Abstract: A modular construction system, including, first and second walls, each having first and second broad surfaces. Each wall includes throughgoing connector-receiving bores. The modular construction system further includes a connector including a longitudinal body portion arranged along a longitudinal axis and having a first width. A head portion of the longitudinal body portion includes a base surface having a second width in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis. A pair of protrusions extend outwardly from the longitudinal body portion and are disposed between the base surface and a tail end of the longitudinal body portion. The protrusions include an engagement surface facing toward the base surface and having a third width, the third width being greater than the first width.

Abstract: A lateral force resistance system for a building is provided wherein a portal frame is constructed with a lapped connection between the supported structural member and the supporting structural member and the supporting structural member is made with an elongated member that spans the width of the supporting structural member and the height of the supporting structural member.

Abstract: A hinged connector is used to attach two generally coplanar first and second structural members while allowing for pivotal movement of the structural members in the plane of the structural members about an axis that is transverse or perpendicular to the plane in which the structural members rotate.

Abstract: A modular wall overlay system for installation on a support surface includes a frame; a cover that is securely, yet detachably, retained on and along a front face of the frame by a tensioning mechanism that is configured to tension the cover; and elastic corner inserts that are disposed in corners of the frame and include curved outer surfaces that are configured to permit the cover to be stretched over the elastic corner inserts creating radiused corners and preventing tearing of the cover in corners thereof when the cover is tensioned by the tensioning mechanism.

Abstract: An elongated sheet metal channel for transversely supporting drywall grid tees at regular intervals along the channel, the channel having a generally vertical web, and a lower flange and an upper flange, a vertical spacing between the flanges being sufficient to receive upright grid tees at the intervals, the lower flange having outer and mid-width portions lying in a generally horizontal plane at an interval when a tee is received therein, opposed formations stamped into one of the flanges at the intervals to longitudinally locate the grid tee, the upper flange at said intervals having a pocket for receiving a distorted end of a grid tee.

Abstract: A building earthquake resistance structure includes an integrally connected roof support frame, used for supporting a roof of a building independently from walls of the building; a plurality of support columns, fixedly connected to the roof support frame; an annular trench, arranged in the ground around the building; an annular damping frame, arranged within the annular trench, lower ends of the support columns being fixedly connected to the annular damping frame; a plurality of dampers, arranged between a bottom portion of the annular trench and the annular damping frame. An earthquake resistance method for the building earthquake resistance structure prevents damage caused by the roof collapsing during an earthquake by supporting the roof of the existing building in the ground via the support columns. The building earthquake resistance structure is easy to construct and suitable for transforming traditional old buildings.

Abstract: A structural member section comprised of horizontal top and bottom flange elements interconnected by one or more vertical web member. The top flange of the member is serrated such that a series of serrations protrude horizontally in at least one direction from a top of the one or more vertical web member or are cut-out from the flange of a rolled shape. In one embodiment, the serrated top flange and at least a portion of the web member are intended to be encased by a horizontal concrete slab or slab-on-deck assembly. The slab material is capable of encasing all exposed surfaces of and curing around each serration to transfer horizontal shear forces between the serrated top flange and the slab material such that the member and slab behave compositely.

Abstract: A floor support system for a grain bin having an elevated floor formed of a plurality of planks and supported by a plurality of floor supports is presented. The system includes a plurality of support members and a plurality of holding members. The support members are formed of an elongated member that provides structural strength and rigidity. The holding members fit over the support members and engage the upper end of the floor supports. The support members and holding members are quickly and easily installed by placing the support members on the floor supports and placing the holding members over the support members. Once the support members and holding members are in place on the floor supports, the elevated floor is assembled over the holding members and support members that provide support to the elevated floor when spanning increased distances between adjacent floor supports.

Abstract: Arch structure defining equidistant points along a radial curve and comprising uniformly-sized, standard stock, elongated rectangular cross-section stringer members, uniformly-sized, standard stock, elongated rectangular cross-section arch members each having a midpoint and first and second angled ends of equal but opposing to one another angular magnitude, each arch member adapted to converge crossways on and completely abut a side surface of two non-adjacently positioned stringer members, each of the arch members further being adapted for undergirding a stringer member located between two non-adjacently positioned stringer members at the mid-point of the arch member, each arch member adapted for being oriented in scissor-like crossing relationship to another arch member, a plurality of fasteners, and where needed at least one tensioning member preferably attached between end stringer members, or alternatively between foundation members, the tensioning members and fasteners making the arch structure fortifie

Abstract: Air supported structures forming an enclosure via internal pressurized air, and methods of making same, are disclosed. The structures include an outer membrane defining an outer surface of the structure. The structures include an inner liner blanket coupled to the outer membrane via a plurality of spaced baffles extending from the outer membrane into the enclosure, the inner liner blanket and the inner surface of the outer membrane forming a heating pocket therebetween within the enclosure extending along a first portion of the outer membrane. The structures also include at least one input channel in communication with the heating pocket, and at least one heated air system configured to selectively direct a flow of heated air through the at least one input channel and into the heating pocket to heat the first portion of the outer membrane to remove and/or prevent frozen precipitation accumulation on the outer surface thereof.

Abstract: A structure for blocking heat transfer through a thermal bridge of a building, includes an inner visual glass curtain wall, an outer visual glass curtain wall, an indoor metal frame, an outdoor metal frame, an outer decorative metal cover, a first thermal break strip, a second thermal break strip, a first nylon thermal break block and a second nylon thermal break block. The first thermal break strip, which is located in contact with the outdoor metal frame, the indoor metal frame, the first nylon thermal break block and the second nylon thermal break block, is an aerogel thermal insulation blanket. The second thermal break strip, which is located in contact with the indoor metal frame, the second nylon thermal break block, the outer decorative metal cover and the inner visual glass curtain wall, is another aerogel thermal insulation blanket.

Abstract: Arch structure defining equidistant points along a radial curve and comprising uniformly-sized, standard stock, elongated rectangular cross-section stringer members, uniformly-sized, standard stock, elongated rectangular cross-section arch members each having a midpoint and first and second angled ends of equal but opposing to one another angular magnitude, each arch member adapted to converge crossways on and completely abut a side surface of two non-adjacently positioned stringer members, each of the arch members further being adapted for undergirding a stringer member located between two non-adjacently positioned stringer members at the mid-point of the arch member, each arch member adapted for being oriented in scissor-like crossing relationship to another arch member, a plurality of fasteners, and where needed at least one tensioning member preferably attached between end stringer members, or alternatively between foundation members, the tensioning members and fasteners making the arch structure fortifie

Abstract: An interment system, includes: (a) at least one desiccation vessel for storing remains of a decedent who has not been cremated; (b) a plurality of memorial suites configured to house the at least one desiccation vessel, each of which includes a storage area for the at least one desiccation vessel, a living area, a vertically-oriented tribute wall separating the storage area from the living area, and an HVAC unit, which is configured to adjust at least one of a temperature, a pressure and a humidity within the at least one desiccation vessel to adjust a rate of desiccation; (c) a processor configured to securely store and share decedent data. The at least one desiccation vessel is sufficiently light, durable, and air-tight such that the at least one desiccation vessel with the decedent contained therein can be easily relocated without the need for special vehicles or trained personnel.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for attaching glass panels to a substructure. Embodiments include a blocking extending along a length of a structural element and attached to a first portion of a surface of the structural element. Flashing covers the blocking, and has a flange extending outward from a lower edge of the blocking to contact a second portion of the surface of the structural element. An elastic flange gasket covers an outer edge of the flange and contacts an inner main surface of a glass panel. A glazing cap extends along the blocking, having an elastic cap gasket for contacting the outer main surface of the glass panel. The glazing cap extends over and attaches to the blocking for retaining the glass panel between the flange gasket and the cap gasket, and for sealing the glass panel, the flange gasket, and the cap gasket.

Abstract: A structural frame for a building, comprising: adjacent first and second columns; at least one precast concrete floor slab having first and second corner indents located in two adjacent corners and a first elongated edge beam defined between the first and second corner indents, the first elongated edge beam being disposed between the first and second columns such that the first and second columns are received in the first and second corner indents and that the first elongated edge beam abuts the first and second columns; and a first tendon assembly extending between the first and second columns and adapted to be tensioned to compress the first elongated edge beam between the first and second columns, the first tendon assembly including at least one left cable and at least one right cable located symmetrically on either sides of a vertical center plane of the first and second columns.

Abstract: An assemblable structural column joint connection using fiber-reinforced concrete filled round double steel tubes, including an outer high-strength round steel tube, an inner high-strength round steel tube and a round separation plate. The wedge-shaped teeth are provided at two sides of the outer and inner high-strength steel tubes, and wedge-shaped teeth spaced are uniformly distributed along circumferences of the inner and outer high-strength round steel tubes. The round separation plate includes a round plate provided with a central through-hole, and vertical separation walls are provided with on upper and lower surfaces of the round plate. The vertical separation walls are provided with wedge-shaped sliding grooves matching the wedge-shaped teeth. The inner and outer high-strength round steel tubes are fixedly connected to the round separation plate by matching the wedge-shaped teeth with the wedge-shaped sliding grooves.

Abstract: A cladding system for covering an exterior wall is provided. The cladding system includes a panel for assembling on the exterior wall and an anchor for securing the panel to the exterior wall. The panel has a body with channels formed on a rear side thereof for draining water on an interior surface of the channel which is spaced away from the exterior wall. The anchor comprises tabs for fitting in to the channels and preventing a pull-out and/or a push-in of the panel relative to the exterior wall. The anchor cooperates with the panel to direct water into the drainage channels, and to define a continuous drainage path from top to bottom of the cladding system.

Abstract: Provided are a textile-reinforced concrete structure using a textile grid fixing device and a construction method therefor. A textile grid is precisely disposed at a predetermined position between a mold and a main reinforcing bar using a textile grid fixing device so as to be prevented from being moved by a pouring pressure when concrete is poured, and thus a textile-reinforced concrete structure can be precisely constructed. The textile grid fixing device is fixed to one side of the mold, and the textile-reinforced concrete structure is constructed using the textile grid fixing device such that fine cracks are suppressed from being generated on a surface of concrete. Further, a surface of a concrete structure is protected from an external environment when the textile-reinforced concrete structure is constructed so that a covering thickness of concrete can be reduced, and thus, the textile-reinforced concrete structure can be economically constructed.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cordless covering for a sliding glass door or other large opening or window that can be arranged in at least three different configurations. In one configuration, one or more slats may be inserted into various pockets on the covering to enable an individual to gather the slats together and change a length of the covering. In a second configuration, a portion of the covering may be draped over one of the pockets of the covering to change the length of the covering. In a third configuration, the covering can be pulled to one side of the sliding glass door such that the width of the covering is changed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a false ceiling mounting system that is simple and effective, while also allowing quick disassembly for inspection or total removal. To this end, a section bar with resilient tabs is provided, the false ceiling panel being fit between two section bars.