Abstract: A tamper conversion method includes providing a tamper including a ramming apparatus having a tamper foot and a gasoline-powered engine system to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot for tamping, removing the gasoline-powered engine system from the tamper exposing an engine mount, coupling a mounting plate to the engine mount, coupling an adapter plate to the mounting plate, coupling a pneumatic engine to the adapter plate operatively coupling the pneumatic engine to the ramming apparatus to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot for tamping, and coupling a conduit, formed with a pneumatic throttle, to the pneumatic engine, the conduit for applying pressurized air to the pneumatic engine to activate the pneumatic engine, and the pneumatic throttle operable for controlling the flow of pressurized air to the pneumatic engine to drive the ramming apparatus to reciprocate the tamper foot.

Abstract: A method of joining together two concrete bodies each having a concrete reinforcing bar, the method involving compressing a gripping portion of a metal sleeve on the end of the first bar with the metal sleeve also having an unpressed portion which extends beyond the bar, the unpressed portion having an internal diameter larger than the maximum cross-sectional dimension of the second of the bars, and securing an end of the second of the bars within the unpressed portion of the sleeve by means of a self-setting composition.

Abstract: A press adapted for use in confined areas for swaging a sleeve onto reinforcing bars to splice them together. The press comprises a cylinder having a longitudinal axis with a piston therein and reciprocable along said axis, said cylinder having an end and a pair of spaced arms extending from said end in a direction generally parallel to said cylinder, with the distance generally between the outer surfaces of said arms measured in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis being less than the outer diameter of the cylinder. A bridging member is detachably secured to and bridges the arms. A first die part is secured to the free end of the piston and a second cooperable die part is secured to the bridging member. The die parts cooperate together to swage the sleeve onto the bars by the movement of the first die. piece toward the second die piece in accordance with the movement of the piston along said longitudinal axis.

Abstract: Proof Loading apparatus for the non-destructive testing of rod-like articles, characterized in that it comprises a jack housing (1) incorporating at least one hydraulic ram (2, 3), first and second gripping devices (17) arranged at opposite ends of the jack housing and being axially movable, on operation of the ram, relative to one another, wherein the jack housing (1) and the gripping devices (17) are of generally C-shaped cross-section.