Abstract: A retaining wall has precast concrete wall facing elements and is constructed to accommodate vegetation masking. The structure uses panels having frontally projecting buttresses and inwardly inclined face surfaces to provide an exposed horizontal planting bed for each row of panels. Devices are provided to limit water percolation and migration of fine particles. And, rearwardly projecting bearing pads may be added to give columnar support in high wall application.

Abstract: A compacting apparatus is provided and includes a material supply line having an upright inlet portion and a transversely disposed lower outlet portion provided with a discharge opening at its discharge end. The lower outlet portion is supplied with high pressure air from an air supply line which includes an outlet end portion disposed coaxially within the lower outlet portion of the material supply line and is provided with a nozzle assembly for directing pressurized jets of air toward the discharge opening.

Abstract: An off-center rock bolt anchor includes a wedge nut having a modified frusto-conical lower end portion having a first surface portion with an enlarged radius of curvature matching that of the mine roof bolt hole. A threaded hole for receiving the shaft of a roof bolt extends longitudinally through the wedge nut parallel to and close to the first surface. A locking cam with outwardly oriented teeth is pivotally connected to an off-center portion of the top surface of the wedge nut. A plurality of expansion wings are positioned around the lower conical portion of the wedge nut and expand outwardly to engage the walls of the bolt hole as the wedge nut is tightened onto the roof bolt. Initial rotation of the bolt causes eccentric rotation of the wedge nut that urges the teeth of the locking cam to engage the side of the bolt hole.

Abstract: This invention provides a method for fabricating a broad-based submersible structure useful for deep water installations. In this method the lower portion of said structure is fabricated in two half-sections. The first half-section of said braod-based submersible structure is fabricated in a substantially horizontal position, and then raised from the ground to a height sufficient to enable a second half-section (also fabricated in a substantially horizontal position) to be moved therebeneath. The second half-section is aligned with said raised first half-section and said aligned half-sections are joined to provide the lower portion of the structure. The lower portion of the structure may be then joined to the upper portion of said structure to provide said broad-based submersible structure in a horizontal position, and the structure rotated from a substantially horizontal position to a vertical position.

Abstract: A combination expansion shell and resin secured mine roof anchor assembly comprising an elongated bolt which carries rebar and an expansion shell. The assembly is inserted into a mine roof opening, in the back end of which is positioned a resin and catalyst cartridge. The cartridge is ruptured by the assembly allowing the resin and catalyst to gravitate downwardly, where they are mixed together by the rebar upon rotation of the bolt. The bolt is rotated a predetermined number of revolutions to obtain proper mixing of the resin and catalyst preparatory to setting, after which the continued rotation of the bolt in the same direction effects movement of the expansion shell into gripping engagement with the mine roof.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for constraining a liquid such as water, either alone or mixed with sand, soil or the like and which includes providing an envelope and pumping a mixture of water and soil into the envelope.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for constructing pipelines in Arctic offshore waters by a directional drilling technique, thereby minimizing exposure to ice gouging and eliminating the hazards associated with unstable permafrost. A special drilling-pipeline construction vessel is also provided which has a conical shape with reinforced outer walls to resist ice forces, which vessel includes means to install deep underground pipeline segments and means to connect and protect the pipe ends.

Abstract: An offshore tower structure comprising a base structure for positioning on and fixing to the sea bed, a central column for containing services such as conductors and risers and extending, in use, from the base structure to above the water level for supporting a platform, at least three support legs each extending between an upper portion of the column and the base structure at points spaced from the column for providing support for the column, and a bracing structure comprising a framework lying intermediate the ends of the column in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the column, the framework connecting each pair of adjacent legs and each leg directly or indirectly with the column, and bracing elements between the column and the legs or between adjacent legs extending from the plane of the framework to respective points at or adjacent the base of the structure.

Abstract: A mine roof support unit has a roof shield for supporting the roof of a mine working, and a goaf shield for screening off the goaf space of the working. The mine roof support unit is provided with dust suppression means constituted by a flat-section spray nozzle arranged along the front edge of the roof shield, or along the top edge of the goaf shield. The spray nozzle is directed upwardly away from the roof support unit and towards the goaf space.

Abstract: A process for laying a prepressed pipeline and pipe advantageously employed therein are described. Concrete pipe sections have an inner lining of a polymeric material anchored by flexible projections to the inner surface of the pipe. The thickness of the lining is increased at the ends of the pipe to form an elongated sealing surface and a stress absorbing region. A compression seal may thereby be employed. Stresses created by the seal are absorbed both by the thickened region and by a shoulder formed in the concrete wall of the pipe. In use, compression is maintained as the result of friction between the pipe well and the surrounding earth.

Abstract: An improved penstock for water-flow control provides the capability of establishing a constant water level within a levee or a dike and is continuously adjustable between a high and a low water level. The penstock has an erosion-resistant flow channel which is embedded and buried in an earthen levee dike or dam which has leakage prevention and seepage prevention protrusions extending around its outer periphery. In the throat of the flow channel is a pivoted, sealed level-control gate which can be adjusted and latched at any position from a horizontally flat position, permitting unrestricted flow through the channel, to a vertical position, blocking off flow through the channel. This pivoting gate is provided with edge seals to prevent the leakage of water. Once adjusted, the gate will maintain a constant water depth within the body of water enclosed by the levee while passing overflow over the gate.

Abstract: A roof support suitable for use in mines comprises a main roof-supporting structure, a cantilever carried by the structure, an actuator and a link member through the intermediary of which the actuator is connected to one end portion of the cantilever for moving the cantilever between retracted and extended positions. The end portion of the cantilever has projections which come into engagement with an abutment when, upon advancing movement of the actuator, the cantilever reaches its fully extended position. The abutment and projections are so shaped that when they are in engagement they form pivot means about which the cantilever can be tilted. The link member is so formed and so connected to the cantilever that upon further advancing movement of the actuator the cantilever is caused to tilt about the pivot means into a roof-supporting position.

Abstract: An aqueous slurry of spent drilling mud and/or produced water is diluted prior to free discharge into a body of receiving water by expelling a jet stream of such slurry into an open-ended submerged mixing conduit. The jet stream aspirates and entrains the surrounding water within the conduit and is then passed through a mixer stage prior to exiting the opposite end of the tube.

Abstract: A boring-injection device comprises a fluid supplying hollow rod, a fluid discharge portion at the lower end of the rod, and a packer element inflatable from the rod to seal a space between the rod and a borehole wall at a desired depth position. The rod is surrounded by a sheath so that the packer element and fluid discharge portion can be protruded out of and retracted within the sheath in a body. They are retracted during the boring operation and protruded during injecting or investigating operation. The device can be used for practising a method of ground improvement or a method of ground investigation.

Abstract: A soil tight bin-type retaining wall is formed having cementitious panels as the exposed walls including the front wall. Each end portion of the front face of each cementitious panel contacts against a flange portion of a connector positioned in the plane of the front wall to support the cementitious panel in a substantially erect position. An angle member is positioned on a web portion of a connector to retain the cementitious panel of the front wall in a substantially erect position. A plurality of stringers form the rear wall by being supported by the connectors positioned in the plane of the rear wall. A plurality of spacer members form the side walls by being supported by the web portions of a pair of connectors. In alternative embodiments, the retaining wall may be constructed so that the direction of the front or rear wall changes. Additionally, a retaining wall may be formed in which some or all of the front, rear or side walls are composed of cementitious panels.

Abstract: A new pile is disclosed which includes a pile shaft and wedge-forming means of castable material spaced upward of the tip of the pile shaft and proximate thereto. The wedge-forming means cooperates with the portion of the pile beneath it, during driving, to cause the formation of a wedge of soil. The thus-formed soil wedge is in contact with other soil and the resulting soil-soil interface has enhanced pile supporting characteristics.

Abstract: A monolithic structure for off-shore mooring composed of a broadened foundation (2) and an emerging vertical structure (1) having a very slender character and a flexural resistance modulus decreasing from the bottom towards the surface. This structure has a buoyancy chamber (15) placed in a submerged position and close to the top end.

Abstract: An end element (10) retains earth overfill (E) associated to an overfilled load support structure (L) which includes an end arch element (S). The end element replaces a spandrel wall (R) and wingwalls (W), and includes a lateral extension (12) located next to the end arch element of the load support structure and which extends far enough so the slope of the fill between an overpass (O) and the toe (22) of the fill located on top of the support structure is low for permitting the overfill located on top of the load support structure to be essentially unrestrained in the horizontal direction. Retaining panels (14) are located adjacent to the lateral extension and cooperate with that lateral extension for retaining the fill.

Abstract: Apparatus for providing a vertical drain in the soil, comprising a push tube to be pushed into the soil and which carries within it a prefabricated drain, provided with an anchor on the lower end, said prefabricated drain remaining in its place with the aid of an anchor while the push tube is being pulled back upwards. The push tube carries within itself a cut-off device at its lower end for the prefabricated drain, cutting it at desired height. Thereafter, the push tube is, if needed, lifted up for another anchor to be affixed to the lower end of the prefabricated drain. The object of the invention is to achieve that the prefabricated drain that has been cut off inside the push tube is pushed out from the lower end of the push tube.

Abstract: The load bearing outer skin contains an inner assembly and an outer assembly. Both the inner and outer assemblies include a skin plate member which is stiffened by stiffeners welded to one side of the skin plate member. The stiffeners are located at spaced intervals from each other and are disposed substantially perpendicular to the skin plate member. The inner and outer assembly are placed substantially parallel to each other to form a composite structure having an internal cavity defined by the inner and outer plates. The stiffeners of the inner assembly and the outer assembly are disposed in the cavity at a spaced relation to each other and extend partly into the cavity. A cementitious material substantially fills the cavity thereby completing the load bearing outer skin structure. The stiffeners may be flat steel plates or may have the profile of structural shapes such as angles or T's among others.