Abstract: The invention relates to a structural element for the manufacture of casings, wall disks, boxes and such articles comprising a shell made of thermosetting plastic and preferably reinforced to give it shape stability by reinforcement members which, more particularly, are formed by reinforcement grids composed of iron bars welded to one another and are fully enclosed by the plastic. On account of the enclosed air chambers, these structural elements have good thermal insulation properties. They are exceptionally well suited, for example, for greenhouses, plant boxes and the like.

Abstract: A method of constructing a shell-formed structure including the steps of first constructing a base, such as concrete slab, having a retention means defining the area of contact of the finished wall of the building with the base, the retention may be in the form of a recessed notch formed in the concrete pad, supporting a top yoke centrally above the base, positioning a plurality of spaced apart flexible slats between the base retention means and the yoke, lowering the yoke to cause the flexible slats to bow uniformly in a generally quarter circular or quarter elliptical configuration so that the bow slats generally define the exterior wall shape of the building, attaching a covering to the bowed slats, applying a layer of settable material, such as concrete, to the covering and allowing the settable material to harden to thereby form the structure.

Abstract: Wall structure having an opening and comprised of masonry and pre-cast facade wherein the facade is anchored into the masonry and the facade closely conforms to and overlies the masonry portion forming the opening whereby the solid elements of said portion need not be individually configured and dispensed to necessarily provide an esthetic alignment of end pieces thereof as is requisite in conventional masonry structures.

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 free span arch structure is illustrated including transversely spaced elongated flexible structural sections flexed from a substantially straight configuration when unflexed into a substantially parabolic configuration without exceeding the yield point of the structural sections so as to impart a permanent set thereto. Means are provided for supporting and for restraining the structural section adjacent the ends thereof against outward and downward movement retaining the sections flexed in the parabolic configuration. The method contemplates lifting structural sections, which are illustrated in the form of aluminum pipes, by exerting a lifting force as by a crane intermediate the ends thereof in a medial portion, and then raising an intermediate portion of the pipe by the application of the lifting force while supporting the opposed ends of the pipe as on the ground or otherwise as in the case of a roof, on the walls.

Abstract: A system of constructing buildings by connecting together expanded plastic panels with reinforcing strips bonded thereto and wire mesh attached to the exterior surfaces thereof upon a foundation with at least a portion of the panels having a curved configuration to maximize structural strength of the combination of panels. Concrete is applied to the exterior of the combined panels with the wire mesh then forming reinforcing in the resultant concrete wall upon the panels and the interior is coated with plaster to form a low cost structure with very good insulating properties.

Abstract: Casing voussoir of the type comprising a web in the general shape of a sector of a cylindrical ring and at least two juxtaposition walls substantially perpendicular to said web and parallel to each other, wherein the voussoir has guide means for the juxtaposition of said walls between two neighboring voussoirs of the casing, said guide means being constituted by at least two elements of conjugate shape, one being a hollow in one of the walls and the other being a projection on the other wall, said elements having a clearance therebetween when the two voussoirs are juxtaposed along said walls.

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.