A manhole cover assembly comprises a base frame, the base frame comprising a base body and a base flange extending laterally outward from the base body. The assembly further comprises a top frame, the top frame comprising a top body disposed annularly about at least a portion of the base body, a top flange extending laterally outward from the top body, and a lip extending laterally inward from the top body.

Exemplary inventive practice provides a structure that is attributed with superior resistance to loading. For example, an inventive structure includes two coaxial axisymmetric (e.g., cylindrical) shells and a granulation-filled matrix material occupying the peripheral space between the shells. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a loading-responsive matrix (e.g., shear-thickening fluid or highly rate-sensitive polymer) and granules dispersed therein. When the inventive structure encounters pressure loading at its exterior shell, the consistency of the loading-responsive matrix becomes thicker or firmer and thereby promotes, among the granules, interactive mechanisms (e.g., friction and/or arching) that reinforce the granulation-filled matrix material. According to some inventive embodiments, the granulation-filled matrix material has a magnetic-field-responsive matrix and magnetizable granules dispersed therein, and is magnetically fortified via application of a magnetic field (e.g., continuously applied where the matrix is magnetorheological fluid, or temporarily applied where the matrix is rheological fluid containing diamagnetic particles).

An apparatus for filling a discontinuity in a roadway associated with a manhole cover. The apparatus includes a manhole anchor, a road pad, and an attachment mean. The apparatus is useful for filling a discontinuity in a roadway associated with a manhole cover and for preventing traffic from swerving to avoid the discontinuity.

A manhole cover assembly comprises a base frame, the base frame comprising a base body and a base flange extending laterally outward from the base body. The assembly further comprises a top frame, the top frame comprising a top body disposed annularly about at least a portion of the base body, a top flange extending laterally outward from the top body, and a lip extending laterally inward from the top body.

Embodiments of a mold for making a retaining wall blocks are disclosed. The mold enables blocks to be made more quickly by enabling separation of each block from the mold housing when the block is cured sufficiently to enable separation. Once separated, the block can be permitted to fully cure away from the mold housing, while the mold housing is re-used to produce one or more other blocks. In one embodiment, among others, the mold has a movable bottom tray and a mold housing with at least one door. The mold housing has an opening designed to receive and introduce a fabrication material, such as concrete, into the cavity. Once a block is sufficiently cured, it is separated from the mold housing on the tray through the at least one door, and a new tray is inserted in the mold housing to make another block.

The invention relates to a vibrating device, kit and method for inserting a foundation element into the ground, wherein the vibrating device comprises: a clamping mechanism (18) for fixedly clamping the foundation element (12); a vibrator block (32) configured to provide a vibration for the purpose of inserting the foundation element (12) into the ground, wherein the vibrator block (32) is provided with resilient elements (6); a rotation mechanism operatively connected to the vibrator block (32) and configured to rotate the vibrator block (32) with the resilient elements (6), wherein the clamping mechanism (18) fixedly holds the foundation element (12); and a fixation mechanism (40) configured to apply a prestress to the resilient elements (6).

A passive annular grout seal assembly is disclosed for sealing an annular opening between a driven pile and a skirt pile sleeve for an offshore platform. The annular seals are located at the bottom of the pile sleeves near sea floor and automatically activated when piles are inserted and driven through the pile sleeves without any active operational procedure during offshore piling. The seal configuration fully utilizes the seal height, the grout column height and the density difference between grout and sea water to produce enhanced sealing capacity against the column of grout above.

An underground access cover includes a substantially non-metallic base having a diameter. The underground access cover also includes a substantially non-metallic cap coupled to the base. The cap has a diameter that is longer than the diameter of the base such that the cap extends radially outward from the base to define a flange of the cover.

The invention provides a seal for placement between a washer plate of a rock bolt and a rock face, wherein the washer plate has an outer edge at a perimeter thereof and wherein the rock bolt has a longitudinal axis, wherein the seal comprises a body made of a spongy material, wherein the body is planar and has an outer dimension that matches that or that is larger than that of outer edge of the washer plate and an inner dimension that has a void towards the center of the inner dimension through-which the longitudinal axis of the rock bolt can pass. The seal is for preventing the leakage of cementing grout (that is used in securing the rock bolt in a bore hole in a mass of rock below a rock face) between the washer plate and the rock face.

Seal arrangement for a joint of two joint elements, in particular realized as a monopile and a transition piece, of an offshore structure, preferably an offshore wind energy installation, in particular a substructure thereof, in which, for the purpose of producing a stable joint, an upper joint element and a lower joint element are inserted into each other in a clamping manner by means of at least one seal unit, comprising one of the joint elements and the at least one seal unit fixed to the joint element, in such a manner that the seal unit, in a joining position, is arranged between an inner joint surface of one joint element and an outer joint surface of the other joint element, at least one seal unit having at least one elastic sealing element, which extends in the circumferential direction around the entire circumference and the thickness (D) of which is greater than the thickness (D) of an adjoining seal unit region and method for producing a seal arrangement.