Abstract: A continuous concrete encased conduit laying apparatus is attached to the rear of a tractor in a cantilevered fashion and can be raised and lowered into the ground by the tractor. The apparatus has two sections which are pivotally attached to each other. The forward section is the gouger, and it has a vertical bar having a sharp leading ripper edge. At the base of the bar are attached a wedge and a cone-shaped expander for creating a cavity in the ground as the apparatus is being pulled through the ground.The rear section which is the conduit layer, has a vertical guide tube, a concrete chute attached behind it, and a second expander forming the base of the layer. There is a hopper for holding the fresh concrete at the top of the chute. A quantity of conduit is fed through the guide tube as the apparatus is in operation. The cavity created by the two expanders is filled with fresh concrete as the conduit is laid in the cavity.

Abstract: A self-propelled machine for casting in place heavy concrete sewer pipes in a pre-dug trench employing a detachably mounted winch on the forward end of the machine for connection to a deadman for pulling the machine along the trench.

Abstract: This invention contemplates method and apparatus for laying rodent-protected cable from a moving vehicle, using unprotected cable to which sheathed cementitious material is applied prior to subterrain burial. The sheathing serves only to retain shape of fresh, unset cementitious material around the cable in the course of handling and transport within and from the vehicle structure, to the buried position of the cable. The sheathing being degradable (in the course of time) and no longer needed once the sheathed cementitious material has set, after burial.

Abstract: A mobile reinforced pipe machine for producing and laying concrete pipe on site in a ditch or the like. The machine comprises a frame structure capable of supporting the machine for movement along a ditch; hydraulically positionable outrigger wheels carried by the frame for machine guidance along the ditch; a pair of rotating nested sleeves with compactor vibrators therebetween which receive solidifiable cementitious material, such as concrete, vibrate the entering mixture to assure uniformity of mix; longitudinal and circumferential reinforcing wire fed between the sleeves for embedding within the solidifiable cementitious material for reinforcing the solidified pipe leaving the machine; plates or slip forms are attached to the frame adjacent the sleeves for receiving and supporting partially solidified pipe as it exits the machine as the machine moves forward; motor and transmission to transport the machine along the ditch and rotate the sleeves.

Abstract: Underwater pipelines connected to at least one point on a coastline are constructed by means of a pipelaying vessel associated with an independent underwater vehicle mounted on caterpillar-tracks and capable of traveling along the sea bed. From within the vehicle, pipe sections can be assembled and rejected as the vehicle moves forward. The pipe sections pass through a wall of the vehicle and into the sea, through a port which is provided with a plurality of inflatable annular sealing rings that selectively sealingly bear against the exterior of the pipeline. One of these sealing rings is associated with an annular piston, and a jack acts between this piston and the vehicle to provide the propulsive force for ejecting the pipe sections from the vehicle. Potential applications include mining operations, off-shore installations and intercontinental tunnels.

Abstract: A method of forming an underground pipeline comprising depositing an inner component section of the pipeline on a pipe-laying apparatus and at least partially supporting the inner component section on the apparatus. The inner component section is forced from the apparatus onto an independent support, and the apparatus is advanced to receive another inner component section. After the inner component sections have been transferred to the independent supports, a formable outer component is provided at least part way around and beneath such inner component sections to form the pipeline.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of laying underground conduits along a trench dug into the ground and filled with sludge designed to prevent the trench walls from collapsing.The trench is at least partly lined with hardenable grout and the conduit laying operations are carried out under the protection of this grout so that, after the same has hardened, it seals the conduit into the ground.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for the construction of structures for tunnels, culverts, and pressure pipes of any size and shape, straight or curved, constant or variable cross section. The method requires very little formwork, with all work done on site. The method discloses the casting of a lower half of the structure as a continuous element, and the method of utilizing this half as a form in which modular lengths of the upper half of the structure are cast, lifted, inverted, and lowered to form the complete structure. Various methods are disclosed for joining the modules comprising the upper half of the structure to provide various degrees of structural continuity and fluid tightness.

Abstract: This invention is concerned with a method of grouting sewer conduits by using an aqueous liquid composition comprising unsaturated monomers including (1) magnesium diacrylate, (2) an alkali metal (sodium or potassium) monoacrylate in a weight ratio of (1):(2) from about 90:10 to about 70:30, and (3) a polyethylenically unsaturated monomer copolymerizable with (1) and (2) to produce covalent cross-linking bonds in the copolymer besides the ionizable magnesium bonds. The weight ratio of (3) to the sum of (1) and (2) is in the range of about 3:97 to about 5:95. Examples of monomers that can be used as part or all of component (3) include N,N'-methylene-bis-acrylamide and ethylene glycol diacrylate.

Abstract: A system is described whereby a large elongated monolithic conduit is formed within an excavation of a single continuous pour of concrete. The open core of the conduit is formed by an interconnected group of tubular form members, forming a static line within the excavation. The system includes a slipform mechanism that is progressively moved along the static line, molding wet concrete about the inner form sections. Successive inner form sections are disconnected from the rearward end of the static line (after the adjacent formed concrete has hardened), reduced in cross-sectional dimension, and transported forwardly through the static line to a forward conduit end. There the individual sections are expanded, cleaned and reattached to the front of the line as the slipform moves along. The successive inner form sections are disconnected, moved forwardly and re-expanded by a self-steering wheel supported transporter. The transporter is powered to move longitudinally within the static line.

Abstract: A method for producing a tubular length of material which can line the interior of a bore comprising providing a magazine having a substantial length of tubular material radially wound on itself in a number of overlapping layers, pulling one end of the tubular material from the magazine and closing this end to form a tubular cavity within the portion of the tubular material pulled from the magazine. The magazine or the closed end of the tubular cavity can be supported at the bottom of the bore and a pressure medium can be supplied to the cavity to unwind the material from the magazine while permitting relative movement between the magazine and the end of the tubular material. After the bore has been lined with the material, a substance can be supplied therein which will effectively sealed from the bore by the tubular material. The magazine can be mounted on a hollow guide which serves both to supply the pressure medium to the cavity and to introduce the substance into the lined bore.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are described for producing underground installations of concrete pipe, in which a shaft is sunk into the ground at each of two spaced locations between which the concrete pipe is to be installed, an annular slipform-shield is disposed in one shaft, holes are bored through the ground from the other shaft to the slipform-shield, and cables are passed through the holes and are attached to the slipform-shield. The cables are then used for pulling the slipform-shield towards the other shaft while concrete is simultaneously fed to the trailing section of the slipform-shield to thereby fill the resulting void by a cast tubular layer of concrete embedded in and supported by the ground. After the cast concrete has set as a hardened tubular layer, the soil from within it may be removed.

Abstract: Pipe sections or tubing is prepared by enveloping in flexible, rather wide hose, and just prior to submarine installation the space between hose and tubing is filled step-wise with wet or dry cement which will set after the tubing has been laid on the sea or lake floor. Anchoring wires with spacers are provided in that space before filling with concrete and the filled hose is armored with ropes or cables to divide the concrete in a quilt-like manner.