Abstract: A masonry wall system is constructed of concrete blocks, with interconnected insulation inserts. To provide for increased structural reinforcement, a steel butterfly-shaped plate is locked on an elongated rod passing through periodic courses of stacked blocks. The plate is locked perpendicular onto the rod, to rest on the top of the uppermost block in the course to which the stress or locking is applied. A recess is formed in the top of the block to accommodate the plate, which is bowed upwardly. A nut or threaded insert is used to press the plate downwardly; and when the plate lies flat, the desired amount of pressure or stress is applied to the blocks. Additional courses may be applied on top of the one to which the plate supplies the stress, with additional locking rods and plates being threaded onto the ends of previous rods to accomplish this purpose in additional courses of blocks forming the wall system.

Abstract: A construction block has interior, tapered wall cells. The tapering of the walls provides precisely maintained interior geometry for a long life time of use of the molds employed in manufacture of such block. Insertable cores of precise dimension to fit intimately within such cells and to come into intermittent contact with similar cells in adjacent blocks in a running course of said blocks and with similar cells in adjacent blocks in adjacent courses of said cells provide for the erection of a standing wall from drystacked running courses of such block wherein such running courses are self-aligned and self-leveling. The intimate contact of the insertable cores permit the formation of open-gapped interlocks between blocks and running courses, which open-gapped interlocks are converted to closed-gapped interlocks when a wall erected of such running courses is coated with a surface bonding cement.

Abstract: Means and methods for constructing drystacked self-aligning self-leveling walls and like structures. A novel construction block has interior, tapered wall cells bounded by transverse webs having an extended V-shaped draft defined therein. The tapering of the walls provides precisely maintained interior geometry. Insertable cores of precise dimension and having V-shaped ear members adapted to fit intimately within such V-shaped draft or groove and to cooperatively coact with like cores in adjacent blocks in a running course to establish a fixed spatial relationship between the top surface of the core and the bottom surface of the block to permit erection of a self-aligned and self-leveling standing wall from drystacked block. The intimate contact of the insertable cores permit the formation of open-gapped interlocks between blocks and running courses, which open-gapped interlocks are converted to closed-gapped interlocks when a wall erected of such running courses is coated with a surface bonding cement.