Abstract: A building block or panel having the shape of a right parallelepiped having two opposed major faces (11), the remaining faces being edge faces which are formed to interlockingly engage with the edge faces of similar building blocks wherein two pairs of adjacent edge faces at opposed sides of the block are each formed with an elogate recess (13) extending from the respective corner of said adjacent edge faces to an intermediate location on each edge face, each edge face being formed with an elongate projection (15) which is able to be received in the recess (13) of a corresponding block; the one end (17) of each projection (15) adjacent the respective recess (13) being contoured to define at least a portion inclined at an angle of less than 90.degree. between the face and the base of the respective recess wherein the other end of each projection (15) has a face of a complementary configuration.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of building a reservoir for storing liquefied natural gas at low temperature.This method consists in fixing on the internal wall 22 of the concrete vessel 3 a first thin lining 21 forming a first fluid-tight barrier, then in completely filling the space between the tank 2 and the concrete vessel 3 by means of a heat-insulating structure comprising an assembly of stacked blocks 25 of insulating material, associated with a second thin lining 24 forming a second fluid-tight barrier, said structure being supported by the concrete vessel and simply arranged round the inner tank.The building method according to the invention applies in particular to liquefied natural gas storage reservoirs installed on solid ground.

Abstract: A building block made of concrete or the like comprises a front face, a back face, a top face, a bottom face, and a pair of side faces. The top face has a convex angular first surface with a vertex extending between the side faces, and a concave angular second surface with a vertex extending between the side faces. The concave second surface lies between the convex first surface and the front face of the block. The bottom face has a concave angular third surface with a vertex extending between the side faces, and a convex angular fourth surface with a vertex extending between the side faces. The convex fourth surface lies between the concave third surface and the front face. The convexity of the first and fourth surfaces matches the concavity of the third and second surfaces, respectively, thereby forming a double interlock, namely, an interlock between the first and third surfaces and an interlock between the second and fourth surfaces.

Abstract: The invention provides a novel beam for covering wall openings in order to facilitate constructional work at building sites. For this purpose a prefabricated beam consisting of one piece is suggested, which without any additional scaffolds being required may be placed over a wall opening as one unit.

Abstract: A substantially rectangular-shaped building block, particularly well adapted for use in a set of identical toy building blocks, having a length, to width, to thickness ratio in the nature of 3 to 2 to 1, and having each of the four corner portions identical in cross-sectional size and shape to an indentation in the center portion of each of the four sides of the rectangle.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system of construction elements for the erection of plant-accommodating, slope-retaining walls comprising L-shaped longitudinal elements arranged in multilevel relationship, having a horizontally extending base plate portion and an upwardly extending railing portion; and sectional support elements acting as vertical spacers for the longitudinal elements extending horizontally in a direction perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal elements and having upper and lower seating surfaces adapted for communication with the base plate portion of the longitudinal element; wherein a slope-retaining wall formed from the L-shaped longitudinal elements and the sectional support elements capable of dividing shearing forces acting on the wall vertically and longitudinally so that the wall stands erect, retains a slope surface and provides areas for the accommodation of plants, small foliage or the like.

Abstract: A construction panel and a method of making the same wherein a layer of concrete is bound to a layer of urethane or polyurethane through a blanket of dry cement mixture and the in situ setting into a mold of a wet cement mixture and an unset foaming plastic composition. The latter includes urethane or polyurethane, a catalyst, and a blowing agent, the dry cement mixture includes white cement, silica, a coloring agent, and an aggregate, and the concrete is formed from the same dry cement mixture with water.

Abstract: Lightweight building structures constructed by assembling a plurality of building blocks in contiguous end to end relationship. The blocks have spaced apart and parallel opposite longitudinal walls and opposite transverse members integrally connecting said walls so as to define a substantially rectangular inner space. The top of the transverse members of at least a portion of the blocks are at a lower level than the tops of the longitudinal walls so that horizontally extending reinforcing bars may be positioned therein. Vertically extending reinforcing bars which may be surrounded by reinforcing loops are also positioned within the inner spaces defined by the contiguous blocks. Mortar is charged to the inner spaces defined by contiguous blocks to unite the blocks and reinforcing members. V-shaped vertical edges are provided on the longitudinal walls of a block to provide stronger joints between blocks.

Abstract: Interfitting building blocks are disclosed of both T-shaped and Z-shaped configurations and both blocks define external slots, internal openings and corner bevels for receiving expandable locking elements. The blocks are arranged in a wall in stacked, overlying relationship in horizontal courses of blocks, and the courses of blocks are locked together with U-shaped clips extending between adjacent ones of the blocks in a single course, and vertically extending laterally expandable locking elements extending through adjacent courses of blocks. Mortar is poured down through the aligned openings in the blocks and the locking elements to hold the locking elements in their expanded positions.

Abstract: A one piece building block suitable for load bearing applications such as road surfaces and river linings. The block includes an upper hexagonal portion and a lower portion having load bearing projections which, when the block is viewed in plan, project outwardly from alternate sides of the upper portion. Each projection extends substantially the entire length of its respective side. The lower portion has recesses of shape complementary with that of the projections to enable a plurality of identical blocks to be interlocked.