Abstract: A two-person floating screed with laser-operated, automatic grade control apparatus for finishing plastic concrete is transformable for different operations. A rigid, transversely oriented float mounts a strikeoff for initially contacting and leveling rough, freshly poured concrete. In one form of the invention the screed merely floats upon the concrete surface. In an alternative embodiment, lightweight ski assemblies support the screed over the subgrade. The skis secure upwardly projecting screw jacks that removably couple to the screed and control elevation of the transverse float in response to laser signals. Each worker has a separate handle mechanism pivotally associated with the float. Separate, light-weight power sources are carried by each worker in a suitable backpack to power the screw jacks. Laser sensors mounted on vibration dampened stanchions emanating from the float respond to external laser beacons and display grade information so that the workers can make manual adjustments.

Abstract: A modular earth retaining wall system comprising a plurality of similarly configured wall blocks that have lock channels and lock flanges that provide a locking mechanism for resisting leaning or toppling of the blocks. A positive retaining mechanism is also provided for attaching reinforcement fabrics to the retaining wall in between mating courses of wall blocks. This mechanism secures the reinforcement fabrics in place and permits the fabrics to extend along the entire contact area between adjacent stacked wall blocks to avoid an aggregate leaning effect. The retaining mechanism includes a retaining bar that is placed on top of the reinforcement fabric within the lock channel. The retaining bar holds the fabric against a wall of the lock channel in response to tensile loads applied to the fabric to prevent it from being pulled out of the retaining wall.

Abstract: A vehicle plow suspension system designed for use with a large object such as a plow blade is disclosed. The suspension system is disposed between and connected to the plow blade and its associated positioning means, and comprises an expansion spring coaxially mounted about a two-way shock absorber in a sealed housing. The suspension system operates to attenuate both the relative movement between the plow blade and its associated vehicle, and the resultant forces thereby transmitted from the plow blade to the vehicle.

Abstract: In an articulated sequence or array of ground-reinforcement panels, each panel has parallel rectilinear edges, one of them provided with a number of male interlock members projecting therefrom in the plane of the panel and the other provided with a corresponding number of female interlock members recessed therein, so constructed and arranged that the male members can be forcibly but detachably interengaged with the female members in a next-adjacent panel in a direction vertical to the plane of the panels but cannot be disengaged therefrom in the plane of the panels, while, when interengaged, the respective male and female members and the adjacent panels associated therewith are capable of limited rotation with respect to each other.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for preventing penetration of vehicles by causing the guardrail extruder terminal to contact and engage the frame or chassis of vehicles in a collision. In preferred embodiments, a guardrail extruder terminal end treatment is adapted for improved operation during impacts by attachment of a frame catcher penetration guard. The frame catcher adaptation extends below the usual lower edge of the impact head of the guardrail extruder terminal design in order to contact portions of the chassis of a vehicle during an impact at the guardrail end. In several embodiments, the impact head of a guardrail extruder terminal includes a substantially rigid downwardly extending portion which presents an expanded contact area, the location of which approximates the location of a portion of the vehicle's chassis. The frame catcher devices may be retrofitted onto existing guardrail extruder terminal impact heads.

Abstract: An industrial vehicle includes a frame, a motive device mounted on the frame, a platform mounted on the frame adjacent to the motive device, a main boom member associated with an industrial implement, the main boom member being coupled to the platform, and at least one secondary boom member attached to the main boom member. The industrial vehicle may comprise in one embodiment tilting structure that tilts the platform about an axis substantially perpendicular to a driving direction of the vehicle, or at least one pivot defining at least one axis about which the main boom member and/or the secondary boom member pivot, the at least one axis being substantially perpendicular to a driving direction of the vehicle. A linkage may be provided that pivots at least one of the main boom member and the at least one secondary boom member about an axis substantially perpendicular to a driving direction of the vehicle.

Abstract: Slurryable ore where the overburden is unstable and subject to collapse is mined from substantially parallel elongated main trenches connected by a perpendicular trench at the bottom of the mineral seam. A plurality of softwall mining devices supported by face equipment is placed in the perpendicular trench. The devices slurry the mineral material and move into the mineral seam as the overburden sloughs behind the mining devices. The subsided overburden is supplemented as necessary with injected material. Slurried mineral flows to the parallel trenches for removal to the surface. After the softwall devices have advanced the length of the parallel trenches, the devices are withdrawn and placed in additionally developed trenches elsewhere in the ore reserve.

Abstract: A mechanical retention system is disclosed for detachably retaining a ground engaging tool onto an earthworking implement. The retention system uses an elongated steel retainer, which has a convolute spring portion between opposite the end portions of the retainer to allow the retainer to be compressible in one direction in order to be mounted through a retainer opening in the tool into a retainer pocket in the mounting portion of the implement.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for depositing roadway material on a road bed using a road paving machine having a spreader for laterally spreading the material and a screed for leveling the material. A guide underneath the spreader and the screed is used to control the height of the screed above the road bed. The guide also confines the width of the material deposited by the road paving machine to less than the width of the screed which is normally the standard width of material deposited by the road paving machine.

Abstract: A blade brake assembly is provided for use with a lawn mower having a self-propelled power deck with a pair of drive wheels and a mower deck supporting at least a mower blade driven by the power deck. In order to change the cutting height, the mower deck is pivotable with respect to the power deck. The blade brake assembly includes an actuator mounted to the power deck and shiftable in response to a brake command by an operator, a band brake operatively coupled to the mower blade, a center pivot mounted on the mower deck and fixed with respect thereto, and a pivot lever pivotally mounted on the center pivot and having a first end pivotally connected to an end of the actuator. Furthermore, a link member is pivotally connected at one end thereof to a second end of the pivot lever, opposite the first end, wherein the center pivot is intermediate the two ends of the pivot lever, and wherein the link member is connected at the second end thereof to the band brake.

Abstract: A toolholder for milling drums of scarifying machines including a body having a longitudinal axis, at one end provided with a housing suitable to house a milling tool. The body of the toolholder has an outside annular groove so as to reduce the resisting section of the toolholder and form a pre-set breaking area.

Abstract: A novel energy absorbing module is described which is relatively inexpensive, easy to make and provides for a relatively consistent crush resistance along its length when impacted axially. The module is made up of a generally cylindrical metal member which is formed from a roll of sheet metal that is wound into a tube having a spiral cross-section. A layer of spacer material, such as polyethylene foam, is placed adjacent the sheet metal so that the winds of the spiral are separated from one another. The energy absorbent module of the present invention provides a relatively constant and predictable level of crush resistance which makes it particularly suitable for such applications as an insert for a guardrail end treatment or other crash barrier. The module is formed by rolling a sheet of metal, or similar material, and the spacer sheet into a tubular or cylindrical form. A portion of one end of the module is then crushed slightly by impact loading.

Abstract: A boring head is provided for use in mounting to a drill pipe of a drilling rig for enlarging a pilot bore in horizontal boring operations. The boring head has an axial member positioned along a central axis of the boring head for connecting the boring head to the drill pipe of the drilling rig. A plurality of flanges extend radially from the axial member, and a flange support frame is provided for structurally interconnecting and supporting the flanges on the axial member. A plurality of cutting cones are mounted to the boring head. In particular, each of the cutting cones has a cone axis, each of the cutting cones is mounted to one of the flanges such that its cone axis extends at an acute angle ranging from zero degrees up to about 45 degrees relative to the central axis; each of the cutting cones is mounted for independent rotation about its cone axis; and each of the cutting cones has a plurality of independently rotatable cutting bits mounted thereto.

Abstract: A non-plugging nozzle and self-cleaning drilling tool incorporating the nozzle is provided. The nozzle has a body that defines a central passageway extending axially from the top to the bottom of the body. The central passageway defines an inlet orifice at the top and an exit orifice at the bottom. A side passageway extends through the side wall of the nozzle and communicates with a cylindrical portion of the central passageway, the intersection of which defines a side inlet orifice that is substantially square. Because the intersection is substantially square, particles may not become trapped within the nozzle and plug the side passageway. When incorporated into a drilling tool, particularly a polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bit, the drilling tool becomes self cleaning. The side passageway of the nozzle is directed at the voids formed in the cutting face of the drilling tool creating a cross flow through the voids and preventing accumulation and balling therein.

Abstract: A waste containment system utilizing a manufactured soil useful for the remediation of waste disposal sites for municipal and industrial waste products. To form the manufactured soil, conditioned clay materials, in particular bentonite clay, are mixed with sand and water to form a colloidal suspension. The mixture can be either placed into trenches, as a slurry, to form vertical barriers or allowed to de-water and then spread and compacted to create surface caps and/or sub-surface liners. Normally, the a containment system includes an imbedded sand drainage layer so as to make the composite system impervious to air and water penetration. The percentage of clay in the manufactured soil is varied depending on installation site characteristics and desired performance standards. Manufactured soil with as little as approximately 1% to 3% clay (dry wt.) can be made to achieve and maintain hydraulic conductivities as low as 1.7.times.10.sup.-9 cm/sec.

Abstract: Shaped concrete blocks are provided each having generally parallel top and bottom surfaces, a shaped front face (adapted to be exposed as the wall element), side walls and a rear wall. The one surface of each block is provided with transverse shallow groove, while the other surface of each block is provided with a conforming rib positioned correspondingly with the grooves. In this manner, successive blocks may be stacked on top of one another with the ribs engaging in the grooves.

Abstract: A flow control apparatus and associated methods of using provide enhanced longevity and reliability without requiring complex mechanisms. In a described embodiment, a choke for use within a subterranean well has multiple trim sets which may be selected by manipulation of an inner tubular cage. Additional features include provision of releasable latches to maintain the cage in a desired position, and utilization of biasing members to bias the cage toward a neutral position in which all of the trim sets are closed.

Abstract: An earth displacement drill is provided including a drill tube which can be driven for rotary movement and a boring tip connected thereto, wherein the boring tip has a cylindrical part which adjoins the drill tube and has at least two helical strips uniformly distributed around the circumference, which climb upwardly at a shallow angle, with the flat side of the strips preferably extending substantially parallel to the radius at the relevant position and in particular only over a fraction of the circumference of the cylindrical part. The boring tip also has a tapering part located beneath the cylindrical part and having at least two arched surfaces which are uniformly distributed around the tapering part. These arched surfaces expediently extend approximately parallel to the vertical and preferably more steeply than the helical strips.

Abstract: A maritime dock structure including a plurality of hollow modules each having a buoyancy force associated therewith. A plurality of anchors are coupled to the modules and embedded in an underwater bed. Each anchor opposes the buoyancy force of its associated module as well as lateral forces and load forces directed into the underwater bed.

Abstract: A backspin retarder for a shaft comprises a brake mechanism including a stationary brake member and opposed brake members rotatable with the shaft and movable between braking position in which the movable brake members engage the stationary brake member and a non-braking position in which the movable brake members are removed from the stationary brake member and a brake control mechanism responsive to the direction of rotation of the shaft for disabling the brake mechanism when the shaft rotates in a forward direction and for enabling the brake mechanism when the shaft rotates in a reverse direction.