Abstract: This female quick-connect coupling element comprises balls for locking a male element in a coupled configuration, positioned in radial housings of a body and able to protrude radially in an insertion channel, and an actuating member mobile between a first position, in which the male element is locked in the female element in coupled configuration, and a second position, in which the male and female elements are in uncoupled configuration. The female quick-connect coupling element comprises an intermediate locking ring, mobile in translation between a rear position, in which an internal wall of the intermediate ring maintains the locking balls protruding in the insertion channel, and a front position of the front side of the female element, in which the locking balls are free to be pushed back opposite the longitudinal axis of the female element under the action of the actuating member.

Abstract: A decor apparatus is based on a flexible panel. In the apparatus, a support structure includes a rail, and a flexible panel having an edge is attached to the rail, with the attachment between the rail and the edge including a plurality of discrete attachment points. A trim piece for the flexible panel is connected to the rail from between the attachment points. The trim piece overlays the attachment between the rail and the edge outside of a plane of the flexible panel.

Abstract: A system for installing prefabricated wall panels in a building includes a lower sill plate adapted to be fastened to a foundation, an upper sill plate fastened to a bottom of the prefabricated wall panel and adapted to be inserted within the lower sill plate, and a plurality of openings in the upper sill plate. The openings are adapted to allow grout to be inserted between the upper sill plate and the lower sill plate after the upper sill plate is inserted within the lower sill plate.

Abstract: A fall protection apparatus includes a heavy support base with a pivotal mast having a top member for rotation around the axis of the mast carrying a series of booms pivotal about respective vertical axes, each having an end coupling member for receiving a fall restraint harness. Each boom is formed by a tube which fractures on a fall and an elongate stainless steel strap inside the tube which bends without fracturing. The mast includes a series of telescopic rectangular mast sections with a winch driven cable and pulley arrangement for extending the first section which acts to pull the second inner section to the extended position as the first inner section moves out of the outer section. Each section includes first and second pulleys mounted at the same face of the section with the cable located between the face of the section and the face of the next section.

Abstract: A manner by which to form a thermal barrier upon a surface, utilizes a pneumatic blower to form a layer of thermal insulation material and a layer of radiant barrier material. The pneumatic blower is first charged with the thermal insulation material, and the thermal insulation material is metered upon the surface. Then, the pneumatic blower is charged with the radiant barrier material, and the radiant barrier material is metered upon the thermal insulation material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to modules for heat exchange for use in cooling towers and methods of assembling cooling towers using such modules. The aforementioned modules for heat exchange may include fill packing and a structural system configured to provide support for at least the fill packing, in which the structural system includes a plurality of structural members configured to provide compression and tension support. The aforementioned modules for heat exchange may be assembled prior to being transported to a job site and installed in a cooling tower. A method for assembling a cooling tower using the aforementioned modules for heat exchange includes: constructing a cold water basin; assembling an air inlet structure on the cold water basin; and placing a heat exchange module on top of the air inlet structure.

Abstract: An earthquake resistant and reinforcing device for buildings and bridges is provided. In this device, two support mandrels are disposed on two ends of a main tube, and one ends of the two support mandrels are inserted in to the main tube. Baffle plates are disposed near the ends of the two support mandrels in the main tube, and sheath covers are disposed at the ends of the two support mandrels outside the main tube. A first elastic part is disposed in the main tube and between the baffle plates of the two support mandrels. A second and a third elastic parts are respectively disposed between the baffle plates of the support mandrels and the sheath covers. This device can be installed between beams and columns of buildings and bridges for effectively absorbing the energy waves acting thereon and thus increase the safety of the buildings and bridges.

Abstract: A system of for installing unanchored fence posts accurately with one or two persons comprising tools to align the fence post while it is being set into an anchored state.

Abstract: An isolator system for preventing the conduction of thermal energy between the metal components of a wall assembly comprising isolator plates adapted to be placed between the metal components of a wall assembly and made of an insulating material. The isolator plates include at least one opening for receiving a fastener, said opening has an annular shoulder adapted to extend into an opening for receiving said fastener in a metal component of a wall assembly. Also disclosed herein is a thermal isolation washer and a girt for use with polymer panel construction.

Abstract: This disclosure relates to a building assembly including a first upright, a first pivot mechanism, a second pivot mechanism, a first structure, and a second structure. The first upright is pivotally movable with the first pivot mechanism relative to the first structure. The first upright is also pivotally movable with the second pivot mechanism relative to the second structure.

Abstract: A system and devices to clean a rain gutter include a selectively openable end cap provided at an end of a gutter that is configured to be selectively positionable between a closed state and an open state to access an interior of the gutter, and a plurality of debris collecting members configured fit inside the gutter and to be selectively inserted and removed from the gutter in a sliding manner, wherein each of the debris collecting members is configured to be coupled to another of the debris collecting members such that an entirety of coupled debris collecting members may be moved along the gutter by force applied to one end of the coupled debris collecting members.

Abstract: A fall protection apparatus includes a heavy support base with a pivotal mast having a top member for rotation around the axis of the mast carrying a series of booms pivotal about respective vertical axes, each having an end coupling member for receiving a fall restraint harness. Each boom is formed by a tube which fractures on a fall and an elongate stainless steel strap inside the tube which bends without fracturing. The mast includes a series of telescopic rectangular mast sections with a winch driven cable and pulley arrangement for extending the first section which acts to pull the second inner section to the extended position as the first inner section moves out of the outer section. Each section includes first and second pulleys mounted at the same face of the section with the cable located between the face of the section and the face of the next section.

Abstract: A method of sealing a gap between construction slabs by deforming and inserting a sealing member of closed cell foam is described. An assembly including a deformed sealing member and construction slabs is disclosed. Also described is a joint seal configured to seal a gap between constructions slabs, which utilizes a deformed sealing member of closed cell foam installed within the gap.

Abstract: A hoarding system including a hoarding assembly; the hoarding assembly includes one or more wall-boards, one or more corner-connectors, a length of vertical-u-channel, a length of lower-horizontal-u-channel, a length of upper-horizontal-u-channel, one or more angle-braces, and one or more back-brace-panels to be used in functional and structural combination. The one or more wall-boards are structured and arranged to align and connect horizontally to enclose an area to prevent unauthorized ingress into that area and may be connected by the corner-connectors to make a right-angle. The one or more wall-boards may further include a door to allow ingress and egress to the enclosed area by a user. A kit for a hoarding system is also included, as is a method of use for a hoarding system.

Abstract: An electrofusion fiting (20) comprises a fitting body (24) and an electrofusion collar (26). The fitting body (24) has an exterior surface (30), an interior surface (32), and a terminal portion (44) extending to a rim (34). The collar (26) has: an inner wall (42) having a heating element (60); a segmented outer wall (40) spaced radially apart from the inner wall; and a linking portion (46) linking the outer wall and inner wall. The fitting body terminal portion is between the inner wall and the outer wall. The collar and fitting body have interfitting features (150, 152) axially retaining the collar against extraction from the fitting body while permitting relative rotation of the collar and the fitting body.

Abstract: The fastening structure includes an inner sleeve, a quick-release handle and an outer sleeve. The inner sleeve has an outer threaded conic surface, a through slot, shrinkable slots and claw plates between adjacent two of the shrinkable slots. The quick-release handle is provided at a bottom end of the inner sleeve for controlling a width of the through slot. The outer sleeve is used for connecting the footrest ring and has an inner threaded conic surface to screw the outer sleeve onto the inner sleeve.

Abstract: The subject invention provides materials and methods for repairing and/or improving the performance of concrete structures. In preferred embodiments, the methods comprise attaching a thin shell of ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) over the area of interest, the shape of the shell substantially conforming to that of the area itself, and subsequently filling a cavity defined by the shell with UHPC.

Abstract: A tubular skylight is provided, comprising a roof mounted element for collecting exterior light, a ceiling mounted element, and a tube connecting the roof mounted element and the ceiling mounted element. The skylight includes a diffuser element mounted in the ceiling mounted element for distributing the exterior light in a room. The diffuser element includes a first diffuser pane having a translucent bottom portion and a sidewall portion with a translucent light path zone. The tubular skylight has means for affecting the luminance of the light exiting the diffuser such that the luminance of light exiting through the light path zone has a different luminance than light exiting through the bottom portion. The ceiling mounted element and the diffuser element provide a light passage from the light path zone to the room by a free space adjacent the light path zone.

Abstract: A sealing element (10) of a deformable material for sealing an opening in a wall (16), which separates two different chambers, comprises at least one aperture (12) which is arranged in a sealing first region (20) and is designed to receive a tube (14), and a yielding second region (24) which is designed to be pressed against the wall (16), wherein the second region (24) is differentiated from the first region (20) at least in part by an indentation (22).

Abstract: A roof system is secured to a roof deck on a building. The roof system has a thermal energy absorbing product including a desiccant located between the roof deck and a roof barrier. The desiccant reversibly absorbs moisture, and in response thereto, heat is released and absorbed by the desiccant to effect a thermal management of the roof system.