Abstract: A composite structure comprising a plurality of support members (11) arranged to form a decking member within a slab (15) said support members (11) comprising a pair of flange members (13, 14) joined by connecting a connecting web member (12), at least one flange member (11) having a lip portion.A support member (11) comprising a pair of flange members (13, 14) joined by a connecting web member (12), at least one flange member having a lip portion, said lip portion comprising a ridge member and depending stepped portion.

Abstract: In a bank of sleeper moulds wherein the moulds lie side by side and contain shoulder receiving apertures which locate shoulders during pouring, the improvements including a rocker shaft journalled for rotation with respect to the moulds and having retaining members thereon which retain the shoulders and urge them into engagement with locating means.

Abstract: A mixer having a rotary drum which comprises a flexible member, an inner rotor with outstanding blades thereon, the flexible member, the inner rotor, and its blades all being of elastomeric material, the inner diameter of the flexible member being greater than the envelope diameter of the rotor blades, the mixer rotor being positionable within the flexible member with which its blades co-operate in the mixing of concrete, but being withdrawable therefrom for cleaning and maintenance purposes.

Abstract: A concrete mixer in this invention comprises an elastomeric lug belt carried by a first set of roller drums at least one of which is driven, the lug belt having a plurality of spaced elastomeric lugs thereon, and an elastomeric base belt carried by a second set of roller drums and depending between two of these roller drums to form a part-loop portion, at least one of the base belt roller drums also being driven to drive the lug belt past the base belt in a mixing zone in the part-loop portion, such that the base belt moves in the opposite direction from the direction of movement of the lug belt.

Abstract: An uncured cementitious substrate may be coated by a method which comprises applying to the substrate an aqueous emulsion of a film-forming polymeric material, wherein the emulsion contains at least one soluble soap.

Abstract: An article translation apparatus is described for moving a series of substantially identical articles contiguously supplied to it, each of the articles having a rearwardly directed abutment face. The apparatus comprises at least one endless conveyor loop having a series of article driving dogs equally spaced therearound, each dog having a downwardly extending driving spur adapted drivingly to engage the abutment face of an article and further including a slot at its leading end, each dog being rotatably mounted at its trailing end to the conveyor loop, the loop having equally spaced stop means extending into each slot to set upper and lower limits to the permitted rotation of each dog.

Abstract: A method for the combustion of crushed solid fuel comprising crushing the fuel into a powder form, placing the crushed fuel into a storage bin and fluidizing the fuel within the bin, passing the fluid fuel through a de-airing pipe to partially compact the fuel, advancing the partially compacted fuel into a mixing chamber, passing regular pulses of compressed air through the mixing chamber so as to form a vena contracta in the mixing chamber thereby inducing the flow of partially compacted fuel into the compressed air and causing the mixture of fuel and compressed air to flow into a kiln or furnace.

Abstract: A method of making a concrete tile is disclosed wherein a formed tile body having a moisture content of less than eight percent is coated with a cementitious slurry and before that slurry layer has cured, an aqueous emulsion of a film forming polymeric material is applied to the form tile.

Abstract: A tile stacking machine wherein each tile is tilted while being conveyed at high speed and supported by its lower edge. The tiles are then transferred to a set of speed reducing belts to travel on edge. In most instances they are then transferred to at least one further set of speed reducing belts so as to crowd the tiles into a stack. One of the features of tilting the tiles while being conveyed edgeways, is that tilting is achieved by slowing the leading edge as it is lifted, thereby reducing tile speed even before it enters the speed reducing belts.

Abstract: A method of moulding concrete ties or other similar articles having pre-stressed reinforcing wires or rods therein, wherein a series of open ended multi-cavity moulds of similar cross-sectional shape are aligned end to end in groups, wires are positioned in the aligned cavities of the moulds and are tensioned, the wires are separated from one another and into horizontal rows in each group by flat sided bar like spacers which are interposed between the ends of adjacent moulds of that group, while the groups themselves are separated by vertically movable spacer plates each having vertically extended slots which arrange the wires into vertical rows.

Abstract: A method of moulding concrete ties in a series of open ended multi-cavity moulds which are arranged to have corresponding cavities aligned, and comprises positioning reinforcing wires in the aligned cavities and straining the wires, positioning spacers between adjacent ends of adjacent moulds and between the wires, filling the moulds with wet concrete to surround the wires, removing the spacers after the concrete has set and releasing the tension on the wires, severing the wires between adjacent moulds, coupling a tilt frame to one side of a mould frame and a base frame, the tilt frame comprising a pivot having a longitudinal axis, and lifting the other side of the mould frame to thereby pivot the mould frame about the longitudinal axis, lowering the mould frame to invert it and discharging the ties from the inverted moulds.