Abstract: A heave compensator is disclosed particularly adapted for use in compensating the flow through a riser pipe employed in offshore drilling apparatus for surges and ebbs produced in the flow therein by the rising and falling of the surface platform or vessel in relation to the ocean floor. A telescoping section substantially identical to that incorporated within the riser is carried by the floating platform or vessel at a location remote from the telescoping section of the riser. The compensating telescoping section is connected into the flow pipe on one end and closed at the opposite end. The two telescoping sections are disposed normal to the earth's surface whereby gravity tends to extend the compensating telescoping section. The two lower portions of the respective telescoping sections are interconnected by a flexible cable passing over a sheave carried by the platform or vessel.

Abstract: A lawn watering system utilizes water formed by condensation taken out of the air by an air conditioning system. The water is stored in a holding tank and at a predetermined level in the tank, a pump is switched on for delivering the water to a hose system in the lawn.

Abstract: An upper deck structure which contains the equipment necessary for operation of an oil rig is positioned on top of the main deck of the rig, the main deck being supported by vertical pilings or columns. The upper deck is not rigidly connected to the main deck but is held in place by frictional engagement therebetween. Such engagement can be enhanced by the placement of a rubber layer between the two decks. The oil rig is consequently made much lighter in weight and is easier to put together.

Abstract: An improved drainage field pipe is disclosed which is a cylindrical tube of substantially circular cross section composed of an organic polymer material, having a principal axis slightly inclined with respect to the horizontal, for conducting a fluid slurry containing solid particles from a source connected to the inlet thereof, to be dispersed along the lower side of the tube into a subterranean drainage trench lined with crushed rock. A plurality of slots perforate the tube along the lower side thereof, with each slot having its length dimension greater than its width dimension. The slots allow the solid particles from the fluid slurry to pass out of the tube into the drainage trench while preventing the crushed rock from passing from the drainage trench into the tube.

Abstract: An anchor removing device is constituted by providing a wedge shaped breaking means tapered in the drawing-out direction, which is temporarily secured to the tip portion of an anchor steel member and a tension steel member encompassed with sheath coupled to the wedge shaped breaking means. After this anchor removing device has been inserted into anchor hole which is bored in the ground, a hardenable filler material is injected into the anchor hole to form an anchor body. The hardenable filler material may produce voids or contains a foreign material of a low rigidity, which produces the effect similar to that of voids, such as air bubbles. The material may be foamable polystyrene and a cork of a given porosity. Typical example of the hardenable filler material is a foamed concrete milk. At the time of removing the anchor, the edge shaped breaking means is withdrawn by pulling the tension steel member with a jack or the like.

Abstract: A concrete pile fitted with a special slightly tapered concrete tip of larger area. The tip has a central open socket for receiving concrete poured in after the pile is in place.

Abstract: A service connection between a water main and a meter within a building has a service conduit within a leakage conduit. The leakage conduit has a sealed connection with a casing sealed to the main and enclosing a corporation stop to which the service conduit is connected. The leakage conduit is sealed to the service conduit within the building and adjacent the meter and includes an outlet extending outwardly through the building wall above the ground so that leakage within the corporation casing or a leak in the service conduit may be quickly detected. In the event of a leak, the service conduit may be removed and replaced through the leakage conduit with excavation limited to exposing the corporation casing and the end of the leakage conduit connected thereto.

Abstract: Apparatus for remotely operating self-advancing supports or the like at a long-walled pit face of a coal mine comprises a receiver attached to every group of the supports which are arranged in front of and along the long-walled pit face, each of the receivers having a specific frequency, hydraulic cylinders attached to the support for causing the support to be operated, electromagnetic valves connected to the receiver to control the hydraulic cylinders, and a portable operating means including keys for specifying the groups of the supports, key switches for specifying the supports to be operated, and a transmitting circuit having operating switches, wherein operating signals are applied from the operating means via the radio system to the receivers.

Abstract: An improved thermally active submarine conductor for transmission of high voltage electrical power within bodies of water whose maximum depth and pressure is in excess of the maximum depth and pressure operative capacity of available conductive elements of the said conductor, as well as alternative means for the said transmission. The said conductor is comprised of a number of specifically adapted interdependent elements, each essential to the said transmission function, including: thermally active conduction and insulation elements, and sheathing and mechanical armorment elements as may be required for depth pressure and mechanical flexing protection, in addition to flotation elements, and tethering and anchoring stabilization elements, in order to maintain the said conductive elements at a functional depth and lateral routing, within a prescribed variance range radially circumscribing the said routing; and to prevent said elements from descending to a depth and pressure prohibitive to their proper function.

Abstract: This invention relates to means to produce an artificial reef or floating breakwater wherein a series of buoyant disks are strung on a buoyant flexible line in spaced relation to each other with the lower end of the line being tethered to its own anchor. These tethered disks are placed preferably in about 6 to 18 feet water depth from the shoreline. A series of these disk-anchors are strung along in or out of lines paralleling the shoreline and in various depths of water to provide effective grid means for eliminating or at least substantially reducing the erosion effect along shorelines resulting from wave action.The placement of the disk-rope anchor units is preferably in the water paralleling the shoreline and each unit is spaced apart from the other. However, the spacing is not critical but to accomplish the results sought to be achieved, the spacing ought to be close enough to be effective and yet not tangle with each other.

Abstract: This invention relates to a Vertically Moored Platform which is a floating structure anchored only by essentially parallel and vertical elongated members such as riser pipes under tension. Up to 32 or more such riser pipes are connected between a floating structure and anchor means on the sea floor. Special riser pipes/jacket horizontal bearing assemblies are provided to transmit horizontal force between the riser pipes and the floating structure.

Abstract: A method of producing a concrete lined tunnel, or other concrete lined underground excavation, in which first a rough tunnel is excavated of a cross-section which is greater than that of the tunnel to be lined with concrete, whereafter a lost form is connected by support members to the inner surface of the rough tunnel spaced at a distance therefrom which corresponds to the expected maximum settlement of the inner surface under the influence of the rock pressure acting thereon, and finally applying a concrete lining to the inner surface of the lost form, while the rigidity of the support members relative to the rock pressure is made smaller than that of the concrete lining so that the support members may yield during the settlement of the rough tunnel.

Abstract: A floating ballasted oil containment boom provides a stable continuous barrier to the passage of petroleum or other contaminants floating on the surface of water. Boom elements are connected end to end by an overlapping joint.

Abstract: Laying tool for laying of submarine cable in a sea-bottom trench. The tool comprises a drag unit and a pulling tube joined by a cardanic suspension and drawn by a vessel for use under variable sea and bottom conditions. The cable is laid out from the vessel through the pulling tube, a canal in the drag unit, and, finally, into a sea-bottom trench formed by a ploughing device on the drag unit. This unit is constructed so that the cable is forced down onto the bottom of the trench even if the unit is not operating in a proper position due to a rough sea-bottom. Moreover, the drag unit is constructed so that all material turned up from the sea-bottom is pushed aside from the trench and the ploughing device. The laying tool is also provided with floating tanks adjusted so that the drag unit without cable will float but with cable it will sink. The tanks may be filled with both water and air to facilitate submergence and refloating of the drag unit.

Abstract: A modular unit for erosion control due to wave action is disclosed. The system utilizes a series of symmetrical units linked together to dissipate the kinetic energy of incoming waves. Symmetry of building blocks enables the device to work in any orientation. Energy dissipators on each block allow the wave action to be broken up while allowing passage of water through the unit.

Abstract: This invention relates to a vertically moored platform which is a floating structure anchored only by essentially parallel and vertical elongated members such as riser pipes under tension. Up to 32 or more such riser pipes are connected between the floating structure and anchor means on the sea floor. Special riser pipe/jacket vertical bearing assembly is provided to place the riser pipes under proper tension and to transmit force from the riser pipes to the floating structure.

Abstract: The invention relates to oil-field production equipment. It consists particularly in using a production platform of the type articulated to a base, and which comprises a gas and oil separator while being combined with a flare located at a suitable distance from the axis of the platform, this flare being carried by a floating support turning into the wind, while being connected by at least one arm hinged to rotatable head of the platform. The invention comprises also different arrangements relative to the connection between a drilling platform and a storage and loading platform.

Abstract: The ground vibrator comprises a rod to be inserted into the ground and having at its end axial resonance plates, which are brought into vibration by means of a vibration source arranged at the top end of the rod.The vibration effect of the resonance plates is improved, when the direction of vibration of the vibration source exhibits a departure from the longitudinal axis of the rod.

Abstract: The invention relates to platforms of the off-shore type. It consists principally in arranging the base of the platform in the form of an elongated reservoir able to float and of a sufficient length to serve as a support for a column during transport to the anchoring point. For positioning the reservoir-base on the sea-bed, the reservoir is first of all tilted under the effect of ballasting until one of the ends of the reservoir touches the sea-bed. Then the column is released to assume its vertical position by way of floats connected thereto; and the operation is completed by ballasting to bring the reservoir-base to a horizontal position on the sea-bed.

Abstract: A boat dock assembled from portable sections hingedly connected to each other and provided with foldable and adjustably extensible leg assemblies. Each section is formed from tread retaining decking members made of extruded metal sections interconnected in close parallel spaced relation by interlocking elements. Pivotally separable half-shell foot elements are connected to the leg assemblies for stabilized support of the dock sections.