Abstract: A self sealing sewer cover assembly for preventing flammable gases from being discharged from a sewer and for preventing the ignition of gases in a sewer by flames and sparks in the adjacent to the sewer inlet. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a cover assembly which may replace or be used in combination with an existing cover or grating on a sewer inlet and may be inserted into the inlet to a sewer. The apparatus of the present invention provides a water barrier between gases contained in the sewer and the ambient air adjacent to the sewer inlet which prevents the flow of gases from the sewer to the ambient air surrounding the sewer inlet.

Abstract: A vehicle barrier device 10 for the temporary blocking of a roadway 12 comprises blocking elements 20, 22, 24, 25 with joined conter-elements 26, 28, 30, 31. The blocking elements 20, 22, 24, 25 are pivotable around axles extending parallel to the main direction of the roadway 12 and are arranged either in the main flush with the roadway 12 or can be swung out of it. The barrier elements 20, 22, 24, 25 are inserted exchangeably into a frame 132 which is set into a pit 128 present in the roadway 12.

Abstract: A concrete finishing machine includes a surfacing unit having two finishing cylinders with two augers mounted in line with the two cylinders, and a pair of compacting rollers located on either side of the augers, suspended by a frame which is attached to the surfacing unit by a mounting assembly which allows adjustment in the vertical height of the compacting rollers relative to the surfacing unit for setting the compacting rollers relative to the surface being finished. The frame is adapted to be vibrated for vibrating the compactor rollers in use. In one embodiment, the compacting rollers each have rectangular fins projecting radially outward from the roller and extending the length thereof. In another embodiment, the compacting rollers each have a serrated outer surface.

Abstract: An improved feedback system for use with an oscillator carried in a bore hole is provided. The feedback system connects the output legs of a well bore oscillator to the feedback nozzles of the oscillator. It consists of a detachable housing that contains two compliance chambers. Each chamber has a supply port and an exhaust port. Inertance passageways allow fluid to pass through each chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement and method for operating a self-propelled vibratory plate device. The vibratory plate of this device receives its vibratory motion from counter-rotating eccentric parts driven by an internal combustion engine. According to the method, the vibratory plate is stopped with a deadman's handle mounted on the device without the engine stopping. The method is realized with the arrangement of the invention which includes the deadman's handle. The deadman's handle is connected to the engine's fuel control and a centrifugal clutch between the engine and the eccentric parts is engaged only when the speed of the engine is above idle speed. A cam is provided with an interacting support which limits the angular movement of the deadman's handle to a position which corresponds to the idle speed of the engine.

Abstract: Known groundcovering elements (44) consist of three basic shaped slabs which are connected to form a unit and which are delimited from one another by at least two dummy joints (stem dummy joint 74 and middle dummy joint 81), the peripheral surface having projections (67, 68, 79) and depressions (69, 70, 80) along an (imaginary) base line to form a toothing. To improve the stability and laying of such groundcovering elements (44), it is proposed to make these T-shaped by means of a half-size stem (13) formed approximately centrally on an elongate crossbar (12). When rhombi (45-47) are used as the basic shaped slab, the groundcovering element (44) has the form of an inclined "T".

Abstract: In a joint bridging construction for structures in which the sealing body of elastic material, which is flush with the top surface of the structure, by means of beads is inserted from above into upwardly open recesses of edge girders and against sliding-out is guarded by substantially circular retaining members one part of which are embedded in the retaining girders and the other part of which are embedded in the beads, there are provided, for structures constructed as buildings, edge girders each of which consists of at least one sheet metal strip extending in longitudinal direction of the joint, at least those two flanks of said strip facing the top surface of the building being formed by doubling the strip.

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 sealing gasket for an unlocked roadway manhole accessing a municipal sewage system is interposed between a cover 2 and a frame 1, and has an inverted L or hook-shaped cross-section including two spaced and parallel outwardly extending upper lips 18, 19 and two lower, oppositely extending lips 17, 20.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for applying a sealing composition to a road surface. The apparatus includes supply means for the sealing composition and an applicator having a pressure chamber having adjustable-gap exit openings adjacent the road surface and having doctor blades which, when appropriately set, apply the composition to the road surface to a uniform and preset thickness across the width of the applicator. The apparatus includes means for propelling the applicator over a road surface.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus for filling voids in recycled asphalt. When asphalt has been recycled through the use of a heater-scarifier-screed apparatus, inherently, the pavement surface has voids therein which render the surface porous. The apparatus disclosed herein spreads a thin layer of asphalt over the recycled asphalt in such a manner that substantially all of the voids in the surface thereof are filled. When the method disclosed herein has been completed, the result is a substantially smooth, recycled, repaved trafficable asphalt surface.

Abstract: A machine to insert strips in expansion joints and concrete surfaces has features to prevent placing the strip in the joint while stretched. The machine includes the frame mounted on wheels. A supply reel mounted to the frame has a quantity of the strip wound about it. An insertion disk is rotatably mounted to the frame and positioned in the groove to push the strip into the groove. A pair of driven pinch rollers pull the strip from the roller. The drive mechanism for the rollers rotates the rollers at a speed selected to eliminate any tension in the strip between the insertion disk and pinch rollers.

Abstract: A mobile paint application and microwave drying apparatus has a downwardly open hollow frame forming a microwave cavity movable over a surface on rollers. The interior cavity of the frame is coated with microwave absorbent material, as are the rollers. The frame in the front and rear conforms to the rollers with a certain gap and ends above the surface at a certain distance. Treads extend between the front and rear rollers on each side and have a thickness which is greater than the gap and distance so as to create a circuitous path from the cavity which blocks microwave radiation. A paint spray nozzle is located in the cavity and applies paint to the surface. This paint is rapidly dried by a microwave generator which is positioned in the cavity and directs radiation onto the wet paint.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for cutting grooves on the edges of an already formed road. Each of a plurality of toothed cutting wheels revolves about a substantially vertical driving shaft. Simultaneously, each cutting wheel (attached to a respective rotary shaft) revolves about its own longitudinal and substantially horizontal axis. The apparatus is moved along a road, near an edge thereof, thus giving rise to one linear motion and two rotary motions. Sequentially, each cutting wheel enters an edge of the road from a region beyond the road edge, due to a slight tilt of the plane which contains the cutting wheel rotary shafts. The resultant grooves are deepest at the road edges and then gradually diminish to zero depth, the grooves being arcuate and parallel to each other. With the plane containing the cutting wheel shafts completely horizontal, the apparatus can cut rain drainage grooves in a raised marking strip on the road or can remove bumps from the road.

Abstract: A portable folding ramp used for ascending or descending an object or platform. The ramp is comprised of a plurality of rectangular panels, respective ones of adjoining panels being pivotably hinged along adjacent sidewalls such that the ramp may be folded into a compact first state, or unfolded into a second state where the ramp may support a load. The ramp includes a cable and hinge system positioned on the underside of the panels to provide structural support to the ramp in the second state while allowing the panels to be folded into the compact first state.

Abstract: A security barrier device comprises a rectangular container defined by sides, ends and a base. A post is mounted in the container for pivotal movement about a transverse pin with a slot in the post allowing linear movement of the post relative to the container. A recess in the base of the container allows the post to be latched in position in a vertical orientation and in addition the post can be stored by sliding out of the recess and then pivoting into a position lying along the container. A cover is provided by a first fixed part adjacent the pin and the second moveable part which is pivoted at the end of the container remote from the post and which is locked into engagement with a side of the post and a lug on the post by a locking mechanism welded to one side of the container.

Abstract: A utility bridge suitable for connecting offshore facilities such as offshore platforms is disclosed in which a plurality of helical pipelines provide flow communication between the facilities and relative movement of the facilities in response to environmental forces is provided for by helical pipelines with torsion expansion loops supported by a substantially rigid frame of the utility bridge which has means to prevent coupling of dynamic forces between the respective offshore facilities.

Abstract: Paving stones of concrete as well as artificial stone material are provided having a tread surface along the top thereof as well as upright sides which are located between corner points of the stone. The side surfaces are provided with serrations, wavy-shaped contours and irregular groove-ridges up to 8 mm deep retreating toward the stone interior along the upright side walls. Such irregular serrations, wavy-shape contours and irregular groove-ridges are adapted to interengage with corresponding configuration of adjoining stones to anchor the stones against any lateral shifting and displacement during travel of a vehicle in a curve or when making a turn as well as during application of brakes of the vehicle wich would result in a horizontal thrust being transmitted to the stones which otherwise would be caused to shift or dislocate from the smooth contour of the tread surfacing of the stones.

Abstract: An automatic method of and apparatus for taking up slack or relieving undue tension in a closed loop chain conveyor traveling in a corresponding track loop by dividing the track into separate sections, sensing the elongation or contraction in the chain in one section, and responding to such sensing to move the other track section away from or toward the said one track section to compensate for the chain length variation.

Abstract: A vibratory drum soil or asphalt compactor has a variable vibratory mechanism selectively operable to vary the vibrations imparted to the drum from a balanced mode to a maximum amplitude vibratory mode independently of the vibratory mechanism shaft rotation. A shaft having a shaft chamber for accommodating fluid is rotatably mounted on the drum. The shaft is equipped with a cylinder having a cylinder chamber connected with a passage to the shaft chamber. A piston closing the cylinder chamber and slidably mounted on the cylinder supports an eccentric weight. A control piston located with the shaft chamber operated by an external linear actuator is operable to move the piston away from the cylinder thereby move the weight into engagement with the shaft to balance the shaft and allow the weight to move away from the shaft to produce maximum vibration upon rotation of the shaft.