A concrete variable cross-section prefabricated square pile comprises pile bodies of large cross-section sections and small cross-section sections alternately arranged along a longitudinal direction. Lateral transition surfaces are formed between side surfaces of the large cross-section sections and adjacent small cross-section sections; at least part of the lateral transition surfaces have a front edge and/or a rear edge that are offset from a vertical direction in a lateral projection, and a vertical projection of an intersection line between the lateral transition surface and a first horizontal plane is located outside a vertical projection of an intersection line between the lateral transition surface and a second horizontal plane; the first horizontal plane is a horizontal plane located above in any two horizontal planes, and the second horizontal plane is a horizontal plane located below in any two horizontal planes.

A cooling tower structure having a concrete perimeter foundation wall with a perimeter rebar grouping. The structure includes at least four columns formed of CMU blocks with at least two columns being freestanding and positioned approximate corners of the foundation wall. Each column further includes a column rebar grouping being tied into the perimeter rebar grouping. At least three bond-beams formed of CMU blocks are connected between the columns at least four feet above the foundation. The bond-beams include beam rebar groupings tying into at least one of the column rebar groupings. The structure includes housing walls formed of CMU blocks extending upward from the bond beams. At least one fan is on at least one pedestal column positioned within the foundation wall, with a pedestal rebar grouping extending though the pedestal column from a concrete pedestal footing. A series of water collection troughs are positioned within the cooling tower above the fan and fill media is positioned in the cooling tower above the collection troughs.

The invention relates to an arrangement for supporting a thin-walled steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) in an impact pile driving device, the arrangement comprising a supporting surface (4; 14; 23; 31), to which the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) can be supported, and in which arrangement the supporting surface (4; 14; 23; 31) is provided with one or more absorbing surfaces (6; 16; 25; 33) to be placed against the end of the wall (8; 18, 26; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35). In the arrangement according to the invention, the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) is configured to shape the end of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17, 26; 35) coming against the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), by the effect of the impact driving of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35), so that at least the part of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) at the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) is shaped against the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), wherein the movement of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) in the direction of a plane transverse to the direction of impact driving of the steel pile is prevented, at least at the head of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35). Also, the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) in the supporting surface (4, 14; 23; 31) can be configured to be shaped by the effect of the impact driving of the steel pile (5; 17, 26, 35) so that the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33) is shaped against the part of the wall (8; 18, 27; 36) of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) at the absorbing surface (6; 16; 25; 33), whereby the movement of the wall (8; 18; 27; 36) at the head of the steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) is prevented. The invention also relates to a method for arranging the support of a steel pile (5; 17; 26; 35) in an impact pile driving device.

Embodiments generally relate to modular access covers. Example embodiments relate to an access cover assembly comprising: a first set of modular access covers and a second set of modular access covers, wherein in each set, adjacent covers are coupled; and a support frame comprising end frame pieces, side frame pieces, wall boxes, and a support beam. The end frame pieces and side frame pieces define a support plane to support the first and second sets of modular access covers. The wall boxes define a support surface to support the support beam and the end frame pieces, and the support surface is offset from the support plane and the wall boxes are connected to the end frame pieces and receive respective ends of the support beam.

The present invention relates to a method for constructing a structure, the method comprising constructing an underground structure on the ground, and then constructing the structure in the ground by sinking same into the ground.

A shape-retaining hoist type rectangular parallelepiped bag includes: a rectangular parallelepiped bag that is a generally rectangular parallelepiped-shaped bag that has an internal space to accommodate an accommodated object; a bottom surface holding mechanism configured to hold a bottom surface by application of a tensile force thereto; a side surface holding mechanism configured to hold a side surface by application of a tensile force thereto; a central hanging body configured to extend in a vertical direction with one end thereof being fixed to a center of the bottom surface of the rectangular parallelepiped bag and hold the bottom surface holding mechanism and the side surface holding mechanism at intermediate positions in the vertical direction; and a ring-shaped hook holding portion connected to the other end of the central hanging body, to which a hook is to be attached. This provides a rectangular parallelepiped bag that is less likely to tear despite its small aspect ratio and large height, can compact soil particles by stages in its height direction, has a stable strength even when the bag has a large height as in a case where the bag has a ratio between a height and a width of the bag exceeding 1:1, for example, and is less likely to be deformed when lifted upwardly in the vertical direction.

A debris catching device suitable for an open manhole includes a basket having a diameter slightly less than that of the manhole aperture and a durable flange secured to the periphery of the basket opening. The flange has a plurality of lifting hooks secured to a top face opposite the bottom of the basket. The interior of the rubber flange is reinforced with a ring running throughout the middle circumference thereof.

A rotomolded lid for a meter box and a method of making the same are provided. The lid is formed in a rotomold process that embeds a pair of rebars within a hollow lid product. Concrete is then poured into the hollow portion and allowed to cure. The end result is a reinforced meter box lid that is configured to handle loads of up to 16,000 lbs. In addition, the presence of the rebars, which are ferromagnetic, allows a metal detector to detect the presence of the lid should it ever be inadvertently covered over or otherwise obscured from view. Furthermore, the central lid portion may also include a passageway covered by a hinged door to permit access to the meter box without having to lift up the lid itself. Another passageway, along with an associated countersunk portion in an upper lid surface, permits a wireless transponder to be positioned therein and connected to meter equipment in the box.

Disclosed is a cover for a utility vault and a method for making such covers. The cover is formed from fiberglass reinforcement layers, a low-density core, and a polymer mix matrix. The reinforcement layers include a bottom reinforcement layer, one or more edge reinforcement layers, and a top reinforcement layer. A first portion of the edge reinforcement layer overlaps a portion of the bottom reinforcement layer and a second portion of the edge reinforcement layer overlaps a portion of the top reinforcement layer. The core is positioned between the top and bottom reinforcement layers. The reinforcement layers are formed from fiberglass fabric and may include fiberglass layers whose fibers are oriented quadraxially. The polymer mix impregnates the fabric layers, encases the core, and binds the components together. The polymer matrix includes a thermoset polymer resin.

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.