Abstract: This manhole consists primarily of a cast and internally threaded main body, which receives a cast and internally threaded sleeve, which may be raised to different pavement levels by means of a removable spanner wrench. It includes a pair of diametrically opposed and slidable locking plates, which have pin means on the underside for being received within openings on the upper interior of the sleeve, and the upper portion of the plates projects outwards of the sleeve, so as to lock the sleeve and cover within the main body, thus preventing rotation thereof, the plates when the sleeve is lowered or elevated, serving as a means of rendering the sleeve and cover stationary at various pavement levels.

Abstract: A method of making a flat, or nearly flat roof watertight by covering the roof with a sealing layer, particularly a polyvinyl chloride sheet, and securing the sheet to the underlying structure by a number of plates and screws or nails passing through the plates. To provide a watertight and durable joint between the polyvinyl sheet and the plate, a bonding agent is applied on the sheet on the intended points of securement of the plates, and a seal is provided between the screw or nail head and the plate.

Abstract: A tubular modular unit having an integrally formed outer structure, floor, and ceiling is provided which may be directly supported upon the ground. A plurality of the tubular units may be placed one on top of another in a stacked configuration to provide for a large capacity housing complex. Cylindrical units are disclosed as being the preferred embodiment, wherein sanitary chambers and a water tank are provided interiorly of the unit. End towers which provide lateral support for a stacked configuration of the units are also utilized as a source of water supply and sewage disposal. Tubular units having elliptical, rectangular, etc., cross-sections may also be advantageously used within the principles of the present invention.

Abstract: A T-shaped drywall casing bead having a removable tear strip portion. The casing bead includes a first strip corresponding to the leg of the T-shaped structure having a lip or bead formed along the fixed end thereof and a second and third strip corresponding to the cross bar portion of the T-shaped structure. A portion or all of the third strip is removable along an intentionally weakened line to provide the tear strip. Drywall finishing compound or material deposited on the tear strip is removed when the tear strip is removed. Various configurations of the casing bead are described.

Abstract: Safety wall for a storage tank containing liquids which are dangerous to the environment, such as liquid natural gas, acrylonitrile, ethylene, hydrocyanic acid compounds etc., which wall, made of concrete, surrounds the storage tank with an interspace and is freely mounted on a supporting floor, while it is tensioned circumferentially by means of tensioning wires which do not bond to the concrete.

Abstract: Connectors and end caps are provided to connect adjacent roof ridge ventilator sections and to close the ends of the assembly. The connectors include a cutout, intermediate wall, an outer jacket and inner sleeve defining slots to receive the ends of adjacent ventilator sections. The end caps include a deflectable wall having a central depression and bulge. An outer end cap jacket and inner end cap sleeve define a channel to receive the end of the ventilator assembly.

Abstract: A structural panel having a mesh sheet which is stiffened by one or a series of stiffeners each of which has a plurality of hook-like tongues which engage and retain rod portions of the mesh sheet.

Abstract: An arch comprising a plurality of pairs of trapezoidal panels, the panels having short and long opposite parallel sides, and the long parallel sides of the panels in each pair being in an abutting relationship. The nonparallel sides of the trapezoidal panels of adjacent pairs of panels abut one another, and a plurality of the abutting pairs of panels form the arch. The arches can be constructed side-by-side to form a pleated building.

Abstract: A disposal chute for waste paper, cardboard, and other packing materials is disclosed which is intended to temporarily connect a container to a building. The disposal chute is permanently positioned adjacent to the building. A slip joint construction connects the chute to the building in such a manner as to completely enclose the mating surfaces while allowing relative movement between the chute and the building. The mating surface at the building is designed so that the relative movement does not adversely affect the brick and mortar construction of the building surrounding the opening for the chute. A container, which may be removed and replaced relatively often, is positioned adjacent to the chute to be in communication with the building. The placing and removing of the container results in the relative movement between the chute and the building.

Abstract: A building structure including a pair of opposing flank members having opposing spaced base-edges, upper edges meeting to define a peak of the structure, and convex contours each approximating the shape of a segment of a cylinder whose radius of curvature exceeds one half the base span of the structure. The flanks each comprise a plurality of generally rectangular panels disposed in edgewise abutment, the panels having support walls bordering the interior faces of the panels and having heights sufficient to withstand the stresses at the respective walls. The building structure includes end structures whose configurations are compatible with that of the flank members, and include panels disposed in a variety of edgewise, abutting arrangements.

Abstract: A supporting framework for a shelter shed which framework comprises mutually spaced parallel support arches and transversal beams interconnecting said support arches. Each support arch comprises several arch elements connected to each other longitudinally one after the other by means of articulated joints positioned at the ends of the arch elements. Said joints consist of double brackets each provided with two separated holes having parallel axes for fastening pins. Two double brackets are mounted at each end of each arch element at a distance from each other so that the holes of both double brackets are positioned in pairs coaxial with each other and the axes of said holes are parallel with the radius of curvature of the support arch. The double brackets of two adjacent arch elements are fastened to each other by means of two fastening pins inserted in said brackets through said holes.

Abstract: A modular, symmetrical space frame structure utilized in the construction of special architectural spanning structures comprises standardized component parts made of corrosion resistant aluminum or high-strength plastic composite for preferred exterior application and of steel for interior application - all manufactured to precise dimensional tolerances giving the assembled structure an inherent uniformity in the transfer of tension/compression load factors within the web and chord members. A basic standardized eight-way connector capable of connecting four diagonal web members and four horizontal chord members can be interchangeably installed in both the top and bottom chord assemblies thus minimizing the number of different component parts required to assemble the structure and also resulting in a totally symmetrical design.

Abstract: A multi-purpose, extruded metal, joist-like, structural member which is designed for use in connection with concrete formwork, the member being generally of I-beam configuration and having associated therewith novel facilities whereby its effective length may beextended in small increments or it may be spliced to adjacent similar members by utilizing either lumber or novel extruded metal extension members of special design.

Abstract: An improved, spring-biased take-up clamp assembly for elongated tie-down elements such as cables, ropes or mobile home tie-down straps is provided which permits simplified, infinitely adjustable take-up and tightening of the tie-down element with secure locking at any desired position and without the use of conventional turnbuckles or other devices using interference-fit structure for spindle-retaining purposes. In preferred forms the assembly includes a rotatable take-up mandrel or spindle for a tie-down element, an apertured mounting plate fixed to the upper end of an embedded earth anchor, and a motion-checking snubber spring operatively coupled between the strap spindle and mounting plate for holding the strap against loosening under tension loads while at the same time permitting relatively easy, one-man tightening thereof as desired.

Abstract: A spring loaded cam lock for attaching together structural components has a pair of cooperating keeper arrangements each connected to a respective structural component and selectively held together by a torsion bar. By providing the torsion bar with a substantially elliptical cross section and the keeper arrangements with spring plates having substantially circular openings, the torsion bar can be restrained against sliding movement along its longitudinal extent and the openings provided in the spring plates brought into substantial alignment by rotation of the torsion bar about its longitudinal axes.

Abstract: A displaceable knocked-down building unit defining a playing enclosure for use as a court for off-the-wall games. The unit has rigid external skeleton structures on the inside of which are secured wall panels thereby defining the playing enclosure. The means securing the wall panels of at least one wall which is to serve as the ball-bouncing wall are secured wholly on the outside of the panels whereby the said panels form an inner face for ball-bouncing purposes which is flat, continuous and devoid of projecting parts.

Abstract: A collapsible rod and joint structure forming a polyhedron frame comprising sleeve or sleeve-type open sleeve joints cooperating with corner connection joints at the ends of each arm of the structure. The folding of a polyhedron is accomplished when all of the horizontal base arms joining the vertical arms radiating from the apex joints are each folded on hinged corner joints at the base of each vertical arm to connect to, after disengaging from the corner connection joint on the adjacent vertical arm, are folded so that the arms rest in parallel and together, whereby all dual sets are folded toward each other so that all arms rest in parallel and together.

Abstract: A boom for an excavator or the like is constructed to have a generally L-shape when viewed in side elevation and have a circular cross section tapering downward from a maximum diameter at the apex of the boom to each end. The boom is made up of a central body portion consisting of a cast-form elbow and a pair of tapered tubular members formed of rolled plate welded along a longitudinal seam extending from the elbow outward to the outer ends of the boom. A pair of cast-formed connecting members are then welded to the end of the boom. The method of fabrication includes the cast-forming of the elbow and the respective end connecting means and forming the tapered body members by rolling and connecting the entire assembly by welding.

Abstract: Storage tank for liquids presenting a danger to the environment, such as liquid natural gas, ethylene, propylene and the like. The tank comprises an inner tank and a concrete outer tank, an insulating material, the wall of the outer tank being a rigid prestressed concrete wall adjoining other structural parts.

Abstract: The composite wall element of this invention comprises an insulating wall element arranged within or inserted into an outer, pressure resistant, preferably load bearing wall element which completely encloses the former. Within the inner insulating wall element and/or the cavity within the outer wall element a substantially dry gas atmosphere and preferably air atmosphere is established and maintained under subatmospheric, atmospheric, or superatmospheric pressure. Such novel composite wall elements are superior in their thermal and/or acoustic insulation properties to heretofore known structural elements.