Abstract: A cylindrical structure suitable for use as a drainage culvert made from the side walls of discarded motor vehicle tire casings. The side wall sections are stacked and bonded in axial alignment so that the concave face of each of the next adjacent side wall faces the convex face of the next adjacent side wall. One end face of the structure is thus concave and the other end face is convex so that the cylindrical structure can be placed in close alignment with the concave end face of one cylinder in close abutting contact with the convex end face of a second cylinder. Wide kerfs are cut in selected side walls between the outer rim of the side wall and the inner rim so that the selected side walls can expand or contract during banding to provide a rather uniform opening in the cylinder. The kerf also allow the cylinders to weep when water is being conducted therethrough.

Abstract: A mechanized cable puller. By combinig a hydraulic track-mounted excavator with a winding spool the present invention provides underground machinery for pulling underground electrical cable from an underground conduit into an underground cable vault, without requiring the temporary installation of direction-changing pulleys in the cable vault. By using a square bar as part of the underground machinery, the cable can be pulled from any of four different directions, spaced ninety degrees apart, in a three-hundred-and-sixty-degree span.

Abstract: A cable truss support system for supporting the roof of a mine includes two cables each having an end secured in the roof of a mine. The other ends of the cables are connected by a twisted ring anchor and are secured to the anchor by wedges through which the cables pass.

Abstract: The subterranean liquid distribution or liquid routing apparatus utilizing a housing having a wall portion forming an inner chamber. The housing includes inner and outer surfaces, the former defining the inner chamber of the housing. A plurality of apertures in the wall portion of the housing permit communication with the inner chamber and allow liquids to pass either into or out of the inner chamber. At least a pair of protuberances extend from the inner surface of the wall portion of the housing in contact one another to prevent collapsing of the housing chamber. An opening is also found to the housing chamber in spaced relationship to the plurality of apertures which generally serves as the drainage or source of the liquid being distributed by the apparatus.

Abstract: An interconnected block system including a plurality of staggered rows of block members formed of concrete or the like secured to the upper surface only of an underlying, interconnecting, grid-like, matrix sheet. In one embodiment, a plurality of connector elements are connected to the matrix material preferably by bodkin connections to form one or a multiplicity of openings or apertures above the upper surface of the matrix sheet for reception of the block-forming material. The block members are cast on top of the matrix sheet material to capture the connector elements which provides a mechanical interlock between the block member and the matrix. The matrix sheet material preferably includes a layer of geotextile bonded on an opposite side from the block members. An alternate embodiment provides a strip or mat to underly the matrix sheet with a plurality of projections upstanding therefrom and passing through the matrix sheet.

Abstract: A method for stabilizing and repairing whereby components are mixed to form an expandable foam which is injected under pressure in an expanded state behind or into the backfill material of an existing sheetpile seawall. Upon expansion, the foam displaces water and fills and seals cracks in the seawall and fills scoured voids in the backfill material. The method is also applied to rock revetment seawalls whereby the unexpanded foam is injected under pressure into the rock revetment. Upon expansion, the foam displaces water and fills and seals spaces in the rock revetment and interlocks the rock revetment.

Abstract: An emergency water reservoir apparatus for providing a ready water reserve for extinguishing fires at a location such as a residence includes a water storage tank having an interior reservoir in fluid communication with a water hydrant valve. A water intake conduit in fluid communication with an established water supply and the interior reservoir permits delivery of water into the water tank from the established water supply system. Included at the reservoir end of the water intake conduit is a water intake cut-off device and an anti-siphon valve device. A water pump pumps water from the interior reservoir to the water hydrant valve. An infusion pump device with an infusion reservoir member and an adjustable infusion dispensing device provides infusion chemicals into the water passing from the interior reservoir to the water hydrant valve. An electrical power generator is included to provide backup power to the water pump and the infusion pump device when the location's power supply is cut off.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods of cleaning up a producing interval of a well bore drilled using a synthetic oil-water emulsion drill-in fluid. The methods basically comprise contacting filter cake and drill-in fluid on the walls of the well bore with three treatment fluids in three stages, the first and second treatment fluids being comprised of water, a filter cake dissolving acid, a mutual solvent and an emulsion penetrating agent. The third treatment fluid is comprised of water, a filter cake dissolving acid and a water wetting surfactant.

Abstract: A pile forming system and method for forming a pile. The pile forming system comprises a top pile forming member, a bottom pile forming member, and an end plate assembled together to provide a complete pile form which can then be filled with concrete to form the pile. Additionally, the pile forming system incorporates a tip forming member which can be secured to one end of the pile form to form a sharp tip at one end of the pile facilitating driving the pile into a subsurface. Additional pairs of top and bottom pile forming members may be joined end to end to form longer piles. After the desired pile form is assembled, concrete is poured or pumped into the pile form through openings on the top surface of the pile form. Preferably, reinforcement bars or rebars which are coated with a non-permeable coating to prevent rust are placed in the pile form before the pouring of the concrete.

Abstract: A watercraft lift having raised and lowered positions is provided. The lift includes a substantially rectangular base (10) with longitudinal side beams (34) and front, rear, and intermediate transverse beams (28), (30), (32) connected to the longitudinal beams. The intermediate transverse beam (32) is located between the front and rear transverse beams (28), (30) and at a height lower than the front and rear transverse beams. Forward booms (12) are pivotably connected to the base (10) at a location near the front transverse beam (28). Rear booms (14) are pivotably connected to the base at a location near the intermediate transverse beam (32). A watercraft support platform (24) is pivotally connected to the forward and rear booms (12), (14). The raising and lowering of the lift of the present invention is accomplished by an actuation assembly (26).

Abstract: A void-forming preform for installing a light fixture in a pavement, such as a poured concrete slab, or other structure comprises an upper chamber for receiving the light fixture, a ledge for supporting the light fixture, and a lower chamber for holding a length of wiring entering the lower chamber through a port. In a further embodiment, adjustable standoffs are formed in the bottom of the preform. The standoffs may be bent down to provide support for the preform on a pavement base prior to forming the pavement, and allow easy and fine adjustment of the height of the preform in relation to the final grade of the pavement.

Abstract: A solid state porous rubber overlayment friction course is formed from recycled rubber, plastic and/or other products, and facilitates drainage of standing water from the road surface. The overlayment may have holes running through its surface to expedite water drainage, and also may have grooves on its undersurface.

Abstract: A plurality of floats connectable for forming various floating structures including a plurality of inflatable floats each with a generally triangular configuration. Further provided are a plurality of metal brackets coupled on the top face of each of the floats. Finally, a plurality of coupling mechanisms are provided for being selectively secured between different metal brackets thereby maintaining the relative position of the floats.

Abstract: A revetment system having a plurality of blocks arranged to form a mat. Each block having top and bottom surfaces and pairs of opposed and substantially parallel side surfaces. One of the side surfaces in each of the opposed pairs has first and second projections and the other of the side surfaces in each of the opposed pairs has first and second recesses. The projections and recesses are sized and configured so that they mate with projections and recesses on the side surfaces of adjacent blocks. The bottom surface of the block may be provided with projections to enhance the frictional stability of the blocks. The blocks are connected together by cables which pass through tunnels between the side surfaces of the blocks. A sleeve fitted into each opening of the tunnel in the side surface is provided to protect the cables from breakage.

Abstract: A tire deflator and method of deflating a tire includes at least one support, a tire deflating device detachably secured to the at least one support and a deploying mechanism cooperating with the support and deploying the spike so as to be projected toward the tire of the vehicle and to penetrate and deflate the tire. The method of deflating the tire includes the steps of detachably securing a tire deflating device to the support, positioning the deploying mechanism in proximity with the support and activating the deploying mechanism so as to deploy the tire deflating device into the tire and deflate the tire. The degree to which the tire deflating device is deployed can be limited so that the tire deflating device does not become dislodged from a moving tire after being penetrated by the tire deflating device and thus does not create the potential of striking a bystander.

Abstract: A drive device for injecting different types of fluids, chemicals and slurries into a subsurface for soil stabilization and removing fluids from the subsurface prior to treating a soil. The device is designed to be self advancing into the soil. When the driving of the device in the ground surface is completed, the device can be removed or it can be left in place for forming an anchor or load carrying pier. The device includes a plurality of external and internal hollow pipe sections. The pipe sections are joined together with couplings. Each coupling includes perforations therein and helices around the exterior surface of the coupling. The helices are used for driving the pipe sections into the ground. The perforations in each coupling are used for introducing fluids under pressure into the soil or for extracting fluids from the subsurface.

Abstract: A support garment for diving equipment includes several subassemblies for providing comfortable support of diving equipment, such as a tank of pressurized breathing gas, a buoyancy compensating air cell and a ballast weight pocket assembly. A frame is adjustably secured to a shoulder support assembly that includes adjustment straps for accommodating various body sizes. A belt assembly is pivotally secured to the lower portion of the frame. A bust or chest panel extends between shoulder supports, providing a secure and comfortable fitting structure for divers of various body types, particularly women. Elements of the garment are secured to one another via rivets placed at predetermined locations, thereby facilitating assembly and servicing of the garment.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for stabilizing sloped embankments is disclosed which utilizes interlocking barrier elements to form a step-like, cascading barrier to erosion and to provide an inexpensive, easy-to-install and aesthetically attractive landscaping wall, planter or landscaping island. The scallop or channel-like shape of the barrier elements creates filler spaces which may be filled with concrete, soil or other filler materials and in which vegetation may be planted. Each row of barrier elements within the system is locked in place by slip restraint devices which function to prevent vertical slippage of the rows. Adjacent barrier elements on the front most row are held together by frontal locking elements.

Abstract: A beach building structure for underwater installation along the shoreline of a body of water having periodic onshore wave action. The structure includes a base frame adapted to rest on the bottom of the body of water, a ballast supporting member secured to the base frame in order to receive ballast such as rocks to help anchor the structure in position. A barrier plate is secured to the seaward portion of the base frame and is angularly disposed to slope upwardly and toward the shoreline and to extend above the mean water level to present a sloping surface to onshore waves.

Abstract: A segmented ring forms a set of latches for a tendon top connector on a floating platform. The latches reside in a housing and have either a groove or thread profile on an upper internal surface. The grooves interface with a mating groove profile on the tendon. The latches rotationally pivot backward and forward from the outer portion of the bottom surface. When the latches are forward, the profile in the internal surface engages the mating profile of the tendon top joint. When the latches are swung out, these profiles clear and permit the top joint to pass through the connector. Retraction of the latches is provided by application of force on the inside surface of an annular extension on the outer portion of the latches. This force can be provided by a variety of actuators. This top connector allows for passive dynamic engagement of the connector to the tendon top joint. When the latches are permitted to move inward, contact is made with the mating profile on the tendon top joint.