater than the resultant TD stretch. The MD strands, having thinned down and oriented to a substantial degree, cause the orientation to pass into the ends of the junctions and right through the junctions. The junctions increase in length by a ratio of at least about 2.5:1 and narrow down substantially. The ends of the junctions are not stretched more than 100% more than the centres.

Abstract: A sod harvesting apparatus is provided a means for locomotion, a means for cutting sod into strips and curling it into rolls, and means for stacking the sod rolls onto an awaiting pallet. The apparatus includes a frame which supports orthogonal axes. A conveyor assembly is mounted on the x-axis, and transports sod rolls placed thereon to a mechanical hand unit. The x-axis provides the conveyor assembly with one-dimensional translation with respect to the frame. The mechanical hand unit, which is attached to the conveyor assembly, is capable of one-dimensional translation along the x-axis with respect to the conveyor assembly. The mechanical hand unit is rotatably mounted onto the x-axis so that it can place a sod roll in any desired orientation onto the pallet. The mechanical hand unit lifts the sod roll off the conveyor assembly and transports the roll to an awaiting pallet. The pallet is supported by a z-axis assembly, which is comprised of a plurality of forks and a lift mechanism.

Abstract: A device for opening and supporting a headway in closed or open excavations comprises an envelope composed of blade- carrying heads (24) which can be driven individually or in groups, each connected to an end part. At least several end parts are designed as internal formwork sections (12) and their top surface facing the ground or soil (26) slopes backward from the corresponding top surface (38) of the corresponding blade-carrying head. The blade-carrying head (24) and the end parts are supported and guided on supporting frames (16) of a walking frame (34). A filling tube (42) for introducing supporting material (44) and binders is arranged in the region between the blade-carrying head (24) and the sections (12) of the internal casing.

Abstract: An apparatus for lifting and stabilizing a structural slab overlying the ground includes a base attached to the upper surface of the slab, at least one hydraulic cylinder vertically supported from the base and a slip clamp assembly attached to the piston rod extending from the cylinder. Piling segments are sequentially passed downward through the slip clamp and through coaxial holes in the base and in the slab, and are driven into the ground by the hydraulic cylinder to form a support column under the slab.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for performing sequential batch anaerobic composting on high solids content wastes are provided, wherein a plurality of longitudinally extending trenches in the ground are employed as waste-holding receptacles, each of the trenches being provided with a cover having a peripheral skirt depending downwardly therefrom to be submerged in a water-containing moat surrounding the periphery of each trench to hermetically seal the trench. The covers contain leachate sprayers and offgas recovery piping which are connected to a fixed piping system of the apparatus, and hoppers, conveyor belts and discharge plows are used to transfer the waste into the trenches, and a lifting conveyor is used to transfer the waste out of the trenches back onto the conveyor belts extending alongside the trenches. The method involves using leachate recycling in a three stage process which employs the trenches having the removable covers.

Abstract: A portable dock consisting of a raised V-Shaped structure, with an essentially rectangularly shaped horizontal base with attached spaced apart angled platforms situated above the base, said dock adapted to reside substantially underwater. The raised V-shaped structure has an open medial channel which enables the platforms to act as cradle members to engage opposite sides of a watercraft, as the watercraft to be docked is maneuvered into the open medial channel bow first. As the watercraft advances from the rear to the front of the dock, along the long axis of the base, the bow rests upon and is elevated by the incline of the platforms. The weight of the watercraft, as it rests upon the platforms, serves to anchor the dock to the bottom of the lake bed, thereby rendering both the watercraft and the dock stationary.The invention may be easily placed into the body of water and removed therefrom by hand, as it is of such a size and weight so as to allow easy manual transport.

Abstract: A starting material is stretched longitudinally to produce a geogrid. The starting material has pronounced ribs on each face, merging into sloping sides. Between the ribs, there are holes on a square grid. The mean thickness of the longitudinal elements is substantially greater than the mean thickness of the interconnecting elements, and the cross-sectional area of the longitudinal elements is at least 2.5 times the transverse cross-sectional area of the interconnecting elements. The longitudinal elements are stretched out into continuous oriented strands. The centers of the junctions reduce in thickness by at least 10% but substantially less than the percentage reduction at the thinnest part of the strand.

Abstract: An upwelling-generating structure is a mound shape structure to be installed on the ground of seabed for generating an upwelling flow. The upwelling-generating structure consists of a summit across a tidal flow, and a gentle slope running from the summit to the seabed.

Abstract: Flotation spars are detachably connected along the length of an oil containment curtain to insure the verticality of a floating containment boom. Spaced tubular sleeves extend vertically along one side of each band. The sleeves are so configured as to pivotally or hingedly mount the flotation spar to the curtain in such a manner as to permit a free pivotal action of the sleeve and spar with respect to the face of the curtain. The flotation spar is also secured to the sleeve by a pair of locking tabs that extend upwardly from the top edge of the sleeve. A cap slides over the top end of the spar and fixes the locking tabs between the cap and spar wall.

Abstract: A protective cover for SCUBA air tanks includes a tube of plastic material for snugly fitting around a body of a tank. The tube includes a substantially non-stretchable portion of plastic material having two side edges, and a resiliently stretchable portion of plastic material disposed between the two side edges, for allowing the tube to snugly fit tanks of various sizes. Attachment pads may be disposed on the non-stretchable portion for attaching auxiliary diving equipment. Various rings, clips, buckles or other fasteners are disposed on the tube for attaching auxiliary straps or carrying belts.

Abstract: A high efficiency waste placement and disposal method for disposing of solid waste in a landfill includes size reducing the solid waste, moisture adjusting the solid waste, placing the solid waste in a preselected geometric form thereby forming a waste pile, coating the exposed portion of the waste pile with a synthetic covering compound comprising a liquid, binder, cellulose fibers, and plastic fibers, biostabilizing the waste pile and compacting the waste pile. The waste is preferably placed in a matshaped stockpile for efficient biostabilization through sufficient aeration and moisture adjustment and compaction.

Abstract: The selective creation of tramlines is disclosed where the metered seed normally delivered through the outlet hose (18b) of the row planter unit (20b) corresponding to the desired location of the tramline is diverted by a butterfly valve (26) to one or both of the row planter units (20a, 20c) located adjacent to and on opposite sides of the row planter unit (20b). The butterfly valve (26) includes an inlet conduit (28) which intersects with first and second outlet conduits (30, 32) and a butterfly element (34) which is pivoted by a solenoid actuator (40) against the bias of a spring (36) to selectively block one of the outlet conduits (30, 32).

Abstract: A junction plate assembly for a subsea structure having a first junction plate with a plurality of control connections contained therein, a second junction plate with a second plurality of control connections contained therein, and a connector extending generally centrally of the first junction plate for engaging a receptacle of the second junction plate. The first junction plate has an umbilical cable connected to the control connections. The connector is a shaft which extends through the first junction plate and has one end extending into the receptacle of the second junction plate. The end of the shaft has an external acme thread in mating engagement with an internal acme thread of the receptacle. A handle is connected to an opposite end of the shaft for rotating the shaft. The control connections may be either hydraulic or electrical connections.