Abstract: Arrangements for maintaining an annular sealing gasket in some predetermined position intermediate and substantially coaxial with opposed annular sealing beads extending axially from each of a pair of coupling components. One disclosed arrangement comprises a retainer element having an annular end wall and a cylindrical side wall which define a cavity for closely receiving a flat annular gasket. A plurality of axial retaining legs facilitate retainer mounting to one of the coupling members so that the gasket is captured in the retainer cavity substantially coaxial with the one coupling member and with the associated sealing bead engaging one of the gasket faces. In a second arrangement, a plurality of axial retaining legs are formed integrally with the gasket member. The legs are positioned circumferentially about the gasket for engaging the one coupling member coaxial with the associated sealing bead.

Abstract: A holddown screw 10 which features a shank 23 and contact nose 22 of separate construction. The contact nose 22 is provided with a flat bevelled contact surface 32 of predetermined angle to the axis of the screw selected to correspond to the angle of the camming surface 17a with which it is designed to cooperate. The contact nose is carried on the shank 23 and is adapted for relative rotation thereon as the screw is rotated. The back end of the contact nose is provided with an annular surface 22a disposed radially to the longitudinal axis of the screw and adapted to engage an annular shoulder 35 of the shank 23 in flat co-planar relationship therewith. As the screw is rotated and driven inwardly to contact the wellhead component 14 to be actuated, the flat contact surface 32 of the nose of the screw will engage in sliding contact with the cooperating camming surface 17a.

Abstract: A safety clamp system for securing the lever arms of a quick connect coupling to prevent the accidental movement of the arms which would cause a failure of the coupling mechanism for two coupling pipes. Once the pipes have been joined by a standard quick connect coupling, the clamp of the present invention is positioned to encircle the lever arms and hold them down secure against the body of the coupling. The safety clamp is separate from the coupling mechanism and is itself not an aid in the joining of the pipes. The clamp arms encircle approximately 270 degrees of the pipes circumference, making contact only at a few points about the coupling's periphery, some of the contact being flat, face-to-face surface area engagement with some "L" shaped hooking, and utilizes a resilient spring biasing hooking mechanism to prevent the separate, pipe coupling mechanism from accidently becoming undone but allowing relatively easily disengagement of the clamp from the coupling when so desired.

Abstract: A template retaining wall for use in marine environments is composed of a plurality of interconnected, piled, prefabricated templates. Each template comprises a series of vertically extending, horizontally spaced apart legs and a series of battered, horizontally spaced apart legs. The legs are interconnected by horizontally and diagonally extending truss/strut members. A track guide is positioned on one lateral end of each template and a rider guide is positioned on the other lateral end of each template. The rider guide on one template engages the track on an adjacent template. A metal sheet pile is welded between each of the vertical legs and piles, extend through each of the legs into the ground underlying the water. The retaining wall may be curved into a circular configuration to enclose and retain an artificial island or may be formed into other shapes.

Abstract: A telescopic joint for repairing underwater pipelines laid at a great depth in which an annular sheath of steel having a yield point of not more than one half that of an outer sleeve of the joint is welded onto an inner cylinder, to create with the inner cylinder an annular chamber or interspace, the cylinder-sheath-sleeve assembly being guided in its telescopic movement by an inner tube welded coaxially to an end of the outer sleeve. The interspace is connected to an oil pump which under adequate pressure can cause the steel sheath to expand, to the extent that it yields, to interlock with the outer sleeve.

Abstract: The spigot end of one pipeline element is inserted in the socket end of the other pipeline element and is sealed by a gasket. To the end face of the socket end is connected a thrust preventing ring, which is secured by claws to part of a collar. A retaining ring engages on the inner surface of the thrust preventing ring and its inner face is provided with a tooth system, which is fixed to the surface of the spigot end. Between the end face of the socket end and the retaining ring is provided a thrust ring, which exerts a pressure on the retaining ring. By means of in each case one packing element on the side of the thrust preventing ring facing and remote from the socket end, said ring is located in a sealed and consequently corrosion-proof zone. Thus, the socket joint is secured without any modification to the pipeline elements.

Abstract: A shelf support structure with upright posts of sheet metal sections and horizontal braces of sheet metal sections, connecting these with each other, provides with a simple structure an inherently stable connection between the posts and the horizontal braces. The sheet metal sections of the posts have an aperture at one longitudinal side and are symmetrical in cross-section with respect to a plane crossing this aperture. The aperture is terminated on both sides by flanges protruding outwardly at right angles from the walls adjoining it and a longitudinal ledge protruding into the post is located opposite the aperture, symmetrically to the plane crossing the aperture. The horizontal braces engage with their ends into the sheet metal sections forming the posts up to the wall lying opposite the aperture and are there equipped with an indentation in whose area they embrace the longitudinal ledge in the posts in a fork-like manner.

Abstract: In a method of producing a subterranean structure comprises the steps of excavating a ditch or hole in the ground to a desired subterranean level, placing the ceiling directly on the excavated ground at this level, filling the hole in the ground, and driving an arched tunnel into the ground below the ceiling, the ceiling is fixed in position and the ground is stabilized before the hole is filled and the arched tunnel is driven into the ground, by anchoring the ceiling with retaining elements projecting downwardly from the ceiling into the ground below, and arranging the retaining elements to form piles protecting the tunnel arch at respective sides thereof and preventing earth from crashing through the tunnel arch.

Abstract: A device for connecting the strengthening rod on seat upholstery to the seat load-bearing structure. The device is composed of a fastener into which is engaged a corresponding end of the strengthening rod, a buckle, integral with a fastener and secured to the same by means of a flexible rib enabling angular displacement of the fastener, and a flexible clamp designed to wrap round a member on the load-bearing structure for securing the fastener in projecting manner to the member, and integrally formed at its opposite ends to the buckle and a stop tab designed to engage with the buckle.

Abstract: A collapsible awning support frame includes an elongated, horizontal thrust bar fastenable by a lower mounting bracket to the vertical wall of a structure and extending outwards therefrom, and an elongated tension bar pivotably fastened to the thrust bar near the outer, free end of the thrust bar and extending upwards and backwards towards an upper mounting bracket. The upper mounting bracket, intended for fastening to the wall of the structure above and in vertical alignment with the thrust bar mounting bracket, has a hook pin extending upward and outward from the base of the bracket, for pivotably engaging a hole in the bottom wall of the tension bar, near the upper end of the tension bar. Upward movement of the tension bar is restricted by contact with a tab that extends downward from a roof section of the bracket which extends outward from the structure wall.

Abstract: A hose connection, particularly for use in motor vehicles, is proposed which ensures a gastight connection already with a low starting torque, is usable repeatedly and whose structural component parts are non-detachably held together in an assembly unit. Supported on the shoulder (7) of a stepped hose sleeve (1), which shoulder (7) is smaller in diameter, is a hollow screw (2) which, when the hose connection is assembled at a rigid duct body (15), presses together a sealing ring (3), which is arranged on the shoulder (8) and has a larger diameter, only until the sealing ring (3) abuts at the end face (22) between the shoulders (7) and (8) of the hose sleeve (1).

Abstract: The bayonet coupling is provided with a connecting ring having radial pins for engaging in grooves in a hollow member to provide a loose connection. In addition, a screw-threaded ring is threaded into the connecting ring to move against a shoulder on one hollow member in order to compress a resilient seal ring between the hollow members and thus provide a strong seal-tight connection.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing optical fibers on a leader in plastic pipe are disclosed. In the preferred and illustrated embodiment for one type of plastic pipe having transverse corrugations, a pig is set forth which has a eyelet for connection with a towed leader, the eyelet being anchored at the nose. The pig body is constructed so that the nose is deformed as loading increases with length of leader, thereby swelling. This reduces blow-by and increases thrust force acting on the pig to overcome the increase in drag with leader length. An alternate embodiment shows an outer layer incorporating graphite or Teflon.RTM. particles in the outer layer to reduce friction. The pigs of this disclosure are adapted to be used in procedures involving corrugated plastic pipe and also plastic pipe having a smooth wall and spaced welded internal beads.

Abstract: A coupling fitting consisting of male and female parts wherein connection is achieved merely by axially inserting the male into the female part. Latching is produced by a plurality of resilient fingers mounted on the female part engaging with an annular shoulder formed on the male part, and release of the fingers is achieved by an axially displaceable sleeve permanently mounted on the male part displaceable to a release position engaging the fingers and removing the fingers from the shoulder permitting the male part to be removed from the female part. The release sleeve may be of a configuration to discourage tampering and uncoupling, or may include a knob to facilitate manual actuation.

Abstract: A compression type coupling 10 for pipes has a body member 12 and a fastener member 14 and a ferrule 16 wherein the fastener member has a perpendicular shoulder 36 with respect to a longitudinal axis of the pipe 18 and abuts a squared shoulder section 42 of the ferrule to prevent the ferrule from being squeezed out of the compression coupling 10. The ferrule has outwardly radially extending flanges to retain it within the fastener member. The ferrule also has radially inwardly extending teeth that bite into the pipe to prevent the pipe from backing out. The ferrule also has an axially inner section 40 with notches 62 formed therein. The end 40 is deformed by a camming surface 28 on the body 12 to crimp the pipe 18 as the fastener member 14 is secured to the body member 12. The axially inner section 40 forms a right angled shoulder that abuts the pipe and prevents the pipe from being easily pulled out of the coupling.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a repair sleeve comprising a flexible, hose-like main part (1) and a spiral spring (2), which, when the sleeve is mounted in a pipe line, pretensions the hose-like main part (1) into sealing engagement against the inner wall of the surrounding pipe. The invention also includes an insertion device (4) for the repair sleeve, said device being a cylindrical body (5) mounted on wheels. At the ends of this body (5) there are latching means (7, 8) which are releasably fastenable to the ends of the spring (2). The latching means comprise a pin (7) biased to thrust out through the wall of the body (5) and into holes at the ends of the spring (2) wound round the body (5). Both pins (7) are simultaneously releasable with the aid of a linkage system (11, 13, 14, 15) on actuating the system. Eyes or cages (8) accommodating the ends of the springs are also associated with the pins (7).

Abstract: A sealing arrangement for the pin and box of a threaded connection between tubular members includes annular piston means for positioning in the box of one of the tubular members. Resilient seal means supported on the piston means seals between the pin end, box and piston means when the pin is threadedly engaged in the box. Additional seal means on the piston means is responsive to fluid pressure in the tubular members whereby the piston means may be urged toward sealing engagement with the pin end and the resilient seal means.

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: A shaft seal assembly wherein the end portions of two coaxial shafts carry two components of a torque transmitting unit. One component is a disc which is eccentrically secured to the end portion of the respective shaft and extends into an eccentric circular recess of the other component which is coaxially affixed to the end portion of the associated shaft. A cup-shaped sealing element is installed in the recess to separate the two components from each other, and its annular portion is sealingly affixed to one end portion of a bellows whose other end portion is sealingly secured to one end wall of a housing. The shaft which carries the one component is rotatably journalled in the one end wall and the other shaft is rotatably journalled in a second end wall of the housing.

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.