Abstract: A roofing panel with elastomeric coating incorporates a substantially rigid core with opposed first and second faces. In a preferred embodiment, the core is formed at least partially of portland cement and has a fibrous glass material attached to its first face and a woven polyester material attached to its second face. An elastomeric coating is also provided which is attached to the woven polyester material opposite the core, thereby forming a liquid impermeable layer at an exterior face of the panel. A method for incorporating the roofing panel of the present invention into a roofing system is also provided.

Abstract: A construction system uses an elongate horizontal structural beam having a vertically oriented pair of side legs integrally joined to a base plate. The base plate lays abutting a structural ground surface with the side legs extending upwardly. The structural beam further comprising a number of horizontally spaced apart, tabs extending outwardly from the side legs. A number of elongate vertical structural beams, act as wall bearing members and have, integrally joined to a further base plate, a further pair of side legs adapted for abutting, at a first end, the first structural beam. Further tabs extend outwardly from the further side legs. Each of the tabs is derived as a cut-out portion of the side legs such that a major surface area of the tabs is positioned vertically or horizontally depending upon how the beam is positioned. A vertical concrete wall abuts the first and the second side legs and is positioned for enclosing all of the tabs for attachment of the beams to the wall.

Abstract: The present invention provides a light gauge sheet metal building construction system which has a complete exterior shell that includes all exterior walls, floors and the roof. The invention permits the pre-assembly of a sheet metal cell unit building component comprised of bent sheet metal panels connected together to form a cell unit. This component can be used for a floor system, a varying wall system, or a rigid frame roofing system for residential, commercial, or industrial building applications. It is an alternate framing system for conventional wood framed and conventional metal stud framing systems.

Abstract: A folding frame system includes a roof assembly including at least three pivotably attached strut pairs, adjacent pairs of the at least three pivotably attached strut pairs defining at least three corners of the roof assembly. The roof assembly is movable between a roof assembly closed position in which struts of the at least three strut pairs are disposed parallel to each other and a roof assembly open position in which struts of the at least three strut pairs are locked in non-parallel positions and ends of the struts of each strut pair of the at least three strut pairs define a rectangle. The folding frame system also includes a folding leg assembly disposed at each of the at least three corners of the roof assembly. Each folding leg assembly includes a leg strut assembly. The leg strut assembly includes a top leg strut and a tubular bottom leg strut in which the top leg strut is telescopingly slidable between a top leg strut closed position and a top leg strut open position.

Abstract: The structural assemblies are selectively reinforced with metal matrix composite in the regions susceptible to mechanical failure. More specifically, a channel is machined in a structural member in an area of relatively high stress. A reinforcing member is inserted into the channel. A metal powder is deposited on and around the reinforcing member. The metal powder is irradiated by a high energy source to thereby encase the reinforcing member in a metal matrix and to consolidate the metal matrix to the interior surface of the channel. The resultant assembly is lightweight and has improved strength and stiffness at room and elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A structure wall includes first and second cooperating building panels. The first building panel includes first and second skins forming respective first and second opposed panel faces and a first foam filled core between the first and second skins. A portion of the foam filled core defines a groove that extends substantially continuously across the first building panel. A slotted rail extends substantially continuously across this groove. The second building panel includes third and fourth skins forming third and fourth opposed panel faces. A second foam filled core is provided between the third and fourth skins. The second foam filled core has at least one latch which may be extended from the panel to selectively engage the slotted rail at substantially any position along the rail. In this way, it is possible to provide substantially infinite adjustability of the position of the second building panel relative to the first building panel while also providing a secure and reliable connection therebetween.

Abstract: Resilient grout seal strips for sealing off a space formed between the bottom of a concrete panel and a support beam on which the panels are supported, concrete panels, decks, and support beams having resilient grout seals and methods for fabricating such panels, beams and decks are disclosed. The resilient seal strips have a first longitudinal edge adapted to be anchored on either the bottom of a precast panel or the top of a support beam adjacent the respective side edge thereof and extend substantially the length thereof, and have an opposed second longitudinal edge with a wide sealing portion therebetween adapted to engage the other of the panel bottom or the beam top adjacent the respective side edge thereof and form a sealing relation therewith.

Abstract: A surface mounted counter flashing system and method is provided for securing and sealing a free end of a roofing material to a wall. A compression plate secures and compressingly seals the free end of a roofing material against the wall surface. The top end of the compression plate defines a first sealing trough for receiving a sealing material. The bottom end of the compression plate includes locking portion for attachment to a counter flashing. The counter flashing includes a mounting surface which is mounted to the wall above compression plate. A covering surface extends out from the mounting surface and encloses the compression plate protecting it from exposure to weather. A locking member is provided on the covering surface which connects and attaches to the compression plate, thus, securing the counter flashing. The top end of the counter flashing defines a second sealing trough for receiving the sealing material. Adjacent counter flashings are installed end-to-end leaving a gap therebetween.

Abstract: An apparatus for sealing an intermediate anchorage of a post-tension anchor system having a cap with an attachment section thereon. The attachment section is adapted to allow the cap to be connected to an end of the anchor body. The cap has a tubular member extending outwardly from the attachment section. The tubular member has an opening at an end opposite the attachment section. The cap has a grease fitting formed thereon. The grease fitting is adapted so as to allow grease to be introduced into the interior passageway of the tubular member. The attachment section and the tubular member are integrally formed together of a polymeric material. A seal is affixed to the open end of the tubular member so as to form a liquid-tight seal over the sheathed portion of a tendon extending therethrough.

Abstract: A composite floor structure comprises a mortar layer set by a mineral agent and a carrier plate adjoining the lower surface of the mortar layer. The carrier plate has upwardly projecting structural members extending into the mortar. The dimensions of the mortar coating over the structural members are so low that the structures created in the mortar by the structural members represent weak areas. When stresses arise in the mortar layer, joint face assemblies connecting weak areas are formed to reduce stress in a uniform manner. By forming different joint face assemblies, a joint face structure is produced, wherein to reduce stress, the stress causing the mortar to fracture only results in a low level of longitudinal change in each individual joint face. Consequently, each individual joint face only takes the form of a microcrack.

Abstract: An improved floor box of the type commonly installed into the concrete floor of a facility for providing temporary connections to utilities is disclosed which may be removed and replaced without requiring either the demolition and subsequent reconstruction of the floor in which the improved floor box is installed or the replacement or repair of the utility lines located in the floor and connected to the improved floor box. The improved floor box is secured within a rim member mounted into the concrete floor by bolts mounted from the inside of the improved floor box, and the outside of the improved floor box is wrapped with sheets of extruded polystyrene expanded foam material to prevent poured concrete from encasing the improved floor box itself, thereby permitting easy removal of the improved floor box from the concrete floor. The connections to the improved floor box to electrical and plumbing lines are made in a manner allowing them to be disconnected from the improved floor box from the inside thereof.

Abstract: A heat-insulating connecting member has a warm metal profile, a cool metal profile extending parallel to and spaced from the warm profile, and a pair of parallel and spaced insulating strips bridging the profiles and defining an insulating compartment therebetween. One of the strips is formed with a web projecting generally across the compartment and having an outer edge adjacent the other strip. An infrared-reflecting foil is secured between the web and the warm profile under tension at a spacing from the warm profile between the outer end and the one strip.