Abstract: A subsurface support includes a protective outer member that encases an interior support member. The inner support member may typically be a steel or iron rod which is held within the outer tube as by grout or cement. The outer tube is preferably emplaced by forcing the outer tube into the ground by use of a launching device. The distal end of the outer tube is pointed thus allowing easier penetration of the outer tube into the ground. The subsurface support may be used in numerous functional ways to provide support for an overlying man made structure, or to stabilize surrounding rock and soil. The support can be used in compression, tension, bending, and/or shear.

Abstract: Rain water is drained from a golf course sand bunker or like structure by a drainage system which comprises a conduit having a solid top and perforations in the sidewall. A conduit which is a chamber having an arch shape cross section is contained within a sand filled trench running along the bottom of a bunker. Water flows downwardly from the bunker into the trench, passing through opposing side trapezoid cross section spaces which are defined between the outwardly angled chamber sidewalls and the essentially vertical trench sidewalls. The water then flows horizontally into the conduit. Geotextile, in combination with downward sloping louvers which define slot perforations in the chamber sidewalls, hinders flow of sand into the interior of the chamber. The arch shape of the preferred conduit frees the trench bottom of vertical soil-compressive load and enables it to be fully exposed for water penetration.

Abstract: A continuous curve arch shape cross section leaching chamber made of molded thermoplastic has closely spaced corrugations and sidewalls which are perforated with slots which slope downwardly, running from interior to exterior of the chamber. The slot height and or wall thickness vary with slot clevation from the base, to achieve a desired minimum Soil Threshold Angle in the slots, where said Angle parameter relates to resistance to entry of surrounding soil. Slotted wall thickness is less than about two times the thickness of the basic chamber wall thickness elsewhere. The chamber has properties and performance approximating prior art chambers, but has substantially less normalized weight and total weight.

Abstract: An undersea pipe of the riser type providing a connection between a floating support and the sea bottom. The riser has a rigid pipe of the catenary type extending from the floating support to a point of contact with the sea bottom. The catenary riser comprises a lower pipe portion terminating at the point of contact. The apparent weight per unit length in water of the lower pipe portion being at least 25% less than that of the remainder of the pipe constituting the catenary riser.

Abstract: An integrated padding machine that incorporates a front digging auger that is preferably mechanically as opposed to hydraulically powered, which in conjunction with a breaker bar assembly provides for digging and crushing capabilities, and that incorporates several other improvements and advances, including screen and cross-pass conveyor level control, a real-time padding level monitoring system, and an assistant's control module, improved controls, dust control, and cold weather padding, and methods of using the machine.

Abstract: A stormwater runoff detention system includes a system including an inlet, a first surge chamber, a second surge chamber and one or more storage chambers. The first surge chamber is connected to receive stormwater from the inlet prior to the second surge chamber or the storage chamber. The first surge chamber includes a discharge outlet and an overflow outlet to the storage chamber. The second surge chamber is connected to receive stormwater from the inlet primarily after the first surge chamber has begun overflowing to the storage chamber. The second surge chamber includes a discharge outlet and an overflow outlet to the storage chamber or to a second storage chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a test setup for determining the bearing behaviour of displacement piles. The displacement piles are produced by making a hole using a displacement head and subsequently filling the hole with a hardenable suspension, whilst leaving the displacement head in the hole. The resulting test pile is subject to the action of a test load using a loading device and the bearing behaviour is measured by a measuring device. An efficient test performance results from the fact that the displacement head is introduced into the ground by means of a metallic pile string, which forms part of the test pile.

Abstract: The foundation stabilizer includes a bearing plate (31) that is mounted in a stationary position on the upper end of a ground anchor (20). A foundation lifting bracket (28) is positioned below the bearing plate (31) and lifting screws (57, 58) are connected at their lower ends to the foundation lifting bracket (28) and extend upwardly through openings in the bearing plate (31) for lifting the foundation lifting bracket with a jack (63) temporarily mounted on the bearing plate. The foundation lifting bracket (28) is configured so that it does not exceed the height of the bearing plate (31) when it is raised by the lifting screws (57, 58).

Abstract: A device is provided for preventing shoreline erosion and for rebuilding the sand beach along the shoreline of a large body of water. A series of the devices are placed in side-by-side relation essentially parallel to the shoreline. The device includes a hollow plastic structure fillable with a heavy material, such as cement. The structure has a trapezoidal configuration to lower the center of gravity of the device and includes inclining front and rear walls converging toward each other to the top wall. The hollow plastic structure includes a plurality of tubular members extending from the front wall to the rear wall. The front and rear walls have access apertures opening to the tubular members. The tubular members gradually taper from a predetermined diameter at the access apertures in the front wall to half of the predetermined diameter at the access apertures in the rear wall to reduce the velocity of the flow of water to the large body of water.

Abstract: Methods and modules for use in a modular assembly are disclosed for retaining or detaining storm water beneath a ground surface. A module comprises a substantially horizontally disposed deck portion and at least one substantially vertically disposed side portion extending therefrom. The deck portion and side portion have respective end edges, and the side portion has bottom edges. The side portion and the deck portion define a longitudinal channel which is open at least at an end of the module. The side portion has at least one opening therein and defines a lateral channel in the module. The longitudinal and lateral channels are in fluid communication with one another. Each channel has about the same cross section and extends upwardly from the bottom edges to allow relatively unconstrained flow in the longitudinal and lateral directions.

Abstract: A compensating suspension element that includes a flexible cable, a flexible pipe and a catenary riser pipe and a connecting device connecting the flexible cable, the flexible pipe and the riser without buoyancy.

Abstract: A steel-pipe sheet pile including a steel pipe and joints for coupling the steel pipe to another steel pipe and multiple steel pipes arranged in a building direction of a steel-pipe sheet pile wall, wherein the joints include a male joint and a female joint each made of an H-shaped steel-beam coupled at flange edges to the steel pipe, and wherein the male joint is slightly smaller in size relative to the female joint so that the male joint can be fitted in a space defined by flange inside surfaces and web surface of a female joint of a neighboring steel-pipe sheet pile. The steel-pipe sheet pile is a joined-steel-pipe sheet pile including multiple steel pipes integrally coupled to one another via H-shaped steel-beams as tying members of H-shaped transverse cross-section.

Abstract: A mattress, foundation, or other upholstered sleep product or article includes a core and barrier material surrounding the core. The barrier material includes flame and heat-resistant material that is configured to prevent combustion of the core when the upholstered article is impinged with a gas flame according to California Technical Bulletin 603 of the State of California Department of Consumer Affairs. The barrier material may include an intumescent material that is configured to swell and char in the presence of a flame so as to form a barrier to the flame and to heat generated by the flame.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting and aligning one or more otherwise unsupported conduits in predetermined relation to a self-supported conduit.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fluid, namely stormwater, management system employing a chamber having an overall substantially constant curve cross-sectional geometry, with an a-semicircular constant curve cross-sectional geometry preferred. This chamber, which preferably follows both AASHTO standard specifications for Highway Bridges, Section 18, and Corrugated Polyethylene Pipe Association (CCPA) specifications, can further comprise corregations, support members and/or connecting elements to further add structural integrity.

Abstract: A cooling water intake system is configured to minimize entrainment, impingement and thermal plumes associated with the operation of onshore industrial facilities, such as a power plant, and includes a delivery system guiding ground waters from under the sand bottom of the water reservoir including oceans, seas, lakes and rivers to the industrial facilities.

Abstract: A subsurface drainage assembly for directing fluid drainage from a surface including a plurality of drain structure panels linked together in a manner that permits movement of one drain structure panel relative to the adjacent drain structure panel. The drain structure panels have a laterally extensive backing grid and a plurality of spaced apart support members projecting therefrom. The support members have at least one fluid flow opening formed through a sidewall so as to intersect a lower end of the support members at two rounded corners. The support members are spaced so that the support members are nestable between the support members of an identical drain structure panel when the drain structure panels are arranged in an inverted relationship with respect to one another. The drain structure panel may be placed on an impermeable liner having an upper surface with a plurality of ridges defining troughs therebetween.

Abstract: A pile driving device for driving in piles, with an axially-guided impact body movable in a hammer housing, an impact hood and a pile sleeve. So that the pile driving device can be transported by land without requiring surveys and preparation, the pile sleeve comprises two or more parts, with the pile sleeve being divided into radial or circular concentric partitions.

Abstract: A marine vessel, typically a power boat, lifting system includes a remotely operated transmitter module, a receiver module, a level sensing module, a motor control module, and motors are integrated to automatically position a cradle to the desired position relative to the waterline of the marine vessel. The lifting system is initialized by a signal input, a button pushed and released, from either the remote transmitter or the motor control module to begin movement of the lifting cradle to a desired position. The received signal initiates the motors, and a light to indicate energized motors through a visual signal, to move in the desired direction, either lifting or lowering the cradle. The level sensing module returns a signal to the motor control module to terminate the motors, and thus the visual indicator, when the desired cradle position has been reached.

Abstract: A method and device for stabilizing slopes that are at or near failure preferably due to a shallow, translational slides. Once a target slope has been identified, a plurality of plate piles is inserted into the entire at-risk slope to stabilize the slope. The plate piles preferably consist of a steel plate attached to an angle. The plate piles are inserted below the soil surface, with the pile extending into the bedrock, preferably in a diamond-shaped lattice pattern over the entire slope.