Abstract: A mobile mine roof support assembly has three mine roof support units coupled together by a common transverse beam. Roller devices are mounted beneath the floor sills of the support units. The roller devices are spring biased away from their floor sills so that they can lift the floor sills away from the floor of a working when the assembly is to be moved. At least one roller device of each support unit is a steerable roller device so that the assembly can be steered round bends. Each steerable roller device is pivotally mounted on its floor sill about a vertical axis, and is provided with an associated steering device. The steerable roller devices are preferably coupled together by means of a common steering device.

Abstract: A fish diversion system for a penstock housing a hydroelectric turbine employs large area screens to shunt fish to a bypass conduit above the turbine. The screens are disposed generally lengthwise of the penstock and inclined upwardly at a shallow angle to maximize water flow velocity along the screens while minimizing the approach velocity normal to the screens. Fish and debris are thus swept along the screens rather than impinged on them. One embodiment uses two screens set end to end. The upstream screen can be tiltable for cleaning. A second embodiment uses a unitary elliptical screen in a cylindrical penstock. The bypass conduit is sized and positioned to minimize bypass water flow volume while maintaining sufficient volume and velocity to discharge fish from the upper portion of the penstock. A funnel-shaped bypass manifold connects the penstock to the bypass conduit.

Abstract: Method for bonding of anchoring bolts in boreholes, in which an anchoring bolt is pushed with a rotary motion into a twin-chamber cartridge, one compartment of which is filled with a polyisocyanate component and the other one with a hydroxyl component, prepolymer from the conversion of polyisocyanates with one or several difunctional polyols of the molecular weight range 800-5000, preferably 1600-3000, being used as polyisocyanate component.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for remotely replacing damaged guideposts attached to a subsea structure are provided. A receptacle is permanently attached to the subsea structure. The guidepost is inserted into the receptacle and is releasably connected thereto by one or more radially-oriented, spring loaded lock pins. Damaged guideposts are removed by applying an upward vertical force to the guidepost sufficient to shear the lock pin or lock pins. The upward vertical force is applied by a replacement tool capable of being remotely operated from the surface of the body of water. Following removal of the damaged guidepost, a new guidepost is inserted into the receptacle. Lock pins mounted in the new guidepost retract into the guidepost as it is being inserted. When fully inserted, the lock pins extend and engage a retaining groove formed in the receptacle thereby firmly locking the new guidepost in place.

Abstract: A tie rod assembly for a rock borehole anchor includes a tension rod 3 having a plurality of wedge shaped spreading bolts 10 at its lower end surrounded by spreading sleeve 20 segments 21, and a sleeve 40 on its upper end threaded to a tension nut 60 which bears against a ground support or anchor plate 70 upon installation and tightening. The sleeve 40 mates with the tension rod via saw tooth configured circumferential ridges or fins 45, 46 having increasing inclination angles, to thereby provide for a constant force transmission per unit of tooth length. The tension nut and anchor plate have complementarily configured spherical bearing surfaces 65, 77, and the ground engaging lower area of the anchor plate has fracturable webs 75 to accommodate surface irregularities and projections.

Abstract: An auxiliary drain line is laid in a trench which extends about lower foundation portions of an existing building but at locations preferably spaced several feet from the foundation. The newly laid auxiliary drain line is formed of perforate material which admits surrounding ground water, and is connected to a storm drain line that serves the building so that water which enters the auxiliary drain line is discharged into the storm drain line. A porous reservoir is formed in the trench to (1) duct ground water to the auxiliary drain line, (2) eliminate ground water pressure buildup in the vicinity of the foundation wall, and (3) provide a ground water reservoir during an excessively heavy rainfall when the storm drain line may be incapable of carrying away all of the accumulated waterfall. The auxiliary drain line is laid in the trench at a level below the top of the basement floor of the building.

Abstract: A building block for walls which are laid in courses without mortar and can be stabilized by planting, has a base wall, a face wall, and two curved side walls. The base wall has rounded transition sections to the face wall and to the side walls. The block includes at least two curved dividing walls bounding a central space and two outer spaces between the side walls, with the upper edges of the face wall, of the side walls and of the dividing walls lying at least approximately in one plane. The building block is open at a rear thereof opposite the face wall, and the building block has an open top extending in the above mentioned one plane from the open rear to the face wall.

Abstract: A caisson for an underwater structure is provided comprising an elongated sponge mat fitted along the outer edge of the base of the frame, said sponge mat being molded from a plastic material and having a skin of a dense foam structure and an interior of a coarse foam structure, a plurality of small holes being provided in said sponge mat so as to extend crosswise, or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the mat, from one side of the mat to the other side, and at least one rope being passed through each of said holes, each of said ropes being of a length equal to or greater than the length of the corresponding small hole.

Abstract: A control system for longwall mining roof supports which are controlled in dependence on the position of the mining machine at any time. All of the roof supports are connected to a central computer via common conductors. Each of the roof supports includes a control unit having a code corresponding to the number of that support. This code serves as an address and enables the central computer to transmit its control command signals positively, in response to the mining machine position signals, through an appropriate address control unit for a particular roof support. In order to enable roof supports to be actuated manually also, the control units of all of the roof supports are connected to the central computer by two common conductors, one of which carries an automatic enable signal and the other of which carries a manual enable signal.

Abstract: Tunnels are constructed by freezing soil and removing frozen soil between starting and end shafts of the tunnels. Tunnels are driven in an uncomplicated manner in rapidly changing soils without auxiliary construction means. A hole is bored in or near the planned axis of the intended tunnel between starting and end shafts. A soil freezing work pipe is inserted into the hole. The pipe is cooled by a cooling agent. The soil freezing work pipe continues to be cooled until an ice and frozen soil mass has formed around the work pipe, which frozen mass has a diameter which is larger than that of the planned tunnel. Frozen soil is subsequently excavated, leaving a frozen soil lining, which is immediately supported by a primary support lining or a permanent lining.

Abstract: An earth retaining wall system (10) which includes a frontal wall (22) formed of a plurality of hexagonally contoured frontal wall panel members (24) having predetermined spatial coordinate locations. A coupling mechanism (28) includes a plurality of longitudinally extending tension bar members (64 and 64') which pass in contiguous contact with a multiplicity of anchor block members (26 or 26') longitudinally displaced from frontal wall (22) and embedded within earth mass (18). Tension bar members (64 and 64') are fixedly secured to individual frontal wall panel members (24). The earth retaining wall system (10) provides for a stable structure to maintain an earth mass (18) in constrained relation behind frontal wall (22).

Abstract: An interconnected and/or interconnectable frame structure supports a flexible web for use as a barrier surface in a temporary dam spanning across a waterway. The support frame includes a plurality of elongate members which are tilted away from a vertical plane in alternating senses or directions along the spanning direction of the barrier (e.g. transverse to the water flow). The thus resulting zig-zag or sawtooth elongated members are interconnected at their ends to mutually oppose further tilting movements and thus stabilize the frame and barrier structure. Pairs of the elongate members may be hinged (preferably at their lower ends) to facilitate storage and/or erection of pairs the elongate frame members from a flat storage position to an open V-shaped erected position.

Abstract: A nozzle for injecting adhesive materials into cracks in concrete, mortared joints in brick or stone walls, in timber, or in similar materials, the nozzle having a body with a center channel for conducting the resin from a suitable pump into the cracked surface. The nozzle may be surface mounted or mounted in a drilled hole, and has a proximal end adapted for connection to a conventional coupling and a distal end surrounded by spaced lugs which facilitate insertion of the distal end into a hole and aid in retaining the nozzle therein. The spacing between the lugs and a plurality of grooves in the distal end communicating with the center channel minimize back pressure when surface mounted and resist back pressure when mounted in a hole, and provide an even diffusion of the resin into the void. A collar is normally provided near the distal end for partially or completely sealing the installation and for retaining an adhesive gel or putty cone which further seals the installation.

Abstract: Marine rail system including a rail assembly of parallel ramped rails, a winch supporting a steel cable at one end, a carriage including a forward carriage and a rearward carriage with a torque tube of three members, two of the members being telescoping with respect to the third member, connecting said front and rear carriages, and the cable pulling through a front strap the front carriage as well as through a place affixed to the rear carriage through the torque tube. The torque tube provides for flexing of the front carriage and the rear carriage with respect to the watercraft as well as with respect to the rail. The guide bars as well as the length of the torque tube are adjustable to accommodate any width of beam as well as any length of watercraft. Bunk supports slide on an I-beam, providing for adjustability of the bottom of the hull, especially for V-hulled watercraft. The rail sections are in convenient lengths and secured with splicers providing for easy shipment.

Abstract: An arcuate or circular profile element of generally V-shaped cross-section has a curved bottom wall, arcuate sidewalls having free edges, and laterally projecting flanges projecting from the free edges. By choosing specific relationships between the thickness of the different parts of the element, lighter-weight elements can be used to withstand the same loads as before, or elements having the same weight as before can be used to support heavier loads.

Abstract: A wheeled boat trailer of the type used to tow a boat to a body of water is provided with a walkway leading to a dock ramp hingedly coupled to the rear end of the trailer for rearward extension into the body of water after the boat has been launched. Downwardly extendable support legs are mounted to the end of the dock ramp furthest from the trailer to support the dock ramp above the water surface. A pulley mounted atop a mast removably secured to the trailer near the rear portion thereof allows a conventional front-mounted trailer winch to elevate the dock ramp while the trailer is backed into or pulled from the water. When not in use, the dock ramp may be pivoted about its hinged coupling to a stowed position extending forwardly across the trailer. The dock ramp may be positioned along the longitudinal axis of the trailer, and the underside of the dock ramp may incorporate rollers for engaging and supporting the keel of the boat when the dock ramp is in the stowed position.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for admitting atmospheric air to a bounded volume of air on a downstream side of a crest gate where the bounded volume is defined by the gate and a curtain of water spilling over the gate. The apparatus comprises a plurality of rigid conduits secured to the gate and sized sufficient to have a first opening in communication with atmospheric air and second opening in communication with the bounded volume of air. The rigid conduits are secured to the gate and spaced along the length of the gate to divide the curtain of water flowing over the gate into a plurality of separate water currents. Permitting communication between atmospheric air and the bounded volume of air, the rigid conduits act to abate damaging vibration to the gate caused by the flow of water over the crest of the gate.

Abstract: In a method for compacting compactable soils by vibration while using a compacting apparatus comprising an elongate member having a vibrator mounted on one end thereof, and further having laterally projecting fins arranged along at least part of the length thereof, the elongate member is inserted to a given depth into soil to be compacted and there vibrated to densify and compact soil surrounding said elongate member while withdrawing the elongate member from a compacted location when the load required to lift the elongate member together with the vibrator from said location, while the member is vibrating, is at least equal to a previously established set-point value corresponding to a desired degree of compaction.

Abstract: The apparatus includes two tools for forming holes in the subsoil without excavating it, which tools being coaxially mounted on a drill column. To the end of the drill column there is attached a hollow tool which is concealed when a skirt is in a lower position and exposed when the skirt is in an upper position. A soil displacing body is mounted on the drill column and above the tool. The soil displacing body is a hollow structure and has an upper opening wherethrough its inner space communicates with a concrete feeding tube and a lower opening closable by the skirt in its upper position. To construct a tubular pile the apparatus is driven into the subsoil whereby a design hole is formed, then the apparatus is withdrawn from the hole with a simultaneous filling of the hole with a concrete mix through the concrete feeding tube, the soil displacing body, and the lower opening provided therein.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for excavating and pile reinforcing trenches is disclosed. A box-like central structure serves as a frame within which excavation by customary means, e.g., externally positioned back hoes, takes place. The outside walls of said central structure form temporary trench walls supporting the surrounding dirt. The inside walls of said central structure form a rear section, behind which flat piling is driven in before the entire unit advances. Advancement is carried out by means of longitudinal anchoring to the earth in the direction of travel of the apparatus and a longitudinal propulsion mechanism riding on the box frame and alternatively drilling and pushing periodically. In addition, end aligned shafts with cutting members are disposed within the front edges of the box frame walls to facilitate tunneling forward during the propulsion cycle.