Abstract: A modular structure includes a sill and a plurality of interlocking panels. The interlocking panels are attached to one another to form a panel assembly having a first end and a second end. The first end of the panel assembly is attached to a first side of the sill, and the second end of the panel assembly is attached to a second, opposing side of the sill.

Abstract: An open barrier frame in an inverted U-shaped configuration has an upper horizontal and two laterally spaced vertical segments. The segment has an interiorly facing indentation with a width and a thickness. A lower closure segment with lateral ends is coupled to the vertical segments. The closure segment has a generally rectangular cross sectional configuration with a vertical slot. In this manner the barrier frame creates a rectangular channel. A panel insert has a width and a thickness essentially equal to the width and thickness of the U-shaped indentation. The panel insert has an upper edge extending into the indentation of the horizontal segment. The panel has a lower edge extending into the slot of the closure segment and terminating at an intermediate elevation of the slot.

Abstract: A fluid transfer coupling is described that includes first and second connectable coupling members that together contain a sealed interior space when connected. A gas or steam purge inlet and a purge outlet are disposed in fluid communication with the sealed interior space for purging potential contaminants out of the interior space. The coupling also includes a vacuum port in fluid communication with the sealed interior space for drawing a vacuum on the sealed interior space and optionally testing the space for an adequate seal. The first coupling member includes a first fluid transfer conduit and the second coupling member includes a second fluid transfer conduit. The first and second fluid transfer conduits are positioned such that they can be connected together within the sealed interior space when the first and second coupling members are connected.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ball scoop device comprising a hollow transport shaft connected by a lower angled connection to a ball scoop at the lower end of the transport shaft and connected by an upper angled connection at the upper end of the transport shaft to a ball retainer and a method for using the same.

Abstract: A system for providing siding to a building is disclosed. The system utilizes components which have their own brackets with attachment flanges in order to connect directly to an exterior wall of the building. The brackets contain their own integrated water control systems, which co-act with those of other components to control and direct water into vertical channels and out from behind the siding system. These flanges double as self-contained flashing. In all the system presents a roof-to-foundation siding system that is self-contained and fully transitional from one piece to another.

Abstract: A system for mounting wall panels to an existing wall, including a plurality of fastening extrusions, each fastening extrusion including a base section adapted to be secured to the existing wall, at least one retaining wall extending at an angle from the base section, and a holding member on each retaining wall for holding one end of a wall panel to a respective the fastening extrusion; and wherein at least some adjacent retaining walls have different heights from each other so as to impart a three-dimensional appearance to the wall panels mounted to the existing wall.

Abstract: A transition body may be disposed between upper and lower tower sections of a tower for a wind power station. Some example transition bodies may include a substantially annular upper connection flange for connection to the upper tower section, and at least three substantially annular lower connection flanges, each of which may connect to a corner leg of the lower tower section. The transition body may have several segments disposed about a central tower axis, with the number of segments corresponding to the number of corner legs. Upper peripheral sections of the segments may form an annular circumferential connection envelope that supports the upper connection flange. Lower sections of the segments may form annular circumferential segment envelopes that support the lower connection flanges. The segments may be disposed at acute angles and converge into one another at or near the upper connection flange.

Abstract: A laminated composite interior component includes a first member that has a predetermined mating surface; and a second member made of an elastically deformable resin material. The second member has a plate-shaped portion that is substantially parallel to the mating surface and that has multiple protrusions which are formed integrally with the plate-shaped portion and which protrude toward the mating surface such that a space is formed between the mating surface and the plate-shaped portion. The second member is arranged so as to be laminated on the first member with the protrusions in contact with the mating surface.

Abstract: A solar rack for supporting a solar panel, said solar rack including a pair of support frames, each support frame including a front member, a bottom member, and a rear member, wherein the front member, the bottom member, and the rear member cooperate to form a triangularly shaped structure; and a trough including two ends and a base, each end of the trough is configured to be attached to a portion of each of the support frames to form a support upon which the solar panel is disposed, the support having bottom surfaces, wherein the base of the trough is configured to be offset with respect to the bottom surfaces of the support.

Abstract: A system for connecting a photovoltaic mounting rail onto a mounting post using a connection system with a pair of interlocking grasps having interdigitated fingers that can be locked into the mounting rail when moved by a fastening system.

Abstract: A portable shelter that is convertible between a collapsed transport configuration and an expanded operational configuration. The shelter includes a container having a wing wall that is selectively pivotal between a closed position and an open position, and an inflatable tent having a flexible inflatable support structure and a flexible cover. When the wing wall is in the open position, the inflatable support structure is selectively inflatable from a collapsed configuration to an operational configuration to thereby support the cover in an expanded operational configuration above the wing wall, such that the cover forms a sheltered space. The inflatable support structure is selectively deflatable from the operational configuration to the collapsed configuration, whereupon the first wing wall may be pivoted to the closed position to store the tent within an internal space of the container, such that the shelter is in the transport configuration.

Abstract: A method of marketing an elevated prefabricated building includes the steps of: 1) offering to a customer for a quoted price, a building that has a precast concrete chain wall foundation and a prefabricated building that is to be supported by the precast concrete chain wall foundation; 2) the offer in step “a” including an offer to install the building at the site within a span of construction time on site of a week or less; 3) the precast concrete chain wall foundation offered for shipment to a selected site after it has been cast; and 4) the precast concrete chain wall foundation and prefabricated building being offered to be installed at the selected site with a lifting device that lifts each from the transport vehicle to the site.

Abstract: A thermally-broken ornamental door includes a thermally-broken door and a thermally-broken jamb through which thermal transfer is greatly minimized. The thermally-broken door includes an outer panel and an inner panel that are minimally connected through a plurality of door bridging strips. The thermally-broken jamb includes an outer jamb frame and an inner jamb frame that are minimally connected through a plurality of jamb bridging strips. An insulating foam panel is present between the outer panel and the inner panel while an insulating foam core is present between the outer jamb frame and the inner jamb frame. A window assembly is hingedly mounted into the thermally-broken door and includes a retaining spacer frame that minimizes thermal transfer from an exterior environment to an inner window frame through a glass panel of the window assembly. The retaining spacer frame additionally provides structural support to the glass panel.

Abstract: A foundation system for a tower, such as a wind turbine, includes a central hub assembly, a plurality of post-tensioned concrete beams, and an anchoring system associated with each beam. In use the foundation system is arranged so that the bottom surfaces of the concrete beams bear on soil and the anchoring is disposed within the soil. The beams can be inverted bulb-T beams having post-tensioning cables inserted there-through and cooperating with an oppositely disposed related beam. The central hub assembly can include a plurality of stacked disk elements or steel frame elements that are post-tensioned together to form a single hub structure.

Abstract: Wall structures and methods of manufacturing wall structures are described in this specification. The wall structures include a frame, a sheathing board attached to the frame, a penetration attachment panel, and a foam layer.

Abstract: The disclosure includes multi-layered panels (10, 60, 204) including exterior layers of glass (12, 44) and interior layers of urethane (20, 36) and at least one layer of polycarbonate (16) between the urethane layers (20, 36) that result in enhanced shatter resistance within panels (10, 60, 204) that weigh between about 4.1 and 4.6 pounds per square foot. The panels (10, 60, 204) include an insertion tab (23, 61, 23?) of the polycarbonate layer (16) that enhances performance of the panel (10). Reinforced passageways (70, 200, 300), such as doors and windows of schools, hospitals and other public and private buildings, are disclosed using the multi-layered panels (10, 60, 204) with the insertion tab (23, 61, 23?).

Abstract: Frame supported panels with an increased load carrying capacity derived from inducing newly discovered conditions on panels made from weaker, lighter and thinner materials. The fixed/continuous/dropped condition can increase a panel's load capacity many times based on the panel's interaction with frame members. This enables foam panels, for example, to be used in structural applications. It also enables polyurethane foam with any cladding to provide a comprehensive, structural building panel that provides a finished exterior, continuous and cavity insulation, an air, moisture and vapor barrier and increased uplift resistance while eliminating condensation and thermal expansion/contraction.

Abstract: Structural systems having coated structural members with enhanced durability are provided, along with methods of making and using the same. Structural members including at least one coating material applied to a substrate that comprises at least one protrusion may exhibit increased strength and/or durability and may be less likely fail during use. For example, structural members as described herein exhibit an improved resistance to cracking when a force is applied to the protrusion. Structural systems according to embodiments of the present invention can be suitable for use in a variety of applications, including in ready-to-assemble furniture or cabinetry applications or as building and construction materials such as wall board, flooring, trim, and the like.

Abstract: A multi-piece storage tank pad is configured to support a storage tank used in oilfield operations. The multi-piece pad includes a plurality of pad pieces where each pad piece has a core coated with a polymeric coating. Each pad piece also defines at least two connector receiving contours. Two pad pieces of the multi-piece pad are joined by a connector. Each connector also has a core that is coated with the polymeric coating. Each connector is separate from the plurality of pad pieces, and each has a shape that corresponds to two adjacent connector receiving contours.

Abstract: Flange-to-flange connectors and construction methods using such connectors are disclosed. The connector may include a first and second anchored plates secured to a first and second sets of anchoring bars. The connector may also include a first and second alignment plates configured to mate with the first and second anchored plates. The connector may further include at least one shim configured to be positioned between the first and second anchored plates. A bolt may be configured to secure the first and second alignment plates with the first and second anchored plates, respectively, and when the bolt is tightened, the bolt pulls the first and second alignment plates and the first and second anchored plates together to form a rigid connection, which may eliminate the need to form and cure concrete at job sites, allowing the time, cost, and construction complexity to be reduced significantly compared to conventional connection systems.