Abstract: A subsea riser system for conducting petroleum or other fluid from the ocean floor to a floating loading and storage terminal or other facility at the water surface. The bottom end of the riser is connected to a subsea base by a hydraulic connector, and the lower portion of the riser is supported in tension between the subsea base and a submerged tension leg platform. The portion of the riser between the submerged platform and the floating terminal is flexible to accommodate relative movement between the platform and terminal, this flexibility accomplished by means of a series of pipe swivel joints spaced along the riser.

Abstract: Aquatic sports zones are reclaimed or made by bounding non-shore areas of the zone with a plurality of end-to-end connected water impervious flotation boom sections, anchoring the formed boom in the bound zone, and attaching the ends of the boom to pier bulkheads, and providing the boom with a ballasted skirt having a length greater than the maximum normally anticipated water depth at the point of attachment of the skirt to the boom. Where desired, water purification means may be included in the bound zone.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hollow auger and to a method for producing piles cast in the ground. The method is characterized in that one uses an auger provided with a removable cutting head and which is able to slide in a sealed manner in the blade support tube of the auger and in that the injection of concrete, taking place through a central passageway provided in the cutting head, is undertaken in two successive stages, a first stage in which concrete is injected into the support tube by progressively raising the cutting head to a predetermined level, namely zero level in the latter and a second stage in which the auger is raised from the drill-hole by exerting a constant pressure on the cutting head and by injecting concrete in order to maintain this head at the predetermined level. The invention has application in the manufacture of piles cast from concrete.

Abstract: A shoring system provides trapezoidal pockets in modular plating units. The junction of planes in the trapezoids provides mechanical strength and deformation sites at which deformation can be seen.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for producing steel piling and a machine for driving the same in earthen strata and further teaches fabrication of the steel piling either by a rolling mill or an extrusion machine, said piling being provided with integral portions that are later deformed to produce longitudinally extending ducts that are suitably pierced to jet streams of water carried by the ducts to the opposed sides of a section of piling.

Abstract: Corrugated steel plate is formed from a flat plate stock and has a length of at least about 12 feet, a corrugation pitch of at least about 12 inches, and a corrugation depth of at least four inches. The plate has thicknesses of up to one-half inch and more. Also disclosed are structures such as tunnel-type, heavy load-supporting structures defined by upright and horizontal structure portions which extend over no more than about 180.degree. while being capable of supporting up to 40 feet of ground fill and payload thereon. The corrugated plate can be used singly or as double, spaced-apart plate assemblies which are hollow or filled with concrete or a like material, including steel reinforcing bars for the concrete. The corrugated plate can also be formed into vertical, sectional retaining walls, bin type retaining walls, bridge abuttment walls, flat support surfaces such as bridge decking, open air structures, guard rails, sheet piling, etc.

Abstract: A method for laying subsoil membranes includes dragging a hollow cutting blade through the soil at a predetermined depth, providing a supply of sheeting to the interior of the blade and feeding the sheeting from the interior of the blade through an opening therein. The hollow blade has a cutting edge, a rear edge and an upper section having an upwardly sloping front portion and a downwardly sloping rear portion connected by a center portion. The bottom portion of the blade slopes in an upward direction from its front to form a release angle. The sheet material is fed out of an opening in the rear of the blade.

Abstract: The invention relates to a locking device for converting an articulated system into a rigid one, more particularly for buoys having articulated legs; the locking device consists of a frame adapted to be mounted to the legs of the buoy and comprising a jaw locking system, in which the jaws consist of split sleeves.

Abstract: A method of, and bolt for, supporting a structure such as a mine or tunnel roof or side wall or the like.

Abstract: An offshore product loading terminal has a support which is secured an an anchor and which carries a pipe swivel. A product pipe from a product source is intended to be connected to the pipe swivel, the input and output of which are capable of relative rotation about a vertical axis. The turntable also permits relative rotation about the vertical axis and carries a buoy through a universal coupling. The buoy carries a mooring point for a ship and is divided into a plurality of compartments individually sealed.

Abstract: This invention relates to concrete constructional members for building walls and bulkheads and particularly moles, quay bulkheads, groins or like edifices. Such members hitherto comprised a concrete body having a vertically continuous opening in the central area and having pairs of divergent arms of different length on two opposing sides, the end faces of the shorter pair of arms being capable of being brought into contact with the inner faces of the longer pair of arms on an adjoining constructional member. According to the invention, the constructional member is formed as a concrete part having a height such that it can extend in one piece from the foot of the edifice which is to be built, to at least the vicinity of the surface of the water.

Abstract: An oil boom is disclosed which comprises two rows of upper and lower stream side; a flexible base sheet connected across base portions of the two rows of floats and hanging down therefrom into the water in a gently curved shape. A plurality of inlet openings are arranged near the upper stream side float and extending in its lengthwise direction; an inflow guide plate made integral with the flexible base sheet and arranged below the inlet openings. A plurality of outlet openings are arranged in a rear portion of the flexible base sheet and extending in its lengthwise direction, the total opening area of the outlet openings per unit length of the flexible base sheet being larger than that of the inlet openings. Thus the oil boom may be utilized not only to dam and collect and oil slick floating on water, but also as an oil collecting region to separate the oil slick from the water.

Abstract: Discarded rubber automotive tires are processed into bales for disposal and use as landfill, fish habitats and other purposes by compressing a stack of such tires endwise into a compact annular bale and then securing the bale with ties at circumferentially spaced locations thereon. Preferably during compression of the stack, it is slit lengthwise from end to end at multiple circumferential locations between the wires. The resulting slits extend inwardly from the outer toward the inner periphery of the bale but terminate short of the inner tire bead and rim to permit the escape of air and water from the annular interior spaces of the tires and yet maintain the integrity of the bale. The compressed, tied and slit baled product is particularly useful in forming artificial reefs in bodies of water for use as fish habitats because of its lack of buoyancy and resulting ease and accuracy of placement.

Abstract: In general, the present invention provides processes and apparatus for bending and straightening or otherwise installing marine pipelines at underwater installations, and includes systems in which marine pipelines are installed at water depths to 250 feet or more, utilizing an underwater chamber which may be operated with its interior wet, dry or combinations thereof. In one form, the system provides for interconnecting wellheads or other stations with manifolds or other stations and comprises running marine pipeline generally vertically downwardly from the water surface into the work chamber, mounted in operative association with an underwater wellhead or station, wherein the pipe is bent in the desired radius and through the desired angle and then straightened to exit from the chamber and wellhead in a substantially horizontal attitude such that it may then be pulled to a manifold or other underwater station with, for example, a wire line.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for controlling the advance of a tunnel drive shield. The drive shield is of the type having a plurality of elongate implements (or planks) which are supported and guided on a frame. Hydraulic rams are provided for moving the planks relative to the frame. The control apparatus comprises hydraulic ram means, which act between the frame and the permanent tunnel lining, and means for varying the pressure of hydraulic fluid applied to said hydraulic ram means. The frame can be advanced by applying hydraulic fluid to said hydraulic ram means and by simultaneously applying hydraulic fluid to at least one of said hydraulic rams. The direction of frame advance is controlled by varying the ratio of the pressures of the hydraulic fluid applied to said hydraulic ram means and to said at least one hydraulic ram.

Abstract: Pipe-laying apparatus employs an advanceable shield with a set of elongate cutter planks supported for longitudinal displacement by a frame. Rams interconnect the planks and the frame and enable the shield to advance to form an open trench. Behind the shield is an open stabilizing frame connected with further adjusting rams to the frame of the drive shield. The frame serves to receive a pipe section which is to be aligned and connected to a previously-installed pipe section to extend the pipe line. A set of long follow-up planks are pivotably connected to the cutter planks and lie between the open frame and the trench walls.

Abstract: A loading gate for a mine roof bolter apparatus forms a protective canopy for mine working personnel when opened, and when closed, it seals an opening in the bolter containing manual controls and roof bolt storage cartridges. Access to the stored cartridges and controls by the personnel can only be made when the gate is open. The gate is operated by an over-center toggle joint driven by a hydraulic cylinder. As a fail-safe feature, once the gate has been fully opened, the over-center toggle joint maintains the gate open even upon failure of the hydraulic cylinder.

Abstract: A tower is installed at an offshore worksite by floating to the worksite a tower subassembly which comprises a base, a plurality of upright open-trussed initial leg segments, and a plurality of flotation tanks. A plurality of open-trussed add-on leg segments are stored on a vessel in the vicinity of the worksite. The flotation tanks are ballasted to partially immerse the subassembly so that buoyant jacking units disposed within and connected to respective ones of the initial leg segments floatingly support the subassembly, with top portions of the initial leg segments projecting above the water surface. Add-on leg segments are mounted onto the leg portions projecting above the water surface. While the subassembly is suspended from the jacking units, the subassembly is lowered so that the jacking units enter the add-on leg segments as the add-on leg segments pass downwardly therearound. These steps are repeated so that the subassembly is gradually built-up with leg segments and is progressively submerged.

Abstract: In a method of immersion of a massive part such as a hydrocarbon storage tank on the ocean floor, the storage tank is placed over the immersion site, then lowered by means of ballast floats so that the top of the tank is close to the surface of the water. The lower end of a first rigid column also fitted with ballast floats is attached to the tank and pivotally displaced from a horizontal position at the surface of the water to a totally submerged vertical position. A number of columns are attached successively in end-to-end relation and pivotally displaced until the storage tank reaches the ocean floor.

Abstract: In order to facilitate or make possible the driving of sheet pile planks and the like into the ground, adjacent the location where the sheet pile planks are to be driven in, there is provided a cavity in the ground for at least partially receiving the soil as it is displaced during the pile driving operation. The cavity is provided not later than during the driving-in of the sheet pile planks.