Abstract: A turf care implement includes a frame mounted on a pair of opposed wheels. The frame supports a pair of lift arms which are mounted at an angle to the direction of travel of the implement. The lift arms support a plurality of rakes on mounting arms. The radial-type wheel rakes which have tines extending radially outward from a central hub. A series of cables and pulleys connects from the lift arms to a lift handle by a forward portion of the frame for raising and lowering the arms and positioning the arms at various heights.

Abstract: An offshore fluid transfer system is described, for transferring fluid between stations (12, 14, FIG. 1) that may be many kilometers apart and lie in deep water, which avoids the need for making fluid connections at great underwater depths. A buoy station (14) includes a buoy (40) anchored to the seafloor to lie a moderate distance below the sea surface, and coupled through a flexible hose (46) to a turret (52) that is attached to a weathervaning vessel (30) and that is anchored to the seafloor. A major conduit portion (34) which extends between the first station and the buoy, includes a long pipeline of series-connected steel pipes that extends along the seafloor to near the buoy station, with an end portion (32) of the pipeline extending in a J-curve and in a primarily upward direction to the underwater buoy.

Abstract: This relates to a bridge stay formed by a cable (1) which itself is surrounded by a discontinuous sheath composed of identical successive tubular sections (4) having ends which fit together (at 9). This stay comprises an inextensible cablet (10) pulled taut along the cable, on the inside of the successive sheath sections, which cablet is fastened by equidistant fasteners (11), the number of fasteners being equal to that of the sheath sections, each fastener being fixed to a sheath section at a point on this section and the distance (D) between any two successive fasteners fastened to the cablet being equal to the distance between two identical points on two successive sheath sections, which distance is slightly less than the minimum distance envisageable for each section.

Abstract: Control of a piece of excavation equipment (10) to temporarily disable it from further excavating in an area where a buried cable and/or pipe (50) is present is accomplished by providing a detector (54) for sensing if the buried cable and/or pipe is sufficiently close to be potentially damaged. The detector provides a signal indicative of the presence of the buried cable for transmission, via a transmitter-receiver pair (56, 60), to a control valve (62). When a buried cable and/or pipe is detected, the control valve is actuated to divert hydraulic oil that would otherwise flow to a cylinder (44) that provides forward movement of a bucket (38) on the excavating equipment, thereby preventing further excavation by the bucket in the region of the buried cable and/or pipe.

Abstract: The road-guard construction comprises a first wall of superimposed whole tires disposed horizontally in vertical rows and horizontal columns. A second wall of superimposed half tires--which are cut circumferentially along their tread path, is also disposed in vertical rows and horizontal columns. Each half-tire defines a toroidal chamber, facing upwardly. Tie-bands interconnect the whole tires to the half-tires, whereby a single integral wall unit is achieved. Sand is poured into the toroidal chambers of the half-tires, whereby the first and second walls become firmly anchored to the ground. The road-guard will therefore remain substantially immobile over ground even after repeated vehicle impacts.

Abstract: This invention is a box filter used in conjunction with newly constructed storm drains and the like to prevent undesirable amounts of sediment and other debris carrier by storm runoff from entering the storm drain. Upper and lower frames are provided with expanded metal interior and exterior sidewalls extending therebetween. The box-like structure has an open bottom, reinforcing plates adjacent the connection of a lift handle and corner braces to add rigidity to the system. An aggregate such as crushed stone is placed between the interior walls and exterior walls of the filter and act as a filter media for the sediment of the debris. This filter is reusable without loss of its filtering qualities due to its rugged construction and back flushable filter medium.

Abstract: A method for the preparation, placement, and compacting of fibrous concrete material components laid onto an object which consists of forming on a conveyor a sandwich consisting of sequential layers of a mortar component, long fibers, coarse aggregate, directing the sandwich onto the surface of large-diameter rotor (113), converting the components of the sandwich into a controllable flow (F), directing a part of the components onto the object (O) and a part onto a second small-diameter rotor (115) having blades (115a) longer in the radial direction than blades (113a) of the rotor (113), and controlling the direction, speed, density distributions, and distribution of the flow components by adjusting the amount of short fibers added to the flow and by introducing into the flow a third rotor (116). The apparatus for the realization of the method contains a three-rotor-type dispenser with the third rotor (116) pivotal with around the center of rotation of the second rotor (115).

Abstract: An internal metal stitching method for repairing cracks in concrete comprising the steps of cutting slots to facilitate large metal brackets installed every two feet and at alternating angles to the crack. Saw cuts are made in the concrete and near the ends of each large bracket to accommodate end brackets which when fitted resemble a double "t". The saw cuts are cleaned and dryed, filled with a filler resin, and the metal brackets are reinserted and are submerged 1/4 below the concrete surface. The filler is smoothed out to a level flush with the concrete surface. Additional decorative surfaces may then be applied, such as ceramic tiles, carpeting, linoleum or paint.

Abstract: A lip lifting mechanism for the pivotable lip of a dock leveler moves the lip to an operative extended position as the ramp of the dock leveler is moved from a raised position toward a lowered position. The lip lifting mechanism includes a push bar, a lifting rod, a lug engageable with the lip through the lifting rod, and a link arrangement to which the lifting rod is pivotably mounted, with the push bar being engageable with the link arrangement upon downward movement of the ramp. The push bar moves the link arrangement and the lifting rod into an over-center toggle position to extend the lip. Engagement of the lip with the bed of a truck results in the link arrangement and the lifting rod being moved to an under-center release position, so as to enable the lip to fall to a pendant position when the truck moves away from the dock.

Abstract: A bollard type security barrier apparatus for use in controlling ingress and egress to controlled areas. The apparatus if of simple design, is easily installed and includes a remotely operated positive drive mechanism for raising and lowering the bollard which is telescopically mounted within a sealed casing adapted to be mounted beneath the ground. The drive mechanism and the bollard are readily removable from the subterranean casing for repair or replacement; and, for certain applications, the upper portion of the bollard can be illuminated.

Abstract: A pathway for providing the transit of a wheelchair, including a person therein, over an uneven terrain surface that resists the rolling traction of a wheelchair, comprising a longitudinally extended flexible mat-like pathway configured such that the surface of the pathway is relatively porous with respect to the terrain surface, such as by providing therein a plurality of holes, and is capable of receiving thereon, at opposite side sections thereof, the front and side wheels of each side of a wheelchair. The pathways may be interconnected to pod-like landing sites.

Abstract: A concrete distribution system for pouring concrete floors over areas inaccessible to concrete trucks comprises a conduit assembly, leveling member, interconnecting cables and activating members. The conduit assembly includes a first rigid, moveable support which supports a first pipeline immediately above the area to be concreted. The pipeline has a plurality of openings through which the concrete is poured across the area. Control valves selectively open and close access to the openings so that concrete pours across the area. The first support is interconnected by cables with the leveling member. Activating members simultaneously move the conduit assembly and leveling member across the area to be concreted.

Abstract: An annular safety system for an oil well. The annular safety system is in the form of a hanger mechanism. The hanger mechanism is particularly effective in an oil well equipped for gas lift operation where gas is injected into an annular space between the well casing and the production tubing in order to aerate produced oil migrating up the wellbore through the production tubing. The hanger mechanism includes a casing nipple which is run into the well with the casing and a stationary threaded tubing holder which is run into the well with tubing. The hanger mechanism includes a device which, upon running the stationary threaded tubing holder into the well through the casing nipple, secures the stationary threaded tubing holder in a particular position relative to the casing nipple and prevents upward and downward movement of the stationary threaded tubing holder relative to the casing nipple.

Abstract: A support for a tree or shrub includes a vertical post with a supporting frame welded to the post. The frame includes horizontal sides which have downwardly depending stakes fixed to them. The support may be placed near a tree or shrub so that the sides of the frame surround the tree or shrub. The stakes and post are driven into the ground to a point where the frame abuts the ground. Loops on the post are available to connect supporting cords or wires from the tree trunk or bush stem.

Abstract: An automatic drilling system regulates the drill string of a drilling rig in response to any one of, any combination of, or all of drilling fluid pressure, bit weight, drill string torque, and drill string RPM to achieve an optimal rate of bit penetration. The automatic drilling system includes a drilling fluid pressure sensor, a bit weight sensor, a drill string torque sensor, and a drill string RPM sensor which deliver a drilling fluid pressure signal, a bit weight signal, a drill string torque signal, and a drill string RPM signal to a drilling fluid pressure regulator, a bit weight regulator, a drill string torque regulator, and a drill string RPM regulator. The regulators control a drill string controller in response to the above signals so that it manipulates the drilling rig to release the drill string at a rate which maintains the maximum rate of bit penetration.

Abstract: An improved support and attachment mechanism for a dockleveler lift bag. The dock leveler includes a supporting structure or frame which is mounted in a pit in a loading dock and the pit has a forwardly sloping floor. The rear end of the ramp is pivoted to the supporting structure, so that the ramp can be pivoted between a horizontal position and an upwardly inclined position. A bag support member is located in the pit beneath the ramp and is pivoted to the rear end of the ramp. An inflatable bag assembly is located adjacent the rear end of the ramp and is positioned between the underside of the ramp and the bag support member. By inflating the bag assembly, the ramp can be pivoted from the horizontal position to the upwardly inclined position. Guide members, such as rollers, are mounted on the forward end of the bag support member and ride on the floor of the pit as the bag assembly is inflated and the ramp is pivoted upwardly.

Abstract: A prefabricated bridge beam with prestressed elements comprising a rectangular girder-box assembly which includes a bottom plate prestressed in compression and a pair of upstanding side members each having their upper portions prestressed in tension and a poured and cured bridge deck supported by the said side members where the cured deck secures in place the said tension and compression stresses.

Abstract: A gas dispensing tap is designed for insertion into a tree bore. The tap includes a hollow container having a side wall, an open end and a closed end. A plug head closes off the open end of the hollow container to define a primary cavity within the hollow container including a first chemical agent. In one embodiment of the invention, the plug head includes a bore or passage provided therein for communicating an interior of the tree bore with an outside of the plug head. A stopper is received in an opening to a secondary cavity in the plug head and closes off the secondary cavity. The secondary cavity contains a second chemical agent. The stopper is moved into the secondary cavity as an impact force is applied to the stopper and combines the first and second chemical agents so that a gas, generated by combination of the chemical agents, diffuses through the side wall and stimulates the flow of sap.

Abstract: A configurable highway divider system features a plurality of markers associated with a lane of traffic, each marker including one or more indicators observable by a vehicle operator traveling on the lane associated with the markers, and a indicator changing device that can be mounted to a vehicle, enabling the vehicle to visit and interact with the markers and change the indicators for the purpose of redirecting traffic flow. In a preferred embodiment, the indicators use reflective color surfaces, and an externally-engageable member which is mechanically linked to each indicator. In an alternative embodiment, the visual attribute displayed by the markers do not change, but, instead, an alternative indicator changing device is used to turn each marker about a substantially vertical axis either with a rotatable drum/disk combination or with a magnetic actuator. Further alternative embodiments incorporate the use of acoustic, optical and thermal interactions between the marker and the changing device.

Abstract: A tube turning tool allows laterals to be drilled and completed without the need for articulated bending tools, underreaming, high fluid pressure, or a separate running of completion tools. The turning tool uses a rigid bent pipe section capable of being run downhole within many standard diameter well tubulars, supported in a desired position, and bending coil tubing at an ultra short radius of curvature as it is being run into the wellbore so that it can jet drill a lateral. After jet drilling a lateral, the lateral can also be completed using the coil tubing, e.g., gravel packed by pumping a slurry through the coil tubing while withdrawing the tubing from the lateral.