Abstract: Flexible concrete structures resemble elongated rope-like articles having an outer textile casing in the form of a mono-tubular body with a continuous inner bore filled with dry cementitious material. The concrete ropes are naturally permeable to water for controlled chemical hydration for maximizing structural values and load bearing properties. The flexible concrete ropes may be employed in a wide range of applications in masonry and cement construction, such as caulk filler between foundations and roadways; as convenient mortar ropes in the reinforcement and stabilization of stone, rock, brick and block structures, like culvert bridges, drainage ditches, railroad roadbeds; temporary templates for A-frame structures, and as chocks for dry foundations.

Abstract: An apparatus for spreading a bedding material in a ditch to provide a bedding layer for laying a pipe thereon is disclosed. The apparatus includes a screened opening which extends for selectively passing bedding material below a readily selected particulate size, and particulate matter above the selected particulate size is directed forward of the apparatus. The apparatus further includes a discharge opening having side plates which control the width of the bedding layer. The discharge opening also has a back-skid plate for controlling the vertical thickness of the bedding layer. The back-skid plate is a horizontally extending plate which is adjustable for selectively determining the vertical thickness of the bedding layer deposited.

Abstract: An apparatus for extraction of weeds and other vegetation by hand or by using a power driver. The apparatus includes a hollow housing having at least one slot in which a planar shaft is slidably disposed. An extraction head is detachably coupled to the shaft, and can be extended or retracted by movement of the shaft within the housing. The extraction head can include a plurality of pointed prongs separated by a V-shaped notch, in which case the prongs are extended and inserted into the soil over the vegetation to be removed. Rotation of the apparatus winds the vegetation and its root around the prongs and removes it from the soil. The vegetation is then ejected from the apparatus by retracting the prongs and, if necessary, sliding the vegetation off of the housing. Alternatively, the extraction head can include clamping jaws or cutting edges which cut vegetation when the extraction head is retracted into the housing.

Abstract: A combination unit of a buoyancy compensator, backpack, and spider having adjustable combination strap means forming a combination shoulder strap and belt strap means with releasable strap retaining means. A backpack for support of a gas cylinder is attached to the back of the spider. The buoyancy compensator overlies the spider and has two downward extending lobes, each having a bottom and sides that are configured to surround the backpack without interfering with the attachment of a pressurized gas cylinder. The buoyancy compensator includes independent suspension means whereby it is attached to the spider at the shoulder and neckline areas and tacked to the spider at the bottom of each downward lobe portion of the buoyancy compensator.

Abstract: A device for laying tubular conduits from a floating support including a pair of clamps for gripping the tubular conduit. Each clamp can alternately provide a restraining force on the tubular conduit to be laid. The device is characterized in that one of the clamps can move relative to the floating support and is submerged.

Abstract: The tube is hammered by means of a hydraulic or an electromagnetic hammer pressed against a pile-driving head situated at the bottom of the tube. The bottom of the tube is preferably provided with a hammering bearing surface and a removable head is used that is suitable for resisting laterally on said bearing surface. The invention is particularly applicable to providing piles or stakes, particularly for a foundation.

Abstract: A boat mooring station comprises frame members connected to define a mooring station frame. The mooring station frame is positioned above a waterline of a body of water and oriented generally parallel to the surface of the body of water. An extensible front leg is connected with the frame near a front end and a pair of back legs are connected with the frame near a back end. The back legs extend at least generally downward to stand on a bottom of the body of water and support the frame. The front leg extends to raise the mooring station front to a launch position for launching or receiving a boat and retracts to lower the mooring station front to a storage position for storing the boat. The mooring station includes a boat support connected with the frame to receive and support the boat.

Abstract: A sealing device for sealing an expansion joint cut in a concrete dam comprises a tubular cell made of an elastic material and provided at its upper and lower ends respectively with a rigid upper ferrule and a rigid and rounded lower ferrule. Cables are mounted between the upper and lower ferrules for preventing the longitudinal stretching of the cell. The cell includes two longitudinal reinforcements spaced one from another and disposed opposite the cut for preventing the radial deformation of the cell in the cut. A continuous peripheral space is defined on the cell between the lower ends of the reinforcements and the upper end of the lower ferrule to allow the cell to form a continuous peripheral seal against the walls of a hole bored along the expansion joint.

Abstract: A method and system for long-term control of root growth without killing the plants bearing those roots involves incorporating a 2,6-dinitroaniline in a polymer and disposing the polymer in an area in which root control is desired. This results in controlled release of the substituted aniline herbicide over a period of many years. Herbicides of this class have the property of preventing root elongation without translocating into other parts of the plant. The herbicide may be encapsulated in the polymer or mixed with it. The polymer-herbicide mixture may be formed into pellets, sheets, pipe gaskets, pipes for carrying water, or various other forms. The invention may be applied to other protection of buried hazardous wastes, protection of underground pipes, prevention of root intrusion beneath slabs, the dwarfing of trees or shrubs and other applications. The preferred herbicide is 4-difluoromethyl-N,N-dipropyl- 2,6-dinitro-aniline, commonly known as trifluralin.

Abstract: An improved support system is disclosed for providing flexibility to a restrained termination of a highly pressurized, highly tensioned tubular element which extends from a subsea facility to a compliant structure. The tubular element is provided with an intermediate tension relief connection which separates a running span from a backspan and operably connects the tubular element to a support structure, transfering thereto a significant portion of the tension carried by the tubular element. This connection passes angular rotation of the tubular element but resists lateral motion, in effect forming a node in the deflection of the tubular element. A backspan is thus created in the tubular element having a tension load which is reduced from that in the running span, thereby increasing the flexibility apparent at the end of the running span, while maintaining a relatively restrained termination of the tubular element at the distal end of the backspan.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a line of variable stiffness over part of the length thereof and the associated element which allows the line to have the variable stiffness thereof is disclosed. The element is integrated during the manufacturing of the line or deposited thereafter around the line; the element consists of composite material underlayers in which the directions of the fibers have at least one component making a zero or a low-value angle with the axis of the pipe, and the layers end in a graded way. The process has application to the manufacturing of a riser base.

Abstract: This invention deals with casings useful for fabricating articles used in insulation methods and a blanket type thermal insulation formed from such articles that can be placed on substrates to prevent exaggerated changes in temperature of the substrate. The flexibility of the blanket allows for its use on a variety of configurations of substrates.

Abstract: A floating up guide device has an external wall portion forming a floating up guide device body and a hollow interior portion defined within the external wall. The external wall portion forming the floating up guide device body being formed of a hard material which does not vary the volume of the hollow interior portion. The hollow interior portion being sealingly enclosed by the external wall portion. A balancing member variable of weight being detachably attached on one end of the external wall portion.

Abstract: A threaded bar construction and bar stock and nut combination useful in the mining industry and also in the concrete industry; the bar stock is provided with raised thread segments which appear only on one side of the elongate bar employed, so as to provide for marked reduction in manufacturing costs without detracting from the pull strength or tensioning parameters desired.

Abstract: A lateral force device for displacing a towed underwater acoustic cable piding displacement in the horizontal and vertical directions having a spool and a rotationally mounted winged fuselage. The hollow spool is mounted on a cable with cable elements passing therethrough. The winged fuselage is made with the top half relatively positively buoyant and the bottom half relatively negatively buoyant. The winged fuselage is mounted about the hollow spool with clearance to allow rotation of the fuselage. The difference in buoyancy between the upper and lower fuselage maintains the device in the correct operating position. The wings are angled to provide lift in the desired direction as the fuselage is towed through the water.

Abstract: A reusable support structure for installing a trench liner in a trench formed in the ground, and a method for doing so. The support structure includes a crossbar having two ends and spanning the trench. The top end of a threaded rod is adjustably connected to the crossbar by a nut threaded onto the rod above the crossbar. The bottom end of the threaded rod is connected to the bottom or floor portion of the liner by a nut threaded onto the rod below the bottom floor portion of the liner, the threaded rod thus passing through the liner floor. A plurality of these trench liners are installed in the trench, and are connected together by one or more tabs at one end of each trench liner that coact with the opposite end of the next adjacent trench liner to connect the two trench liners together. The top nut then rests on the crossbar, supporting the rod, and in turn the trench liner, at the proper height in the trench, the height being adjustable by turning the nut.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for connecting first (9) and second (33) parts of an under-water connector comprises a first carrier (2) adapted to receive the first connector part (9) and having an axial guide socket (10), and a second carrier (3) adapted to receive the second connector part (33) and having a plug (4) arranged to engage axially in the guide socket (10) for connection of the first (9) and second (33) connector parts. The plug (4) has a nose portion (14) which tapers forwardly to a front end (15) having a lateral dimension less than that of the guide socket (10), and a waisted portion (16) rearwardly of the nose portion (14) with a lateral dimension less than that of the guide socket (10).

Abstract: An anti-fouling apparatus and method for retarding the formation of marine plants and animals on marine surfaces submerged in water is disclosed. Telescopically extendable support arm members in the form of pneumatic struts are pivotally mounted on a mounting bracket for selective movement between a first raised position, at which the distal end is raised out of the water, and a second lowered position, at which the distal end is submerged in the water. A selectively energizable water propulsion means, which includes an electrically powered motor and a propeller, is operatively mounted on the support arm member adjacent to the distal end so as to be submerged in the water when the support arm is in the second lowered position.

Abstract: The invention discloses a system for splitting and spreading existing underground pipe and pipe fittings. A plurality of cutter wheels are positioned within a cutter assembly frame. A first cutter wheel cuts the pipe and scores the pipe fittings. A second cutter wheel rides in the path cut in the pipe by the first cutter wheel and cuts the pipe fittings. A plurality of paired pipe expanders are formed on the outer periphery of the cutter assembly frame. Pipe expanders contact the inner surface of the pipe wall and keep the cross section of the pipe circular while the cutter wheels cut through the pipe and pipe fittings. Also, the paired pipe expanders keep the cutter wheels in a vertical alignment and thirdly, they loosen and scrape residue and built-up material from the inner wall of the pipe. A mandrel is connected to the trailing end of the cutter assembly and to a pipe adapter which in turn is connected to a foremost section of new pipe.

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 the 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 the waste and/or contaminated soils. The present invention is useful for the remedial treatment of landfill sites. Alternatively, introduction of a retarding agent into the cementitious composition will permit the transportation of the mixture to another site for use and deposition.