Abstract: A modular construction system includes a plurality of coupled construction modules, with each module having a number of generally upright wall panels interconnected to define an enclosed interior space of preferred dimension. Construction modules are arranged in a vertical stack, with each module having a plurality of floor panels supported by the load bearing wall panels of an underlying module. Each load bearing wall panel is formed of reinforced concrete and has a pair of spaced apart L-shaped support columns. An integral lateral beam extends transversely between the support columns and has a substantially horizontal flange for supporting floor slabs of an overlying construction module. Bottom ends of the columns extend downwardly below the lower edge of the beam to define a narrow elongated trimming, whereby vertical loads associated with a supported overlying structure are transferred solely to the corners of the construction module.

Abstract: A self-supporting facade component in sandwich construction, composed of at least two self-supporting layers and at least one interposed insulating layer, is metal-free, the self-supporting layers being composed of fiber-reinforced concrete and the layers being positively fixed to one another by non-metallic fixing means (preferably plastic anchors).

Abstract: A precast concrete panel for a composite floor has a number of concavities provided in a surface thereof. Each concavity is in the form of a groove and includes alternately formed shallow and deep sections which are adjacent each other. The concavities extend in a transverse direction of the concrete panel and are spaced apart from each other in a longitudinal direction of the panel.

Abstract: This invention deals with certain specific building blocks that when used in combination, are essentially the only required building blocks to construct an entire building including foundations, if required, floors, bonding beams, supporting and non-supporting walls supporting and non-supporting partitions, and roofs.

Abstract: A prefabricated concrete wall with outer and inner wall panels seperated by a rigid insulation panel and air cavities, that allows each wall to expand and contract independently. Mounting brackets are embedded in the panels to allow the inner panel to be raised and dropped into place and openings for doors and windows are provided as well as cavities for electrical service panels, plumbing, electrical boxes, etc. The outer panels are joined together by pins and the base mounting brackets have slotted holes to allow the panels to expand and contract. Also, the outer surfaces of both the inner and outer panels may have finished surfaces to take the appearance of stucco, bricks, stones, or wood panels, etc.

Abstract: A construction element is disclosed for retaining a soil mass. In general, the construction element comprises a face panel and a plurality of protruding arms. The face panel has a forward wall, a rearward wall, side walls and a top and bottom wall. Such protruding arm extends from the rearward wall of the face panel, and each have an upper wall, lower wall, a back wall and side walls. The upper and lower walls of these protruding arms are each provided with engaging means for facilitating stacking of at least a portion of the protruding arm of one construction element, on top of at least a portion of the protruding arm of another construction element, and for preventing relative sliding movement therebetween. These construction elements can be used to construct a retaining wall and soil reinforcement subsystem, which comprises one or more free-standing retaining wall construction elements and at least one grid structure positioned behind each such construction element.

Abstract: A roof paver element includes a plurality of ribs projecting from a planar body portion, the ribs terminating in bottom surfaces having rounded longitudinal boundaries. The ribs are connected to the planar body portion and to one another by fillets. Sides of the planar body portions include depressions which form pressure equalization chambers with the sides of the body portions of adjacent roof paver elements in a roof system to hinder the development of air pressure differentials between the region above the roof paver elements and the spaces below the planar body portions.

Abstract: A floor platform or matt for placing over a portion of existing flooring. The matt having a composite structure including a bottom hardboard layer, a middle hardboard layer adhered thereto. The bottom and middle layers cut into two pieces forming seams running the length of the matt, and the seams being displaced from each other. The matt also having a top hardwood finish layer consisting of a plurality of interlocking tiles. The tiles consist primarily of several individual hardwood strips flexibly held together by metallic strips, and the tiles are adhered to the middle layer. Reduction trim pieces are attached to the perimeter of the bottom and middle layers and include grooves for interlocking with the tiles. A support structure is secured to the bottom of the central region of the matt. The support structure includes gripping appendages integral therewith and extending therefrom.

Abstract: A three-layer insulated concrete panel includes as the middle layer an insulating slab having grooves which provide a form for casting of concrete supporting ribs integral with a layer of concrete cast over the grooved face. A layer of material, such as particle board, is bonded to the ungrooved face of the slab. In preparing the panel, the slab is placed on a flat surface with the particle board face down. Forms are then placed in spaced-apart relation to panel edges, and concrete is cast into the forms and grooves and over the grooved panel face. The insulating slab provides a form for casting of supporting ribs and is permanently retained in the panel, giving it a high insulating value. An assembly of such panels in a roof or ceiling structure is disclosed wherein individual panels are placed in final position, and joints between adjacent panel edges are obtained by covering exposed strips along adjacent panel edges with a cap member and applying concrete over the cap member.

Abstract: A prefabricated concrete wall structure with an integrated, interconnected reinforcing structure within its various structural members. Each vertical stud and horizontal beam is formed with at least one reinforcing rod within it, and each reinforcing rod is connected to the reinforcing rods in abutting members. The wall section attachment fixture is also connected to the reinforcing rod in the structural member in which it is housed so that the integration of reinforcement is continued from section to section as the attachment fixtures are bolted together.

Abstract: A modular tile for interlocking with other similar tiles to form a floor covering which provides enhanced traction at its playing surface and improved tolerance to sudden lateral movement. The tile comprises a plastic support grid having rectangular configuration bounded by a perimeter wall and including a repeating pattern of intersecting cross members with interstitial openings formed inbetween. A plurality of support legs are coupled to a base side of the cross junctions in general perpendicular orientation. Interlock structure is coupled to and extends outward from the perimeter wall to enable removable attachment with other modular tiles of similar design. The interlock structure provides a continuous, uniform displacement gap between adjacent perimeter walls which establishes a separation distance between the range of 0.5 to 2 millimeters, and also provides a yielding response to absorb lateral forces.

Abstract: Composite building panels comprising a slab of cementitious fiber reinforced material and a stud framework keyed thereto. The studs have a flange which abuts the inner surface of the slab, and a plurality of tabs which project downwardly from the flange to key the stud. Adjacent tabs are axially spaced apart, and may also be transversely staggard, to reduce the incidence of cracking of the slab, and may be upset from the flange material. The slabs may be relatively thin i.e. 2 cms. The tabs may also serve to retain rod or mesh reinforcement in thicker slabs.

Abstract: A lightweight wall panel for a building comprises a thin, flat, flexible panel body, a plurality of thin rib portions formed on one surface of the panel body at least at peripheral edges thereof, a plurality of female threaded fasteners embedded in the rib portions, and a plurality of separate reinforcement channels secured to the panel body at least at the peripheral edges thereof by a plurality of male threaded fasteners each extending through one of the reinforcement channels and threadedly engaging the respective female fasteners. The rib portions are only sufficiently thick that the attachment devices can be embedded therein. The reinforcement channels, which can be made of a lightweight material without impairing their strength, stiffen the flexible panel, and bear most of the load, so that the entire wall panel is light in weight and has adequate strength to be used as a load-bearing structure.

Abstract: A precast panel having a slab of cast material having a first surface, and a plurality of steel studs on one side, the steel studs having two angle members parallel to one another, a plurality of struts extending from one angle member to the other, openings between the struts, junction flanges extending from one of the angle members, and a locking strip formed on the junction flange, the locking strip defining an acute angle with the first surface of the slab and junction flange being embedded in the cast material, and the junction flange being discontinuous and defining openings through which the cast material extends to integrally bond the cast material on opposite sides of the the junction flange.

Abstract: A building comprises a plurality of concrete corner posts connected by generally planar vertical concrete wall panels. The wall panels include an enlarged footer which rests on an underlying ground surface, as opposed to being connected to an underlying poured concrete foundation. The wall panels include a central web having vertical ribs on the sides extending into the interior of the building. The wall panels are connected to each other and to the corner posts by welding together metal straps embedded in the concrete wall panels and corner posts. The exterior of the wall panels comprise the exterior of the building and may be finished by tinting the concrete before pouring, by exposing some of the aggregate in the panel or other conventional techniques. The interior of the wall panels are typically finished by securing insulation to the space between the ribs of the panels and then covering the interior with paneling or drywall.

Abstract: A roof paver system includes a plurality of roof paver elements having alternating dovetail-shaped and tapered grooves and an upper surface having raised portions to generate vortexes for preventing wind from lifting the elements and to provide a safety tread. Connecting members are provided in some of the dovetail grooves to interconnect the roof paver elements and further prevent their displacement. The tapered grooves break the vacuum between the roof paver elements and the molds in which they are formed. Clips are provided to mate with outwardly projecting toes on the roof paver elements in perimeter courses to align and anchor them, and elongate battens, which are dovetail-shaped in cross section, are received in the dovetail grooves and include openings for receiving thin elements transverse to the battens to engage the concrete elements at the ends of the grooves.

Abstract: An improved prefabricated building panel for mounting on the exterior of a building including a plurality of spaced, parallel support members or studs preferably formed by metal channels. A five strand layer wire mesh formed by a plurality of interwoven wires arranged at right angles to each other is attached to the support members and spaced therefrom by a plurality of spacers. The wire mesh is encapsulated with cement to form a ferrocement panel and decorative facing tile are secured to an outer face of the ferrocement panel by a layer of grouting. The ferrocement panel provides the structural load bearing component for the prefabricated panel for supporting the facing tile and eliminates the need for a separate substrate which heretofore spanned the support members and provided the structural support. The invention also includes the method steps for forming such a prefabricated panel.

Abstract: A non-load bearing exterior cladding panel for securement to a building structure, preferably a prefabricated building module. The panel, preferably produced from glass reinforced concrete, includes a body having an exterior surface with a predetermined characteristic thereacross and an interior surface. An inturned flange section is located at an upper end of the body, whereby a plurality of adjacent panels will define a parapet around an upper portion of the building structure to which they are secured. A plurality of longitudinal reinforcing ribs are provided along the interior surface of the panel body with peripheral ribs for certain panels having a thickened medial portion. The panels further have connector bolts or the like secured thereto and extending outwardly from the interior surface for securement of same to a building structure. The reinforcing ribs permit a ventilating passageway to be provided along the full length of the panel when installed.

Abstract: A reinforcing structure for precast concrete is provided. The reinforcing structure includes a horizontally disposed bearing plate, and a vertically oriented planar reinforcing mesh extending above, below and inboard of the bearing plate. A vertical reaction bar is connected to the vertically oriented reinforcing mesh at a horizontal position inboard of the bearing plate. A horizontal reinforcing bar is oriented parallel to the vertically oriented planar reinforcing mesh.

Abstract: There is disclosed a novel precast building structure system for a polygonal building, preferably a twelve-sided building structure. In particular, the precast structures are constituted by four basic units namely, a system of central core elements, a floor panel system constituted by essentially identical precast concrete floor elements, a plurality of like numbered wall elements which may have openings of various kinds for doors, windows, etc., and a plurality of roof panel elements corresponding in number to the number of wall panels and floor panels but staggered in relation to the wall panels and juxtaposed over the floor panels. The wall panels rest on the piers and are secured via weld plates and at spaced points to the ends of the floor panels. The floor panels and the roof panels incorporate a unique T-beam construction which in conjunction with the integrally cast complementary pairs of triangularly shaped floor and/or roof panel portions, is reinforced with steel.

Abstract: A prefabricated ceiling element for ceilings in buildings comprises a concrete ceiling panel (1, 1', 1") and a steel girder (2, 2', 2") having a T-section, the web of which has tips (2c, 2c') which are anchored in the concrete ceiling panel (1, 1', 1"). Free cutouts (2d) are located between the tips. The steel girder (2, 2', 2") extends only over the midportion of the ceiling panel (1, 1', 1"), so that at the ends of the panel support areas and installation lanes (4) remain freely accessible.

Abstract: Nuclear reactor with a radiation-emitting core including a container for conducting a coolant, the radiation-emitting container having a wall formed with a plurality of slots disposed parallel to one another, the slots having a depth within the wall equal to at least one-fourth the thickness of the wall, the slots being spaced from one another a distance which is at most as great as the depth thereof.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming reinforced concrete structural panels wherein one or more preformed elongated structural ribs are inverted and placed horizontally into a form for casting a generally flat concrete structural slab. The structural ribs have joiners projecting downward into the form and the concrete slab which is cast in the form so that the joiners connect the reinforced ribs with the slab. In one embodiment of the invention a plurality of reinforced elongated ribs are disposed parallel to one another in the form and additional reinforcing members placed in the form perpendicular to the ends of the ribs to form a box-like structure. A plurality of these reinforced structural panels can be connected together by stringers run through the end members.

Abstract: A prefabricated building unit is formed as an integrally moulded body of fibre-reinforced concrete. The body has a wall, a beam extending along the top or bottom of the wall, and a floor or roof extending from the beam perpendicularly to the wall at the bottom or top thereof respectively. The beam is reinforced by reinforcing bars extending there along and an elongated reinforcing member extending helically around the reinforcing bars.

Abstract: A roof tile made of a composition of matter comprising cement, silica sand, iron oxide pigment, acrylic polymer resin, an antifoaming agent and water, and formed into a shape having a top surface, a bottom surface, a top end, a butt end, and with a longitudinal side edge having a longitudinal flange, and another longitudinal side edge having a longitudinal concavity, with a plurality of ribs formed in the bottom surface, and reinforcing wire embedded in said ribs and the bottom perimeter of the tile.

Abstract: A stiffening girder for a stayed cable bridge, constructed of reinforced concrete or prestressed concrete, is formed by a closed multi-cell box extending in the long direction of the bridge. The upper part of the box is a substantially horizontally extending roadway slab. Webs extending downwardly from the roadway slab and in the long direction of the bridge combine with the roadway slab to form at least a part of the multi-cell box. The webs can be vertically arranged or obliquely inclined relative to the roadway slab. Further, a bottom slab spaced downwardly from the roadway slab may complete the box. The girder or box is supported by inclined cables extending in at least one support plane along the long direction of the bridge. The cables can be attached to the girder along its center line in the long direction or at symmetrical locations positioned outwardly from the center line.

Abstract: Concrete building panels include a decorative embossed pattern on an outer surface. A plurality of concrete reinforcing ribs are disposed along an inner surface of the concrete building panels. Nailing strips are anchored into tips of the respective concrete reinforcing ribs. A method for making the building panels include a step of placing anchored nailing strips into tapered rib sections of a horizontal fiberglass mold is disclosed wherein reinforcing bars and mesh and moist concrete are placed into the mold and allowed to cure until the exposed upper surface of the moist concrete is plastically deformable. The horizontal mold is passed beneath a rotating embossing roller having a cylindrical embossing pattern thereon. The plastically deformable concrete contacts the embossing pattern, producing a complementary pattern on the concrete surface. The embossed concrete is cured in the mold to produce the building panel. The concrete building panel is then separated from the mold.

Abstract: A panel of a predetermined geometric shape for use in the construction of buildings and enclosures. The panel is a cast or molded component having a base portion which forms an interior or exterior wall surface for the structure with which is integrally molded a flange extending entirely around the periphery of the base member. The flange is positioned at a 90.degree. angle to the base member or is slightly angled to permit convenient assembly on a flange-to-flange basis with adjacent panels. Optionally, reinforcing ribs and a central boss are integrally formed into and raised from the base portion. Panels, when molded in a triangular configuration, are particularly suited for construction of geodesic domes. Apertures are provided extending through the flanges to permit fasteners to be passed between them and to thereby secure flanges of adjacent panels together.

Abstract: A flooring unit for hog barns and the like is disclosed. The unit is a one-piece structural foam moulding having a tread surface formed with longitudinal rows of slots for permitting animal droppings and the like to pass through the unit. The unit is reinforced at its underside by a plurality of longitudinal and transverse reinforcing webs.

Abstract: A combination floor, jack and trailer assemblies characterized by a precast floor assembly having a pair of longitudinal beams and a plurality of transverse beams, including end beams, the longitudinal and end beams forming underpenning for a modular home; a jack assembly for attaching to said floor assembly even at ground level and for lifting said floor assembly sufficiently for the running thereunder of a trailer assembly, the jack assembly having a superstructure, lift bar for lifting the superstructure and the attached floor assembly, top fastener for fastening the lifting bar to prevent upward movement, interconnection means for connecting the jack with the floor assembly, extensible leg having a plurality of stations therealong for fastening the base along the leg and a jack for raising the floor assembly by forcing the extensible leg and the lift bar apart by one or more cycles so that the trailer assembly can be run underneath; and a trailer assembly including front and rear units having respective f

Abstract: A poured concrete building deck structure of the type having corrugated sheet metal form deck wherein the edges along sides parallel to the corrugations of the major form deck at the edges of the deck and edges of internal openings through the deck are formed by a corrugated sheet metal form having corrugations at about 90.degree. to the major portion of the corrugated sheet metal form deck, the ends of the deck around all sides of the building or around all sides of the internal opening being spaced a distance from the desired building line or opening and an edge bracket fastened to the outer ends of the sheet metal forms extending outwardly to the desired relationship to the building line or opening and providing a means to retain poured concrete.

Abstract: A prefabricated structural element and a method of bonding wallboard to structural elements such as trusses for use in construction or prefabrication of ceilings or walls. The method involves applying a resilient polyurethane foamable liquid by a high pressure impingement mixing spray gun onto areas of a clean, dry wallboard substrate which have wood trusses or studs placed upon them. The foam is sprayed on the drywall at the juncture with the wood members on both sides of the wooden members. The resulting bonded structure permits the unit to be used without further nailing or other attachment means. The foam also permits the combined product to present a flat surface regardless of irregularities in the wood trusses.

Abstract: A composite building module and method for making same including forming a bottom layer of fiber reinforced wet cementitious material, placing at least two rigid foam cores side by side on the bottom layer with the adjoining edges configured to define a channel around adjoining cores and encapsulating the cores in a fiber reinforced wet cementitious shell by depositing fibers on cementitious material around the sides of the cores and on the top thereof, wherein each channel is filled in to form a rib around the interior of the cementitious shell.

Abstract: A panel adapted for mounting on a building, the panel being formed from a plurality of thin panels of a selected stone facing material, such as granite or marble, backed and interconnected by fiberglass-strengthened concrete underlaying the plurality of thin panels and covering and engaging anchor means mounted in the backs of the stone panels. The method of forming the building panel involves placing the granite or marble panels face down in a form, mounting anchor means in the backs thereof, and overlaying both the plurality of thin panels and the anchor means with a fiberglass-strengthened concrete mixture, and curing the mixture both within and without a support form.

Abstract: A precast monolithic concrete building module includes a vertical wall, a horizontal roof and a pair of roof supporting legs spaced from the wall. A plurality of ribs project outwardly from the wall and also from the lower surface of the roof. In one embodiment, generally T-shaped metal studs each have a portion cast into an associated rib and a portion providing a mounting surface for wall and ceiling covering materials. The studs project outwardly from the ribs so that wiring passageways can be placed through them without having to drill through concrete. In other embodiments, wooden studs have attached fasteners which have a portion cast into the rib to secure the stud to the rib. The wall between the studs is thin so that window and door openings can easily be made by breaking out portions of the wall. Special sealing ridges project upwardly from the roof for use in sealing pairs of adjacent modules of a building. The form for casting the module includes roof, wall and leg forming portions.

Abstract: A building structure including a beam of steel or rod reinforced concrete which is sheathed in a U-shaped cross section steel shell, a concrete column which is encased in a steel tube, diagonal bracings and connecting members thereof. The topside of the U-shaped steel shell is open to allow concrete to be filled therethrough. Steel rods are placed in the shell and a steel panel connecting member secures the opposed sidewalls of the shell. Steel bars extend from a floor slab into the beam shell through the aforesaid open topside, thereby rendering the beam integral with the slab. Frame-like steel members for confining reinforcing bars and/or shear connectors are disposed in the inside of the beam shell. A steel sleeve is also provided in the beam shell for defining a space for disposition of equipment. In addition, an opening is provided in the bottom wall of the beam shell so as to allow steel rods to extend from the wall into the beam shell, thereby rendering the beam integral with the wall.

Abstract: Three-dimensional structures made of open or closed profiled metal beams and plates are disclosed. Said structures comprise a plurality of parallel frame beams connecting the side flange junctions with respective joists and connecting the top flanges of the frame beams with plates. The structure is divided into frame beams modules easily fabricated in factories and easily transported and then joists are fit at the construction site, thereby resulting in a high degree of prefabrication and shortened installation time.

Abstract: A two-piece clip, utilized to maintain a concrete filler panel positioned in a cavity formed between a double-tee roof or floor member and a wall partition over which the double-tee member extends, comprises a female portion fastened to the undersurface of the double-tee within the cavity and above the wall partition, and a male portion which is lockingly engaged to the female portion after positioning the filler panel in the cavity. The clip is movable in relation to the filler panel during normal flexing of the double-tee member relative to the partition wall.

Abstract: Design, fabrication and erection of a lightweight building module in the form of a ribbed concrete floor slab with lightweight thin concrete wall panels and ceiling panel reinforced by a series of spaced rigid annular open web frames. Each frame includes a floor reinforcing member, two side wall reinforcing member, and a ceiling reinforcing member, rigidly welded together at their adjacent ends. Each reinforcing member is an open web joist having two parallel straight rods spaced apart by an open web member formed by bending a rod in a zig-zag pattern. Longitudinal spacing of adjacent bends is greater in the central portion than the ends of the reinforcing members. A poured concrete roof slab is formed with integral reinforcing ribs by means of rectangular spacers made of light weight material.

Abstract: A method of making a pre-cast concrete building panel wherein a sheet of hardboard is soaked in water, and while it is still wet, it is covered with a thin skin of concrete and there is formed a peripheral edge region of concrete to embed the hardboard edges. The subsequent drying out of the concrete and hardboard has the effect of binding together the hard-board and concrete, and pre-stressing the concrete.

Abstract: A load-carrying building structure, particularly ceilings and floors, comprising an assembly of prefabricated box-shaped components made from appropriate non-viscoelastic material like wood, steel and concrete. The box-shaped components are held together to form a rigid structure by means of tensioning members, a plurality of rods made from high quality steel arranged in at least two crossing directions. The rods are positioned and tensioned to such a degree that the tensile stresses in the structure due to dead load and live load are entirely eliminated by the compression stresses brought to the structure by the tensioning members. The mentioned boxes are thin-walled with a ratio between length: thickness of at least 30:1, and the ratio between depth:length is between 1:1 and 1:4.

Abstract: A standard construction unit is provided by a monolithic precast reinforced concrete panel which has a generally rectangular peripheral configuration. A pair of flanges project from and extend longitudinally along the opposite sides of one face thereof to provide the unit with a shallow U-shaped cross-section. Connector elements are embedded within the other face of the panel adjacent its sides to permit connection of it to adjacent like panels. Door or window openings may be provided in the web portion.A building structure is supported on a footing and has walls, a roof and, optionally, a floor formed from the standard panels. The walls are formed by a plurality of the panels disposed vertically in side-by-side relationship and connected to each other by side fastener means bridging the panels and engaged with the connector elements and, at their lowermost ends, to the footing.

Abstract: A building element comprises a rectangular panel having four flanges projecting from one face thereof adjacent to the edges of the panel, wherein the bottom and side edges of the panel each have at least one groove running the length thereof and wherein the flanges are provided with means suitable for, or suitable for use in, the fixing of the building element to another similar or different building element.

Abstract: Lightweight and structurally efficient construction or building units of cementitious materials and the method of making these units. Prefabricated cementitious strips or slabs are aligned with their longitudinal axes parallel and rigidly held in the desired orientation with each other, preferably with the use of spacer/connectors. Stressed or unstressed reinforcement elements can also be placed parallel to the lines of junction between the strips or slabs by attaching them to the spacer/connectors. Continuous prisms of cementing material or cement mortar are then applied along the junction of the strips or slabs and around the reinforcement to structurally bond all the components into an integral unit. The units are characterized by a constant cross section of relatively thin structural parts and voids normal to a major longitudinal axis. They can be massive or small depending on the particular application for which they are made.

Abstract: A structural element constituting a panel for a floor, wall or roof of a space defining elongated box-shaped prefabricated section which includes a rectangular concrete slab with a peripheral rectangular frame of beams. A reinforcement network is attached to the frame beams. With I-beams constituting the frame beams, one side of an upper flange is cast within the slab, such flange being connected to the reinforcement network. Recesses are provided at the corners of the slab to receive upright extensions affixed to the top of the upper flanges of the I-beams, such extensions being adapted to receive for attachment columns or other components of the section. The recess provided for the extensions may be spaced therefrom and being filled in with a concrete or other plastic type material when the further component is received on the extension. The extension may extend above the slab without a recess. A covering material may be applied to the top of the slab and folded over its edges.

Abstract: A panel for elevated access floors is disclosed in which the panel is formed of reinforced expanded lightweight concrete. The reinforcing is provided by a grid including two arrays of parallel reinforcing rods which extend parallel to the associated panel edges and perpendicular to the rods of the other grid. A frame is provided by the grid around the two arrays. The grid is located adjacent to the lower surface of the body and divides the body into a plurality of square zones. Located in each zone, excepting the zones at the corners, is a pyramid-shaped cavity which extends from a base at the lower surface of the panel upwardly at about 45.degree. to an apex spaced from the upper surface of the panel. The presence of the pyramid-shaped cavities does not materially reduce the strength of the panel when compared to a similar panel without such cavities, but reduces the weight of the panel and the material required to manufacture the panel.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved method of constructing an underground reinforced concrete wall utilizing the slurry trench excavation method. According to the invention, at least a pair of spaced elongated primary excavations each adapted to receive a pair of H-beams rigidly joined together by steel lattice work; and a rebar cage. The channel or space in each H-beam at the outer channel between the flange and webs is filled with a polystyrene foam attached to the cage by steel plates and angles. These elements are lowered into the primary excavations and concrete is poured therein filling the spaces in the excavations and displacing any bentonite slurry from the trench to form primary wall elements. Thereafter, intermediate excavations are performed between the concreted sections and the H-beam portions thereof, the polystyrene foam being easily removed from the outer channel and the H-beam channel with the flanges thereof serving as guide elements for the excavating tool.

Abstract: Preformed concrete panels are described for use in the construction of buildings. Roof panels are designed such that they have self-sealing abutting edges when assembled, and the roof panels interlock with wall panels and, preferably, with other roof panels supported by a center building beam. One type of wall panel has a support member projecting form one surface which is adapted to support a floor structure.

Abstract: An architectural system comprises a number of free-standing wall modules of cruciform configuration, with each of the wall modules having a bearing surface adjacent the end of each of its arms. A square or rectangular supporting beam arrangement or network is disposed with each of its corners engaging one of the bearing surfaces. A floor/ceiling module is supported on the beam arrangement. The cruciform wall modules are oriented and spaced from one another to define a floor area extending therebetween and having its perimetric edges angularly displaced about 45.degree. relative to the perimetric edges of the beam network such that the floor area is substantially wider than the length of one of the beam segments comprising the beam network.

Abstract: A swimming pool wall is formed of uniform sections of molded structural foam secured together, and the sections include: a front facing wall; a base integral with the bottom edge of the facing wall; a coping wall integral with the top edge of the facing wall; end walls integral with the facing wall, the base, and the coping wall; the end walls having projections and recesses fitting together for alignment of the sections; and a rib integral with the base, the coping wall, and the back of the facing wall.