Abstract: An edge-of-dock leveler includes a deck plate hingedly interconnected to a dock, a lip plate hingedly interconnected to the deck plate, an air pan mounted on the face of the dock to allow the air pan to rotate with respect to the dock, and a blower mounted on the air pan. The blower inflates an air bag that causes the air pan to rotate away from the dock face. A deck plate bearing is provided between the air pan and the deck plate, and causes the deck plate to rotate with the air pan. A locking arm hangs pendant from the lip plate until the deck plate has raised to a fully raised position, at which time the locking arm engages a bearing. The blower is turned off, allowing the air to escape the air bag, and the lip plate to extend as the air bag deflates.

Abstract: An energy absorbing, retractable security barrier used to stop the movement of vehicles. The device is employed to control access to entranceways, driveways, roads and to secure a security perimeter around buildings and objects requiring such protection. The device consists of a reinforced telescoping bollard inserted into a foundation casing which is imbedded below ground. The device is manually operated and is extended by a self-contained gas-charged spring lift mechanism. The device contains a locking mechanism for securing the telescoping bollard in the extended and retracted positions. When in the retracted position the bollard is flush with the surface and can be traversed by a vehicle. The device is of simple design, easily installed and easily maintained.

Abstract: A pick box (1) of a tooling system for mineral winning etc., has an elongated aperture (4) to receive, in use, a removable liner sleeve (6) of the tooling system, the box (1) providing a seating surface (7) extending orthogonally with respect to the axis (5) of the aperture (4). The external periphery of the sleeve (6) and the internal periphery (8) of the box aperture (4) are so profiled, e.g. hexagonally, as to prevent relative rotation and the internal periphery of the box aperture is interrupted at (11) to provide at least one surface for engagement, in use, with a retainer device (12) of an inserted sleeve (6), whilst the sleeve has an external groove (22) to receive a retainer device (12). The invention also includes a sleeve (6) having an enlarged head (16), a longitudinal circular bore (26), and a circumferential groove (22) fitted with a retainer ring (12). The invention further includes a box (1) and a sleeve (6) in combination, and a drum (3).

Abstract: A polycrystalline diamond layer attached to a cemented metal carbide structure used as a cutter in a drill bit wherein the cutter has improved toughness or fracture resistance during use through the inclusion of boron, beryllium or the like therein.

Abstract: A flowline connection apparatus having a pivotally mounted funnel an upright frame, which is a permanent part of a subsea well installation such as a manifold or subsea production tree. The funnel rotates is rotatably mounted to rotate from a vertical position to a horizontal position. Retractable pins engage a slot in the funnel to lock the funnel in a vertical position or can be retracted to unlock the funnel, allowing the funnel to rotate to the horizontal position to engage a hub connector. A flowline end termination stabs into the funnel while the funnel is in the vertical position. The flowline termination body has a flange connector on one end that connects to a flexible flowline. The body has an annular external recess for securing the body within the funnel once in place. Pins engage the annular recess to hold the flowline end termination body in the engaged position. A mandrel is carried within an axial bore of the body for axial reciprocal movement.

Abstract: A core sampler apparatus for use at the end of a drill string of a drilling rig having a hollow barrel assembly for receiving a subterranean core sample, a shoe supported at a bottom end of the barrel assembly, and a connector member providing a pinned attachment of the barrel assembly to the drill string.

Abstract: A torque-transmitting coupling between a driven flange and a driving flan which comprises a tubular portion having one end facing the driven flange, another end facing the driving flange and an axis extending between the driven and driving flanges, the tubular portion being divided into two tube sections extending from an axially normal parting plane towards the tubular portion ends, and each tube section having an outwardly protruding flange edge, the flanged edges facing each other in the parting plane and being screwed together, and two membrane portions having an outer periphery and an inner periphery, the outer periphery of one of the membrane portions being attached to the one tubular portion end, the outer periphery of the other membrane portion being attached to the other tubular portion end, and the inner peripheries of the membrane portions forming connecting edges being screwed to the driven and driving flanges, respectively.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for cleaning beaches or other similar sandy areas which includes a digger chain and an associated sweeper chain for capturing debris and other articles and conveying the same to a collection box or separation conveyor.

Abstract: A single wheel caster apparatus is disclosed for supporting a plow. The apparatus includes a wheel and an axle, the axle extending through the wheel such that the wheel is rotatably supported by the axle. Additionally, a first and a second fork are provided with each fork having a proximal and a distal end. A head which defines a plurality of detents is rigidly secured to a cross member and extends therefrom in a direction away from the wheel. A tube has a first and second extremity and defines a bore for the reception therein of the head. The tube defines a first radial passageway which is disposed in the vicinity of the detents. A flexible tubular lining is disposed within the bore of the tube. A first member is slidably disposed within the first passageway with the first member being disposed adjacent to the lining such that the lining is located between the first member and one of the detents.

Abstract: An apparatus for opening perforations in a casing string. The casing string has a special casing section defining a plurality of holes therethrough. Rupturable ceramic discs or inserts are disposed in said holes and retained therein. The ceramic discs or inserts are adapted to withstand the fluid differential pressures normally present in the wellbore but are rupturable in response to impact by a mild explosive charge. The explosive charge is provided by detonating a length of det-cord disposed in the casing string adjacent to the holes in the special casing section. A method of perforating using this apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: An actively controlled rotary steerable drilling system for directional drilling of wells having a tool collar rotated by a drill string during well drilling. A bit shaft has an upper portion within the tool collar and a lower end extending from the collar and supporting a drill bit. The bit shaft is omni-directionally pivotally supported intermediate its upper and lower ends by a universal joint within the collar and is rotatably driven by the collar. To achieve controlled steering of the rotating drill bit, orientation of the bit shaft relative to the tool collar is sensed and the bit shaft is maintained geostationary and selectively axially inclined relative to the tool collar during drill string rotation by rotating it about the universal joint by an offsetting mandrel that is rotated counter to collar rotation and at the same frequency of rotation.

Abstract: A beach ramp system for watercrafts comprising at least one set of rails, each set including two rails. Each rail has a cross-section with aligned holes and an axle. Each rail also includes an aperture above the aligned holes with an elastomeric roller support rotatably supported on each axle and extending upwardly through the aperture to thereby constitute a watercraft support. Flanges are located at each end of each rail with openings therethrough. At least one Y-shaped post is provided with each post having an extent cemented in the ground and two upper extents attached to and supporting the rails.

Abstract: A prefabricated pre-cast culvert including a box-shaped culvert body, which is open at both longitudinal ends thereof to have opposite end surfaces, a pair of mortar grooves each formed on an associated one of the end surfaces in such a fashion that it extends along the entire length of the associated end surface, and a plurality of couplings arranged in each of the mortar grooves. Each coupling includes a pair of connecting eye bolts threadedly coupled to the culvert body. Each coupling has an eye which is aligned with an eye of a corresponding coupling provided at another culvert to be longitudinally connected to the culvert when the culverts are in contact with each other at facing end surfaces thereof. The culverts are connected to each other by a steel rod inserted into the aligned eyes along the mortar groove.

Abstract: An apparatus which will be attached to a motorized vehicle such as a frontend loader having auxiliary hydraulic structure wherein the apparatus having a hydraulic motor 18 will be connected by flexible lines 58 to the auxiliary hydraulic structure. The floor covering removal apparatus will be mounted on the frontend of the frontend loader whereby an individual can angularly lower the floor covering removal apparatus blade 52 until the blade of the apparatus being forwardly mounted is in a position to scrape the floor removing carpet, tiles, and wood flooring as the motorized vehicle is operated. Optionally the hydraulic motor 18 of the floor covering removal apparatus can use the auxiliary hydraulic structure for advancing and retracting the blade 52 in rapid succession thereby providing a chopping action to the blade 52 of the floor covering removal apparatus while the apparatus performs the floor covering removal tasks. An alternate embodiment provides an enclosure 72 to the hydraulic motor.

Abstract: A torsion damping device couples together an input element, such as a clutch friction wheel, and an output element comprising a hub. The damping device comprises a main damper and a predamper. The main damper comprises two guide rings arranged axially on either side of a damper plate. Each of the two dampers includes an axially acting friction device, and the damper plate meshes, with a circumferential clearance, with the periphery of a hub ring formed on the outer periphery of the hub. Both of the friction devices are incorporated in a single component, which comprises a first friction ring surrounding a second friction ring, and which includes radial arms which join the two friction rings together in such a way that the friction rings rotate together but are displaceable axially with respect to each other due to axial deformability of the radial arms.

Abstract: A barrier which can be easily deployed in a lagoon, pool or other containment structure to partition and provide isolation between adjacent bodies of water or other liquid. As a result, different treatment operations can occur in the adjacent bodies of water which are separated by the novel curtain barrier. The bodies of water can also be easily rearranged by use of the invention. The barrier includes first and second curtains of flexible water impermeable material which are disposed in a generally vertical disposition and the bottoms of which are joined to a bottom web which preferably is integrally formed with the first and second curtains. The bottom web is adapted to be disposed on the lagoon bottom and ballast material is contained between the first and second curtains on the bottom web to seal the barrier to the lagoon bottom and to prevent movement of the barrier in response to wind, tide, current or other forces.

Abstract: A self-cleaning intake screen assembly for preventing debris, fish, and other wildlife from being transferred from a waterway such as a lake or river, which includes a conical support structure, a screen and a screen sweeping assembly. The conical support structure has a circular base, a cap plate, and a plurality of support studs extending therebetween. The screen extends between the base and the cap plate and is affixed to the support studs. The screen sweeping assembly is rotatably mounted to the cap plate for sweeping debris off of the screen. A flow restrictor is disposed inside the conical support structure for restricting water flow through a portion of the screen in order to reduce differences in water flow rates through different portions of the screen.

Abstract: A spider for use within the rotary table opening has all movable elements flush with or below the rig floor. The conventional wedge shaped slips are supported and aligned by a slip carrier that has a spherical outer surface that slideably mates with a spherical bowl inner surface in the spider such that the pipe, slip, and slip carrier can tilt as a unit about any horizontal axis that passes through the spherical surface center.

Abstract: A high performance, twin rotor riding trowel for finishing concrete and a joystick operated electro-hydraulic control circuit enabling complete joystick control to the operator. The rigid trowel frame mounts two spaced-apart, downwardly projecting, and bladed rotors that frictionally contact the concrete surface. The rotors are tilted with double acting, hydraulic cylinders to effectuate steering and control. Double acting hydraulic cylinders also control blade pitch. A joystick system enables the operator to hand control the trowel with minimal physical exertion. The proportional joystick system directly controls electrical circuitry that outputs proportional control signals to electrically controlled, proportional, pressure-reducing valves in line with the tilting cylinders. The hydraulic circuitry comprises a motor driven pump delivering pressure to a flow divider circuit. A bypass-valve in line before the flow divider enables an operator to customize the trowel steering characteristics.

Abstract: To construct a tunnel in a formation (11, 15) with zones of high hydraulic pressure (15), a gallery (13) is driven from the stable formation (11) toward the problem formation zone (15). At least one lock zone (19) with pressure-tight gates (23, 23') is constructed under protection of the stable formation (11) at some distance from the problem formation zone (15). Behind this lock zone (19) the gallery (13) is now filled with water (25) and pressurized. Further driving into the problem formation zone (15) and therethrough is now performed under water (25) having a pressure corresponding to the hydraulic pressure of the problem formation zone (15). For this purpose the machines (47, 47', 73) are remote-controlled and are controlled and monitored from the atmospheric zone (17). Material transportation operations are managed substantially via the lock zone (19).