Abstract: A road finisher comprising a chassis is described, the chassis being movable on a travelling gear and carrying a front stock hopper, a primary drive unit an incorporated secondary drive units. The road finisher is provided with a paving screed which is dragged at the rear and which is articulated on the chassis via laterial outriggers, as well as with a lifting device which is provided between the chassis and the outrigger and by means of which the paving screed can be moved to a transport position raised from the ground. The troublesome influence of the paving screed when the road finisher travels for the purpose of transportation is reduced or eliminated to a large extent in the case of such a road finisher.

Abstract: A paving apparatus utilizing surface paving components which are stored in a plurality of containers. The containers are supported on a movable platform which may be motivated by a motor carried on the platform. The platform includes a first end having the motor and a second end portion which provides an operator stand. Containers are supported on the platform to hold each of the plurality of surface paving components which are mixed in a holding tank and sent to a conveyor on the movable platform. A control is located at the operator stand to determine the speed and to steer the movable platform. Mixing of paving components and the spreading of the same on a surface are also controlled at the operator stand.

Abstract: A bridge structure comprises at least two piers, a deck structure between each pair of adjacent piers supported to allow for relative movement longitudinally of the deck between at least one pier and the deck, a connecting bar and a shock transmission unit in series connected between each pair of adjacent piers, the bar being supported for longitudinal movement independently of the deck. This arrangement allows free relative movement due to thermal expansion, and can accommodate flexing of the deck structure due to live loads. The shock transmission unit forms a longitudinal lock along the piers in the event of a sudden shock such as an earthquake, so that all the piers are combined to resist the shock.

Abstract: A spacer arrangement is provided for use in raising the height of a manhole cover frame, including one or more base spacer elements and one or more upper side extension elements; said one or more base spacer elements are adapted to be located within said manhole cover frame with said one or more side extension elements extending upwardly relative thereto; the spacer arrangement is adapted to receive a manhole cover; at least an underside surface of said one or more base spacer elements includes downwardly directed projections for stabilizing at least said one or more base spacer elements.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a barrier construction for removably closing road passages, which comprises two cables, spaced from one another, and coupled, at the end portions thereof, to stretching assemblies, provided near the terminal portions of the end passage. Between the two cables are supported spacer plates, provided with a resting foot. The cables are arranged at such a level as to define therebetween the average of the values of the heights of the centers of gravity of conventional vehicles or, anyhow, such as to hold therein the minimum and maximum heights of a guard-rail of conventional type.

Abstract: A channel structure for housing electrical wires and supporting glarefoil blades along a median barrier of a divided highway or other roadway. An elongate composite channel structure defines an interior channel and a flat exterior top support surface. The composite channel is attachable to the top of a median barrier to cover electrical streetlamp wiring extending along the top of the barrier. A series of glarefoil blades are attachable directly and individually to the flat top support surface so that the support surface is the only object which provides structural, stabilizing support for each of the glarefoil blades.

Abstract: A pile handling tool for use in lowering and stabbing a pile underwater. The tool incorporates a simple release mechanism to engage or disengage the tool from the pile using an ROV. A sleeve is sized to be received over the top end of the pile. A lifting eye is provided on the top of the sleeve. A stop plate is provided in the sleeve that allows it to rest on top of the pile. A pile centralizer provided in the sleeve substantially centers the pile in the sleeve when the sleeve is lowered over the pile. Pile support pins movably received in cylinders on the sleeve are form the release mechanism and are movable by an ROV for installation of the tool and lifting and installing of a pile.

Abstract: An advertising display method involves marking grass sports fields by bending the grass blades in definite zones and bending or leaving them straight in other zones in order to form an image or a word. The difference in the direction given to the grass blades is quite visible to the spectator. The grass blades are directed by means of an apparatus mounted on rollers which runs on the grass surface. The apparatus also has brushes and/or additional rollers which rotate to straighten the grass blades on definite sectors. The sectors form an image or the letters of a words. The engines which drive the apparatus and the brushes and/or rollers are electrical and are controlled by a computer. The image or word to represent on the grass, as well as the position of the apparatus on the surface to work, are entered in the memory of a computer.

Abstract: The stiffening girder type suspension bridge according to the present invention is designed with a smaller dead load under normal conditions, and applied with a temporary dead load as an additional mass to improve the static characteristics and aerodynamic stability when the bridge is subjected to particularly violent storms that result in significant vibrations and swaying of the bridge. The present invention bridge structure is highly economical. A passage is provided in the stiffening girder at the center of its width along the direction of the bridge axis, so that a temporary dead load as an additional mass can be moved into the passage. Under normal conditions, the passage is kept empty of the load. When an imminent storm is anticipated, a given amount of liquid or solid is transferred into the passage located within the stiffening girder to temporarily apply a given amount of temporary dead load to the stiffening girder during a storm to control vibrations of the bridge caused by the winds.

Abstract: An elevatable automobile turn-around system for use and association with various automobiles transport structures, the apparatus comprising: a lift having an upper segment, a lower segment and a central segment therebetween, the upper and lower segments formed in a planar configuration, the central segment including a motorized device to move the upper segment vertically upward and downward, the motorized means being powerful enough to lift the weight of an automobile; and a turntable formed in a generally planar configuration with an upper surface and a lower surface, the upper surface having coupling devices to securely retain a vehicle thereupon, the lower portion of the turntable including motorized pivot means for rotating the upper surface up to one hundred and eighty degrees, the apparatus permitting the user to elevate and rotate a vehicle as required by the particular transport structure utilized therewith.

Abstract: A ramped barrier is provided to control movement of motorized vehicles into designated areas. The ramped barrier can be mounted on a road, parking lot, driveway or other surface. The barrier is provided with a series of parallel tines secured to a rotating shaft. The tines form a tire piercing barrier against unauthorized traffic. The shaft is housed within the barrier and adjacent to the top wall of the barrier. The tines, when retracted, extend from the shaft to about the outer edge of one ramped side of the barrier. The tines can be positioned to project upwardly against vehicular traffic in one or two directions.

Abstract: A road vehicle halting device comprising a support member, a plurality of support elements, means mounting the support elements on the support member, each supporting element supporting a generally upwardly extending spike, a plurality of downwardly extending road engaging formations, means mounting the road engaging formations on the underside of the support member, the road engaging formations each being configured so that in the event of a vehicle driving over the device, at least one of the formations digs into the ground.

Abstract: A mining drum assembly for use in the mining of a substrate that has a drum. A plurality of bars, each one of the bars has a plurality of laterally-spaced apart mining bit assemblies connected thereto, are affixed to the surface of the drum. The bars define first and second regions of discrete bars equi-spaced about the circumference of the drum. The bars of the first region being circumferentially and laterally spaced-apart from the bars of the second region.

Abstract: A sideways slidable pathway system for wheelchair users that permits the temporary deployment of pathways to allow the transit of a wheelchair with a person therein over a stair or stairway barrier, in which the pathway, which itself may comprise one or more separate pathways, are permanently secured to an anchor adjacent an access opening and are rotationally disposable and slidable with respect to a track from a position in which the pathway is stowed away and not in use to a position in which the pathway is disposed over the stair barrier so that transit can be accomplished.

Abstract: A reinforcement system for highway barriers comprising a frame structure mounted on the surface of an associated highway barrier and force distributing members that are adapted to distribute forces along a horizontal direction upon impact of a vehicle into the associated highway barrier so as to lessen the degree of force applied to the highway barrier and to thus provide additional strength to the associated highway barrier.

Abstract: A self propelled paving machine includes a pair of independently operated conveyors and a pair of independently operated augers spaced on opposite sides of the machine centerline. The augers can be separately raised and lowered to different elevations. The drive boxes for the conveyors and augers are positioned at the sides of the machine, to provide space between the conveyors and augers that is unobstructed, permitting the free fall of paving material from the conveyors along the centerline of the machine.

Abstract: A deployable bridge having at least one bridge section which includes a base body; and a road section articulated to the base body for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot axis oriented transversely to the length of the base body. The road section has a first pivotal position in which the road section lies lengthwise on the base body. The road section has a second pivotal position in which the road section is in a raised state relative to its first pivotal position. There is further provided a pivot shaft mounted on the base body and having a horizontal pivot axis oriented transversely to the length of the base body. A support member adjoins the base body and is articulated to the base body by the pivot shaft. The support member has a first pivotal position in which it is in a flat-lying state. In such flat-lying state the free outer end of the support member projects beyond the outer end of the road section in a direction away from a location situated at midlength of the bridge section.

Abstract: A portable halfpipe and method for quickly constructing the same is disclosed. The portable halfpipe includes a left arcuate module, a right arcuate module, and preferably, an intermediate planar module therebetween. Quick release connectors are used between the modules to allow the modules to be quickly connected and disconnected. Ideally, the quick release connector is a rotolock which includes a male portion having a rotatably mounted hook therein and a receiving post mounted in a cooperating female portion. The male and female portions are affixed in modules to be joined together. The engagement of the hook with the receiving post causes the modules to abut and clamp together. The method includes abutting modules together and rotating hooks to grasp receiving members thereby clamping the modules together.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dethatching machine having an improved rotating shaft mechanism. The shaft mechanism is provided with a plurality if engaging tines to engage and remove unwanted thatch. The shaft is also provided with added weight located at the periphery of the shaft mechanism so as to provide improved kinematic condition for the shaft.

Abstract: The invention provides a connector for removably connecting a first piece of equipment to a second piece of equipment. The connector includes a rigid body having a back end and a front end. Means are provided at the back end of the body and are adaptable for slidable engagement in a vertical direction with the first piece of equipment. At least one axially translatable member is provided at the front end of the rigid body, with the translatable member being translatable between an insertion position and engagement position. The translatable member is adapted for engagement with the second piece of equipment when in the engagement position. A means is provided which is operable from a location away from the body for translating the translatable member between the insertion position and the engagement position.