Abstract: The present invention relates particularly to photovoltaic roofing products for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy and provides inside corner flashings useful for flashing photovoltaic roofing systems in which photovoltaic roofing elements are disposed in a staggered configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a photovoltaic (PV) module on a surface, including a support with an upper surface, a lower surface, tabs, one or more openings, and a clip comprising an arm and a notch, where the apparatus resists wind forces and seismic forces and creates a grounding electrical bond between the PV module, support, and clip. The invention further includes a method for installing PV modules on a surface that includes arranging supports in rows along an X axis and in columns along a Y axis on a surface such that in each row the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the longest side of a PV module and in each column the distance between two neighboring supports does not exceed the length of the shortest side of a PV module.

Abstract: A quick assembling floor mat has multiple reinforced plastic bars and multiple connecting strips. Each reinforced plastic bar has a body, a mounting seat formed on the top surface of the body, at least one metal reinforcing sheet mounted in the body to enhance the structural strength of the body and two connecting grooves respectively formed in the sidewalls of the body. Each one of the connecting strips is connected to two adjacent reinforced plastic bars and has two enlarged ends respectively formed on and protruding from the sides of the connecting strip and corresponding to the connecting grooves of the two adjacent reinforced plastic bars. The reinforced plastic bars only use a small amount of a metal material to reinforce, and this can reduce the cost of materials and can maintain the rigidity and the intensity of the quick assembling floor mat.

Abstract: A system for ventilating the cavity of a fixed or movable window or door construction of a building, the window or door having an upper sill or header and a low sill provided with weep holes and a pair of jamb elements, the system comprising a vent member operative associated with the upper sill portion, the vent member is in fluid communication with the upper sill at one end thereof and also with the interior of the building at an opposite end thereof, the vent member extends vertically above the upper sill a distance sufficient to vent pressure within the cavity to the interior of the building so that water is caused to be readily conveyed out of the weep holes regardless of any pressure differential between the interior and exterior of the building.

Abstract: Electrical panel structures for a modular building system, such as a modular data center. The electrical panel structures provide a standardized structure for attachment of high voltage power, low voltage power, and/or data lines between rooms or components of the modular building system. The panel structures can include multiple conduits that extend between rooms or other components of a modular building structure. The panel structures can include, for example, conduits having couplers for the attachment of high voltage cables and/or pass-throughs for the passage of low voltage lines and/or data lines.

Abstract: A dry-hang wall panel includes a thin stone slab having a thickness of about 3-10 mm. A reinforcing sheet has an area corresponding to the thin stone slab and is fixed to a rear side of the thin stone slab. A rear frame made of a rigid material is fixed to a peripheral edge of the reinforcing sheet. The rear frame has a hollow area in a central portion thereof. Hooks can be mounted to the rear frame for mounting the dry-hang wall panel to a wall face. The dry-hang wall panel allows easy construction and provides a leveling effect while providing a sense of quality.

Abstract: A corner bead strip is provided for finishing a wallboard corner joint, includes a flexible plastic body having a first flange and a second flange, each flange with a corner edge and an opposite free edge. The corner edges are joined by a central flex zone formed by a plastic composition distinct from a plastic composition used for forming the flanges. A web of paper covers a surface of the body.

Abstract: This prefabricated locking quoin block is used to construct the surface of buildings. The surface of the block has decorative portions resembling brick, stone, wood, or other construction materials. Preferably the surface of each block has both a raised and a recessed decorative portion, so as to form, when assembled, a quoin corner assembly resembling sawn or quarried stone blocks. Installers can attach the assemblies to conventional building structures and install cladding materials such as vinyl siding without needing to alter the blocks other than to adjust the base block for height. The block includes wedge locks to securely connect adjacent blocks matingly to each other. Installers thereby are able to assemble a secure stack of quoin corner blocks and attach it to a building with few additional steps, saving time, labor, and cost in construction.

Abstract: A roof tile installation assembly having a plurality of battens, each having a front end portion and a back end portion, and defining a channel between the front end portion and the back end portion, and at least one roof tile having a front end and a back end, the back end having a downwardly protruding flange. In use, the plurality of battens are preferably arranged parallel to one another on a rooftop so that the front end portion of each batten is toward the eave of the rooftop and the back end portion of each batten is toward the peak of the rooftop, and each roof tile flange is preferably arranged to be received by a batten channel so that the roof tile is substantially constrained from moving forward or backward relative to the batten so that the front end of each roof tile is arranged to be supported by the next adjacent batten.

Abstract: A modular panel unit according to one embodiment includes a major subunit adapted for being secured to a keyed backing panel, and at least one minor subunit. The major subunit includes at least one connector adapted for coupling to a corresponding connection feature of the keyed backing panel in order to secure the major subunit to the keyed backing panel; and one or more coupling features. Each minor subunit includes: one or more couplers adapted for coupling to the one or more coupling features of the major subunit in order to secure the minor subunit to the major subunit. Additional systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A high-strength pullout resistant pintle and anchoring system employing the same is disclosed. The modified veneer tie utilizes ribbon pintles formed from a wire formative construct that is cold-worked with the resultant body having substantially semicircular edges and flat surfaces therebetween. The edges are aligned to receive compressive forces transmitted from the outer wythe. The ribbon pintles hereof, when part of the anchoring system, interengage with receptor portions of a wall anchor and are dimensioned to preclude significant lateral, vertical and horizontal movement.

Abstract: Disclosed is an exterior finish system for building structures that includes a water pervious adhesive for securing an insulation layer to a water resistive barrier applied to a building wall substrate. Also disclosed is a building structure such as a building column or wall that includes the finish system and a method of using the finish system to assemble a building structure such as a column or wall.

Abstract: A modular floor system comprises modular floor panels and zippers that are fabricated in a manufacturing facility and subsequently installed in a facility. By virtue of being fabricated in the manufacturing facility the modular floor is subsequently installed in the sports facility with minimal labor and cost, while providing superior performance.

Abstract: A waffle slab interlocking wall, including slab columns, slab beams, and interlocking building blocks. At least one interlocking building block is embedded in a space enclosed by at least one slab column and at least two slab beams or by at least two slab columns and at least one slab beam. The interlocking building block includes an external faceplate and an internal faceplate which are spliced by a connecting piece.

Abstract: Façade insulation with at least one support rail which is arranged on an outer wall of a building, and with a multiplicity of heat insulation panels which are supported by the support rail. The support rail is spaced from the outer wall by at least two spacers. To transfer the weight of the heat insulation panel to the outer wall, at least two tension brackets are provided which can each be fixed with a first end to the support rail and with a second end to the outer wall. A mounting kit holds heat insulation panels on an outer wall of a building. The mounting kit includes at least one support rail, at least two spacers, at least two tension brackets and at least one wall fixing element.

Abstract: A ceiling panel system includes a plurality of grid members that are operable to form a grid suspendable from a ceiling, the grid having grid member intersections; and a plurality of ceiling panels, each ceiling panel including a planar surface and a plurality of upturned edges arranged about the periphery of the planar surface. The upturned edges include a catch operable to attach the panels to the face of the grid intermediately to the intersections to form a ceiling surface.

Abstract: A runner hanger comprising a metal strip having a plurality of spaced upper holes, a lower portion including a lower edge interrupted by a series of regularly spaced notches, the notches being configured to receive a hollow reinforcing bulb of a grid runner extending transversely to the hanger, the notch having a pair of longitudinally spaced ledges configured to support the bottom sides of a reinforcing bulb, the notches having a bendable tab carrying one of the ledges, the tabs being precision machine bent at an angle relative to a plane of the lower portion that allows a grid runner reinforcing bulb to be inserted when tilted in the associated notch and prevents the bulb from falling out of the notch when the runner is upright.

Abstract: A roofing shingle has a shingle body with a butt edge, a headlap portion, a head edge, and first and second side edges. An exposure zone has a width that extends from the butt edge toward the headlap portion and is configured to be exposed to the environment when the shingle is installed on a roof. A water impermeable sheet is attached to the shingle body. The sheet has a width with upper and lower edges. The width extends from between about the butt and head edges to beyond the head edge of the shingle body. The width of the shingle body is such that a first distance between the head edge of the shingle body and the upper edge of the water impermeable sheet is equal to or greater than the width of the exposure zone. The sheet is formed from a different material than the shingle body.

Abstract: Floor panels (1b, 1c) provided with a mechanical locking system made of a separate material in order to reduce snapping resistance during vertical displacement.

Abstract: Gusset Block Construction deals with a block that is cored from all sides. The blocks are cubes and elongated cubes with a pyramid or elongated pyramid shaped cavity on each side resulting in a block in which each of the twelve edges is central on a gusset shape extending from said edge to the central axis of the block. With the use of a second octahedron block that fits within the pyramid shaped cavities a wall that requires no fastening can be built by placing octahedrons in the top cavities of a layer of blocks and placing another layer of blocks on it. These blocks will be able to come apart at the joints during an earthquake without completely disassembling and can return to original position when the earthquake stops. They can be molded in a two piece split mold and are scaleable; tapered piers could be made.

Abstract: A modular building block assembly comprises a modular building block having a first load-bearing surface with a key. There is a recess in the key. The recess has a shoulder disposed therein and side walls extending from the shoulder to a mouth thereof. A reinforcement rod extends into the recess and a coupling for connecting vertically aligned reinforcement rods is disposed in the recess. The vertically aligned reinforcement rods each threadedly engage the coupling. A locking plate engages the coupling to prevent the coupling from rotating relative to the locking plate. The locking plate sits within the recess and rotation of the locking plate within the recess is prevented by the side walls of the recess.

Abstract: A tower base ring assembly is provided for securing a wind turbine tower to a foundation. A top ring is configured for securing to a wind turbine tower. A bottom ring has an open center and a plurality of radially oriented troughs spaced circumferentially about the open center, with each trough having an outer end. The top ring and the bottom ring are detachable from one another, and the tower base ring assembly is connectable to the foundation.

Abstract: A system including a column (12), a first connecting element (30) extending from the column (12), a beam (14), and a second connecting element (70). The beam includes a base wall (42) at least partially defining a cavity (40) and a cutout (48) in the base wall (42) that is configured to receive the column (12) and that is configured with respect to the first connecting element (30). The second connecting element (70) is disposed in the cavity (40), and the first and second connecting elements (30, 70) are configured to connect the beam (14) to the column (12).

Abstract: A bracket for a building that includes a first building member, a masonry veneer disposed exteriorly of the first building member, and a second building member disposed exteriorly of the masonry veneer. The bracket includes a bracket body having a first portion for being coupled to the first building member and a second outwardly extending portion having a length sufficient to extend to at least about an exterior surface of the masonry veneer. A connector member extends through the bracket member, and at least partially through each of the first and second building members. A connector support extends through the bracket body and includes a sleeve having a passageway for receiving and supporting the connector member, wherein the bracket body and connector support are configured to distribute a load borne by the connector member on the masonry veneer over an area of the bracket body greater than the area of the connector.

Abstract: A method of applying a flooring system on a wood subfloor, including providing a sealer for direct application to the wood subfloor; applying the sealer to the wood subfloor; and allowing the sealer to dry and cure, forming a sealed and stable wood subfloor.

Abstract: A dual stage plug assembly 10 which provides a first sealing stage which is cooperatively provided by the insertion members 12, 14 (including the unexpanded portion 24) and a second sealing stage which is provided by selectively expandable member 24. The plug assembly 10 is selectively inserted into a hole, such as hole 80, which is formed in a tangible entity, such as basement wall 82, and the members 12 and 14 cooperates with member 24 to seal the hole 80, thereby preventing water and/or other liquid from entering and passing through the hole 80.

Abstract: A method for forming a cementitious retaining wall is described. The method includes the step of defining on an earth surface an outline of the wall to be formed. The outline delimits an area of earth to be excavated. The method also includes the step of compacting the area. After compaction, the earth underneath and adjacent to the area is densified, which provides stability to the earth during excavation and after the wall is formed. The method also includes the step of excavating the earth from the area compacted to an initial depth, thereby creating a wall cavity. The method further includes the step of compacting the bottom surface of the wall cavity and subsequently excavating the earth from the compacted bottom surface. This step can be repeated as much as required, under a final depth of the wall cavity is reached. Once the final depth is reached, the wall cavity can be filled at least partially a cementitious material so as to form the retaining wall.

Abstract: A system for installing tubing of hydronic thermal control systems in the walls, including ceilings, of buildings. It allows for the stable incorporation of the tubing in the walls while ensuring good thermal conductivity between the tubing and the building's room. The system features a wall including a hydronic thermal management system. The wall comprises a vertically-extending wall support structure, tubing panels secured to the wall support structure, the panels being constructed from wood material, tubing in the tubing panels for carrying a heat transfer fluid, and drywall panels secured over the tubing panels. A filling material is applied between the tubing and the drywall panels. Also a high thermally conductive layer, such as aluminum foil, is used between the filling material and the drywall panels or between the filling material and the tubing panels.

Abstract: Disclosed is a novel wall or ceiling paneling or flooring manufactured from curved cask staves used in the aging of liquors, including wine and whiskey, having a desirable patina that emits a scent having a bouquet associated with the bouquet of the fermented liquor that was aged in the cask, as well as a method to manufacture the paneling or flooring that includes the steps of first straightening the curved staves, and then scrapping a portion of the stained surface layer of the stave to remove any splintering that may have occurred during the stave straightening process. The straightened, scraped stave is affixed to a wall or predetermined sub flooring surface with the stained surface layer remaining exposed for viewing or foot traffic and to permit the release of the wine, whiskey or other spirit bouquet into the room.

Abstract: A support structure for elevating a building surface above a fixed surface including a plurality of support pedestals disposed in spaced-apart relation on the fixed surface, a plurality of stabilizing braces interconnecting adjacent of the plurality of support pedestals, and a plurality of restraint members. The restraint members include a mounting portion securable to one of the plurality of stabilizing braces and a restraint portion operatively attached to the mounting portion and securable to an outer edge segment of one or more of the surface tiles.

Abstract: An architectural membrane assembly including an interior membrane layer having a first inner surface, an exterior membrane layer having a second inner surface, an aerogel material disposed between the interior membrane layer and the exterior membrane layer, wherein the first and second inner surfaces are adjacent to the aerogel material and a vapor barrier deposited on one of the first and second inner surfaces.

Abstract: With a random incoming axial stream of pallets of articles, there is a stack of blanks, an axial stream synchronized with pallets is formed, all of the pallets are transferred from the axial stream synchronized with pallets to constitute an axial stream that is synchronized with lots, lots are separated by empty spaces having length of one or more article lengths, whereby the spacing is thus variable and adapted to lot length, blanks are unstacked upon demand based on the pallets to constitute a synchronized stream of blanks corresponding to the stream synchronized with lots. Blanks are separated by empty spaces with length of one or more article lengths, starting from the stream synchronized with lots and the stream synchronized with blanks; each lot of articles is made to work with each blank before the blank is folded around the lot of articles and made into a single unit.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is provided for loading objects having a first degree of hardness onto a tray having a different degree of hardness where sliding contact between the objects and the tray would cause damage. The tray loading is accomplished by engaging and holding objects in a carrier. The carrier carries the objects to a position over the tray and lowers the objects onto the tray surface, avoiding abrasion between the objects and the tray. The carrier includes sensors for verifying the presence of the objects.

Abstract: A method of reducing a wetness gradient development for a package of wet wipes is provided. The method includes, after wet wipes are enclosed within a package to form the package of wet wipes, locating the package of wet wipes in a first orientation such that a first side of the package of wet wipes faces downward and an opposite second side of the package of wet wipes faces upward to form a first wetness gradient after a preselected amount of time. Prior to opening the package of wet wipes to access the wet wipes enclosed within the package of wet wipes, inverting the package of wet wipes according to a predetermined turning schedule to place the package of wet wipes in a second orientation such that the first side of the package of wet wipes faces upward and the second side of the package of wet wipes faces downward to form a second wetness gradient that is different from the first wetness gradient.

Abstract: A locking headplate for an adjustable saddle tree includes opposed, hingedly connected plates for securing to a saddle tree head portion, a rotatable displacing element for displacing the hingedly connected plates inwardly or outwardly, and at least one supplemental locking mechanism for selectively preventing rotation of the rotatable displacing element. The hingedly connected plates include apertures for receiving a portion of the rotatable displacing element therethrough, the apertures defining at least one cross-sectional dimension that is greater than a corresponding cross-sectional dimension of the rotatable displacing element. Saddle trees and saddles incorporating the locking headplate are provided.

Abstract: A bi-directional drive system for turf grooming and brushing operations is provided. In various embodiments, the system includes a reel deck assembly having a reel blade assembly rotatably supported on a reel blade shaft axially rotatable in a reel blade shaft rotation direction. The system additionally includes a first positive engagement member rotatably connected to the reel deck assembly, and an attachment member releasably connected to the first positive engagement member. The attachment member is simultaneously axially rotatable in an attachment member first axial rotation direction that is the same as the reel blade shaft rotation direction, or an attachment member second axial rotation direction opposite to the reel blade shaft rotation direction. The bi-directional rotation is implemented by selective engagement of a drive system connected to the reel blade shaft.

Abstract: A walk behind garden tool chassis including a first chassis part and a second chassis part. The first chassis part is arranged to receive an engine of the garden tool, and to receive a first wheel assembly of the garden tool. The second chassis part is arranged to receive a handle assembly of the garden tool, and to receive a second wheel assembly of the garden tool. The first and second chassis parts are interconnected by vibration dampers.

Abstract: A steel cord (10) adapted for the reinforcement of rubber products, comprises a core strand (12) and six peripheral strands (14) concentrically surrounding the core strand (12). Each of the core and peripheral strands (12, 14) comprises a center of two or more center filaments (16) and two layers of filaments surrounding the center. The core strand (12) has a diameter D1 which is greater than the diameter D2 of the peripheral strands (14). All the filaments (18, 20) of each layer have substantially the same diameter and a radially outer layer has a twist angle which is greater than a twist angle of a radially inner layer of the same strand. Each of the strands (12, 14) in the cord is composed of no more than twenty-six filaments (16, 18, 20) being twisted together.

Abstract: A system includes an anti-icing heat recovery system, which includes a first heat exchanger, a second heat exchanger, and a variable speed fan. The first heat exchanger is configured to receive a working fluid from an exhaust section of a gas turbine engine and to transfer heat from the working fluid to a cooled intermediate heat transfer medium to generate a heated intermediate heat transfer medium. The second heat exchanger is configured to receive the heated intermediate heat transfer medium from the first heat exchanger and to transfer heat from the heated intermediate heat transfer medium to air entering the gas turbine engine. The variable speed fan is configured to urge the working fluid from the exhaust section of the gas turbine engine through the first heat exchanger.

Abstract: A heat exchanger has a first passage to be connected to a source of fuel. The heat exchanger has an outlet to communicate the fuel downstream. A second passage connects to a source of air. The air passes adjacent to the first passage to heat fuel in the first passage. A jet pump is positioned downstream of the second passage to receive air from the second passage. The jet pump includes a tap connected to a housing compartment to drain fluid from the compartment. A method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A pulse detonation combustor including a plurality of nozzles engaged with one another via mating surfaces to support a gas discharge annulus in a circumferential direction. The pulse detonation combustor also including multiple pulse detonation tubes extending for the nozzles and a plurality of thermal expansion control joints coupled to the plurality of pulse detonation tubes. Each of the plurality of thermal expansion control joints is configured to facilitate independent thermal growth of each of the plurality of pulse detonation tubes. The thermal expansion control joints may be configured as a bellows expansion joint or a sliding expansion joint.

Abstract: Methods of one or more embodiments include delivering hydrogen sulphide-containing exhaust gases to a current generation device where the gases are burnt, preferably with air being supplied. The energy released during combustion is employed at least partially for current generation. One or more embodiments also include an apparatus for current generation in which supplied hydrogen sulphide-containing exhaust gases are burnt, preferably with air being supplied.

Abstract: A method to enhance efficiency of a propellant heat exchanger is described. The method includes spacing a plurality of propellant tubes of the propellant heat exchanger within defined flux bins, the flux bins defined as a function of total beam energy to be received by the propellant tubes, the propellant tube spacing resulting in each defined flux bin operable to receive a substantially equal amount of beam energy, and configuring each flux bin such that any beam energy that impinges the flux bin is directed to the propellant tube therein.

Abstract: A thrust reverser for the nacelle of a turboreactor includes at least one fixed front frame that can be mounted downstream of a fan casing of the turboreactor and directly or indirectly supports at least one flow deviation vanes, in which at least part of the flow deviation vanes can be detached from the front frame and moved in translation independently therefrom when a maintenance operation is being carried out on the reverser.

Abstract: An emission control system for an engine includes a catalyst and an exhaust-gas sensor provided downstream of the catalyst in a flow direction of exhaust gas. The exhaust-gas sensor includes a sensor element that includes a pair of electrodes and a solid electrolyte body located between the electrodes. The emission control system further includes a constant current supply portion that changes an output characteristic of the exhaust-gas sensor by applying a constant current between the electrodes, a rich direction control portion that performs a rich direction control after a fuelling-stop control, and a characteristic control portion that performs a rich responsiveness control during the rich direction control. In the rich direction control, an air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is made to be richer. In the rich responsiveness control, the constant current supply portion increases a detection responsiveness of the exhaust-gas sensor with respect to rich gas.

Abstract: A catalyst degradation detection device, determines whether a three-way catalyst has degraded on the basis of the maximum value of the amount of oxygen stored by the catalyst. When determining whether the three-way catalyst has degraded, the amount of stored oxygen is calculated, and the responsiveness of change in the output signal of an oxygen sensor to oxygen concentration change in catalyst-downstream exhaust is measured. Then, on the basis of the responsiveness of the oxygen sensor which measured the oxygen storage amount, the oxygen storage amount is corrected by reducing the same such that the worsened the measured responsiveness relative to a reference value, the greater the reduction in the oxygen storage amount used in determining whether the three-way catalyst has degraded. The corrected oxygen storage amount used is prevented from deviating from the correct value on the basis of a worsening of the responsiveness of the oxygen sensor.

Abstract: An integrated water-gas-shift (WGS) and emissions control device (ECD) catalyst for treating exhaust from an internal combustion engine. The engine is assumed to have an EGR loop, such that exhaust is recirculated back to the engine's intake. A WGS catalyst on the EGR loop, for conditioning the EGR flow, is integrated with a catalyzed ECD on the main exhaust line, for reducing pollutant emissions.

Abstract: An exhaust treatment unit treats exhaust gas from an engine of a work vehicle. The exhaust treatment unit includes a diesel particulate filter device, a selective catalytic reduction device, a first support component and a second support component. The diesel particulate filter device treats the exhaust gas. The selective catalytic reduction device treats the exhaust gas. The first support component supports the diesel particulate filter device. The second support component supports the selective catalytic reduction device and the first support component. The first support component is detachable from the second support component.

Abstract: Through the use transfer functions, or other modeling types, directed toward the individual operation of an engine and after-treatment subsystems, an optimizer determines the trade-offs between fuel consumption, urea consumption, and reduction of NOx and PM emissions for each component of the integrated system. Evaluation of these trade-offs permits the optimizer to dictate how each component should be controlled, or adjusted, to achieve optimal fuel (and urea) consumption while meeting the constraints bounding the solution. Response characteristics can be triggered by adjusting certain engine operating levers in order to achieve optimal performance of the integrated system.

Abstract: An air-fuel ratio control apparatus of the present invention includes a determination section and a reverse direction correction introducing section. The determination section determines whether or not an output of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor falls within a predetermined range whose center corresponds to a target value corresponding to the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio. When the output of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor falls within the predetermined range, the reverse direction correction introducing section temporarily introduces, to an air-fuel ratio correction in a direction requested by the output, an air-fuel ratio correction in a direction opposite to the requested direction.