Abstract: An improved construction system disclosed herein comprises a plurality of pre-engineered panalized or sectionalized building elements and units designed and prefabricated to include all of the basic services such as wiring, plumbing, ductwork, and the like, and materials in the form of framing structures with finished walls, flooring and ceilings adopted for ease of transport, assembly, disassembly and reassembly in accordance with flexible erection and construction processes. Each prefabricated panel or unit includes as an integral part of its structure a mechanical interconnection and interlocking means for fixedly joining each with one or more other panels along one or more preselected edge regions thereof. The interconnecting and interlocking mechanisms include a combination of architecturally sound arrangements of one or more connector plates, supporting and positioning blocks, girders or bearing plates and the like.

Abstract: A wall structure formed of pre-cast reinforced concrete building panels which are each supported and sealed along their bottom edge in a self-aligning groove or channel in a supporting structure and are interlocked and sealed with each other along their vertical butting edges. Bridging members extending along the top edge of the panels tie adjacent panels together. Integral stud members extend from the top edge for lifting and fastening purposes. Some of the panels may be furnished with window frames, door frames and electrical wiring and plumbing components that are integral therewith.

Abstract: A drainage system is located in a trench formed about the inner periphery of a foundation. The drainage system comprises a plurality of interconnected pipes, each positioned and pitched to allow water entering the pipes to flow to a collection site. The pipes comprise a longitudinal tubular member having a top wall with a central section containing a plurality of apertures. The top wall has a first sloping section which slopes from one end towards the central portion at a given angle and slopes from the other end towards the central portion at the same angle to enable any water directed on the top surface to flow into the apertures on the central portion of the pipe. The member contains a bottom wall and first and second side walls. A first side wall has a plurality of apertures and is positioned against the foundation wall. The second side wall is devoid of apertures as is the bottom wall. The side walls are each of the same height.

Abstract: A wall structure comprising a plurality of vertically disposed and horizontally spaced columns secured to a supporting surface such as a floor or the like and extending upwardly therefrom. A vertically disposed panel member is positioned between adjacent pairs of the columns to create a wall surface. Each of the columns comprises a plurality of column members secured together by means of bolts to form the column. The panel members each have opposite side edge portions with arcuate lips or channels formed therein which are received between pairs of the column members and which engage flanges on the column members to prevent the separation of the panel members from the columns. Various embodiments of the columns are disclosed for creating corner columns, intermediate columns and dividing wall columns.

Abstract: A modular building structure system for optimally minimizing construction as well as demounting time for the structure system. The structure system is particularly adaptable to structures which endure large dynamic impact loading. The structure system is mainly formed of panelized members which are covered with interior and possibly exterior surfacing formed in a prefabricated manner in order to provide a completely finished panel member acceptable for placement in a predetermined location within the system. Wall panel members of the modular building structure system are load bearing structures and provide a bearing structure for ceiling panel members mounted directly on the wall panels. The wall panel module members are inserted in channels which are mounted to a foundation upon which the structure is built.

Abstract: Liquefied gas is stored in a large rigid or semirigid cylindrical container. Between the walls and floor of this container and the walls and floor of an outer container, which may be an earthen cavity in which the container rests, is distributed a continuous layer of insulating material such as perlite or vermiculite in granular form. This insulating material serves as the sole means of support for the rigid or semirigid container and the liquefied gas stored therein. An impediment is included in the construction near the intersection of the floor and side wall of the rigid or semirigid container, the impediment completely encircling the container to substantially limit the cross-sectional area through which the granular insulation material may flow upward. By confining this cross-sectional area, the creep or migration of insulation material from beneath the container during initial filling, repeated filling and emptying of the liquefied gas contents of said container is substantially reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: A footing is poured with an inner row and an outer row of upwardly projecting tie legs set therein. An inner course and an outer course of blocks having appropriate downwardly opening sockets are respectively placed on the footing, with the tie legs being received in those sockets. The blocks also have upwardly opening sockets. Downwardly projecting legs of H-shaped ties are mounted in those sockets, each tie uniting an inner block and an outer block in the same course. The upwardly projecting legs of these H-shaped ties then receive the downwardly opening sockets of the next upper inner and outer courses of blocks, and so on until the desired number of block courses are in place. No mortar is used in setting the first course on the foundation or in setting each succeeding course. However, when the courses are in place, concrete or equivalent settable composition is poured in the space between the inner and outer block rows to fill the space and thus create an integral wall.

Abstract: The wood building construction is comprised of a panelized wall and/or floor construction which does not require any masonry foundation whatsoever. The vertically extending wall panels are connected to the floor panels in such a manner as to transmit forces acting on the perimeter wall to the floor system and are connected to each other in such a manner as to define a post construction having beam sockets for multiple floor and roof levels. Each vertically extending wall panel for a multi-level construction can extend continuously from the gravel support bed to the roof line to present an unbroken vertical line. The wall panels are constructed and arranged so that each joint is covered by trim and all openings are pretrimmed to allow in situ installation of doors and windows with a minimum of labor.

Abstract: A new building construction is intended especially but not exclusively for use in areas with "active soils", i.e., soils in which drastic dimensional changes occur with the seasons, owing principally to changes in water content. Such soils heave considerably particularly, within the confines of the building footing, causing severe cracking of any floor laid directly thereon and possibly of the floors above. In this new construction the lowermost floor structure is supported by one or more trusses, each of which is supported at its ends on the footing. The ends of the truss or trusses slide freely on the footings so as not to be affected by movement of the latter and are therefore clear of any direct earth movements.The truss or trusses support vertical loads only, while the floating floor structure is arranged to withstand the horizontal forces applied by the active soil.

Abstract: A method and means by which buildings, particularly residential buildings, can be prefabricated of cut-to-size metal wall framing and roof member elements for erection upon a prepared foundation at the site, the building framework thus erected being adapted to structural completion by a process involving scratch cement-plaster coating the outsides of expanded sheet metal enclosing the rib-work of the walls and the underside of roofing rib framework assembly, and thereafter pump-spraying a cementacious mixture between the voids of such rib-work against the opposite side of the scratch-coated expanded sheet metal to provide a substantially monolithic steel-reinforced basic building structure.

Abstract: Techniques are described for forming an elevated concrete slab-like supporting platform. A sand blanket is installed on the platform site and supporting piles are driven down through the sand blanket. A concrete slat is poured over the sand blanket and a moat is dug around its periphery. Water jet nozzles are positioned within the sand blanket prior to pouring of the concrete slab; and water conduits are also provided to extend from outside the sand blanket to the nozzles. After the concrete slab hardens, water is pumped through the conduits to form water jets at the nozzles which wash the sand blanket out from under the slab.

Abstract: Flooring for a sectionalized building which includes spaced parallel girders supported upon a concrete foundation carrying cross beams. Joists are supported upon each of the girders with a pair of board supports being positioned at the side edges of each of the girders and extending from the top of the joists to the cross beams. Flooring is applied over the joists and board supports.

Abstract: A building is quickly erected on the site, by preparing a footing below ground level, erecting at spaced apart distances around the footing a plurality of vertical pre-cast, combined foundation wall and side wall panels of U-cross section which have load bearing vertical side edge flanges and may include a parapet section and then welding infill panels containing windows and doors between the load bearing vertical, side edge, flanges of the panels. The vertical side flanges of the one piece foundation and side wall panels form reinforced colums and the space therebetween may be used as air ducts, pipe chases or the like.

Abstract: Foundation assemblies for buildings comprising sill means and a wall plate connected thereto. The wall plate serves to support a plurality of elongated half-stud members on which vertical wall panels are mounted.In one embodiment of the invention, the sill plate is mounted directly on and connected to a concrete foundation element and comprises a sill plate and a sill locking plate. A flanged stud-tie plate is interposed between the sill locking plate and the wall plate and serves to expedite the mounting of the stud members.In a further embodiment of the invention, the sill means is mounted on a vertically extending pier for supporting the sill plate and associated structure above the ground. In this embodiment, the sill means comprises a sill plate, a sill locking plate and a beam support angle having a portion connected to the pier and the sill plate for supporting the beam of a floor support assembly.