Abstract: A connecting plate for connecting I-beams together. The connecting plate contains at least two plates that each have a series of holes drilled in them. These series of holes are drilled offset from each other in each plate. The connecting plate can be in the form of a flat face, an L-shaped plate or a partially H-shaped plate. The offset holes on these plates allow the plates to be connected to a first I-beam first, and then connected to a second I-beam. This design allows a user to forgo coupling the first I-beam, the coupling plate and the second I-beam together all at the same time which improves the safety and efficiency of coupling I-beams together.

Abstract: This invention relates to a joining system (1) for fixedly joining at least two elements (2, 3), in particular girders, comprising at least one first element (2) which is adjacent at one of its ends to the other element (3) on a contact surface (14) and is attached to this element with a joining means (11) and at least one connecting part (7), in particular a shear connector made of a high-strength material, preferably metal, which is connected to one of the elements (2), in particular by being integrated into it. To permit an improved possibility for fastening the two elements, it is provided according to this invention that the connecting part (7), in particular the shear connector, is provided with a continuous recess (9), in particular with a borehole, and the joining means (11) extends through the recess (9), whereby the element (2) receiving the connecting part (7) is designed as a wooden component.

Abstract: An assembly and a method for compressing a foundation piling prevents individual piling segments from sliding out of alignment. The assembly is an anchoring device that is lowered into a passageway running through a concrete or steel foundation piling to a desired depth. The anchoring device is suspended to a cable and has a center section and at least one moveable wing or wedge attached to the center section. Then a weight is dropped onto the anchoring device. The force of the impact causes the wings on the anchoring device to slide down and extend away from the center section. The force of the impact also forces the wings to grip the piling because the anchoring assembly is wider than the passageway when the wings slide down the center section. Tension is applied to the cable, which is now secured to the piling by the anchoring device. The tension in the cable creates a compressive state on the piling which prevents the individual segments from sliding out of alignment.

Abstract: An insulated concrete wall assembly having an embedded anchor plate which enables reliable mounting of fixtures, such as curtain rod brackets and the like, to an exposed surface of an interior wall of a building. The anchor plate is preferably an expanded metal plate having securement apertures of a size to receive and positively engage a fastener extending through wallboard and the anchor plate thereby permitting the fixture to be drawn into tight engagement with the wallboard by positive engagement of the fixture mounting fastener with the anchor plate. In addition, the anchor plate preferably has integrally formed securement projections, or spikes, which enable the anchor plate to be pressed into engagement with the rigid foam insulation before wallboard, such as drywall, is applied over the insulation. The invention also relates to a method of assembling an insulated concrete wall.

Abstract: A non-metallic masonry tie includes at least two longitudinal members of composite fibre. Composite fibre reinforcement extends between the two longitudinal members. The preferred composite fibre reinforcement is in the form of a bundle of composite fibres extending angularly between and wrapped around the two longitudinal members to form a symmetrical reinforcement pattern consisting of a plurality of triangles. This serves to equally distribute the forces acting upon the two longitudinal members.

Abstract: A mullion connector connects a mullion to a building structure, the mullion connector having a first flange and a second flange in a plane generally perpendicular to the first flange with a first flange having a first fastener opening capable of allowing relative motion of the mullion connector relative to the mullion in at least one direction and a second flange having an second fastener opening capable of allowing relative motion of the mullion connector relative to the building in at least two generally perpendicular directions. By placing the second flange on a generally horizontal surface such as a building floor, and loosely fastening the second flange through the second fastener opening to a building anchor, the first flange opening may be attached to the mullion allowing up and down and rotational motion while the second flange opening allows in & out and left to right motion while supporting the mullion.

Abstract: A shear wall construction and method for assembling the same is disclosed. A plywood sheet includes close laterally-spaced pairs of vertical studs or posts proximate each lateral end. A channel-defining member is fitted and fixed between the spaced studs. A tie member extends from the channel-defining member into a concrete foundation or other underlying building element. A track is also provided for sheathing a lower edge of the shear wall. Protrusions from the metal track aid in anchoring the shear wall to the concrete foundation.

Abstract: A support device for stabilizing a hanging wall above a floating slab. In areas having expansive soils, basement slabs and surface slabs will rise and fall with increases and decreases in soil moisture. Walls mounted on such slabs would be damaged when the slab rises. Therefore, such walls are made to hang from overhead structures such as joists with the bottom wall end spaced from the slab. The support device is mounted on a bottom plate within such a wall above a base plate fastened to the slab. The device includes a bracket having a flange for fastening to the bottom plate and an tubular extension extending downwardly through a hole in the bottom plate. A sleeve slidingly fits through the tubular extension and includes at least one nail (preferably two nails) extending through the sleeve and engaging the base plate. When the nails are hammered into the base plate, the wall can move up and down with the slab, but is stabilized against lateral movement due to lateral forces on the wall.

Abstract: A novel system for constructing smooth-faced metal framing and novel tracks and connectors therefore. The system, tracks and connectors of the present invention utilize known metal framing or wall studs that demonstrate a U-channel configuration having a base, sidewalls and marginal lips that extend inward from the sidewalls. A variety structurally related connectors are described capable of interconnecting metal framing performing all framing functions including, without limitation, floor and ceiling joists, top and bottom plates, roof rafters, roof rims, window sills, trusses, headers and wall studs. The connectors lock into place within the stud or track and are secured from the inside using fasteners applied into the non-surface aspects of the stud or track. The specially configured tracks are essentially studs modified to include recess channels through which fasteners may be applied to secure the track to track connectors.

Abstract: A connection is provided that consists of a cementitious or masonry member, a structural member supported by the cementitious member and a connector attaching the structural member to the cementitious member. The connector is partially embedded in the cementitious member. The connector consists of a substantially planar main body and first and second anchoring legs. The planar main body is divided into an upper attachment portion which protrudes from the cementitious member and a lower embedment portion which is embedded in the cementitious member. The first anchoring leg is attached to the body and is substantially embedded in the cementitious member. The second anchoring leg is spaced apart from the first anchoring leg and is substantially embedded in the cementitious member.

Abstract: A fence mounting bracket for use with a fence, railing, or the like having upright posts, lateral rails extending between the posts, and upright picket boards extending between the rails. The bracket comprises a body having a peripheral wall defining a T-shaped opening including a rail opening portion for receiving an end of one of the rails and two picket opening portions for receiving an edge of one of the picket boards. The peripheral wall has opposing side walls that are slanted and/or inwardly flanged to receive the rails when they are positioned either horizontally or at an angle to horizontal. The picket opening portions extend through the side walls to permit the picket boards to seat flush against the upright posts so that little or nor gap remains therebetween.

Abstract: A building system comprising a plurality of substantially rigid connectors adapted to form a substantially rigid self-supporting structural skeleton: each said connector having interconnection means and panel securing means; each said connector having an inner and an outer load supporting member and a thermal insulator separating and secured to both said inner and outer load supporting members; and said connectors being adapted to interconnect such that when in position, said thermal insulator provides a substantially complete block against thermal transfer between said inner supporting member and said outer supporting member and said connectors form the substantially rigid self-supporting structural skeleton to which panels can be secured.

Abstract: An assembly to secure a shear assembly and attached building wall to a building foundation in order to resist uplift forces and to transfer vertical weight loads to the foundation. The assembly provides a degree of motion perpendicular to the plane of the wall in order to accommodate misplacement of anchor structures set in the building foundation. The assembly is configured and is attached to anchor structures in such a way as to accommodate a variety of protrusions of the anchor structures from the building foundation. The assembly provides additional convenience of use by being substantially pre-assembled. The assembly is also adapted to interconnect structural members in multi-story buildings.

Abstract: Disclosed is a construction and method for jointing steel members using shear rings, achieving a jointing construction to which a real shearing force can be applied, improving working conditions, the jointing strength and durability, and reducing material. The construction has at least one first steel member and at least one second steel member overlapped together and respectively having at least a bolt hole and at least an annular groove, and at least one shear ring inserted in the annular groove of both the first steel member and the second steel member to prevent slip between the first steel member and the second steel member. The annular groove is formed at each of contact surfaces of the first steel member and the second steel member, and the bolt hole has a first clearance while the annular groove of at least one of the first steel member and the second steel member has a second clearance smaller than the first clearance.

Abstract: A support device for stabilizing a hanging wall above a floating slab. In areas having expansive soils, basement slabs and surface slabs will rise and fall with increases and decreases in soil moisture. Walls mounted on such slabs would be damaged when the slab rises. Therefore, such walls are made to hang from overhead structures such as joists with the bottom wall end spaced from the slab. The support device in mounted on a bottom plate within such a wall above a base plate fastened to the slab. The device includes a bracket having a flange for fastening to the bottom plate and an tubular extension extending downwardly through a hole in the bottom plate. A sleeve slidingly fits through the tubular extension and includes at least one nail (preferably two nails) extending through the sleeve and engaging the base plate. When the nails are hammered into the base plate, the wall can move up and down with the slab, but is stabilized against lateral movement due to lateral forces on the wall.

Abstract: A suspender bottom bracket for ceiling frameworks, which bottom bracket (10) comprises a support wall (11) which is adapted to be fastened to a rod (31) of the suspender and is extended by two flanges (12, 13) in parallel planes and each having a rim (14, 15) parallel to the support wall (11), the two rims (14, 15) being directed toward the interior of the volume encompassed by the support wall (11) and the planes of the flanges (12, 13): the rims (14, 15) have at their end a fixing lug (16, 17), said fixing lugs (16, 17) being on the opposite side of the support wall (11) relative to the rims (14, 15), perpendicularly to the support wall (11), and being offset in a direction parallel to the planes of the flanges (12, 13) by a distance sufficient to provide a passage for the framework, said flanges (12, 13) that extend from the support wall (11) as far as said rims (14, 15) having the overall shape of parallelograms (22, 23).

Abstract: The walls of a wooden log building are provided with vertical support columns acting upon horizontal logs within the walls. The support columns prevent the logs, or groups of logs, from moving downward due to log shrinkage. Each support column comprises a vertical stack of log supports. Each support comprises an elongated support element, such as a pipe, and a plate element removably secured to an end of the support element. The plate elements support bottom surfaces of the logs and substantially prevent such bottom surfaces from moving downward. The weight of the building is concentrated within the support columns.

Abstract: A shear panel assembly including a shear panel in combination with a shear panel hold-down. The shear panel includes a frame and a panel diaphragm including a peripheral edge. The frame includes an upper horizontal frame member pivotally interconnecting the upper ends of first and second upright frame members. A lower horizontal is connected at the lower ends of the first and second upright frame members. The peripheral edge of the panel diaphragm is secured to an inner periphery of the frame within the depth of the frame. The shear panel system includes a hold-down having a base and at least one upright frame member engagement tab pivotally connected to and extending from the base for attachment to an upright frame member.

Abstract: A device to inexpensively repair a wooden post that has rotted or failed. The device comprises a plate which has a plurality of holes drilled or punched in it for attaching above ground level to a side of a wooden post and at least two rods depending out from the face of the plate. At least one of the rods depends near the top of the plate and at least one of the rods depends near the bottom of the plate. This location of the rods allows them to work cooperatively in push-pull to counteract a moment tending to overturn the post. The rods extend into a hole dug in the soil adjacent to the existing post footing. After the fence has been aligned as desired, the hole is filled with concrete surrounding the rods.

Abstract: A device to inexpensively repair a wooden post that has rotted or failed. The device comprises a plate which has a plurality of holes drilled or punched in it for attaching above ground level to a side of a wooden post and at least two rods depending out and down from the face of the plate. At least one of the rods depends near the top of the plate and at least one of the rods depends near the bottom of the plate. This location of the rods allows them to work cooperatively in tension-compression to counteract a moment tending to overturn the post. The rods extend into a hole dug in the soil adjacent to the existing post footing. After the fence has been aligned as desired, the hole is filled with concrete surrounding the rods.

Abstract: An insulated concrete wall assembly having an embedded anchor plate which enables reliable mounting of fixtures, such as curtain rod brackets and the like, to an exposed surface of an interior wall of a building. The anchor plate is preferably an expanded metal plate having securement apertures of a size to receive and positively engage a fastener extending through wallboard and the anchor plate thereby permitting the fixture to be drawn into tight engagement with the wallboard by positive engagement of the fixture mounting fastener with the anchor plate. In addition, the anchor plate preferably has integrally formed securement projections, or spikes, which enable the anchor plate to be pressed into engagement with the rigid foam insulation before wallboard, such as drywall, is applied over the insulation. The invention also relates to a method of assembling an insulated concrete wall.

Abstract: An expanding sleeve of an anchor is arranged around a threaded shank engaged in a plug for expanding the sleeve. The sleeve includes an axially compressible portion which includes portions that can be sheared and which are arranged so that after they have been sheared they allow the sleeve to be shortened axially. The sleeve consists of a cut-out sheet-metal blank rolled up on itself.

Abstract: A mullion connector connects a mullion to a building structure, the mullion connector having a first flange and a second flange in a plane generally perpendicular to the first flange with a first flange having a first fastener opening capable of allowing relative motion of the mullion connector relative to the mullion in at least one direction and a second flange having an second fastener opening capable of allowing relative motion of the mullion connector relative to the building in at least two generally perpendicular directions. By placing the second flange on a generally horizontal surface such as a building floor, and loosely fastening the second flange through the second fastener opening to a building anchor, the first flange opening may be attached to the mullion allowing up and down and rotational motion while the second flange opening allows in & out and left to right motion while supporting the mullion.

Abstract: A wall mounting system includes an interlocking mesh backing element mounting to a substrate, such as foam insulation. The backing element has pointed corner portions that are pushed into the substrate and retain the backing element. A wall covering layer such as drywall overlays the substrate and the mesh backing element. A fixture having has bolts, screws or other attachment members extending through the wall covering layer and the mesh backing element. The system has several backing element styles, including planar elements, inner right angle elements and outer right angle elements.

Abstract: A tie-down system for attaching beams used in creating a roof system to the supporting walls of a structure. The tie-down system having a first member and a second member which are adapted to receive the beams therein and secure the same to the wall system in a steadfast manner.

Abstract: A rebar anchorage system for a horizontal lifeline is described as well as the method of installing the same. Preferably, two triangular frames are secured to vertically extending rebar by eight sets of J-bolts and speed nuts. The frames are preferably made of tubular steel, and may be attached to the vertically extending rebar by one workman. Two or more rebar lifeline anchors may be used in combination to secure the ends of a horizontal lifeline. Three or more anchors can be used to secure two or more lifelines that are perpendicular to each other, such as along the outer, leading edges of a construction site.

Abstract: A masonry reinforcing tie is formed of a pair of spaced apart, parallel elongate elements joined by a series of lateral crossmembers welded or otherwise affixed across the elongate members. The elongate elements and crossmembers are preferably formed of heavy metal wire or rod. The elongate members each include a series of spaced apart joint spacing elements formed integrally therewith, with the spacing elements having a height equal to the standard mortar joint thickness between vertically adjacent courses of block or brick. The spacing elements may be any suitable shape, e. g., V, U, square, etc. as desired, and may be laterally aligned with one another, staggered, and/or evenly or unevenly spaced along the elongate elements as desired. The spacers may be formed during manufacture of the tie by passing the tie through a roller die, stamping the spacers along the elongate elements, etc.

Abstract: A building construction connector has a horizontal seat portion, a pair of vertical side walls extending vertically upwardly from opposite sides of the seat portion, and forming a U-shaped recess therewith, an adhesive attachment on the seat portion, and a readily removable protective cover on the adhesive attachment.

Abstract: An anchoring device for components made of concrete comprises an elongated section which is associable with a concrete component so as to protrude from the component with at least one of its longitudinal sides and with at least one portion of its lateral faces, which extend from the longitudinal side. Engagement regions are provided in this portion of the lateral faces of the section and form a plurality of possible engagement positions, mutually spaced along the longitudinal extension of the section, for a coupling element which is detachably associable with the portion of the section that protrudes from the component. The coupling element has at least one engagement region which forms a plurality of possible engagement positions, mutually spaced parallel to the longitudinal extension of the section, for an element for connecting the coupling element to another component or another element to be rigidly coupled to the component.

Abstract: A brick or masonry structure is drilled to receive an elongate reinforcing assembly comprising a core with one or more fabric sleeves over most of its length. The sleeves are injected with grout that seeps through the fabric to bond to the drilling wall. It may bond directly to the core or to a tube through which the core extends. The core is anchored to the structure at or near the mouth of the drilling while a tube farthest from the mouth may have a connection to the core that allows the core to be pulled towards the mouth with progressively greater resistance.

Abstract: A tie rod, for insertion into an anchorage where it is secured by at least one of an organic and inorganic mortar composition has an axially extending shaft (2) with an axially extending connection section (3) and an axially extending anchoring section (4). The anchoring section (4) has at least two conically shaped members, one following the other in the axial direction and with the outside diameter of the members increasing toward a leading end of said anchoring section. The conically shaped members (6, 7) include a first cone (6) at the leading end of the shaft, inserted first into the anchorage and secured to the shaft (2) so that it cannot be shifted axially. At least one second cone (7) separate from the first cone can be slipped onto the anchoring section (4) of the shaft so that it can be shifted to a limited axial extent along the anchoring section (4).

Abstract: Tie wire with a square cross section is provided which has a 30% increase in tensile strength and at least a 100% increase in surface contact with rebar which it is used to secure. The generally square configuration includes four convex portions at the corners, each pair of convex portions being interconnected by a concave portion. The concave portions may achieve an even larger increase in surface contact as they contact the surface of the rebar.

Abstract: An improved structural reinforcement bar for use in poured concrete construction has an anchorage plate fixed to a rebar body through friction welding. The friction welded rebar body and anchorage plate result in a structural reinforcement bar with improved axially oriented tensile load transfer capabilities having minimal space requirements.

Abstract: An anchor for an elongated structural member comprising sidewalls rigidly affixed in a spaced apart and confronting relation to a generally planar base for defining a channel to receive and secure the structural member to the planar base. The sidewalls have diverging sidewall surfaces from apexes from which the spaced and parallel sidewall surfaces extend in opposite directions along the planar base and support at least one prong to secure the planar base by the parallel sidewall surfaces. The prong is operatively positioned by upon rotational movement of the diverging sidewall surfaces to adjacent opposite sides of such a structural member.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a sheet metal leg retaining anchor having an upturned perimeter flange edge. The perimeter edge includes a plurality of holes there through and a threaded nut is secured centrally thereof. In the illustrative embodiment the anchor is placed within a roto-molded mold for the particular leg supported structure/cabinet being produced therein. The upturned perimeter flange edges are oriented to extend into the mold, that is, in the opposite direction from what will be the bottom end of the structure/cabinet from which the legs will extend. The bin is then formed by the roto-molding process whereby the plastic material flows over and around the exposed surfaces of the anchor. Specifically, the plastic flows through the holes in the perimeter flange edges providing for a strong mechanical locking or securing of the anchor to and with the plastic structure/cabinet. The legs are threadably engaged with the anchor and firmly anchored thereby to the structure/cabinet.

Abstract: The present invention enables a member to be accurately fixed to a floor. With tapped holes 5 in a member mounting section 2 accurately aligned with marks formed in a grating 20 so as to correspond to through-holes 9, a bolt 14 is screwed in an internal thread cylinder 23 (fixed in a vent hole 21 in the grating 20) through a through-hole 13 in a presser plate 12 that can have its position changed relative to the member mounting plate 2, and the presser plate 12 is used to fix the member mounting plate 2 to the grating 20.

Abstract: An interlocking wall and roof system for the protection of a building structure is disclosed. The interlocking roof and wall system is equipped with a plurality of supports that form downward facing open channels that are either already attached to the overhang of the roof or are easily attachable to the overhang. The system also includes a plurality of protective walls that surround the building structure. The protective walls can be lifted from a resting position to a position where at least a portion of the walls fit into the downward facing open channels of the overhang. These walls are lifted by a hydraulic lifting system. The invention also provides a complete building structure already fitted with the supports, hydraulic lifting system and protective walls.

Abstract: A bracket support for a ledger in order to secure the ledger to a wall in which a plate is temporarily attached to the wall, the plate including a shelf upon which the ledger is supported and a clamp removably presses the ledger to the wall until the ledger can be anchored to the wall by means of anchor bolts and grout.

Abstract: A kit for reworking an improperly installed concrete foundation bolt protruding an insufficient distance above a wood frame structure sill plate includes a combination nut-sleeve having a continuous internal thread, and an elongate cap sized to cover the foundation bolt. The cap is placed over the external threads of the foundation bolt, and a conventional hole saw used to remove material surrounding the foundation bolt. The cap is removed and the nut-sleeve combination installed. The length of engagement of the foundation bolt external thread is effectively increased, solving the problem of the improperly installed bolt in an easy and cost-effective manner.

Abstract: A tubular anchor includes a tubular member (1, 21) with a drilling head (2, 22) at one of its end, a load application element (3) extending along a portion of the tubular member opposite the one end, opening (5, 23) provided in a region of the drilling head. The tubular anchor also includes at least one, substantially cylindrical, hollow element (7, 24, 25) for receiving a mortar mass (4, 37, 38) and closed, at its opposite ends, with two displaceable pistons (8, 9; 31, 32, 33, 39), respectively, with one of the pistons being received in a piston-receiving region of the at least one mortar-mass receiving element and facing in a setting direction (S), (6, 35) and at least one through-opening (11, 34) spaced from a free end of the piston-receiving region (6, 35) by a distance (a, b) corresponding at least to a length (l) of the piston (8, 32) received therein.

Abstract: Retrofit connectors that secure together the outside sheathing and underlying structural members of wood-frame or masonry houses, preventing damage when subjected to lateral stresses from a hurricane, or transverse loads from an earthquake. The connectors have special bushings and bearing surfaces that tie the outside sheathing and underlying structural members together, but allow deflection, and transfer of energy to other structural members. Different embodiments of the connectors allow them to adapt to most wood-frame and masonry homes, and to most roof pitches.

Abstract: A device for invisibly fastening panels, especially natural stone heating panels, to walls with the help of a holding element, engaging a blind recess of the panel, wherein the blind recess essentially is a T-shaped groove with a threading opening, which is engaged by the cross sectionally corresponding head of the holding device.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides an anchor for providing an attachment point on a surface. In one embodiment, the anchor includes a center shaft having a first member and a second member pivotally coupled thereto. The center shaft has an attachment end and a piercing end. The piecing end is driven through the surface allowing the first and second members to pass therethrough. Once through the surface, the first and second members rotate away from the center shaft to an open position, thus preventing the anchor from disengaging the roof. A collar may be slidably disposed on the center shaft. The collar may be slid against the surface to lock the members in the open position.

Abstract: A continuity tie for providing both tension and compression resistance to externally induced movement of building structural members. A central body member is provided with a plurality of bolt mounting apertures in a staggered pattern and a pair of end plates having a rod aperture. One embodiment employs a tubular central body member having a hollow interior; another embodiment employs a generally U-shaped central portion with flanking flanges. Both embodiments can be mounted to building structural members separated by an intervening building structural member, with the continuity ties being secured together by means of a single rod arranged in the rod apertures in each continuity tie and secured in place by means of nuts. The staggered bolt patterns reduce the probability of mounting all bolts in a defect region of a timber building element. The hollow tube embodiment is symmetric and cannot be installed backwards. The rod aperture may be centered or offset from the central axis of the continuity tie.

Abstract: A multi-piece clamp for installation on a standing seam is disclosed. One component of the clamp is a clamp body with a clamp body slot formed therein. This slot may be mounted on a standing seam without having to slide the clamp body onto an end of the seam. Another component of the clamp is an insert(s) that may be disposed within the clamp body slot between a clamp body slot wall and the standing seam. One or more seam fasteners may be directed through the clamp body and a clamp body slot wall to secure each of the inserts within the clamp body slot by a compression of the same, and further to secure the clamp to the standing seam.

Abstract: A method of making and applying a chemical anchoring adhesive in the form of a highly viscous, self-contained rope or slug is provided. The rope or slug has an average cross-sectional area determined from a formula that takes into account the cross-sectional area of a borehole, the average cross-sectional area of an anchor pin to be inserted into the borehole, and a penetration factor which reflects penetration of the adhesive into the walls of the borehole. By selecting the proper area for the anchoring adhesive, the rope can be cut into slugs having depths equal to the depths of boreholes. When the slugs are inserted into the boreholes, and anchor pins are driven, the amount of adhesive provided by each slug will be just enough to completely fill the interstitial spaces between the anchor pin and inner wall of the borehole, accounting for penetration of some adhesive into the borehole wall.

Abstract: This invention is a mechanical connection for structural wood whereby forces are transferred from one piece to the next by shear friction. Members are placed side-to-side or otherwise in contact along a common friction surface at the point of connection. Shear friction strength is obtained by applying a clamping force, generally perpendicular to the plane of friction, by one or more tightened steel bolts with large washers. The addition of a medium at each friction plane is required to obtain a reliable friction connection. This medium is a thin flat solid material having deformations of sufficient size as to engage the clamping force, even after large volume changes in the wood, such as a thin metal plate with teeth or plugs projecting from both faces or the like.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a bracket for securing collector flight support tracks that are used in sludge collectors. The mounting bracket is suitable for use with various types of support track configurations. The mounting bracket is part of an assembly that is adjustable and includes a pair of unitary molded hubs and a connecting member that extends between the pair of hubs. The hubs are preferably constructed so as to facilitate being mounted in one of a number of alternative positions on a wall of a collector tank or to be secured to a variety of commonly used collector flight support tracks.

Abstract: A structural system of connected toroidal elements for all types of structures of all sizes, wherein such toroidal elements may be connected in level layers which may in turn be connected in stacks to form towers, domical and spherical structures, and connected in the forms of regular polyhedra to form domical and spherical structures. Structures may be constructed of frameworks formed by connected toroidal elements of various sizes and shapes.

Abstract: A system (100) for positioning and securing structural members (20, 30) to supporting walls (10) of a building includes at least a pair of mounting devices (105) respectively mounted to a pair of longitudinally extended laterally spaced building supporting walls (10). Each mounting device (105) includes a base plate (110) having a plurality of pairs of fixing members (120) disposed in spaced longitudinal relationship. A space (118) between each of the pairs of fixing members (120) is provided for receiving the structural member (20, 30) therein. Each mounting device also includes a pair of second fixing members (122) disposed adjacent opposing ends of the base plate (110). Each of the fixing members (120 and 122) are formed by vertically directed C-shaped channel members. Each channel member has a central web portion (130) bounded on two vertically directed sides by a pair of flanges (132) expending in a longitudinal direction.