Abstract: A roof support unit for a longwall mineral mining installation has a roof shield supported above a floor sill. A first hydraulic ram is provided for advancing the roof support unit. The roof shield is provided with a forward extension which is advanceable by means of a second hydraulic advance ram. A hydraulic control arrangement, which includes the two hydraulic advance rams is provided for controlling the advance of the roof shield extension in dependence upon the working stroke of the first hydraulic advance ram. The control arrangement is such that the amount of hydraulic fluid supplied to one of the pressure chambers of the second hydraulic advance ram is dependent upon the amount of hydraulic fluid expelled from one of the pressure chambers of the first hydraulic advance ram during the working stroke of the first hydraulic advance ram.

Abstract: This invention relates to a Wharf fender assembly for use with wharves or docks made generally from resiliently deformable material.The Wharf Fender assembly includes an elongate tubular bender body attachable to adjacent wharf which is generally progressively increasing width or transverse dimensions from one end to the other end thereby providing a larger end and a smaller end. There is also included buffer means operatively associated with the fender body which may withstand an impact from a ship or other vessel when the fender body is attached to the wharf. The invention also includes within its scope a fender body per se.

Abstract: Combination tension connector and flex joint for underwater tension elements, such as the tension elements of a leg of a tension leg platform. The flex joint is of generally ball and socket type, with the ball member connected to the lower end of the tension element and the socket member connected to an upwardly projecting annular portion of the male member of the connector.

Abstract: A longwall mineral mining installation has a conveyor and a plurality of roof support units positioned side-by-side on the goaf side of the conveyor. Each roof support unit has a roof shield having an advanceable shield extension. Each unit has a first hydraulic ram for extending its shield extension, and a second hydraulic ram for advancing the conveyor. The extension of each first ram is controlled in dependence upon the retraction of one of the second rams (either the second ram of the same unit or that of an adjacent unit). This control is effected by controlling the supply of pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first rams. In one embodiment this is carried out by a control valve which has a spring-loaded plunger which engages with a series of equispaced cams on the movable cylinder of the associated second ram. In another embodiment, the piston rods of the rams are provided with series of equispaced magnets.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a marine platform comprising a structure consisting of a lattice of tubular elements sealingly joined to one another. Pickups are provided on at least some of the tubular elements, to detect the passage of a fluid through the wall of an element. At a junction of one tubular element with another element whose interior space is monitored by a pickup, a backing plate is disposed in the one element facing the junction zone and sealed around the junction zone to define an intermediate space which is in communication with the interior space of the other element.

Abstract: The roof of a heading cut by a continuous mining machine is supported by cantilevered roof beams forming part of a shield. There are at least two sets of roof beams which can be raised and lowered separately by means of hydraulic rams. When one set is lowered and the other set is raised, the lowered set can be pushed forward against the raised set by means of hydraulic rams. The cantilevered roof beams extend far enough forward to support the roof over the driving position of the continuous mining machine. The width of the shield should be less than the width of the mining machine, so that the shield can advance along the heading cut by the mining machine. Furthermore, the shield includes a conveyor for conveying the mined material from the mining machine backwards to a shuttle car or other conveying system.

Abstract: Blocks for constructing a breakwater substantially comprises a front wall, a rear wall disposed in parallel and spaced-apart relationship relative to the front wall, and at least one partition wall disposed perpendicular to the front and rear walls and integrally connecting the above two walls to form at least one vertical open-ended chamber between the front and rear walls, wherein the improvement is characterized in that at least one vertical open-ended hole is formed on each of the front and real walls of the block such that the vertical open-ended hole can be in alignment with corresponding vertical open-ended holes formed in the same manner on front and rear walls of the blocks in upper and lower rows when the blocks are arranged in rows and stacked vertically.

Abstract: Subterranean geological formations such as those surrounding oil well bore holes, are treated by placing in or adjacent the formation a particulate material coated with a two-step, curable, novolac-type phenolic resin. The resin is thereafter cured in situ to bond the particulate matter together. In order to achieve desired compressive strengths, the resin must have an insolubility parameter of greater than about 1.0.

Abstract: There is constructed around pillars of a mine chamber on the ground a rectangular enclosure which is defined by superimposed layers of U-section elements. The concavity of the latter faces inwardly of the enclosure. A pulverulent material is poured by a hydraulic filling method into the enclosure. This pulverent material preferably comprises light fine ash having hydraulic properties. Owing to the reinforcements embedded in the mass, the structure initially behaves as stabilized earth, but, in the end, the material sets and becomes coherent so that finally the structure has a lean concrete character.

Abstract: A tunnel knife shield has a support frame, and a plurality of knives positioned side-by-side on the support frame. Each of the knives is associated with a double-acting hydraulic ram, the rams being used for advancing the knives, and for causing the support frame to follow up the advance of the knives. Hydraulic control means are provided for controlling the extension and retraction of the rams. Each ram has first and second working chambers, pressurization of which is effective to extend and retract that ram. The hydraulic control means comprises respective first supply lines for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the first working chambers, respective second supply lines for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the second working chambers, and respective discharge lines for discharging hydraulic fluid from the first working chambers. Each discharge line is provided with a flow-regulation valve and a pilot-operated non-return valve.

Abstract: Coal in the roof of a seam being mined by the long wall method is recovered by supporting an elongated area of the seam roof using a plurality of cradle supports, the front cradles being moved forward stepwise parallel to the long wall to form a passage with cantilevered roof supporting arms of the rear cradles. When the rear cradle at one end of the passage is moved forward into engagement with the front cradles, the coal in the roof is left unsupported, is collapsed, and is removed via a conveyor and a loader in the passage.

Abstract: A template levelling system and method for levelling a drilling or production template adjacent the bottom of a body of water on a plurality of suspension joints implanted in the floor of the body of water. The template has a plurality of passageways therein receiving the suspension joints which extend upwardly above the template. The template carries a pair of pivotable guideposts on opposite sides of each passageway. The levelling system includes a jacking assembly lowered by a handling string and including a hydraulic jack with an inner member slidably received in an outer member, a tension beam pivotally coupled to the inner member, a pair of tension joints pivotally and releasably coupled to the tension beam and engageable with the template guideposts, and a support beam receiving the outer member therein and releasably coupled to the tension joints via a pair of hydraulic slips assemblies.

Abstract: A method and device for lining a bore shaft extending through an aquiferous formation comprises, lowering a base ring on guide and alignment columns into the bore until the base ring is seated on a shoulder near the bottom of the bore which is at or below the lower end of the aquiferous formation. The base ring with connected columns are then centered in the bore. A plurality of lining rings are then sequentially lowered in a guided and aligned fashion on the column to rest on the base ring and on each other and to form sealing joints therebetween. The space between the thus formed lining and the bore can then be filled with filler material.

Abstract: A mobile reinforced pipe machine for producing and laying concrete pipe on site in a ditch or the like. The machine comprises a frame structure capable of supporting the machine for movement along a ditch; hydraulically positionable outrigger wheels carried by the frame for machine guidance along the ditch; a pair of rotating nested sleeves with compactor vibrators therebetween which receive solidifiable cementitious material, such as concrete, vibrate the entering mixture to assure uniformity of mix; longitudinal and circumferential reinforcing wire fed between the sleeves for embedding within the solidifiable cementitious material for reinforcing the solidified pipe leaving the machine; plates or slip forms are attached to the frame adjacent the sleeves for receiving and supporting partially solidified pipe as it exits the machine as the machine moves forward; motor and transmission to transport the machine along the ditch and rotate the sleeves.

Abstract: Roof bolter and process for resin bolting a mine roof. The roof bolter comprises combined means for drilling and resin inserting in one position, means for bolt inserting in a second position, and means for positioning the roof bolter first into one and then into its second positions. The process comprises drilling a hole in the mine roof and inserting in tandem resin into the hole and, inserting into and securing a bolt within the hole. Preferably, the roof bolter and the process are automated and remotely controlled.The invention further includes a device designed for attachment to a three-position resin type roof bolter and for converting it to a two-position resin type roof bolter.

Abstract: A subsea riser mainfold system is disclosed for handling marine well fluids from multiple subsea wells and transmitting the well fluids through a marine production riser. The system includes a marine floor base template having a support structure and a manifold chamber supported thereon. Pile guides are connected to the template for fixing the template to the marine floor. The sealed manifold chamber hull is mounted on the template between the pile guides, enclosing manifold means for operatively connecting the subsea wells to the production riser. An improved structural spanning support member extends over the manifold chamber hull for receiving and supporting the marine production riser. This spanning member has an upper riser-receiving platform portion and structural spider arms connected between the platform production and the pile guides through the spanning member.

Abstract: A method of creating a cold water conduit for use with an ocean thermal energy conversion plant by drilling and blasting at least one passageway completely through an underwater land formation.

Abstract: The present invention relates to pile-driving apparatus, particularly for under-water use. The pile driver basically comprises a linear induction motor having a tubular stator including a plurality of axially spaced stator coils. The slider or armature of the motor comprises the pile to be driven.

Abstract: Locking device for a pile-shaped element for a body having buoyancy and provided with a longitudinal rack adapted to coact with a pinion connected to the body. A rack piece connected with and displaceable relative to the body is adapted to coact with the longitudinal rack for mutually locking body and pile-shaped element. The rack piece has the shape of an isosceles trapezium along the large base side of which are provided the teeth and which is enclosed between two guide blocks which are displaceable both jointly and separately in longitudinal direction of the rack and each being provided with a guide face coacting with an inclined trapezium side of the rack piece.

Abstract: A method of making canalization by pressing a string of sewer pipes in a water-conductive ground with an underground water level, is based on the formation of a water-tight working shaft or trench, then a front partition with a starting opening is erected at the side of the trench through which the string is to be advanced; then a sealed tubular cutting member is inserted into the starting opening and the sheet piling opposite the starting opening is lifted and then by an electrohydraulic pressing unit the cutting member is pressed into the soil.