Abstract: A system features an acoustic sensor configured to mount on a wall of a mixing drum, sense an acoustic characteristic of a mixture of a slurry, including concrete, contained in a mixing drum when rotating, and provide acoustic sensor signaling containing information about the acoustic characteristic sensed; and a signal processor configured to receive the acoustic sensor signaling, and determine corresponding signaling containing information about a slump characteristic of the mixture of concrete contained in the mixing drum, based upon the signaling received.

Abstract: A block reinforcement cage made from reinforcing material and adapted for loading within a machine during a block manufacturing process for molding a concrete U-wall construction block structure. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

Abstract: A transportable breakwater construction block factory contained within an ISO-shipping container and transportable along shorelines where marine construction sites extend. The transportable breakwater construction block factory comprising a plurality of multi-form block molding subsystems, having base mold portions mechanically coupled to the factory floor, and side molding portions being mechanically coupled, so that all or multiple groups of side mold portions (for the construction blocks and the matching shear key blocks) can be simultaneously lifted (e.g. by a hydraulic crane on site) to remove the side mold portions from the casted concrete blocks.

Abstract: A breakwater construction block design produced with various degrees of stability by reducing the height of the rear leg portions of the blocks, to increase the batter, which automatically provides an increase in the stability of the works. The breakwater construction block provides a significantly higher stability factor against over-turning, or pullout, when compared against the cylinder and upright rectangular blocks now in conventional use. The construction block system of the present invention can eliminate pole failures caused by severe hurricane winds and heavy rain.

Abstract: A molded concrete U-wall construction block including a molded concrete U-wall construction block structure formed from cured concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material during a block manufacturing process. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

Abstract: A molded concrete U-wall construction block including a molded concrete U-wall construction block structure formed from cured concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material during a block manufacturing process. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

Abstract: Improved breakwater construction blocks and interlocking shear key blocks for use in constructing diverse systems and works, in broad fields of use including, but not limited to, coastal engineering: river, stream and torrent control, bulkhead designed projects, scour control, check dams, permeable and impermeable groins-both river and ocean structures and other hydraulic works including marinas.

Abstract: A machine for and method of manufacturing concrete U-wall type construction blocks by molding each concrete u-wall construction block from concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material while said block cage is loaded within the machine. The method involves providing a system of molding jacket panels, including a core molding assembly having a pair of inside stem jacket panels that are adjustably supportable in a substantially parallel manner during a molding process, and arranged is such a manner that the front wall portion is molded in downwardly facing direction toward a horizontal support surface and completely enclosed in one or more molding jacket panels. Before block molding operations, the thickness of the front wall portion of the U-wall construction block is set by determining the thickness of a front wall surface liner and installing the front wall surface forming liner within the system of molding jacket panels.

Abstract: A machine for and method of manufacturing concrete U-wall type construction blocks by molding each concrete u-wall construction block from concrete poured about a block cage made from reinforcing material while said block cage is loaded within the machine. The method involves providing a system of molding jacket panels, including a core molding assembly having a pair of inside stem jacket panels that are adjustably supportable in a substantially parallel manner during a molding process, and arranged is such a manner that the front wall portion is molded in downwardly facing direction toward a horizontal support surface and completely enclosed in one or more molding jacket panels. Before block molding operations, the thickness of the front wall portion of the U-wall construction block is set by determining the thickness of a front wall surface liner and installing the front wall surface forming liner within the system of molding jacket panels.

Abstract: A machine for and method of manufacturing concrete U-wall construction blocks, each having a front wall portion and a pair of stem portions extending from said front wall portion. The method involves providing a system of molding jacket panels, including a core molding assembly having a pair of inside stem jacket panels that are adjustably supportable in a substantially parallel manner during a molding process, and arranged is such a manner that the front wall portion is molded in downwardly facing direction toward a horizontal support surface and completely enclosed in one or more molding jacket panels. Before block molding operations, the thickness of the front wall portion of the U-wall construction block is set by determining the thickness of a front wall surface liner and installing the front wall surface forming liner within the system of molding jacket panels.

Abstract: A dual axis motorized solar tracking device that can be rotated over 360° and wherein the solar array panel thereof can be tilted from 90° to 10° and wherein the motorized portions of said device is controlled by an internally contained computerized controlling system that is programmed to follow the path of the sun at the installed location thereof and also to adjust the system to allow for any problems in weather. The internally contained computerized controlling device is electrically actuated from a plethora of sources including a separate panel on the solar array dedicated to recharging an energy storage cell system that will power up the internally contained and computerized controlling system. Alternatively, other power sources external to the device may also be employed giving this system a unique ability to keep on running while charging the energy storage cell system under any circumstances. A lithium-ion battery can be used as the rechargeable battery system.

Abstract: A precast plinth for supporting an associated object, such as a rail of a railway track, includes an elongated body made of a material including concrete. The plinth includes an upper face, a lower face, a first side face, a second side face and first and second end faces. The first and second side faces taper away from each other from the upper face to the lower face. A leveling hole can extend from the upper face to the lower face with a threaded leveling insert located in the leveling hole. A grout hole can extend from the upper face to a lower face in a spaced manner from the leveling hole.

Abstract: A dual axis tracker is a solar collecting device with fully mobile panel arrays that can be fully rotated 360° and tilted from a 90° position to a 10° position relative to the earth and is easy to maintain and operate. This device has a base support followed by a stable lower column attached thereto and a movable or rotatable upper column that permits full rotation located thereon. This permits the full rotation. A motorized jack is employed to tilt the panel array from the 90° position to a 10°. Since the array is held higher off the ground by a longer lower column, such vertical positioning is achieved in a better manner than prior art devices. Because of these movements more power can be produced in a given amount of time than prior art devices. In addition, during periods of snowfall, this device can collect more radiation off the accumulated snow cover that will surround the device thus taking advantage of said radiation to produce even greater power than previously possible.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling separate series or stacks of structural or shear walls of a multistory building are disclosed. The method comprises constructing a plurality of stacks of shear walls and attaching a rigid coupling member to the top of at least two of the stacks of shear walls between the stacks such that the walls are connected to the rigid coupling member and move together with the coupling member. The apparatus is a rigid coupling member, which may be a beam, such as an I-beam or rectangular beam, made from poured concrete and reinforcing steel. The coupling member may also be a wall of poured concrete and reinforcing steel. The attached rigid member acts to connect the tops of independent stacks of shear walls typically used to build multistory buildings, thereby creating a flexural moment at the top of the building that helps the building resist lateral loads.

Abstract: A tubular reinforcing dowel system includes a plurality of fiber composite hollow, tubular dowel tubes comprising a first material and each including a longitudinally-extending bore. The dowel tube bores are filled with a second material, such as hydraulic cement, to form dowel members. The dowel members are mounted on a basket assembly which includes a pair of horizontal runners and multiple, longitudinally-aligned pairs of stands mounted on the runners. Each stand is connected to a respective dowel member end. A reinforcing method includes the steps of mounting multiple reinforcing dowel members on a basket assembly, placing the basket assembly on a crushed rock base of a roadway and pouring a cement slab on top of the base and encasing the dowel members underneath a transverse construction joint.

Abstract: A pre-stressed construction element is set forth which includes a rigid member adapted to span longitudinally between upright supports and to define a load bearing construction element. At least one tendon extends longitudinally along the member and is connected at or adjacent the ends of the member. To pre-stress the member, each tendon is tensioned resulting in a pre-stressing compressive force to be imposed on the member at its ends. Pre-stressing enhances the load bearing characteristics of the member. To impose lateral pre-stress forces on the member supports may be provided. One or several tendons engage are deflected by and underlie the support. When the tendon is tensioned, a force is imposed upon the support and thereby the member.

Abstract: A column form support system and method are set forth encasing steel in concrete. Included are support members which are affixed to the steel and extend outwardly therefrom. A concrete form is exerted about the steel, the support members being adjustable to bear against, and support and align the form relative to the steel. Concrete is poured into the form to encase the steel, the support members maintaining the proper alignment of the form. After the concrete has hardened, the form is disassembled.

Abstract: An upright concrete mixing chamber having an inlet formed in the top thereof and an outlet formed in the bottom thereof is supported in a lowered position upon a horizontal working surface so as to provide operator access to the inlet when the operator is standing upon the working surface. A plurality of elongate members are pivotably connected at one end to a base member in engagement with the working surface, and at the other end are pivotably connected to the mixing chamber so as to define a parallelogram that is generally horizontal to the working surface when the mixing chamber is in the lowered position.