Abstract: The invention relates to a method for laying carrier cables, more particularly telephone lines, comprising the steps of burying a bundle of pipes connected to a connection box supplied by a main cable, severing certain of the pipes forming part of the bundle to constitute a local opening therein at the suitable spot, connecting one end of a secondary connection pipe to the severed opening of the pipe forming part of the bundle, the opposite end of said secondary connection pipe terminating at the apparatus to be supplied, passing a secondary branch cable in the severed pipe extended by the secondary connection pipe, one side of which cable thus terminates at the connection box and the other at the apparatus to be connected to the system. The invention also concerns a bundle of pipes for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A mine roof bolt and expansion anchor are provided with means preventing relative rotation of the two in a direction tending to withdraw the bolt from the tapered nut of the anchor while allowing relative rotation in the opposite direction, whereby the bolt may be rotationally advanced into the nut as the anchor remains rotationally stationary to effect expansion of the anchor shell within a drill hole. A conventional, two-compartment resin cartridge is inserted into the drill hole ahead of the end of the bolt carrying the anchor. The cartridge is ruptured and the contents thereof mixed by advance of the bolt and anchor while rotating in the direction preventing relative rotation. Immediately thereafter the bolt is rotated in the opposite direction, thereby expanding the anchor and firmly securing it in the hole. The bolt may then be immediately loaded without regard to the setting time of the resin. Three embodiments are disclosed of the means providing the aforementioned relative rotational action.

Abstract: A diverless subsea flowline connection system includes connectors for remotely connecting the ends of a first bundle of flowlines to the ends of a second bundle of flowlines and guidance components which direct the end portions of the first bundle of flowlines into precise connecting alignment with the end portions of the second bundle of flowlines without damage to the connecting seals. The ends of the first bundle are covered and sealed so that the flowlines can be pulled across the seafloor without damage to the ends of the flowlines. Means are provided for pulling the first bundle toward an alignment structure so that the lines can approach the structure from a wide variety of angles and the structure will guide the first bundle into exact alignment with the second bundle. This pulling means includes means for connecting a pulling cable to the radial center of a pulling head attached to the ends of the first bundle of flowlines.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved fixed offshore platform and method of erecting the same. The platform has an open truss structure with upper and lower deck levels. The upper deck has removable floor sections to allow installation of equipment down through the truss structure. The platform is provided with pads for mounting equipment and housing in modules on the deck. No flotation is provided in the platform and means are provided for supporting the platform on the deck of a simple barge. The platform is generally triangular in shape having three caisson legs with one leg enlarged to allow drilling therethrough. Jacks are provided for gripping the legs and a crane is mounted on the deck to move along tracks provided thereon. In erecting the platform, the platform is first barged to the location of installation on a simple barge with the legs in a vertically-extending position and the platform in its normal operating position with the crane thereon. The barge is moored in position over a well site.

Abstract: Directed to a cable rock anchor device whereby a load-supporting cable having considerable length may be anchored in a hole to provide ceiling or wall support underground comprising cable gripping means for gripping the cable during advance of the cable and device through a hole and expandable hole gripping means in contact therewith whereby tension applied to the cable causes the cable gripping means to grip the cable more tightly and causes expansion of the hole gripping means to grip the hole wall.

Abstract: A tube closure for use in a pile or leg connectable to the inside of a pile or leg between the ends of a pile or leg to divide the pile or leg into separate compartments to permit control flooding of each compartment. A locking ring is installed in the inside of the pile or leg to allow engagement of locking dogs with the pile or leg to limit longitudinal movement of the closure system through the pile or leg. The locking dogs are operably connected to a hub which when lifted moves the locking dogs away from the locking ring to disengage the system. An inflatable rubber packer is formed around the closure to seal off the area between the closure and the inner wall of the pile or leg. Once the piling or leg is in location, the rubber packer is deflated and the system is removed by a wire line which lifts a hub secured to the dogs to move the dogs out of engagement with the locking ring before lifting the assembly from its position.

Abstract: Systems for launching or hauling up small boats, especially pleasure boats and the like, include a pair of rails joined together by sleepers and a carriage having two or more pairs of wheels which run along the rails. The rails are designed so that each of them forms a first track which is obliquely disposed in a lateral direction relative to a horizontal plane. A second track adjacent the first track forms an angle of about 90.degree. in a lateral direction relative to the first track.

Abstract: This invention provides apparatus and a method for laying flexible irrigation tubing underground, the apparatus comprising a plow attached to a frame, means located on the frame to support and unreel a spool of flexible tubing, a rigid tube affixed to the frame adapted to accept the flexible tubing at its upper end and bent so that its lower portion extends rearward of the plow generally parallel to the ground and in the trench dug by the plow, hillers affixed to the frame adapted to force the dirt plowed by the plow back into the formed trench immediately behind the rigid tube, and a compacting means attached to and trailing the hillers to compact the dirt into the trench, provided that the trailing end of the rigid tube extends rearward to a point behind the point of compaction of the compacting means such that, in operation, as the apparatus is pulled across the ground and the flexible tubing is drawn into the rigid tube, the flexible tubing exits the trailing end of the rigid tube and is laid into the und

Abstract: A method and system for connecting the ends of a pair of tubular conduits for use at the bottom of a body of water in which terminal portions of said conduits, adjacent to and including said ends, are buoyantly supported in a generally elevated attitude within the body of water with the ends in a zone of the body of water below the surface thereof. The ends are positively fixed against movement relative to each other but permitted limited movement, as a unit, relative to the bottom of the body of water. The connection of the conduit ends is made within the aforementioned zone of the body of water.

Abstract: An oscillating structure for exploration at sea features a column which rests on a heavy base resting on the sea bottom, and which supports a platform above sea level. The column is connected to the base by an articulated joint which allows it to oscillate in all directions under action of swell, the articulated joint comprising two base plates cooperating with the substantially flat and parallel surfaces of the bottom of the column and the upper surface of the base respectively, two supports fixed on each of the plates and parallel one to the other, bearings, formed of two half bearings which can be dismantled, fixed to the ends of the said supports, the bearings of the supports fixed to the same base plate being in alignment, and a cross shaped member, whose branches are located in different planes, extending between the bearings.

Abstract: A platform comprises a base structure designed to rest on the bottom of the sea for supporting an industrial or scientific installation above the surface of the water. The base structure comprises a floatable device capable of keeping afloat and means for ballasting the base structure to install the structure on the bottom of the sea. The base structure also includes a shaft in which a hollow element with a water-tight peripheral wall and a water-tight lower end wall, can slide vertically. The element can be temporarily fixed to the shaft. The element forms a float capable of supporting a deck which carries the installations, but is capable of being immersed over at least the greater part of its height. The deck is capable of floating until it is over the top of the element when the element is immersed and has means for fixing it to the top of the element.

Abstract: An attachment, such as an operator's compartment or a mine roof drilling and bolting assembly is positioned adjacent the body portion of a self-propelled mine vehicle with the bottom portion of the attachment in slidable contact with the mine floor. In one embodiment a slide assembly for supporting the attachment for upward and downward movement relative to the mine vehicle is pivotally connected by a hinge assembly to the vehicle body. With this arrangement the attachment is operable to move upwardly and downwardly relative to the hinge assembly, which is fixed to the vehicle body. The attachment is operable to pivot about the hinge assembly as the bottom portion of the attachment slides along the undulating surface of the mine floor. In another embodiment the hinge assembly is secured to the attachment and supports guide rails of the slide assembly which are slidably received within a guide member secured to the vehicle body.

Abstract: The invention contemplates shoring structure for winter or other land-based storage of small boats, such as keeled sailboat hulls, wherein the basic structure is adaptable to the inherently stable and locked retention of each of a relatively wide variety of different hull shapes, and wherein such structure may be collapsed and stored within relatively compact volumetric confines.

Abstract: A cage construction for protection of well equipment at a subsea wellhead and during descent to or ascent from a subsea well, said cage construction comprising an open frame cage body means defining a longitudinal axis, an intermediate cage portion of selected lateral and vertical dimension to encompass well equipment supported from a wellhead at the sea floor, and end cage portions extending upwardly and downwardly from said intermediate cage portion serving as guidance means, each cage end portion including coaxial receptor members, the receptor member at the lower end portion being adapted to receive and to be supported from a wellhead part, and the receptor member at the upper cage end portion being adapted to align, receive and pass therethrough the lower end of a pipe string into said cage body means.

Abstract: A ball joined to a first element, a hole through the ball and first element, a socket, having a spheroidal internal surface, joined to a second element, a hole through the socket and second element, said socket containing the ball in mating and nesting arrangement with the hole in the ball communicating with the hole in the socket, one of the ball and the socket containing at least one cam slot extending along a line of longitude, a cam follower having an axle joined to one of the ball and the socket at the equator and extending into the slot in the other one, and said ball and socket being rotatable relative to each other around only two of three orthogonal axes intersecting at a point in the radial center of the ball.

Abstract: The invention relates to a floating structure, e.g. an offshore platform adapted for use in exploitation of submerged oil fields and the like purposes at offshore areas. The structure has a platform from which extended downwardly are columns carried by footings having buoyancy large enough to keep the platform afloat. Tension wires are extended through the footings for connection to the sea bottom in a diverging manner. Sinkers are provided at intermediate portions of respective tension wires so that the portions of the laters between the sea bottom and the points at which the sinkers are provided may exhibit sags. The sagged portions of the tension wires are expected to present a buffering effect to diminish the extraordinary large tension in the tension wires attributable to the movement of the platform. The up and downward movement of the platform is prevented by a riser pipe extended from the center of the platform.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and apparatus for effecting deep water repair of pipelines especially during a pipelaying operation. A damaged portion of the pipeline is located and is prepared for receiving a pipeline plug member by cutting away the damaged portion leaving a prepared pipeline end section. The pipeline plug member is secured in a submersible repair frame which is lowered from a floating vessel into an operational relationship with the prepared pipeline end section. The plug member is aligned with the pipeline end section and is inserted into the end section. Thereafter, the plug member is sealingly secured in the pipeline end section and the repair frame is removed from its operational relationship with the pipeline. The pipeline is dewatered and the end section is then raised onto a floating vessel.

Abstract: An hydraulic walking roof-support frame for a coal mine has a roof support assembly comprising a main support and an auxiliary support pivotally connected to the main support for pivoting about a horizontal axis through an angle of 180.degree.. The auxiliary support is caused to pivot by a pair of hydraulically operated extensible and retractable jacks connected between the main support and the auxiliary support, the pivot points where the jacks are connected to the auxiliary support being angularly spaced apart relative to the axis of pivoting of the auxiliary support whereby when (during pivoting of the auxiliary support) one jack is in a "dead center" position the other jack can still pivot the auxiliary support permitting remote control thereof.

Abstract: A first embodiment employs precast cementitious stretchers provided with cast in place connectors for anchor rod ends. A second embodiment employs stretcher panels fabricated of resilient sheet material and secured together by straps which reinforce to panels and provide connectors for anchor rod ends. Both embodiments incorporate deadman anchors formed with slot-like openings through which end plates on the rods may pass and which serve to secure the plates against removal from anchors when the rods are secured to the connectors of the stretchers.

Abstract: A breakwater which has a rear wall and several front walls to break up the incident waves, the front walls having holes therein to pass the waves, which holes diminish in size from the front wall which takes the initial impact of the wave towards the back wall. In various embodiments the breakwater may have a sloping back wall, convex-concave indentations on the back wall, partitions dividing up into compartments the chambers in front of the back wall, and a sloping second wall.