Abstract: An adjustable riser top joint for connecting an offshore subsurface well to a deck mounted welltree. A first plurality of generally annular protrusions on the riser top joint section affords a plurality of connecting points for the wellhead tree using either a unitary or a split collar type attachment. A second plurality of protrusions positioned below deck afford a second plurality of connecting points for riser tensioning means that may also, preferably, be attached using either a unitary or a split collar. The generally annular protrusions are formed as a continuous spiral groove on an external surface of the riser section in a first preferred embodiment and as a series of generally cylindrical protrusions of equal length and spacing in a second preferred embodiment.

Abstract: A method for rehabilitating an existing bulkhead located between a body of water and land is disclosed. The method includes the steps of installing a plurality of tiebacks attached directly to the existing bulkhead, and a new bulkhead facing is connected to the existing bulkhead which has been supported by the tiebacks. An alternate method includes the steps of installing a plurality of substantially vertical piles at horizontally spaced locations in front of, i.e. on the water side of, the existing bulkhead; connecting the vertical piles to the existing bulkhead; installing tiebacks through the existing bulkhead and into the land behind the existing bulkheads; and connecting the tiebacks to the vertical piles. In situations where use of piles and tiebacks alone are not sufficient to rehabilitate the bulkhead, a new bulkhead facing is installed in front of the existing bulkhead and connected to and supported by the piles and tieback supported existing bulkhead.

Abstract: A reciprocating conveyor is formed of at least one group of at least three elongated slats of inverted U-shape spaced apart laterally for longitudinal reciprocation in such manner that all or a majority of slats move simultaneously in a load conveying direction and sequentially in the opposite, retracting direction. A seal member is secured to one side section of each slat and extends laterally therefrom to a position closely adjacent the facing side section of the adjacent slat. The fines of particulate material being conveyed as a load gravitate downward past the free side of the seal member and are deposited in a trough that underlies each pair of facing side sections of adjacent slats. As the adjacent slats move simultaneously in the load conveying direction, the corresponding pair of facing side sections move the fines in the trough in the same direction. This movement is enhanced by providing fines pusher members on the lower ends of the side sections of the slats.

Abstract: Improvement on the method and apparatus for forming reinforced concrete walls with continuous steel reinforcements is disclosed in Veder U.S. Pat. No. 3,310,952. The process includes the forming of a plurality of concrete panels, each panel having a reinforcing cage extending to proximate the joint between the concrete panels and one or more expansible joint reinforcing cages bridging the gap between the reinforcing cages in the adjoining panels. The expansible joint reinforcing cages are carried in carriers in an end stop pipe. Each expansible joint reinforcing cage is comprised of a vertical support bar having secured thereto a plurality of horizontally extending concrete anchor members rigidly secured to one surface of the vertical support bar.

Abstract: An inflatable and collapsible dam arrangement including a flexible membrane weir element positioned so that when it is inflated, it will block a flow of water. The control chamber for the weir is divided into upper and lower sections. The upper section has at least a portion above ground and contains an apparatus for inflating the dam and making the weir element self-supporting. The lower control section includes at least a portion positioned underground and includes an apparatus for collapsing the dam.

Abstract: In conjunction with the face mining of bituminous coal, previously excavated or some portions of the tunnel are collapsed in a manner to form a mass of debris into which a mixture of electrostatic filter ash and water is injected to stabilize the structure.

Abstract: A mattress-type gabion for ground stabilization is formed from a base sheet of wire mesh by providing the sheet with folds from spaced apart transverse ribs and having the panels of the folds tied together at transversely spaced locations along each rib. Cuts in the base sheet flanking each rib zone can define other folds which can be tied to the ribs when edge strips of the sheet are folded up, thereby forming stably upwardly open compartments which can be filled with ballast and then closed by a mesh cover.

Abstract: A rain water leader/gutter adaptor which is adapted to siphon rain water from a gutter. The rain water may be collected inside a gating vessel which is attached to the rain water leader/gutter adapter. In a modified form a leader adaptor is attached to siphon excess rain water from within the rain water leader/gutter adapter once the water collector fills up.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying and discharging pressed products or similar items from a press. The apparatus has a discharging trough which can be mounted on a portion of the body of the press, and a reciprocating member for causing a reciprocatory motion of the discharging trough. The reciprocating member is driven by a driving mechanism so as to make such an action that a difference exists between the forward moving speed and the backward moving speed, thereby allowing the discharge of the pressed products or similar items along the discharging trough.

Abstract: A method for carrying out wire bolting for bolting a rock, in which method drill holes are drilled in the rock through an ore body, and a wire is pushed into the holes. In order that the wires would not hamper the emptying of the ore body, the wire is weakened before it is passed into the hole at least at one point in such a manner that the wire breaks at the weakened point when the ore is blasted.

Abstract: A soil retaining system, including an upright soil retaining wall of modular facing panels and a number of horizontal wire mesh reinforcement units, including spaced parallel wires ending in hole forming loop and interconnected by perpendicular crossbars. The mesh units are connected in tiers to the retaining wall and rest in the soil behind the wall. The connection of each wire in a mesh unit is made by a clevis member embedded into the back side of the panel and a bolt and nut assembly or an elongated pin member for attaching the wires and the clevis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for loading and unloading a railroad gondola car having spaced apart, parallel side walls with upper surfaces, the apparatus including a hydraulic excavator having a boom structure and material engaging device mounted on two tracks, the two tracks being movable inwardly and outwardly from the base of the hydraulic excavator to vary the distance between the tracks, each of the tracks having a lip connected thereto which extends downwardly adjacent to the upper surface of the parallel side walls of a railroad gondola car to prevent the hydraulic excavator from falling off the gondola car when the two tracks are resting on the side walls of the gondola car.

Abstract: A reel pipelaying vessel having multiple reels for laying operational lines in a wide range of water depths. An operational lines laying device is mounted on the vessel in order to provide supporting means for the simultaneous layout of a plurality of operational lines at a common velocity and in a predetermined relationship to one another. Motive means are interconnected to the multiple reels in order to control the rate of layout. Separate or combined straightening and tensioning devices can be employed for handling the rigid walled pipeline contained within the operational lines. The straightening and tensioning devices can be mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the vessel deck or can be operated in fixed planes with respect to the deck. Six or more operational lines can be simultaneously laid out with the vessel described.

Abstract: A deep water support assembly for a jack-up type marine structure comprises a support base, pile guides in the base through which piles are driven to anchor the support base to a marine floor, at least one receptacle containing a grouting material and adapted to mate with the jack-up structure for providing an anchoring foundation, and a support structure for supporting the receptacle at a fixed height below the marine surface. A method of assembling the marine structure is also disclosed.

Abstract: To prepare an existing buried main made from a material which is tough at ambient temperature for replacement by a new main of the same or a larger size via a mole device by fracturing the existing main by compressive and impact forces and by widening the bore for the insertion of the new main that is clamped to the mole device, a liquefied gas having as low a boiling point as possible at atmospheric pressure is sprayed against the conduit wall from a cooling carriage that is pulled through the existing main prior to the movement of the mole device therethrough, thereby cooling the existing main to a temperature causing low-temperature embrittlement of the material of the existing main.

Abstract: An amusement device is provided in one embodiment with two annular elements that are integrally connected in coplanar relationship to each other. Each of the annular elements has a diameter within the range of 8 inches to 24 inches for enabling one foot of the user to be readily inserted and thereafter rotated to horizontally swing the device in a horizontal arc, causing the user to intermittently hop on the remaining foot to clear the opposite element during each rotation of the device. Both of the elements are preferably integrally coupled to smooth, rounded, depending bosses which retain the elements in spaced disposition from the ground so that the user can readily insert his or her foot underneath the device to initiate swinging movement thereof. In another form of the invention, a third annular element is coplanar with and interconnects the first and second elements, for increasing the variety of bodily motions and exercise patterns that may be employed.

Abstract: Apparatus for conveying a stack of bags from a bag stacking station to a downstream processing station. The apparatus includes a conveyor belt, and a carriage that is movable in a conveying direction, the carriage including a belt clamping device to clamp the carriage to the belt, the carriage including a bag stack clamping device for clamping a stack of bags to the belt. Movement of the carriage simultaneously moves the conveyor belt and a stack of bags in the conveying direction, whereupon the belt clamp and the bag clamp are released, and the carriage is returned to the bag stacking station.

Abstract: A compliant offshore structure in which stabilization against excessive sway is provided by a resilient pile assemblies. A series of drive piles extend into the ocean floor beneath the base of the structure. Drive piles extend upward to a position proximate a pile attachment location on the structure a spaced distance above the ocean floor. The upper end of each drive pile is secured to the structure at the pile attachment location by a resilient coupling. The resilient coupling permits the structure to move upward and downward a slight distance relative to the substantially rigid drive pile. This accommodates sway of the structure. The resilient coupling biases the structure back to a vertical orientation in response to sway of the structure. In a preferred embodiment the pile attachment location is situated proximate the base of the offshore structure.

Abstract: A pile jacket (15) is placed about a pile (14) before backfill earth (45) is filled in about the pile. The pile jacket (15) is formed of laminated sheet material (20) having opposed, parallel spaced outside sheets (21 and 22) and with intermediate supporting ribs (24) that maintain the outside sheets in spaced relationship. The indentations (48) made by the backfill earth (45, 46) in the pile jacket generally do not destroy the flat abutment of the inside sheet (21) with the surface of the pile, so that a slip plane is maintained between the pile jacket and the pile, permitting the pile jacket to move downwardly when the backfill material settles without transmitting a major downward load from the backfill material to the pile.

Abstract: A reel pipelaying vessel having multiple reels for laying operational lines in a wide range of water depths. An operational lines laying device is mounted on the vessel in order to provide supporting means for the simultaneous layout of a plurality of operational lines at a common velocity and in a predetermined relationship to one another. Motive means are interconnected to the multiple reels in order to control the rate of layout. Separate or combined straightening and tensioning devices can be employed for handling the rigid walled pipeline contained within the operational lines. The straightening and tensioning devices can be mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the vessel deck or can be operated in fixed planes with respect to the deck. Six or more operational lines can be simultaneously laid out with the vessel described.