Abstract: An improved water distribution system characterized by a construction including an irrifluent pipe disposed below the soil surface for dispersing water or treated waste water at a controlled rate. The irrifluent pipe includes an inner fluid conduit having apertures formed therethrough and an outer cover mounted in partially surrounding relation to the inner conduit and overlying the apertures. The outer cover is attached to the inner fluid conduit in spaced apart relation thereto so that the dispersed fluid slowly seeps into the ground.

Abstract: A wellhead apparatus and a method for positioning the apparatus on the ocean floor. The wellhead apparatus is equipped with a removable pump and a central opening for receiving a well conductor pipe. The apparatus provides a well base structure that is highly stable, capable of taking high vertical and lateral loads, and can be controlled during installation to be either truly plumb or positioned at a predetermined angle relative to the vertical.

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: Bridge plate for moving automobiles between railroad auto-rack cars characterized by an intermediate upright trues and two bracing trusses joined thereto of inverted trapezoidal cross section. A bottom plate joins the bracing trusses, secured by mechanical fasteners, and struts are interposed between the bottom plate and the intermediate truss to transfer a load on the intermediate truss to the bottom plate. The intermediate truss presents a flat top for one set (left or right) of the automobile wheels.

Abstract: A marine platform comprising a structure composed of a lattice of tubular elements sealingly connected to one another, includes a crack detection system comprising pickups provided on at least some of the elements and adapted to detect the passage of fluid through a wall, each pickup including an autonomous energy source and an acoustic signal transmission means. A signal acquisition unit adapted to receive signals from the pickups is disposed on a non-submerged part of the platform.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for positioning an offshore well substructure on the ocean floor. A substructure having a heigth of 1350 feet and base of 400 feet by 480 feet is subject to significant lateral forces caused by wind, wave, and current forces between the time period of lowering it to the ocean floor and driving piles through its skirt sleeves and into the ocean floor. Mudmats carried by the bottom corners of the substructure have downwardly-extending peripheral walls which penetrate the ocean floor so as to resist any lateral force to which the substructure is subjected. The base of a mudmat is approximately 10,000 square feet and the walls are approximately five feet high. A manifold system carried by each mudmat provides the capability of adjusting the level of the substructure after it has been lowered onto the ocean floor.

Abstract: A sheet of material is laid in the ground by digging a trench in the ground by means of a trench digger and unwinding the sheet of material from a stock roll above ground level, passing it into the trench in a downward direction and diverting it in a direction essentially parallel to ground level. In order for the protective housing which is attached downstream of the trench digger and has to keep the trench open over its length not to be designed too long the sheet of material is passed into the trench folded double and is unfolded via three return rollers or rods or flanges, and passed in the unfolded state in an approximately vertical plane in the horizontal direction.

Abstract: A conveyor line with pallets for conveying heavy loads has a guide member (3) with a U-shaped cross section in which there runs a conveyor belt (2), which can be guided rectilinearly or in curves and comprises links of glidable material. Pallets (6) carrying objects are conveyed along the line. The pallets have two guide segments (11) swivelable about vertical axes (x--x) in tandem in the conveying direction and via support rollers (8) said segments bear against separate support members (7), one on either side of the guide member (3). The guide segments have glide shoes (20) mounted coaxially with the axes (x--x) for yieldingly engaging against the belt (2) so that the pallet accompanies the belt in its movement. The segments have guide rollers (30) following opposing, parallel walls (4,4) of the U section guide member for positioning the guide segments along the straight and curved portions of the line.

Abstract: A watercraft lift supported on one or a pair of stanchions that include a sleeve assembly mounted for slidable movement on the stanchions. A platform is mounted on forks carried by a cross arm inserted into the sleeve assemblies which protrude out from the stanchions. Upright members mounted on the platform carry fender members.In a modified form of the invention a single stanchion with a similar sleeve assembly, a cross arm and twin forks, lifts a floating dock.In a further modified form, a single stanchion with a similar sleeve assembly, a cross arm and twin forks, lifts a non-floating dock.In still another modified form a single stanchion with a sleeve assembly cross arm and twin forks carries a spaced frame for receiving a seaplane.

Abstract: Apparatus and a method for progressively forming a subsea trench and for laying a pipeline in that trench are provided. The apparatus includes a towable sled for supporting the pipeline as it is being laid in a subsea trench that is being created by fluid jetting, mechanical cutting or a combination of both, using jetting and cutting devices mounted on the sled. In the preferred embodiment, the jet device proceeds the mechanical cutter on the sled and is vertically adjustably mounted so it can be raised out of the way while the mechanical cutter is in use.

Abstract: A disk is provided with two diametrically opposed handles. A resilient ball is tethered to the center of the disk by a flexible, but substantially inelastic line, said line being slightly shorter than the radius of the disk. Weights may be attached to the device. Proper flexions and extensions of the arms or of other parts of the user's body set the ball in a periodic bouncing motion. The rhythm thus established regulates the various exercises of the user.

Abstract: A mine support prop which includes a timber load support member which is elongated in the direction of its grain, and includes a zone of reduced cross-section and a sleeve which is preferably made from mild steel, which surrounds the support member over a substantial portion of its length and extends over the zone of reduced cross-section and onto the timber member on either side of the reduced cross-section zone to support the timber member against bending when it is compressed under load in its axial direction.

Abstract: A concrete module for at least partial submergence in the surf to dissipate the energy of wave action and to promote the deposition of beach-restoring sand and pebbles comprises a series of passages which converge toward the shore-facing side of the module and terminate in an upwardly-directed opening which deflects the incoming water flow upward to further dissipate the wave energy and to create a reaction force on the module which tends to rotate or tilt it toward the shore. This tendency aids in neutralizing the natural tendency of barriers to rotate toward the sea as a result of sand being scoured out from beneath the seaward side of the barrier as a result of downwardly-deflected incoming wave energy.

Abstract: A method of installing an offshore construction, includes fabricating platform support columns from a plurality of interconnected column sections. The method comprises placing a first column section at the surface of a body of water, at least partly submerging the first column section by a certain amount, placing a second column section on top of the first column section whereby the top of the first column section is joined to the bottom of the second section near the waters' surface, the second column section thereafter being at least partly submerged as was the first column section. Additional column sections are placed on top of and joined to successive partly submerged column sections near the waters' surface, until a finished column of desired height is formed by the joined column sections. A base may be initially connected to the bottom of the first column section. The finished column may then be anchored to the seabed to maintain the finished column in a fixed vertical position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for restoring a beach by raising the level of the beach between the high tide line and the low tide line of the beach in which an elongated rectangular net of nylon cord is suspended from a temporary supporting structure generally perpendicular to the high tide line of the beach and extending from the high tide line to at least the low tide line, said net having a uniform mesh sized to prohibit passage through said net of the larger rocks, coral and shells present on the sea floor and having a weighted bottom edge resting upon the sea floor and a top edge suspended above the high tide level of the sea, wherein said net remains suspended between the high tide line and the low tide line for a period of at least twelve hours, and then said net and its supporting structure are removed from the beach.

Abstract: A device and method of covering piles and the like includes a plastic cover or sheet which is wrapped around the pile for protecting the pile against rot, weather and wear. The plastic sheet ends overlap as they wrap around the pile. The ends are sealed and secured by a heating element extending between the overlapped ends of the sheet and which forms a fused plastic seam between the overlapped ends as the sheet is held tightly about the pile. A strap and bar which presses over the heating element are provided for temporarily cinching the plastic sheet tightly about the pile and holding it while the heat fusing occurs.

Abstract: A beach building block which is formed with a single passageway extending in a vertical inclination therethrough and which presents a solid wall at the rearward side of the block for containment of sand and the like behind the block and thereby build a beach. The blocks are positioned in row parallel to the shoreline, and while they permit the wave to flow through the block, they dissipate the energy of the wave, and they also retard the return flow of the water with the suspended sand, and thus the beach is built behind the block by the deposit of the sand.

Abstract: A concrete foundation pile and a device for driving the pile into the ground. The pile is provided with an outer surface having a screw thread element extending over a considerable part thereof, and a cavity extending from an opposite end of the pile forming an internal engaging surface extending over the part of the pile over which the screw thread element extends. A rotational driving force is transferred over said internal engaging surface substantially along the full length over which the screw thread element extends.

Abstract: A foundation is stabilized with a pier that extends downwardly from the foundation into the underlying surface material and at its lower end preferably bears against bedrock. At its upper end the pier is attached to the foundation through a bracket having a sleeve and a rod directed generally radially from the sleeve. To drive the pier, a hole is first drilled into the foundation wall, and the rod of the bracket is inserted into the hole, so that the sleeve lies along the wall. A jacking apparatus is fitted to the bracket, and it includes a lift member that actually engages the sleeve and a hydraulic cylinder that is located above the lift member and sleeve. The pier comprises sections which are fitted individually into the sleeve and are driven downwardly with the cylinder, with all but the first section being coupled to the section immediately below it.

Abstract: A foundation for a retaining wall-type of structure acted upon by a principal force tending to slide same in a predetermined direction is anchored by a plurality of slide resisting walls. The slide resisting walls extend parallel to the predetermined direction in which the foundation tends to slide. The upper portions of the slide resisting walls are embedded in a concrete mass. The lower portions of the slide resisting walls project downwardly from the concrete mass into the earth, and are solely in engagement with the earth and not with concrete.