Abstract: The present invention relates to a ground stabilization arrangement a structure for dam embankments and other terrain slopes and the like, consisting of interconnected elements of old automobile tires.

Abstract: A removable closure apparatus for tubular members of offshore platforms and the like utilizes a body inserted in the tubular member. A seal formed in an annulus between the inner surface of the tubular member and the outer surface of the body is bonded to each of the surfaces of the body and the tubular member. The seal is broken by use of a flexible tensile bearing inlay spirally embedded within the seal. The inlay is torn from the seal to destroy the structural integrity thereof and permit removal of the body. The inlay has one end affixed to the body and a second end extending upwardly through the member for manipulation from the upper end thereof. A force applied to the second end of the inlay causes it to tear the seal along a spiral path.

Abstract: An improved plow for use in laying drain-tile. The plow has a narrow body with an elongated upright portion and a triangular portion at the bottom, front end of the upright portion. Means on the body guide a drain-tile from an inlet high in the upright portion to an outlet at the bottom, rear of the upright portion. The plow has a plow blade detachably and adjustably fixed to the leading edge of the triangular portion. A near shoe and a plow knife may also be detachably fixed to the plow. The plow knife includes means for moving earth in a manner that it fills in the drain-tile trench. Linkage means are provided for connecting the plow to a tractor in a manner that it can be easily maneouvered. The linkage means includes an adjustable link that can change the attitude of the plow. The plow may also comprise means for laying a cover strip on top of the drain-tile as it is being laid.

Abstract: An interconnecting device for use with a plurality of spaced floating breakwater columns comprising a plurality of spaced spherical elements wherein each element is encompassed by a pair of flanged hemispherical plate members. A hollow rubber spherical member is secured to the interior surface of the hemispherical plate members and abuttingly engages the spherical element. A pair of plate members interconnect the flanged hemispherical plate members to provide an integral assembly unit with the rubber element providing resiliency. Each spherical element has an outwardly projecting hub that is flanged to permit its attachment to the breakwater columns.

Abstract: A universal Cardan joint coupling device for pivotally connecting an off-shore oil-field working articulated column to a base member resting or anchored on the sea bed, wherein the improvement consists in that at least one of the pivot axes of said joint is connected to two supports rigidly connected to said base member and provided on either side of said joint, by means of two lock-bolt means aligned and displaceable along said axis and adapted to cooperate with bolt-clasps or keepers provided in said supports.

Abstract: An apparatus for erecting a bridge structure which is adapted to be disposed above a body of water includes an elongated bridge member and a support tower pivotably mounted upon the bridge member. The support tower includes a caisson which has a jacking member telescopically mounted therein at its upper end and the support tower is further provided with a plurality of pile sleeves mounted upon its lower end, such that the support tower may be anchored to the surface underlying the body of water. The bridge structure has a gas flare line and a gas flare tip associated therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for laying pipeline in a bed substantially under water. Pipe is placed on the bed along the general line the pipeline will take. A trench is excavated in the bed generally parallel to the pipe by transporting spoil to the opposite side of the trench as the pipe and by excavating sufficient material adjacent the pipe so that the pipe will be supported by the bed after initial excavation but so that the bed ultimately will shear along a shear line under the weight of the pipe alone, so that the pipe will drop into the trench along with the material of the bed above the shear line. Material that has fallen into the trench after collapse of the pipe into the trench can be shifted out of the trench. The plow used for trenching includes a tandem set of wheels mounted to a forward portion of a frame, a center line of the plow extending between the wheels posterior thereof.

Abstract: Improved low headroom culvert comprised of a plurality of shallow arch-shaped corrugated culvert sections and elongated unitary load transferring stringer stiffener elements, the stringer stiffener elements being arranged in generally spaced parallel relation to each other and secured to the inside surfaces of said sections. The stringer elements extend for substantially the full length of the culvert thereby acting to integrate the culvert sections into a unitary overall culvert structure. Certain of the stringer elements are located a selected distance inwardly from the free bottom edges of the culvert sections and provide combination culvert reinforcing stringer elements and elongated footings and soil supports.

Abstract: A tie rod support having a lightweight rod of fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) material with a tapered sleeve of non-ferrous material mounted on one end. The other end of the rod is adapted to be inserted axially into a hole in a wall or roof of a mine with the sleeve supporting a pressure plate abutting the inner surface of the wall or roof. Frangible cartridges of polyester resin and a catalyst are first inserted in the hole and axial rotation of the rod as it is inserted into the hole ruptures the cartridges and mixes their contents, causing rapid curing of the resin and a bond between the FRP rod and the inner surface of the hole.

Abstract: During the process of cooling, the stresses in the earth pass first through a maximum compression and then this gives place to traction up to the moment when fissures appear. The application of cooling is conducted so as to reduce the size of these fissures and to prevent their propagation through the compressed zone. They are plugged preferably by spraying water in the course of application of cooling.

Abstract: The invention relates to a soil irrigation system comprising subterranean distribution pipes for distributing water to overlying soil, each pipe having a perforated upper wall whose outer surface is covered with water permeable means for preventing said overlying soil from fouling the perforations of said upper wall, and means integral with the remaining wall structure of said pipe for retaining said water permeable means in its covering relationship with said upper wall; said water permeable means being a unitary layer of capillary material which, in addition to its antifouling function, aids in equilizing the outflow of water from all the perforations in said upper wall of the pipe from one end of the pipe to the other; and said retaining means being integral also with said upper wall and is provided with a pair of inwardly projecting cams which overlie and positionally secure the respective longitudinal side edges of said unitary layer of capillary material, said retaining means being constructed to preven

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a pile including an elongate member having a front surface, a back surface and a lower end portion adapted to be driven into the earth. A rigid plate is transversely affixed on the lower end portion of the elongate member. When the elongate member is driven generally upright into the earth, the plate extends through the earth in a direction generally perpendicular to lateral forces acting on the front or back surface of the elongate member. The pile can be used as an upright support member for an earth embankment wall.

Abstract: A device for positioning a pipeline intended to rest on the bottom of the sea or of a body of water. In order to present a resistance to the drifting of the pipeline by the action of cross-currents, the pipeline is provided with a plurality of support members suitably distributed along the pipeline and extending in a direction generally parallel to the vertical plane containing the longitudinal axis of the pipeline. The support members project below the pipeline towards the bottom and are deformable in the vertical plane by the reaction of the bottom on the support members, but are transversely rigid.

Abstract: Equipment for removing and refitting resilient packing in a cardan joint at the base of a platform or column mounted on the sea bed, the cardan joint connected a pipe in the sea bed with a pipe leading up the column, said packing comprising a stack of rubber rings and metallic washers disposed between end plates and capable of being deformed in torsion and said packing being compressed between an abutment on the end of a hollow shaft in the cardan joint and an abutment on the adjacent end of a pipe.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cabinet having two or more drawers, more specifically for safe-keeping of records such as papers, documents, file cards or the like, comprising at least one vertical, pivotally mounted locking bar of substantially uniform cross section and having two projecting portions, said locking bar being adapted to cooperate with parts of or on the drawers so that after pulling out one drawer it will lock and prevent the other drawer or drawers from being pulled out. The locking device of such a cabinet eliminates the risk of the cabinet turning over as a result of two or more heavily loaded drawers being pulled out simultaneously.

Abstract: A heat or cold storage system utilizing a plurality of channels dug directly into the earth and filled with rocks which are used to absorb heat or cold for storage, a part of such storage being the rocks themselves and a (usually much larger) part being the adjacent earth. Conduit connections are provided for carrying heat or cold to the rocks.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for driving a pile into the ocean floor utilizing an underwater hammer. A leg of an offshore jacket structure is provided with several annular guide sleeves affixed to the leg at several spaced apart locations along the exterior of the leg. A pile is disposed underwater in the lower guide sleeves proximate the lower end of the structure leg. A housing assembly having a hammer mounted inside is lowered from the surface through the guide sleeves and into contact with the top of the pile, with the hammer being beneath the surface. The pile is driven by a succession of blows delivered by the hammer. The housing is then raised to the surface and moved to another driving location by an overhead sling.

Abstract: The invention relates to an above sea-level platform, for use as, for example, an oil-rig, which is connected to a sea-bed foundation by a ball-joint arrangement. For protection, the ball joint is hollow and partially received in a recess at the lower end of a tubular extension of the platform through which an oil conduit leads from the foundation via the hollow ball joint, the two parts of which are held in sealing abutment by a draw member.

Abstract: Apparatus for establishing a solid, very low permeable rock glass plug to seal access holes through rock to underground storage vaults. The apparatus is designed to supply a filler material having a constituency substantially matching that of the rock formation surrounding the access port to the vault, through a central feeder tube under pressure to the vault. Means are provided for heating the filler material and surrounding rock formation at the point where the filler material exits the feeder tube, to a temperature sufficient to melt both the rock formation and the filler material. The remaining portion of the feeder tube is cooled to preserve the surrounding rock formation spaced from the feeder orifice. The melt at the extremity of the feeder tube is forced through the orifice to a region below the tool by the force of the pressure feed. As the melt is forced below the tool, the tool is retracted until the access hole is completely sealed.

Abstract: In a dam comprising a plurality of support posts, said posts being substantially uniformly spaced with respect to one another and having a predetermined pitch spacing, a flexible web having a central body portion and upper and lower marginal edge portions, the improvement wherein said marginal edge portions are uniformly shortened along the length thereof to a length which is less than the unshortened length of the central body portion by a factor of 2/.pi..