Abstract: A device for limiting the tension in a rope or the like comprises an anchorage plate (8) and a gripping unit (10) containing two piston and cylinder units (34), two gripping members (14) and a hydraulic control circuit which controls the gripping of the rope or the like in a manner dependent on the tension in the rope or the like. Tension P causes the gripping unit (10) and the anchorage plate (8) to separate, thus compressing fluid in chambers (46). This results in the double acting rams (30) biasing the gripping members (14) towards each other under the action of cams (26). If the tension rises above a threshold value the pressurized fluid trips pressure sensitive valve (54) allowing pressurized fluid to reverse reversing valve (55) thus temporarily relaxing the grip on the rope or the like.

Abstract: A ditch filling fascine including a core comprising a plurality of inflatable core members, and a sleeve comprising a multiplicity of axially parallel sleeve members adjacent to one another and connected by at least two flexible ties such as chains. A compressed gas cylinder is provided for inflating the core, and is connected to the core members by a ring main manifold incorporating one way valves for allowing gas to flow into the core members only. The invention also provides a plurality of fascines in combination with a launching vehicle.

Abstract: A fascine capable of conforming to the contours of a supporting surface, comprises a core of cylindrical pipes loosely disposed within a surrounding flexible sleeve comprised of similar pipes transversely and continuously interconnected by tensioned flexible ties. All the pipes are capable of elastic cross-sectional deformation, the sleeve pipes being held in diametral compression by the flexible ties to provide increased resistance to external compression forces acting substantially perpendicularly to the direction of diametral compression, and the core pipes being selected to have less resistance to deformation than the sleeve pipes so as to absorb external point loading forces acting on the sleeve pipes. The fascine is suitable for use by both wheeled and tracked vehicles.

Abstract: This invention provides a convenient and quick method of launching pontoons and further provides a launch vehicle and pontoons for use in said method. The method provides for positioning a tiltable platform, loaded with a stack of nested pontoons, on the bank of a waterway and for tilting the platform and releasing each pontoon separately in a sequence from the uppermost to the lowermost thereby causing the pontoons, in sequence, to slide downwardly of the tilted platform to clear the vehicle and land in the waterway.

Abstract: This invention provides an improved reinforcement for a bridge span, the reinforcement including a reinforcing member for attachment in an underslung position to the span, a reinforcing strut adapted at its first end for pivotal connection to a point intermediate the ends of the reinforcing member and jacking means for urging the reinforcing strut into its working position in which the reinforcing member is under tension. The improvement resides in that the jacking means is adapted to be mounted upon the bridge span and, in use, exerts a force transverse to the longitudinal axis of the strut to urge it into said working position in which the strut is, at its point of connection to the member, inclined at acute angles to the member.