Abstract: A building construction is provided, including a plurality of connectors. Each of the connectors has an upper portion, a lower portion, a flange extending outwardly between the upper portion and the lower portion, and an axial bore extending through the connector from the upper portion to the lower portion. The upper portion and the lower portion define sloped bearing surfaces. The connectors are positioned between a plurality of building structural members. The upper and lower portions of the connectors extend into recesses in the structural members having sloped walls corresponding to the sloped bearing surfaces of the connectors. A tensioner extends through the bores of the connectors to connect the structural members. The bearing surfaces of at least two of the connectors have different slopes.

Abstract: A building construction is provided, including a plurality of connectors. Each of the connectors has an upper portion, a lower portion, a flange extending outwardly between the upper portion and the lower portion, and an axial bore extending through the connector from the upper portion to the lower portion. The upper portion and the lower portion define sloped bearing surfaces. The connectors are positioned between a plurality of building structural members. The upper and lower portions of the connectors extend into recesses in the structural members having sloped walls corresponding to the sloped bearing surfaces of the connectors. A tensioner extends through the bores of the connectors to connect the structural members. The bearing surfaces of at least two of the connectors have different slopes.

Abstract: A masonry reinforcement system includes a number of tensioning rods extending from the top to the bottom of a masonry wall structure in spaced columns. In each column, several rod segments are interconnected at each floor diaphragm using a double conical connector assembly. In portions of the wall structure where rod columns cannot be placed, such as window regions, spring tensioning assemblies are installed using a similar double conical connector assembly. Each type of connector assembly is embedded in a pocket formed in the masonry wall structure using a hardenable grout. After installation, the rods are post-tensioned to provide a compressive axial load to the masonry wall structure. The spring tensioner assemblies are tensioned prior to applying the grout to the void in the wall.

Abstract: A masonry reinforcement system includes a number of tensioning rods extending from the top to the bottom of a masonry wall structure in spaced columns. In each column, several rod segments are interconnected at each floor diaphragm using a double conical connector assembly. In portions of the wall structure where rod columns cannot be placed, such as window regions, spring tensioning assemblies are installed using a similar double conical connector assembly. Each type of connector assembly is embedded in a pocket formed in the masonry wall structure using a hardenable grout. After installation, the rods are post-tensioned to provide a compressive axial load to the masonry wall structure. The spring tensioner assemblies are tensioned prior to applying the grout to the void in the wall.

Abstract: A system for constructing buildings utilizing a conical connector to fasten rods connecting structural members of a building. The conical connector is a rigid, solid device, circular in section, with an axial bore. The connector has a flat top surface and bottom surface perpendicular to the bore, a ring-shaped flange midway between the top surface and the bottom surface, and a sloping surface between the top surface and the flange and between the bottom surface and the flange wherein the circumference of the connector as defined by the sloping surface increases as the flange is approached, forming a cone. The sloped surface of the connector engages a recess in a structural member of the building. A tensioning mechanism passing through the bore in the connector applies a coupling force to hold the connector against the structural member. A multiple cone connector for joining adjacent modules of a building may be formed by joining the flanges of at least two connectors to form a single continuous flange.