Abstract: In a composite section for making up window frames and the like, and comprising interengaging sections of metal and of plastics, there are at least two spaced-apart pairs of interengaging hook formations on the two sections, forced into tight engagement by the insertion of a wedging strip between the sections, the spacing apart of the formations ensuring stability against tilting. There are furthermore abutment surfaces on at least one of the hook formations on the plastics section and on the metal section to define accurately the relative positions of the sections. The purpose is primarily to ensure the front and back faces of the composite section are truly parallel and correctly spaced apart.

Abstract: Abutting prefabricated roof truss sections have equal length inclined roof rafter members but have ceiling joist members of different longer length. The bearing beam member for the section having the longer ceiling joist is inclined with and connected at its ends to the end of its ceiling joist member and the rafter member adjacent areas of contact with the corresponding rafter and ceiling joist members of the abutting sections. This permits a symmetrical roof for a building structure whose vertical interior load bearing walls are offset laterally to form rooms of different lateral width.

Abstract: A mobile apparatus (20) has a hydraulically operated pivoted boom (22) and a hydraulically operated pivoted arm (24) and on the free end of the arm is a hydraulically operated mechanism (26) for handling heavy loads in ways that cause torsional and bending distortion of the boom (22) and the arm (24). Coplanar steel hydraulic conduits (42a and 42b, and 45a and b to 50a and b) are slidably carried in conduit support blocks (57); and those blocks in turn are mounted on brackets (53) fixed to the arm (24) or brackets (69) fixed to the boom (22) by carrying means (56 or 72) which allows directionally unrestricted limited movement of the blocks (57) in a plane parallel to that of the conduit centers, and which also allows axial movement along lines perpendicular to that plane.

Abstract: An anchor element inserted through the end of a panel joint into the joint cavity provides an anchor site. Components, such as window frames, flashings, girts and the like, are secured to the anchor element by positive fasteners. Integrally formed flexible arms retain the anchor element in fixed position until its anchoring function is required.

Abstract: A fire-seal for a cable penetration is provided with a pre-fabricated fire-sealing body comprising a corrugated tubular casing filled with a pre-compressed fire resisting elastic silicon foam. The body is placed in a site-poured concrete wall before pouring, or in an aerated concrete block from which a fire wall is then built. A tubular tool with a removable tip is driven through the foam so that one or more conduits can be threaded through the tool and foam. The tool is thereafter withdrawn from the foam and opened along an axial slit so that it can be removed transverse to the conduit.

Abstract: A plug adapted to be inserted into the open end of a channel of a concrete slab which is provided with a plug portion having a perimeter conforming to the cross section of the channel and of smaller diameter than the cross section of the channel, the plug being provided with outwardly extending fingers from the perimeter of the plug portion which are adapted to engage the surfaces of the channel, the fingers having arms extending therefrom which support a ring adapted to abut the exterior surface of the slab about the channel to accurately position the plug within the channel. The plug permits water to drain from the channels through slots between adjacent fingers and facilitates the use of mortar for joining the ends of adjacent slabs or the like.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with damp-proof courses which can be used at the end of a cavity wall of a building structure adjacent to a door or window frame. The invention provides a damp-proof course, which has a high degree of versatility in use. The damp-proof course in accordance with the invention comprises a strip of corrosion-resistant moisture impermeable material (and is preferably formed as a plastics extrusion) and its cross-section provides two web-like elements arranged at an acute angle in the range 45.degree. to 90.degree. with respect to each other the first web having at least one undercut formation on the inside of the angle and the second web having at least one undercut formation on the outside, each of the undercut formations providing anchorage for wall ties at any position along the length of the strip, and at least one of the webs also has a moisture barrier formation on its inside extending throughout the length of the strip.

Abstract: In a system for leaching septic effluent from a source thereof, a first leach field has an input, a porous bed and means for distributing effluent from the input throughout the bed. A second leach field similarly has an inlet, a pervious bed and means for distributing effluent from that inlet throughout the pervious bed. Distribution means, having an intake coupled to the source, selectively feeds the effluent only to the input until the effluent level in the first field reaches a predetermined depth. Thereafter, the effluent is automatically fed to the inlet of the second leach field. The principle of operation is extended to the use of a third or more leach fields, the distribution means selectively feeding the effluent to the entrance to the third field only after the effluent in the second field reaches a preselected depth and so on.

Abstract: A parking garage includes a plurality of closely spaced, vertically extending columns arranged in files to form a regular array. The close column spacing largely eliminates the need for beams, spandrels, safety walls, guardrails, or cables previously used to connect adjacent columns. Two of the files form external garage walls whose columns each include portions which are offset with respect to a vertical column centerline. The offset portions alternate vertically and any given offset portion either projects or is recessed with respect to the offset portions immediately above and below it. Each offset portion faces a corresponding offset portion on an adjacent column so that all of the offset portions create a pattern when viewed from a distance. The appearance thus created eliminates the need for curtain walls or any other facade.

Abstract: A basic building block with rectangular projections d and a (FIG. 1) rising from the top center portion of the plane of bearing surface 42 (FIG. 4) being approximately one-eighth of the total height, labeled "d" and "H", respectively, in FIG. 3, the dimension "j" (FIG. 4) of the projection being somewhat less than the dimension "k" of the end of the block. The aforementionedprojection is symmetrical with the intersection of the longitudinal center line "X" and the traverse center line "Y" in FIG. 4.

Abstract: A heat convection barrier particularly adapted for use with greenhouses and warehouses consists of a series of inflatable tubes which are suspended beneath the roof of a structure and inflated into contact with each other to form a barrier against heat loss through the roof. Each of the tubes includes an integrally formed seam by which the tubes are suspended beneath the roof and an inflatable main body portion, and the tubes are spaced from each other a distance less than the inflated diameters of the main body portions so that when they are inflated they contact each other and form a continuous barrier. One end of each of the tubes is tied off and the opposite ends are split and wrapped about an apertured conduit and a low pressure fan or blower communicates with one end of the conduit to inflate the tubes.

Abstract: A spacer element is provided for attachment to a pair of parallel wires of a mesh spaced from a surface of a concrete form or wall and having a projection adapted to maintain the spacing between the wall and the plane of the mesh, the element being of generally hairpin shape and providing a duplicate pair of hooks for hooking over one wire, a duplicate pair of second, S-shaped hooks for hooking over a parallel wire, a duplicate pair of V-shaped projections, and a bight joining the S-shaped hooks and providing a looped lever arm for receiving a tool for forcibly applying the element to the mesh.

Abstract: Internal walls of building structures include a plurality of longitudinally spaced-apart studs extending vertically between floor and ceiling levels and a horizontally longitudinally extending top-plate atop the vertical studs and extending a finite vertical-depth below ceiling level. Disclosed herein are novel prefabricated modules and methods for defining the upper portion of an arbitrarily selectably shaped archway to be constructed through the building interior wall. The prefabricated modules comprise a pair of parallel upright panels maintained in finite lateral-separation with internal bracing means including vertical rails attachable alongside upper portions of neighboring studs flanking the intended archway. The module also comprises arbitrarily selectably shaped archway delineating means extending laterally between the panels and spaced more than said vertical-dept below the module top-edge and intervening portions of the bracing means.

Abstract: A panel connecting means including front and rear clamping strips, a screw-receiving channel member, reinforced plastic means connected to and joining the rear clamping strip and the channel member, and screws extending through the front clamping strip and received in the channel member.

Abstract: Salts from a salt deposit including magnesium and potassium salts are mined by a solution process in a cavity at the lower end of a borehole. A solvent liquid (water) is injected into the cavity at a level that is periodically raised whereby super imposed slices or cuts of the part of the deposit around the borehole are consecutively dissolved. Brine is recovered from a low level in the cavity. The injection rate of the solvent liquid and the recovery rate of the brine are controlled such that the vertical distribution of the potassium content of the brine in the cavity shows a maximum within the uppermost slice or cut.

Abstract: A borehole packer used with the water infusion system to control the movement of methane gas in an underground coal mine. A non-sparking plastic pipe or mandrel is mounted in each of a series of previously drilled generally horizontal boreholes. Normally this pipe is sealed by an encircling packer in the form of an expandable envelope. The mandrel and envelope are put in each borehole to a depth of about 110 to 185 feet with about 15 feet near the end away from the borehole entrance being opened. The flexible expandable envelope extends along almost all of the length of the hollow mandrel. In the volume between the outer surface of the mandrel and the envelope a hardenable fluid grout under pressure is pumped. As the grout fills this cavity the packer's flexible surface expands within the borehole until it forms a tight seal therewith. Because the grout is in an initial fluid state, it is flowable when forced into the packer and it can flow around irregular borehole surfaces.

Abstract: A low cost, structurally superior bridge and fabrication method are described which take maximum advantage of the compressive strength of concrete, and the tensile strength of steel, to give a bridge structure having the lowest allowable depth-to-span ratio and good dead load/live load ratios, as well as minimum deflection under impacting, moving concentrated loads. The bridge is most preferably shop cast in sections which include lowermost, substantially planar structural metallic plates (e.g., 5/16" thick self-rusting steel) of length and width dimensions substantially equal to that of the sections; a separate layer of concrete is then composited to each plate, preferably by means of upstanding studs secured to the plate and embedded within the concrete. Monolithic bridge sections are thus formed which can be transported to the bridge site, erected and connected, typically by welding the respective section plates together at regular intervals.

Abstract: An improved building eaves construction and eaves shield in which the shield comprises a first plate angled to match the pitch of a building roof underlying its normal roof covering, a second plate oriented to fit flush against the fascia board or exterior wall siding forming the roof edge, and a central, overlapping portion overlaying the roof edge and connecting the two plates. This central portion forms a downwardly opening channel into which the inner wall of a conventional gutter is inserted for attachment with the second plate to the fascia board or exterior wall siding to thereby prevent excess water, ice, or snow from backing up into the eaves area and damaging either the roof decking or the building interior.

Abstract: In a window lining, the corner between two adjoining lining plates is tightened by a wedge effect provided by engagement between a displaceable rail on the first plate and a rail fixed on the second plate. After the mounting of said second plate, the first plate can be brought into its place adjacent the fixed rail and can be tightened by hammer strokes which may be transmitted to the end of the displaceable rail via a flat mandrel so that the gap between the lining and the wall surrounding the window opening may be correspondingly narrow.

Abstract: A suspended ceiling is disclosed having a plurality of spaced parallel elongated supports (14) suspended from permanent overhead structure. A plurality of panels (12) provide the ceiling face and are supported from the elongated supports (14) by means of holders (10). The holders (10) themselves are secured to the supports (14) by bent over lugs (20) passing through openings (40) in the support (14). Opposite edges of each panel (12) have support flanges (46,50) complementary to each other with one flange (46) being bent inwardly and downwardly (48) with respect to the panel (12) and the other flange (50) having a support portion (52) extending outwardly of the panel. The holders (10) have hook-like elements (26) which engage the inwardly and downwardly bent flanges (48) with the outwardly extending flanges (52) resting on top thereof.