Abstract: A retainer for rotatably retaining a mining tool or a wear resistant sleeve in a support block includes a removable collar consisting of at least two semiannular members each having a flange extending from its inside diameter and a groove disposed about its outside diameter. The removable collar is circumferentially mountable about a rearward portion of either the mining tool or the wear resistant sleeve extending from the support block when mounted therein. The extending rearward portion has a groove circumferentially disposed therein. When the semiannular members are mated thereabout, the flange of each member cooperates with the groove in the rearward portion of either the mining tool or the wear resistant sleeve. The groove about each semiannular member defines in combination a substantially continuous groove about the collar. A snap ring is removably mounted in the substantially continuous groove about the removable collar.

Abstract: A safety roadway delineator includes one or more elongate recessed marker surfaces which are coated with a reflective material, preferably a retroreflective material such as reflective glass beads. The recessed marker surfaces are vertical or at least inclined to the horizontal to insure water run-off and are formed either directly in cast-in-place concrete roadway members or in pre-cast polymer concrete facing panels which are attached to the cast-in-place concrete roadway members. The roadway delineator is substantially continuously protected from normal wear and reliably exhibits reflectivity both under dry and rainy weather conditions.

Abstract: A grass catcher (40) for a reel mower (10). Catcher (40) includes a vent (94) which is offset relative to the longitudinal axis (55) of the catcher (40). Catcher (40) also preferably includes a panel (78a) which prevents air and grass from escaping catcher (40) on the side of catcher (40) favored by spiral blades (27) of rotating cutting reel (26). Vent (94) is preferably formed by a pair of partitions (96 and 100) which intercept the flow of air and grass and serve to dissipate the kinetic energy of the air to the point where the grass is separated out and falls to the bottom of catcher (40). A pair of slots (108 and 110) permit the egress of air from within catcher (40).

Abstract: A new manhole cover support and its processes of manufacture and use are shown. Such cover supports are used to raise the effective grade of the existing manhole cover as before road resurfacing. The cover supports are mounted upon an existing manhole cover receiving structure which has an upwardly-extending shoulder surface and a sill therebelow for accommodating such cover. The new cover support comprises basically an expandable body and a flexible, compressible synthetic or natural resin-containing retention component. The body has a seat with a lateral keeper for the manhole cover, a base with an outer wall that is reactable against said shoulder surface, and an expander for the base and seat which provides at least one gap in the base and seat. The retention component is disposed between the outer wall of the base and the shoulder surface; it interacts with expansion of the base to enhance substantially the normal frictional grip between the body and the receiving structure.

Abstract: A tracer deployment tool for discharging a quantity of radioactive or other toxic tracer material into a wellbore for distribution into an earth formation with an injection fluid includes a first piston held in a predetermined position by shear pins and a member supporting a rupturable vial of tracer material. The member connected to the piston is formed as a generally cylindrical cage through which a knife member extends and responds to movement of the cage to rupture the vial. Movement of the piston uncovers passages which permit through-flow of liquid through the vial retaining cage to flush the tracer material thoroughly from the tool. An elongated actuating rod is connectable to a packer setting mechanism or the like for effecting operation of the tool. An alternate embodiment includes two pistons which define the tracer holding chamber.

Abstract: An improved manhole cover support having a metal body comprising base, seat, and keeper portions, the keeper portion rising above the seat portion and having at least a pair of opposing ends that define a gap between them, a bridging piece for spanning each gap, the bridging piece having at least one free end, a receiver for slidably retaining each free end of each bridging piece, the receiver attached to and protruding outwardly from the keeper portion near the top thereof, the bridging piece including 2 turnbuckle for exerting parting pressure against the receivers that retain it.

Abstract: An improved cover lock apparatus comprises a rotatable and axially slidable crank plate connected to a plurality of retractable lock rods. The crank plate is disposed between the cover and a lock plate and is slidably and rotatably mounted to the lock plate. The crank plate has two upwardly protruding lock pins oriented to engage mating holes in the lock plate and is upwardly biased against the lock plate by a spring. When the lock pins are engaged in these holes, the crank plate cannot be rotated to retract the lock rods. Before the crank plate can be rotated to retract the lock rods, the lock pins must be disengaged from the mating holes in the lock plate by forcibly pushing down on the crank plate via a special lock key to overcome the spring bias that normally holds the crank plate pins in the engaged position. Once the crank plate is pushed downward enough to disengage the lock pins, it can be rotated to retract the lock rods.

Abstract: A duckboard comprising a succession of treads (11) linked so as to rest, in use, in generally parallel non-co-axial corresponding-end-alignment along the ground or other surface on which the board is placed: and characterized by the features, firstly that the board is flexible enough to be rolled end-to-end; secondly, that it is light enough to be relatively portable; and thirdly, that the means (12) linking the treads (11) are resilient enough and/or rigid enough to tend to maintain the parallelism and the end-alignment of the treads (11) in use.

Abstract: A two piece power transmission component manufactured in segments, each segment having a central opening for assembly around a shaft, a pair of fastener flanges and mating sockets, each having a fastener flange and a mating locking ridge to facilitate assembly and mating holes formed axially with the central opening for convenient operation of a fastener such as a bolt and a mating nut, each socket and fastener flange has multiple, engaging thrust surfaces to enable the assembly to withstand large forces and the bolt head and nut, when assembled, are in recessed portions of the segments such that they do not extend past the outer surfaces of the assembled segments.

Abstract: An improvement is shown in a manhole cover support having a metal body comprising a base portion with a peripheral ledge portion that projects inwardly, a lateral keeper portion that extends from the base and rises from the outer edge of the ledge portion, and a reinforcing wale that is substantially coextensive with the top of the keeper portion and projects outwardly therefrom, the wale and/or the base portion being box members. The improvement comprises having a substantial part of a box member constituted of at least one piece of metal that is distinct from the rest of the body structure and is attached thereto.

Abstract: A modular lightweight bridge comprises a pair of tubular truss formed spans, each of which include a plurality of modules hinged to one another at locations on the bottom of the bridge for folding the bridge for transport prior to deployment of the bridge. Each span has a unique high strength fabric deck or roadway surface tensioned across the upper side of the truss chord members. The bridge is uniquely captively mounted on a trailer by rollers for transporting the bridge when it is in its folded mode. When the bridge is to be deployed, each span is unfolded by pivoting the modules with respect to one another about vertical axes so that the spans expand longitudinally with respect to the trailer. The spans are then pivoted 90.degree. downwardly about longitudinally extending horizontal axes and the bridge rolled rearwardly from the trailer over the gap to be spanned.

Abstract: A mechanism for accurately positioning a well tool in axially concentric relationship to a well conduit comprises a housing having a plurality of stabilizer linkages mounted thereon with one end of each linkage being pivotally secured to the housing and the other end free to move in an axial direction. A compression spring engages a force transmitting connection to the other ends of the stabilizer linkages to bias same to a radially expanded position engaging the conduit wall. The connection between the compression spring and the stabilizer linkage includes two telescopically related sleeve elements which are secured together by a shear screw. In the event that the stabilizer linkage becomes stuck in the well, upward jarring movements of the housing will shear the shear screw and permit the stabilizer linkages to collapse radially inwardly and thus permit removal from the well.

Abstract: A system for applying a coating to a traffic surface utilizes a power driven apparatus that provides a plurality of sets of applicator tools that are rotated in tandem to effect mixing in situ of traffic surface coating constituents, and to effect a controlled application of the resulting coating. The apparatus includes a transport carriage that mounts an array of horizontally spaced bearing assemblies, each of which journals a separate vertically extending drive shaft for rotation about a separate vertically extending center axis. Each of the drive shafts drivingly connects with a separate set of the rotary applicator tools. The tools of each set extend substantially horizontally in a radial array about the center axis of its associated drive shaft. A power drive system rotates the sets of applicator tools in tandem as the carriage is moved across a traffic surface. Also described are methods of employing the apparatus to mix coating constituents in situ and to effect their appliction to a traffic surface.

Abstract: A subsea well completion system having an improved tubing hanger that includes passageways through the hanger to one or more of the tubing annulus, the casing annulus and seals. The passageways may include vertically extending seal bores which are normally closed by check valves which may be operated to the open position. A tree adapter is connected to the tubing hanger and includes passageways coacting with the hanger passageways and includes externally connected side ports. The check valves may be selectively and remotely controlled externally of the completion system for monitoring the various annulus. The system may be abandoned by pumping cement through the passageways to seal them off and thereafter severing the completion system without the aid of a drilling rig.

Abstract: A method for reducing organic contaminants in a well initially breaks down complex organic compounds by radiation with gamma radiation. The remaining materials are subjected to oxygen radicals in the water, the oxygen radicals reacting with the materials to assist in the degradation. A carrier is formed with a plurality of containers fixed together by struts, and each container has a quantity of radioactive material to provide the radiation. Air, oxygen and or peroxide may be fed to the well to provide enough oxygen to produce the oxygen radicals, or the water may be cavitated to free the oxygen in the water.The apparatus & method may also be adapted with proper shielding for use in surface applications, such as surface water intakes (biofouling by Asiatic clams), general ground water and haz-waste treatment.

Abstract: For the drilling of bore holes there is provided an assembly of drilling machine elements which are positioned on top of each other and which include a gripping body comprising of two or more shells between which are positioned expanding-contracting cylinders for causing the shells to be pressed against the wall of a hole being drilled, a hollow drive shaft and a drilling tool being suspended below the gripping body. In addition to the above mentioned gripping body which acts outwardly of the center of the assembly, there are provided gripping plates which act radially inwardly of the hollow drive shaft to grip the stem of the drilling tool, which extends within the hollow drive shaft.

Abstract: A crossroad includes two roads intersected with each other. One of the roads is level and straight, and the other road is provided with a pair of second dimensional passages, such as tunnels, subways or elevated roadways, each with a respective bypass merging into one side thereof. The entrance of each passage is provided adjacent to and a short distance from the level road. The exit of each passage is provided adjacent to the opposite side of the level road.

Abstract: An earth boring rotary drill bit suitable for use in drilling oil wells and the like includes a rotating cone mounted on a journal that is protected by a primary seal and a secondary seal. The seals provide independent sealing action while coacting to stabilize the rotary motion of the cone. The primary seal defines a moving sealing surface in contact with the journal, and the secondary seal defines a moving sealing surface in contact with the rotating cone. The journal can have a frusto-conical or cylindrical configuration.

Abstract: A modular overpass that uses interlockable roadway units. These interlockable units include ramp units adapted for fitting together to create entry and exit ramps having a low end and a raised end, cantilever units for attachment to the raised ends of the ramps, and suspended span units for joining the cantilever units. Flexible footings are provided to support the roadway units. The flexible footings comprise a resilient base, a covering cap sealably fitted over the base to define a cavity, and a packable bearing material partially filling the cavity. A system of pilings are used to anchor the roadway units in position. The system can be used to create an overpass over intersections between highways and secondary roads so that highway traffic travels over the overpass and local secondary road traffic is controlled by traffic lights. The modular overpass is shaped to conform to the existing highway surface and is supported on that surface by the flexible footings.

Abstract: A slotted grate (2) is provided for being positioned in and covering the opening of the channel body (1) of a drainage channel. Anchor means are provided for detachably securing grate (2) to channel body (1) and include a bolt (4) rotatably mounted on grate (2) and having an end (14) extending into channel body (1). A locking strap (5) is carried transversely by bolt (4) for rotation within channel body (1) into and out of proximity to the walls (7,7') of channel body (1). Locking blocks (8, 8') are carried by walls (7,7') and secure locking strap (5) within locking blocks (8,8') upon rotation of locking strap (5) in one direction, and permit detachment of locking strap (5) upon rotation of locking block (5) in the other direction. Therefore, grate (2) can be easily and quickly secured to or detached from channel body (1), as desired.