Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for a loading test of a pile using a self-repulsive force. The loading test is separately performed in two stages, a first stage to estimate the ultimate peripheral skin friction force and a second stage to estimate the ultimate tip end bearing capacity. The loading test apparatus of the present invention has simple construction capable of reusing, which results in carrying out the loading test with ease and in cost effective manner.

Abstract: A vibratory plow assembly 201 incorporates a vertical ground parting blade 202 with a front cutting edge 203 and a ripper tooth 208. The blade 202 is bifurcated rearwardly of the cutting edge 203, the blade 202 being formed by two spaced-apart side plates 214. The upper part of the plates 214 constitute a support frame which is pivotally connected by a pin 205 to a base plate 240. Attached rearwardly of the pivot pin 205 and preferably cantilevered beyond the plates 214 is a vibrator unit 232. The vibrator unit 232 when operational provides a vibratory frequency of between 5 Hz and 17 Hz to the ripper tooth 208 in both a vertical and arcuate path. The pivot pin 205 is preferably located above or forwardly of the cutting edge 203. The base plate 240 and supply frame, by virtue of the vibratory unit 232, experience relative movement in the manner of a pair of jaws the mouth of which extends rearwardly.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a floating dock which is economical, durable and easy to install and maintain. The dock is comprised of uniform floating docking sections coupled together with rubber male-type anchors which fit into female-type receiving sockets on the docking sections. The two anchors of the couplers are secured together by a tie rod. The docking sections eliminate the need for boat bumpers, wood planking or other additional parts and expenses but allow for the attachment of desired accessories such as spud pipes, gang planks and tie-up cleats. The versatile docking sections can be arranged in an unlimited number of dock designs.

Abstract: A trench shield has a pair of upright shields laterally spaced from each other with spreaders. Each shield has a frame supporting side walls and a horizontal earth penetrating blade. A pounding rail is releasably mounted on a channel top member of the frame. The pounding rail is an inverted channel member located in the channel of the top member. Rods secured to opposite sides of the pounding rail cooperate with the top member to retain the pounding rail on the top member and allow removal of the pounding unit from the top member. Collars secured to opposite ends of the frame accommodate the spreaders.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an improved flexible loading system which provides fluid communication between a subsea pipeline and a surface vessel including a hose extending from the subsea pipeline to a first buoyancy tank, a second hose extending from the first buoyancy tank to a central buoyancy tank, a second buoyancy tank, means connecting said second buoyancy tank to the sea floor and to the central buoyancy tank whereby the forces exerted on said central buoyant tank by said second hose and said connecting means are balanced to cause said central buoyancy tank to maintain a preselected position, a riser section extending upwardly from said central buoyancy tank and means on the upper termination for engagement by a vessel on the surface to raise said upper termination onto the vessel to complete the communication for moving fluids between the subsea pipeline and the vessel.

Abstract: A bail member having a medial portion of substantially conical shape for retaining shell and tapered plug portions of a mechanical expansion anchor in mutually assembled relation prior to installation. The medial portion is positioned over the large end of the plug and tapers inwardly in a direction away from the plug to provide a lead-in for insertion of the anchor, carried on the end of a mine roof bolt, into the open end of a blind drill hole. The bolt and medial portion may include an axial bore and a plurality of openings, respectively, for passage of a hardenable grout pumped through the bore to provide an anchoring system of enhance strength and durability.

Abstract: A method is disclosed in which a plasma arc torch is used to vitrify and remediate a site containing contaminated soils, resulting from a hazardous material deposit or spill, or contaminated buried objects. The contaminated earthen material or subterranean deposit is pyrolyzed, melted or solidified by the plasma torch which is energized at the bottom of a cased, vertical borehole, and then gradually raised to the surface. An array of boreholes, appropriately spaced, will remediate an entire mass of contaminated material. Similarly, buried objects such as metal drums containing contaminants and underground storage tanks may be selectively remediated at their specific buried depth. Similar use is made of the plasma torch in a second embodiment with the additional step of processing at selected underground locations in the borehole array to create a sealed horizontal layer, vertical cutoff walls or a sealed basin as a barrier against further leaching of contaminants into surrounding soil and groundwater.

Abstract: Tooth assemblies having a tooth attached to an adapter by a retaining mechanism is normally utilized in order to readily replace the tooth which is a high wear element. It is advantageous to have a retaining mechanism that is both simple, easy to install and remove and provides a high holding force to the pin to offset any tendency of the pin coming out during use. In the subject arrangement, a substantially flat leaf spring retainer is provided and is located in a retainer opening transverse to a pin. Upon installing the pin, the leaf spring is forced to flex. The force needed to flex the leaf spring is likewise the effective force holding the pin in its assembled position. A central groove is defined in the pin and is of a sufficient size to receive the portion of the leaf spring in contact therewith once the pin is in its installed position. Once the leaf spring drops into the central groove, the degree of deflection of the leaf spring is reduced resulting in the life of the leaf spring being increased.

Abstract: An emergency release tool for operation by a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) for forcefully releasing a riser from a subsea well assembly The tool includes hydraulic cylinders mounted on a frame that can be positioned by the remotely operated vehicle to surround the risers. The cylinders are pressurized to forcefully remove the riser from the wellhead assembly.

Abstract: The device includes a blade and a handle whereby the device may be used as a conventional snow pusher. Skis or skids below the blade support the blade at an angle relative to the ground, and may raise the blade 5 cm or so off the ground surface, so that the blade does not snag the ground during pushing. Left and right struts support the skis from the blade. The struts are collapsible, and when collapsed the skis lie tucked away against the back of the blade, whereby the device may be used as a shovel.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hand held, readily portable power sweeping tool. The tool includes an elongate boom having a power generation means disposed at one end thereof and a power sweeping means disposed at the other end. Power transmission means extends between the power generation means and the power sweeping means for transmitting power generated by the power generation means to the sweeping means. The sweeping means comprises a pair of drums mounted for rotation by the power transmission means, the drums including a plurality of pliant fins extending radially outwardly therefrom. In one embodiment of the invention, the sweeping means includes a support formed by mating two substantially identical drum members to each other end-to-end to form a support for a sweeper belt having a plurality of outwardly directed pliant fins.

Abstract: A bucket assembly for a tractor has a plastic bucket in the form of a trough including a rear wall, a top wall, a bottom wall and a pair of end walls. A plurality of strengthening ribs having first and second legs are fastened to the bottom and rear walls of the bucket at respective legs. A mounting plate is fastened to three of the ribs at the rear wall and includes spaced apart rearwardly extending ears for connecting to the conventional bucket supporting arms and tilt cylinders of the tractor. A two piece cutting edge is attached to the ribs at the front of the bottom wall and projects forwardly of the bucket. The bucket also includes stiffeners upset out of the top wall and protective strips extending from the front of the end walls. By selection of the appropriate mounting plate the bucket assembly may be universally adapted for all of the known tractors.

Abstract: An improved universal adjustable snow plow apparatus that is connectable to a vehicular rear for plowing snow and the like. The plow apparatus employs a plow blade with a pair of vertically oriented plate supports; a stabilizing and supporting subassembly including a horizontal draw bar and a post; an elevating subassembly including a pair of spaced stabilizing arms and fluidic cylinder actuated pair of end adjacent adjoining links; and a cooperating plow orientation adjustment system. This adjustment system includes plow tilt regulating means and plow height regulating means. The blade is preferably provided with a replaceable elongated ground engaging scraper bar.

Abstract: Process for guiding the excavation tool used in order to execute the trenches necessary for the construction, by successive or alternating panels, of a wall cast in the ground, according to which:a) an excavation tool fitted with a first guiding element is provided,b) at the end of a previously executed trench, a second guiding element is arranged extending substantially over the entire depth of this trench, and thenc) after construction of the panel in the previously executed trench, the guiding elements are mutually engaged; andd) the excavation tool is controlled so as to create a force tending to keep the guiding elements mutually engaged while the excavation of the following trench is performed.

Abstract: An essentially equilateral tetrahedron having essentially four equilateral sides, each of which, in turn, an equilateral triangle is disclosed. The reef module may be any size, but for practical purposes in excess of one foot on an edge, and not necessarily exceeding six feet on an edge by a significant amount. The medium primarily employed to hold the implanted tire chips in place is cement, or its equivalent. Desirably a hydraulic cement is employed because of its high strength capability as well as durability. A related aspect of the present invention looks to the provision of lifting means on each such equilateral tetrahedron to permit the same, with relatively crude equipment, to be moved about in a factory sight, on to trucks, on to barges, and off barge to its ultimate resting place at the bottom of the sea. In connection with the method of forming the modules, an open-ended three sided mold is formed in the shape of a tetrahedron with the open end up.

Abstract: An apparatus for preparing and refurbishing trenches having two cutters supported on a frame. During operation of the apparatus, the cutters rotate about an axis to prepare the trench. The distance between the cutters as well as the angle of the cutters are adjustable to change the size and shape of the trench. A cover is placed over the cutters and has a remotely adjustable orientation which can be varied to select the direction of earth being projected over the side of the trench during operation. The cutters are preferably powered by dedicated motors, and include a multiplicity of blades mounted on dual levels to increase efficiency of cutting the trench.

Abstract: An improved excavating bucket, having a pair of sidewalls, a rear wall, a floor portion and an open front portion for receiving material thereinto; a plurality of teeth members secured to the floor portion for digging into the material to be excavated; a finishing blade mounted to the bucket, the blade extending across a width greater than the width of the bucket opening, and having a forward edge for scraping; a raised channel formed on the upper face of the blade for engaging a plurality of the teeth members; sidewall members extending from the outer edges of the blade for engaging the wall of the bucket, for defining an uninterrupted travelling space for material into the bucket; and adjustable support rods able to be swivelly positioned between the blade and the bucket sidewalls to stabilize the blade mounted on the bucket.

Abstract: The invention is directed to construction implements and methods for their use in the construction of retaining walls, revetments, road ways, suspended floor spans and the like. The basic element is a support sheet (1) comprising an essentially quadrangular sheet folded about at least one longitudinal axis (2) to produce at least one fold in the sheet. The basic element can be used to construct a load bearing surface at any angle. The basic element can be driven into the ground with the aid of various adapters (6) and attachments (17). Optionally, for additional strength, the sheet can be tied to the grounds by various anchor (26) (52) and rod assemblies (35). Each anchor is pivotally connected to the rod and positioned in the ground in a closed position. When appropriate tension is applied to the rod, the anchor assumes an open position and bites into the ground.

Abstract: A snowplow consisting of two hinged plates is removably mountable on the front or back frame or bumper of an automobile. The mounting and the plates are adapted to slope the plates at 270.degree.-240.degree. of each other.

Abstract: Fire protection for the tensioner cylinders of a marine riser tensioner system in oil and gas offshore drilling and production rigs where the tensioner cylinders are coated with intumescent epoxy and their respective cylinder rods are enclosed within outer fire protection cylinders which comprise an inner metal lining and an outer jacket. The outer jacket comprises an inner multi-layer thick blanket of ceramic fibrous materials and barrier films contained within inner and outer layers of woven ceramic fibers for reinforcement and abrasion resistance. The outer fire protection cylinders telescope over the tensioner cylinders as the cylinder rods extend and retract in response to vertical movement of the rigs. The intumescent epoxy on the tensioner cylinders are covered with a bearing sleeve to provide a smooth surface for the telescoping fire protecting cylinders and fire retardant mechanisms are located at the tops and bottoms of the telescoping cylinders to prevent intrusion of heat and flame.