Abstract: To reduce the shearing resistance at the surfaces of the diaphragm, and to decrease the buoyancy force, both of which greatly hamper the positioning of diaphragms or thin sheets in slotted wall suspensions, air bubbles are introduced at the bottom end of the diaphragm during the positioning process. These air bubbles ascend along the vertical surfaces of the diaphragm.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a tunnel lining from concrete in a single operation with a tunnel excavator comprises a tunnel lining form consisting of a plurality of tunnel lining form segments and a form front adjacent the tunnel excavator and a tunnel lining circular space between the form and the ground. In order to heat the concrete as it is pumped into the tunnel lining circular space to accelerate hardening, transmitting antennae for electromagnetic radiation are mounted in the tunnel lining form segments and/or the feed pipes for the concrete. Similarly a process for making a tunnel lining from concrete comprises pumping concrete into the tunnel lining circular space and accelerating the hardening of the concrete by heating it with electromagnetic radiation. The tunnel form is rapidly repositioned after the concrete being hardened reaches a sufficient strength.

Abstract: The invention relates to the setting-down of a pipe in the sea using a setting-down line. The line is provided with sinkers at its lower end portion which tension the line and allow a reduction in the angle of general inclination of the line with the vertical and thus a reduction in the length of the line.

Abstract: A method and system of storing and containing existing toxic waste dump sites, to prevent leakage and seepage from the waste site. It involves ascertaining the soil characteristics to determine the moisture impervious layer depth for the soil surrounding the pit site, digging a perimeter trench around the dump site to a depth at least equal to the moisture impervious layer, filling the perimeter trench with a substantially moisture impervious material, placing a well casing within the area defined by the perimeter trench, adjacent to the pit, and placing a drain line below the bottom of the toxic waste site dump pit in fluid communication with the well casing. As a result of this alteration of the water drainage profile within the surrounding soil, the risk of seepage, leakage and drainage of toxic waste into the aquifers is lessened.

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: The compressibility of liquid-saturated soils is increased by mixing the soil with gas-filled, compressible bodies thus changing the dynamic property of the soil to mitigate against pressure changes therein.

Abstract: A multi-sided portable trench and pit form system having at least two panels forming each side, each panel releasably interconnectable along the vertical margins of each adjacent panel and side. Elongated rigid braces are also provided which releasably interconnect to and against the sides and spanning the interconnected panels to rigidize the sides. Additionally, the elongated braces also interconnect at their ends to rigidize the preselected relative angular positioning of the sides one to another. The entire assembly forms a barrier or perimeter wall as required within which a user may safely function when working below ground level. An opening may be provided in one panel or between adjacent panels forming a side and having a slideable closure panel to provide working access outside of the enclosure. This modular system is adaptable to variation in the number of sides required, as well as variation in both side width and height.

Abstract: An offshore structure for deepsea production of this invention is designed for achieving economy both in installation and in operation. It consists mainly of a base to be founded on a sea-bed, a buoyant body having a separator segregated from the sea for storing and separating the produced fluids and an elongate tensioned member for connecting the base and the buoyant body and transporting the produced fluids from the well through the base to the separator near the surface of the sea. The separator has a compartmentalized outer wall for controllably variable ballasting and deballasting.

Abstract: An apparatus for below-ground driving of pipeline segments made from lengths of production pipe, especially those having rated pipeline widths that are not man-sized. Driving is effected by means of a driving apparatus, which is disposed in a jacking shaft and from there drives pipeline segments via a thrust bridge. The driving apparatus comprises threaded driving mechanisms disposed parallel to one another in the length of the pipeline segments. By means of the threaded drive mechanisms, the thrust bridge can be moved back and forth, via at least one motor drive means rotating the parallel threaded spindles of the threaded drive mechanisms about their axes of rotation. The field in which the apparatus is used is preferably sewer construction, involving sewer mains and household connection lines branching off from them. Both types of line can be driven forward out of the jacking shafts, in which the apparatus can be brought into a desired driving direction by rotating it in the shaft.

Abstract: A draining arrangement for removing water from roofs or equivalent areas wherein the aim of the arrangement is to improve the draining effect making it possible to use smaller draining pipes, and further to avoid disturbing noise in the pipes. The arrangement is mainly characterized in that the opening (4) of the vertical water pipe (3) is situated directly at the surface (1) of the roof and is covered by a lid element (5). This lid is situated at a height (h.sub.c) over the roof that a certain predefined amount of water can flow under the lid where the water stream while on its way to the opening of the vertical draining pipe and without changing its direction, continuously changes to closed flow simultaneously as the air entrance becomes closed.

Abstract: For use with a subsea well incorporating an external conductor pipe extending upwardly above the seabed, a well support miniplatform is set forth. In the preferred and illustrated embodiments, the preferred embodiment describes a longitudinally split, flange equipped, bolt joined elongate conductor clamp supported on a frame at the bottom thereof and having a plurality of appended upstanding braces. The support frame is adapted to be rested on a seabed and held in place by a number of anchors driven into the seabed at corners. The support frame is selectively installed after completion of a well wherein the conductor pipe extends above the seabed. The support frame may subsequently be removed after installation of a permanent platform. In alternate embodiments, the support frame may be installed as a permanent structure. A boat landing and miniplatform may be mounted on the conductor pipe or the conductor clamp supported by the support frame.

Abstract: This method for raising a platform comprising a platform proper or deck carried by legs bearing on the sea bed comprises: fixing on each of the legs (2) of the platform a raising device (4) constituting a reinforcing device whose regions of fixing to the legs (2) are located on each side of a region of the leg to be cut; cutting the leg so as to divide it into a lower portion (2a) and an upper portion (2b); when all the legs have been cut, actuating the raising devices associated with each of the legs so as to raise the platform to an extent corresponding to the desired raising while controlling the attitude of the platform, and fixing between the ends of the portions (2a) and (2b) of each leg a heightening element (5) which once more interconnects the two portions of the leg, and removing the raising devices.

Abstract: A method for lining a sewer pipe incorporate the steps of continuously forming a liner of helically wound strip, the strip having complementary engaging side formations, and feeding the liner into the sewer pipe. The ends of the liner are sealed to the sewer pipe and cementitious grout is pumped under pressure into the space between the liner and the sewer pipe to bond the liner is position.

Abstract: To inhibit marine growth on a submerged framework, one or more collars are placed loosely around each member of the framework, the collars having outwardly projecting vanes so that ambient water movement causes movement around or along the member. The vanes (5; 25; 45; 55; 65) are preferably hinged to the collar for limited pivotation and may be twisted or provided with extension portions to ensure axial movement.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided to embed paper drain material in water-laden soil by means of a mandrel driven into the soil by power means. The paper drain material is intermittently treated with a substance detectable by a signal emitted electronic sensing means secured to the lower end of the mandrel. When the paper drain is believed to be in place, the mandrel is withdrawn. During mandrel withdrawal, as each sensing means passes by each detectable substance, the signal from the sensing means is modulated, thereby indicating that the paper drain is embedded in place and the mandrel has disengaged from the paper drain. If the paper drain adheres to the mandrel and is being withdrawn with the mandrel, no modulated signal will be generated, thereby indicating that the paper drain is not properly anchored in the soil.

Abstract: Valves regulating the supply of hydraulic fluid to hydraulic cylinders of an hydraulic walking mine-roof support are controlled by apparatus comprising an axially-movable switching shaft provided with cams which is rotatable into successive switching stations where it is immobilized by spring-loaded stop pins to that the cams bear on tappets to actuate the respective valves, there being a switching spring acting on the shaft to return the shaft to its initial position of rest after it has been axially displaced and rotated out of that position of rest.

Abstract: A platform for use as an artifical island wherein the platform comprises an immersed base of floats, vertical pillars and an emerged structure supported by said pillars. The floating base is formed by a disk of caissons. The vertical pillars are imbedded in the caissons and form the generating lines of a cylinder of substantially circular base. The emerged structure comprises a lower disk-shaped part traversed by the pillars, and an upper part comprised of modules which are joinable together to form a cylindrical assembly resting on the pillars. The floating disk may be dimensioned in relation to the platform and to the marine characteristics so as to offer low draft and high stability. Such dimensioning enables the platform to be entirely constructed in a shipyard and subsequently towed to the installation site.

Abstract: A continuous linear element is used in the form of a fine fibrous trap, delivered in a continuous manner by an ejector (11) placed in a gaseous atmosphere established in an open-bottomed bell (8) immersed in the liquid medium with its open bottom close to the deposition site of the construction material. A slurry of solid particles is injected into the fibrous trap when it is still in the gaseous atmosphere of the bell and the trap charged with said particles is then deposited on the construction site (1). The ejector (11) can be part of a device (12) for breaking up textile cable (17) and is connected with a floating platform (3).

Abstract: A method for installing thin-walled sealing elements in the fabrication of slotted walls in the soil. The thin-walled sealing elements are plastic foils with vertical connecting elements at the vertical edges. A connecting slot is flushed out between a newly made slotted-wall section and the interior of the adjacent slotted connecting tube of the previously installed sealing element. The slot and the interior of the connecting tube are filled with a support suspension. Then a new sealing element is threaded through the filled connecting slot into the previously installed connecting tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the underground installation of pipelines. The underground installation of pipelines is carried out by driving pipe sections into the ground. The earth is loosened at the driving face via a liquid jet, and the excess earth is transported away from the removal zone. Only so much of the earth that has been loosened and mixed with the liquid is removed, such that the removal zone is always completely filled with the earth-liquid mixture. The larger earth aggregates or obstructions in the ground are forced outwards. In this way, the driving face does not require any special support. A receiving device with entry orifices for the earth-liquid mixture is located behind a nozzle head provided for discharging the liquid jet. A sluice serves to pass the mixture into a removal pipe in a controlled manner.