Abstract: A large volume silo has in the center of the base a conical dome which, together with the cylindrical outer silo wall, defines an annular base. Open air conveyor chutes pass from the base area through discharge openings to flow regulators in the inner area beneath the conical dome. Closed air conveyor chutes follow on from the flow regulators and lead to a common storage tank in the inner area beneath the conical dome. The open air conveyor chutes can be separated from the bulk material in the silo area by cover slides moveable from the inner area of the conical dome over the open air conveyor chute. This repairs to the conveyor chutes without interrupting silo operation. The cover slides are operated from the interior of the conical dome.

Abstract: Modular constructions and connector assemblies therefore. The modular construction comprises a plurality of spode units with elongated key members extending between the spode units and interconnected to form a modular framework. Adapter collars and retaining collars are employed to connect the key members to the spode units to carry torsional and longitudinal stress. In one embodiment, the spode units include union joints having a plurality of spaced slots which are adapted to receive conforming projecting lugs on the adapter collars. The slots and lugs are symmetrically located so that the adapter collar and key member can be connected to the spode unit in a plurality of angularly displaced relationships. The key member-spode unit structure may be provided with a cover tube so that the structure will carry or transmit fluid.

Abstract: A threshold having a vertically adjustable weatherstrip including a unitary base member and a horizontally slidable adjustment means in which the height of the flexible weatherstrip may be controlled to engage the bottom of a door.

Abstract: An improvement to a universal flashing for roof top and vent pipe geometries characterized by differing pipe diameters and roof slope angles. The present improvement relates to a ring collar assembly which comprises a plurality of stepped sealing portions, each portion adapted to engage a different vent pipe diameter and frangibly be separated from the wall of said body member, wherein for a given pipe diameter a sealing portion further comprises a set of first and second projections disposed generally perpendicular to the flashing body centerline, each extending from a proximate end to a distal end which defines a circular flange surface spaced first and second dimensions about the centerline. The first dimension is less than the second dimension and both first and second dimensions are less than the outer diameter of the given pipe diameter for which sealing engagement is desired, and the projections are of a uniform thickness less than the wall thicknesses of the body member.

Abstract: A window assembly which includes a light transmissive heat insulator. The insulator is comprised of a high loft body of bonded together synthetic staple fibers and a plastic film adhered thereto. The window assembly with its insulator has a heat resistance R value of at least about 3 while also being substantially transmissive to incident light.

Abstract: A hinged metal web member for use in forming a truss or joist assembly. In one embodiment, the web member includes a pair of leg members having connector plates at the upper and lower end portions. Each connector plate has a plurality of teeth struck therefrom, with all of the teeth extending from a common side of the web member. The leg members are joined at their upper end portions by a hinge which allows the leg members to be folded together for shipping and storage, then opened to assume a V configuration when forming a truss or joist. A series of such web members may be hingedly connected to provide a web assembly of the required length and configuration. The hinge connection should be sufficiently strong and rigid to allow the web member to be utilized under conditions to be encountered in truss assembly, yet sufficiently pliable that the hinge may be snapped or broken apart to obtain a web member of the desired length.

Abstract: A mounting arrangement for mounting a windscreen or windshield glass is made of plastics or rubber material with an embedded metal carrier for mounting the arrangement on a flanged joint running around the window opening. The flexible material defines a ledge-shaped surface having a recess for receiving mastic. The mounting arrangement is delivered to the vehicle manufacturer with the mastic in position and covered by a thin flap. To facilitate entry of the window glass onto the ledge-shaped surface, a lip adjacent the ledge may be bent downwards into a slot. At the same time, the flap is pulled outwardly from under the distal edge of the window glass. Thereafter, the flap lies along the external peripheral edge of the window glass and the latter is secured in position by the mastic. A stiffening member is then placed in the slot.

Abstract: A three-dimensional reticulated structure or space lattice structure is formed of metal rods tapered at their ends so that the loss of cross-section leads to a thickening of the tubular wall of the rod, whereby it can be threaded at its ends by removal of material without losing mechanical strength. This is preferably attained by coining through at least six successive passes in dies of increasingly smaller dimensions. The knots or junctions are bored metal cups, said rods converging into the bores thereof and being fixed simply by bolts. A plug of concrete reinforced with steel fibres closes the base of the cup while allowing its reopening for inspection and maintenance, and provides further mechanical strength to the assembly.

Abstract: A web section for a space frame has a node member attached to each end of the web member. A nodal section of the space frame is made up of four web sections which interconnect the chords of the space frame. Each node member of the web section is one quarter of the nodal section of the space frame. The space frame utilizing these web sections has two levels of chords interconnected by the web sections. The nodal section has a protective cover to cover and protect the fasteners to prevent corrosion as well as to improve the esthetics of the space frame by eliminating any exposed external fasteners.

Abstract: A replaceable foam insulation system is disclosed for a cavity in walls or a roof of a building structure. The system is sealed to ensure foam does not escape through vents from the cavity and can be easily destroyed without leaving a residue in the cavity. The system comprises at least one enclosed recirculating substantially horizontal passage within the cavity, means for recirculating air or gas through the passage in the cavity, and foam producing means in the passage positioned immediately downstream of the means for recirculating air or gas, the foam producing means and means for recirculating air or gas when operating together providing foam to substantially fill the passage in the cavity, and the means for recirculating air or gas when operating alone, destroying substantially all the foam in the passage.

Abstract: The holder exhibits a basic part (16), consisting of a bottom part (5) and two longitudinal side parts (6), and a flexible cover part (7). The individual parts (5, 6, 7) of the holder are detachably interconnected by means of snap fasteners (8). The cover part (7) is provided with opposing slots (11) extending from its longitudinal edges. Second sections (14b) of the connecting bars (14) are introduced into the slots (11), the slots (11) closely surrounding the second sections (14b) of the connecting bars (14). The individual parts (5, 6, 7) are easy to assemble and disassemble. At least the longitudinal side parts (6) are reusable. By means of snap fasteners (8), a simple detachable connection of the parts (5, 6, 7) is provided.

Abstract: A unit curtain wall includes a plurality of curtain wall units each supported on a building skeleton frame by means of a pair of fasteners connected respectively to a pair of horizontally spaced vertical edges of the curtain wall unit. One of vertically adjacent horizontal edges of each pair of adjacent curtain wall units has a pin receivable in a hole in the other horizontal edge to hold the two vertically adjacent curtain wall units in vertical alignment. A sealing strip is disposed on the exterior side of the pin and extends along the one horizontal edge and sealingly receivable in a groove in the other horizontal edge to provide a fluid-tight sealing between the two vertically adjacent curtain wall units.

Abstract: A truss and beam assembly and a truss hanger and connector for use with wooden trusses and beams is disclosed. The truss hanger is used for attaching a truss assembly to a beam extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the truss.

Abstract: A non-displaceable, self-righting shim for use in any application where critical alignment is required of adjacent vertical elements. The shim presents an elongated central opening including a large upper portion and a small lower portion, and a slot having an exit end communicating with the central opening and an entrance end at the perimeter edge of the shim. The weight distribution of the shim relative to the large upper portion is such that the shim will hang in a normal upright position with the small lower portion and the slot below the large upper portion. The arrangement assures positive placement of the shim once installed; avoids loosening and fall-off of the shim which may be caused by thermal expansion and contraction of the shimmed element and/or by vibrations associated with the adjacent vertical elements; and eliminates the need for holding the shim in position while securing the fastener.

Abstract: The underfloor assembly for a building comprises corrugated metal flooring units preferably side-by-side with cable distribution ducts, over which is mounted cable trenches. Each distribution duct has a bottom plate and a preferably inverted U-shaped top, the tops extending between adjacent intersections of the trench with the ducts to thus leave the duct open under the trenches. The bottoms of the trenches are open where they intersect the ducts, and the trenches are formed by field assembly of trench sub-units that have a U-shaped bottom pan with cut-outs on either side of a preferably centrally located bottom portion, as well as a cover removably closing the pan.

Abstract: A foundation for a mast, supporting pillar, rails, and the like, comprising an anchoring portion (2) of hollow section design open at the bottom and adapted to be driven into the ground by being vibrated, and a inner (3,3'), and, if desired, and outer (4) ground consolidating element. Preferably at least the inner ground consolidating element (3) is arranged for longitudinal displacement inside the anchoring portion (2) so that the earth entering from below into the interior of the anchoring portion (2) is consolidated during the entire period of sinking the anchoring portion (2) into the ground by vibrating it. In similar manner, also the outer ground consolidating element (4) may be arranged to be displaceable in longitudinal direction.A vibrator suspended from construction equipment or an airship and lowered from the same under loading which acts on the anchoring portion and corresponds approximately to the dead weight of the vibrator (about 1.5 to 3.

Abstract: In a parapet portion of a curtain wall, indoor side and outdoor side members of each panel unit mounted at the top of the curtain wall are connected via a connector made of heat-insulating material, and a damp-proofing sheet is mounted so as to extend between the indoor side member and a building body to form a heat-insulating damp-proofing layer, whereby the disadvantages that heat received by a coping from the external atmosphere would be transmitted to the indoor side of the curtain wall, resulting in deterioration of the heat-insulating property of the curtain wall, and that damp enclosed between the curtain wall and the building body would dew the inner surface of the coping, can be improved.

Abstract: The invention concerns the provision of structural elements for building facades and the like, which are provided for fire protection according, for example, to German Industrial Standard requirements. Accordingly, measures should be provided for self-supporting fire protection elements which prevent the spreading of fire, for example, from floor to floor, regardless of whether the fire comes from the outside or the inside. This object is achieved in that the composite connecting body (4) consists of at least one statically loadable bearing body having an aluminum core (18) which is completely or partially surrounded by fire suppressant material (9). This fire suppressant material (9) can be provided with or without a covering (10).

Abstract: Energy efficient houses are built with concrete outer walls underground in thermal contact with the earth temperature, which is at a comfortable level for human use and varies little from summer to winter. Thus, the inner concrete walls are made active energy transfer surfaces of a year around temperature control system, which in its simplest form comprises a fan circulating interior building air in a thermal exchange relationship over substantially the entire concrete inner wall surface. For even better thermal efficiency, the outer concrete walls are thermally insulated on the upper portions nearer the earth's surface, where a larger variation of temperature is encountered from summer to winter. Therefore the entire inner concrete wall thermal exchange surface may be kept typically at a temperature of 77 degrees F plus or minus 2 degrees throughout the year and thus constitute a most efficient primary source of thermal energy.

Abstract: Apparatus for covering relatively wider building structure expansion voids which includes a cover panel, base member extrusions for opposite side support and a lazy tong centering assembly for both supportive attachment to the cover panel and maintaining proper alignment and relative positioning to said void in tolerance of orthogonal relative displacements between adjacent structures.