Abstract: A continuous curve arch shape cross section leaching chamber made of molded thermoplastic has closely spaced corrugations and sidewalls, portions of which are perforated with horizontal slots. Either or both of the slot height and the local wall thickness which defines the slots may vary with slot elevation from the base, so that a perforated sidewall configuration is achieved which resists entry of surrounding soil.

Abstract: Disclosed are compliant variable tension risers (106) to connect deep-water subsea wellheads (102) to a single floating platform (104) in wet tree or dry try systems. The variable tension risers (106) allow several subsea wellheads (102), in water depths from 1220 to 3050 meters, at lateral offsets from one-tenth to twice the depth or more, to tie back to a single floating platform (104). Also disclosed are methods to counter buoyancy and install variable tension risers using a weighted chain ballast line (228, 230).

Abstract: An elongated sheet piling panel has a length and width, and opposed side edges, and has elongated voids positioned within the interior of the panel. The voids are oriented in the direction of the length of the panel, and the edges of the panel are configured to be connected to the edges of additional similar panels.

Abstract: A continuous connecting profile (10) for attachment of sheet piles to supporting elements has a central rib bar (16) that separates from each other two oppositely-placed attachment profiles, each having a jaw, and is a part of both attachment profiles. One of the attachment profiles is configured as a mounting profile for the supporting element, and the other attachment profile is configured as a receiving profile for a lock of an attaching sheet pile.

Abstract: A boat lifting assembly includes a cradle for carrying a boat mounted between three pilings on each cradle side. A pair of support housings is affixed to the pilings on each cradle side. A pair of hydraulic lifts are housed in the housings and connected to the cradle for moving same vertically. Each lift includes a horizontally extensible piston carrying a piston pulley block and a stationary hydraulic cylinder. Three cables have one end portion threaded between the pulleys of the block and the cradle. Transition pulleys are supported by the housing and direct the cable vertically for moving the cradle when the block is moved. Additional pulleys and various anchor points may be employed to provide for vertical lifts of 1.5, 2.0 and 3.0 times the distance of movement of the piston. The housings are in the same plane as the cradle deck and/or dock.

Abstract: A foldable bedding foundation comprising a first section is hingedly secured to a second section so that the bedding foundation may be folded for storage or transportation purposes. Each section has base, a plurality of wire struts pivotally secured to the base, an upper wire grid pivotally secured to the wire struts and braces extending between the base and an outermost wire strut. A lower hinge comprising a piece of wire having a square wave shape is secured to and extends between the bases. An upper hinge is secured to and extends between border wires of the sections. A support assembly is secured to and extends between the first and second sections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously preloading during installation and removal of steel sheet piles, steel pilings, and casing piles, with a telescoping, articulated boom having a free end for creating the downward driving force, a weighted base to provide support and stability for the boom, a connector at the free end of said boom to engage the piling, a modified resonance-free vibratory hammer, to allow for simultaneously vibrating the piling while applying to the piling the continuous downward or upward force.

Abstract: A compression body is inserted into the contraction joint between two tunnel lining elements, which body deforms in response to a compressive load caused by the tunnel lining elements moving towards each other. The compression body is composed of a material containing voids, and has a compressive strength of at least 1 MPa and a void fraction of between 10% and 90% of its total volume. The compression body may be composed, for example, of steel foam, or of a mixture which contains cement and blown-glass particles or plastic particles. When a predetermined compressive load is exceeded, the voids within the compression body collapse in a stepwise manner, or are compressed in a stepwise manner.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bottom-to-surface connection device comprising at least one undersea pipe or riser (1, 1a-1b) capable of including a single float (2, 21-27), said float being connected at its bottom end to a junction device (8) creating a leaktight flexible joint between the bottom end of the float (2) and said riser (1a), the connection device being characterized in that said junction device (8) is interposed between and secured to a bottom portion (1a) of the riser going down to the sea bottom and a top portion of the riser passing through said float and rising to the surface, said junction device (8) comprising at least one first laminated abutment in the form of a body of revolution having a plurality of elastomer layers defining surfaces of revolution that are frustoconical in shape or ellipsoidal in section.

Abstract: A spool piece termination structure to be mounted to a spool piece so as to support a spool piece hub during the connection of the spool piece hub to a corresponding pipeline hub. The termination structure includes a clamping device for clamping together the spool piece hub and pipeline hub, and a base frame openly shaped downwards so as to allow the termination structure to receive a pipeline end section provided with the pipeline hub by lowering the termination structure downwards onto the pipeline end section. A connection arrangement includes such a spool piece termination structure and a method for subsea connection of a pipeline to a spool piece.

Abstract: A leg guide for use in a leg of a jack up unit adapted to provide sliding guidance of the leg during vertical movement of the leg. The leg guide has a first portion contacting an edge of a leg chord and a second portion contacting a face of the leg chord along a longitudinal plane opposite the contact plane of the first portion. The edge contacting guide has a deflecting guide unit, which uses a compressible member sandwiched between two rigid plates. As the leg moves, the teeth of the leg chord contact the edge guide unit, with the compressible member absorbing compressible loads acting on the leg chord. The second portion provides for a face plate mounted transversely to the edge contacting guide for reducing the build-up of horizontal moment acting on the leg chord during the vertical movement of the leg and for reducing bending moments acting on the leg.

Abstract: A continuous curve arch shape cross section leaching chamber made of molded thermoplastic has closely spaced corrugations and sidewalls, portions of which are perforated with horizontal slots. Either or both of the slot height and the local wall thickness which defines the slots may vary with slot elevation from the base, so that a perforated sidewall configuration is achieved which resists entry of surrounding soil. In one embodiment, the slotted sidewall has slots with all the same slot openings and the wall thickness decreases with elevation.

Abstract: In one aspect, an apparatus for reciprocating an infant support comprises a frame and a receiving member supported above the frame for substantially vertical reciprocating movement. The receiving member is configured to receive the infant support and, in one embodiment, is coupled to the frame by a reciprocating assembly configured to constrain the receiving member for movement in a substantially vertical translation motion. A motive device coupled to the receiving member reciprocates the receiving member relative to the frame. The apparatus may also include a counterbalance mechanism configured to offset the load of the infant and the infant support on the motive device. In another aspect, an apparatus for reciprocating a person comprises a base and a support surface for supporting the person thereon. The support surface is movable relative to the base for reciprocation in a substantially vertical motion. A motive device coupled to the support surface reciprocates the support surface relative to the base.

Abstract: A retaining wall block having a front surface, a rear surface, side surfaces, a top surface, and a bottom surface. Each side surface comprises a first section, a second section, a third section, and a fourth section, with the sections configured and arranged to allow a plurality of blocks to be arranged in a convex wall structure. The retaining wall block includes a projection that is configured to abuttingly engage a portion of a vertically adjacent block in a wall structure. Preferably, the block has a width/depth ratio in the range of about 1.87 to 2.67. The retaining wall block may be combined with an earth anchor for use in multi-course walls.

Abstract: A centralizer system is provided for use in a marine riser system, the centralizer being preferably heat-shrink fitted to an upset portion of a keel joint, the upset portion having tapered sections on the upper and lower ends that gradually blend into the outer diameter of the pipe used as the keel joint, the centralizer preferably comprising axially extending annular grooves in surrounding relationship to the upset portion, the grooves serving to permit forces acting on the centralizer to be redirected or dissipated to thereby prevent excessive buildup on a selected region of the upset portion adjacent the radial grooves.

Abstract: A manhole assembly for a manhole having generally cylindrical sidewalls defined between an outside surface and an inside surface separated by a wall thickness and having a wall opening communicating the outside and inside sidewall surfaces of the manhole for insertion of a mating pipe. The wall opening defines a peripheral surface relatively perpendicular to the outside and inside sidewall surfaces which receives a ring shaped elastomeric gasket. The gasket has a retaining ring whose location is precisely determined to allow the gasket to be obliquely inserted within the wall opening of the manhole and to be subsequently snap-fitted into position on the peripheral surface, whereby the gasket is securely retained in a locked-in position with respect to the wall opening in the sidewall of the manhole.

Abstract: A wave-attenuating system. The wave-attenuating system includes a flexible, resilient barrier member that is disposed in a body of water and oriented to interrupt and dissipate the wave action of oncoming waves. The barrier member desirably is constructed from a substantially neutrally or slightly negatively buoyant material so that the overall depth, length, and/or thickness can be increased as needed for a particular application while adding little deadweight to the system in water. The barrier member can be supported by a flotation device in a floating breakwater, or alternatively, the barrier member can be secured to a stationary structure in a fixed breakwater.

Abstract: A method for installing a pre-cast/pre-stressed concrete and steel pile used in the construction of pile foundations and the resulting installed pile that has its distal end anchored to bedrock is disclosed. After the pile is located on bedrock, a first hole is drilled into bedrock that is of sufficient depth to accommodate a lower portion of the steel pipe that extends below the concrete pile and contains a plurality of orifices. A second hole is drilled into bedrock that is below and concentric to the first hole and has a diameter than that is usually less than that of the first hole. The second hole forms an anchoring socket to accommodate an anchoring anchor. Grout is injected into the steel pile and anchoring socket until the grout fills the voids in the interior of the steel pipe. Grout also seeps through the orifices in the lower end of said steel pipe and fills the second hole, and an annular space between the outer circumference of the steel pipe and the walls of the first hole.

Abstract: A combination pile wall is formed of beam elements (12), particularly T-beams and double-T-beams (I-beams), and shaped connection strips (16) directly or indirectly connecting the beam elements (12), whereby each shaped connection strip (16) that is coupled directly with one of the beam elements (12) is engaged with one of the locking elements (30) formed on the respective beam element (12). The two mutually-engaged locking elements (24, 26) of the shaped connection strip (16) and of the beam element (12) are configured with a cross section such that the two locking elements (24, 26) may pivot with respect to each other through an angular range of a minimum ±3° to a maximum ±10°.

Abstract: An orifice shield for distributing water flowing from an orifice in a pipe and preventing blockage of the orifice. The orifice shield includes a housing including a cage, the cage being defined by a first plate joined to a second plate via fins, the fins being joined via a plurality of lateral members, the cage including a plurality of openings or slots defined between the fins and the lateral members, the first plate including a central shaft extending downwardly toward the second plate. A freely rotating fan is mounted on the shaft. The fan is adapted to evenly distribute the water flowing from the orifice via the openings or slots. The housing may also be a box housing including a plurality of openings or slots defined therein. The housing includes a first clamp and a second clamp that are adapted to be removably secured to the pipe.