Abstract: A building block and masonry wall constructed therefrom are provided wherein the building block has a pair of spaced opposite generally parallel side walls, spaced top and bottom faces and a pair of end spaces, a pair of spaced apart ribs on said top face, a pair of mating recesses on said bottom face, an intermediate generally centrally extending horizontal groove in each of the top and bottom faces, a pair of narrower grooves, one on either side of said centrally extending groove on each of said top and bottom faces, a pair of spaced ribs on one end, a pair of mating grooves on the other end, an intermediate vertical passage in said block corresponding in width to the widest portion of the central grooves on said top and bottom faces, a pair of vertical passages on each side of said intermediate vertical passage connecting the pair of top and bottom narrower grooves, and a vertical recess in each end intermediate the side walls and having a cross section substantially equal to one half of said intermediate

Abstract: A reinforced insulated wall construction having a core of thermal insulation material which is reinforced by high-slenderness-ratio reinforced concrete columns. High compressive and side-load strengths are achieved by centrally supporting reinforcing members in vertical passageways in the core while the remainder of each passageway is filled with a concrete slurry and by so centrally supporting the members until the slurry hardens into concrete. Further side-load strength enhancement may be achieved by encasing at least a central length portion of each concrete column in a high flexural strength structural tubular casing.

Abstract: There is provided a masonwork which consists of stacked building blocks forming several superimposed horizontal courses. The upper sides of blocks in lower courses and the undersides of blocks in the next-higher courses have registering mirror symmetrical sockets in the form of generally hemispherical cavities for reception of spherical connectors. Auxiliary connectors can be provided to couple neighboring blocks of each course to each other; such auxiliary connectors constitute discrete parts having webs received in aligned channels of the respective blocks and end portions which extend into neighboring sockets or blind bores of such blocks.

Abstract: A hollow building-block-type module for a wall construction that utilizes a plurality of such modules laid up with mortared joints in staggered courses and with horizontal and vertical reinforcing bars embedded in concrete poured into the spaces or voids within the hollow blocks. The module comprises parallel side walls joined by vertical webs to define an integral void between adjacent webs of the module and voids between adjacent webs of abutting modules. The voids in each course are vertically aligned in stacks with voids of other courses and the webs are provided with notches for locating the horizontal reinforcing bars away from an adjacent side wall. The module also has lips projecting inwardly from the side walls defining an integral void so that a vertical rod inserted in a stack of voids between a side wall and the horizontal reinforcing bars is also spaced away from the interior surface of the respective side walls of the vertically aligned voids.

Abstract: A plastic or metal web is provided with upper and lower projecting truncated conical members with a surrounding edge band having a thickness equal to the conventional mortar joint between brick or block courses. It is placed on the last laid course with the downwardly extending members frictionally engaging within the apertures in the bricks or blocks. Mortar or other adhesive may be used if desired and the next course is then laid engaging the upwardly projecting members. The spacing of the projecting members is such that the bricks or blocks are aligned spaced and reinforced thus facilitating laying of the bricks or blocks.

Abstract: The invention relates to a modular element used in the construction of buildings, constituted by a floor, a ceiling and vertical walls extending between the floor and the ceiling so as to define at least one parallelepipedic box-shaped compartment, the interior of which may be entirely finished, wherein the floor is constituted by a reinforced concrete slab covered by a layer of supple material on which rests a false floor or layer, connected to the vertical walls at their base, dismountable fixing means being provided between said slab and said false floor at least in each of the angles of the element.

Abstract: T-shaped building blocks are assembled in a wall structure in horizontal courses of blocks, with alternate ones of the blocks in each course facing opposite directions and with the main body sections of each block overlying the main body sections of the next adjacent blocks. The blocks in the first course are placed on a footing, U-shaped clips tie the overlying portions of the main body sections of the blocks together to form rigid wall sections, and the wall sections are leveled by inserting wedges beneath the bottom course of blocks. Mortar is poured into the vertical openings of the bottom course of blocks to rigidly mount the blocks on the footing. As the wall increases in height, vertical tie rods are inserted internally through the course of blocks to tie the blocks in adjacent courses together. Insulation is placed in the vertical openings in the blocks to reduce the passage of heat and moisture through the blocks in the wall structure.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a reinforcing bar locating means adapted for disposition in a mortar layer between courses of concrete blocks; the reinforcing bar locating means made of a single wire and comprising a generally S-shaped intermediate portion provided with a pair of generally oppositely directed anchor portions adapted to be imbedded in mortar between courses of concrete blocks and in position wherein the loop portions of the generally S-shaped portion each being adapted to hold and locate a reinforcing bar member generally centrally in a void area of a concrete block wall.

Abstract: The invention provides a construction element in particular for towers, silos or the like, wherein there is a panel (10) whose edges form a hollow-shaped section (13) delimited by legs (14) carrying perforations (16) provided for positioning connecting elements (20) joining at least two panels (10) together, the hollow-shaped sections (13) of two panels (10) placed side by side delimiting a chaining recess (15) receiving framework components (22) and a connecting material to constitute the chaining.

Abstract: Building brick for wall construction in which brick serves concurrently as integral form for poured concrete and also provides insulation. Brick has structure to produce voids in wall to reduce volume of concrete poured, voids producing further insulation. Brick has pair of plane rectangular spaced side members connected by plane rectangular connecting members, end portions of side members extending beyond connecting members. Upper edges of connecting members spaced below upper edges of side members and lower edges of connecting members are coplanar with lower edges of side members. Detachable cover plate rests on connecting members to form cavity within brick and when concrete is poured, cavity produces void in concrete between side members, connecting members and lower surface of brick.

Abstract: A lightweight, thermally insulated block form for reinforced concrete construction, having voids extending between the top and bottom for the reception of concrete, is formed with a sheath of a non-combustible porous material, and a core of foamed plastic. The concrete receiving voids in the core are lined with circular cardboard tubes. In the finished construction the organically based plastic foam is enclosed in the inorganic non-combustible sheath and the surface of the sheath is sufficiently non-resilient so that when properly coated to seal and protect the surface it may act as a finished building surface. The cardboard tubes contain the concrete slurry so as to isolate the low tensile strength, low modulus of elasticity block against forces which might crack or distort the block.The block is formed by joining four rectangular slabs of the sheath material at their ends to form an open-ended rectangular tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to wall structure and components thereof and manufacturing methods therefor and, more particularly, in view of present energy crisis considerations, to a structural assembly comprising a plurality of individual components interconnected to form an integrated unitary structure of desired configuration such as but not limited to parabolic and/or other curved surfaces forming troughs, saucers, domes, flat wall structures and/or combinations thereof, some of which have particular utility in connection with reception and collection of various kinds of radiant energy including solar energy, without requiring or utilizing a pre-erected frame structure.