Abstract: A solidification apparatus in the form of a rack and prongs rake structure, the prongs of which are a multiplicity of hollow tubes, each tube containing a serrated augar for providing augar assisted feeding of a gaseous suspension of cementing solids through the hollow tubes into the liquid, the rack supporting each hollow tube tine being pivotally attached to the arm of a backhoe so that the backhoe operator can generate lateral, pivotal and longitudinal movement of the tubes in the liquid while the gaseous suspension is being added to the liquid, a guard ring being provided at the open end of each tube for preventing submersion of the tube ends into the bed underlying the liquid of the encatchment.

Abstract: A prestressed grouted anchor has a portion of an axially extending prestressed tension member grouted in a receiving material while the remaining portion of the tension member extends from the grouted portion. The remaining portion is separated from the grouted portion at a selected breaking point by reducing the tensile strength of the tension member as the result of exposing it to the action of heat, such as developed in an exothermic chemical reaction. If the tension member is prestressed and the resulting elastic elongation is maintained during the heating action with the elongation being greater than the elongation required under the heating action for effecting the severing of the tension member, then with progressive heat the tensile strength of the tension member is reduced and the elastic elongation progressively changes to plastic elongation with the tension member finally severing automatically at the selected breaking point.

Abstract: The manufacture of extended, inaccessible holes for underground ducts, conduits and the like is performed by a closed construction process, wherein the preferably remotely-controlled excavation is performed and following that a structure is installed which is employed as the product duct, conduit or the like. The installed structure is provided by injection of an injection material under pressure into an annular space between a form following the excavating apparatus and the ground to manufacture at least one endless inner wall for the hole which then serves as the underground duct, conduit or the like. The novel apparatus of this invention correspondingly comprises a form following the required excavation mechanism conformed to form an annular space between the form and the ground, that form having a form front closing the form and at least one inlet therein for injection of an injection material into the annular space.

Abstract: A new and improved crane adapted to be rotatably mounted about the guide tower of a vertically movable leg of an offshore jack-up platform. In one form, the crane is mounted for rotation about the leg tower section on a bearing tube having a thrust bearing interposed between a tower section flange and the lower end of the bearing tube. In a second form, the crane is mounted about the leg tower section utilizing upper rollers and hook rollers coacting with a support flange mounted with the tower section.

Abstract: The plate has the plate material in-turned, about the central, roof bolt or friction rock stabilizer aperture, to form a tubular wall thereat. Accordingly, the rim of the aperture is made stronger and the plate, therefore, is capable of supporting a considerable loading.

Abstract: A low headroom culvert is provided wherein a series of shallow arch-shaped flat metallic sections are overlappingly secured together. Torsion and buckle resistant reinforcing cross ribbing elements are affixed to the exterior culvert sections at selected points along the culvert to form girder-like beams. The improved culvert structure provides reduced hydraulic flow resistance, can be easily installed and requires less metal for its manufacture in comparison to culverts made of corrugated sheet.

Abstract: A clothes hoist comprising a bearing block secured to the outer surface of the fixed lower standard of a clothes hoist but having an annular projection which extends through an aperture in the wall of the lower standard and into an aperture in the side wall of a tubular inner member to thereby support the tubular inner member, the tubular inner member itself supporting a nut which threadably engages a non-circular threaded stem which, upon rotation of the nut, raises or lowers the upper standard. Rotation is effected by rotating a handle on the end of a driving pinion skirt journalled in the bearing block, and having a driving pinion on its inner end which meshes with a driven pinion on the nut. A body surrounds the lower standard and overlies an outwardly projecting portion of the bearing block.

Abstract: In an apparatus for driving open-ended pipes through the ground, a hollow intermediate piece having a truncated conical transition portion with outlet openings for the removal of soil, which is forced into the pipe during driving, is disposed between the rearward end of the pipe and a pneumatic rammer for driving the pipe.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in the laying and/or replacement of pipes under ground comprises a casing (1), a frusto-conical impact member (2) secured to one end of the casing and adapted to form an underground passage for the casing when the apparatus is being driven through the ground, a piston (7) reciprocally mounted in the casing and arranged to be driven by a source of compressed air or other fluid to engage the impact member (2) with a series of impacts to drive said member and the casing through the ground and a control valve member (11) adapted to be connected to a source of compressed air or other fluid and arranged to reciprocate the piston in the casing by means of said compressed air or other fluid. A pipe fitting (31) is connected to a tubular spacer member (23) which is mounted on the other end of the casing (1), said pipe fitting being adapted to be clamped to the leading end of a pipeline (29 and/or 30) which is to be laid in the underground passage formed by the impact member (2).

Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of the invention are directed to a technique for raising and lowering large tainter gates. Typically, two groups of lifting apertures are formed in the gate. A lifting mechanism, resiliently mounted on the tainter gate pier, inserts a movable pin into an aperture in one of the two groups and draws the gate upwardly. A stationary pin on the lifting mechanism then is inserted into an aperture in the other of the two groups to absorb the gate load while the movable pin is withdrawn and moved to a new aperture in order to continue the step-wise lifting process.To lower a gate, an essentially reverse procedure is followed.

Abstract: For burying conduits in the bottom of a waterbed the invention proposes to provide protruding parts such as fins on or in the proximity of the conduit, which cause disturbances in the flow of water near the conduit to erode the bottom of the waterbed in such a way that the conduit will be buried.

Abstract: Laying of tile underground in a trench involves great care in maintaining a uniform grade and to lay the tile aligned uniformly. It is a purpose of this invention to disclose apparatus for laying of pipe and tile in an underground trench wherein a grade is maintained by means of a grade control shoe joined on the front end of a tile laying box and the tile laying box with the grade control shoe attached is pulled forward by the trench digging back hoe.

Abstract: Apparatus for placement in front of tidal wave action to cause settlement of sand from the water and thus land accretion. The apparatus includes a base section having a flexible barrier section secured thereto and extending upwardly therefrom. Method and apparatus for installing and removing the accretion apparatus are also disclosed and claimed.

Abstract: There is provided a process for rendering certain layers impervious to the seepage of water through same. Such layers are of value in preventing water seepage into structures, and also from ponds, from water reservoirs and the like. The water impervious layers are produced from mixtures of sand (about 98.5 to 90 weight percent) and montmorillonite (about 1.5 to 10 weight percent), which are compacted and contacted with salt water having a salt content at least equal to that of sea water, and washing the layer until the wash waters are essentially free of sodium.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a dock that is relatively easily assembled and disassembled. The dock comprises a number of dock sections, each of which is provided with a leg portion that engages the bottom of a lake or body of water. The opposite end of each dock section from the leg portion thereof is engaged with a preceding dock section by a locking system that facilitates erection of the dock system and maintenance thereof in the assembled condition.

Abstract: In a sea, lake or other body of water, sedimentation of sedimentary solid material may be obtained in desired areas by reducing the hydraulic pressure in the sea floor or lake bottom layer in the respective area. Such reduction of the hydraulic pressure causes water to flow from the lake or sea into the porous bottom or floor layer whereby material suspended in the water or transported along the bed settles on the floor or bottom. The reduction of the hydraulic pressure is obtained by pumping water from underground drain tubes or other drainage devices extending along and adjacent to the coastline. The method may be used for coast protection and reclamation of land.

Abstract: A fender for protecting support structures against shocks applied thereto, of an alongside fender type, comprising a rubber piece with appropriate profile adapted for absorbing the shocks and distributing them uniformly over the structure to be protected, which rubber piece is firmly secured by hot galvanization to a rubber frame whose radius is substantially equal to the radius of the structure to be protected, the assembly formed by the piece carried by a frame being fixed to the structure by fixing member integral with the latter, associated possibly with a fixing member integral with the piece and/or with the frame.

Abstract: The device is a floating pier with a sliding pile anchoring system arrangnt that avoids rigid connections to the pier and allows the pier to rise and lower with the tides and to remain level during lateral displacement while avoiding substantial tilt or rotation of the pier during seismic and maximum static loading. Preferably, piles that are arranged in pairs and are spaced along the centerline of the floating pier ride in pile guide assemblies attached to the pier deck, and include shear fail means which operate during overload conditions.

Abstract: A boat lift mounted on a plurality of spaced masts secured in suitable foundations are provided to support an equal number of spaced rails extending angularly into the water to a depth below the draft of the boats to be elevated on the boat lift. A plurality of boat carriers slidably mounted on the rails have spaced rollers engaging the flanges of the rails to facilitate movement of the boat carriers relative to the rails. The boat carriers have horizontally extending extensions secured to their lower ends to underlie the boat which is chocked to hold it in an upright position on the boat carrier extensions as the boat is moved out of the water. A winch housing having a power actuated winch therein is provided to wind up a cable secured to the boat carrier to pull each of the carriers and the boat on the carrier extensions up the rails to elevate the boat out of the water.

Abstract: A drainage channel system is disclosed which is characterized by a plurality of drainage channel segments (30) of progressively greater length adapted to be interlocked end-to-end. Each channel segment (30) comprises a pair of opposing, spaced-apart sidewalls (31), (32), a bottom wall (33) connecting the sidewalls (31), (32) adjacent one end and a top opening opposite bottom wall (33) defining a fluid entrance adapted to receive a grate (37). A sidewall extension (10) is provided for being mounted on top of each of the sidewalls of channel segment (30) along at least a part of the length thereof to effectively increase the total depth of each channel segment (30) and increase the length of a continuously and progressively sloping run of the drainage channel system.