Abstract: The invention concerns the construction process and can be employed in the course of construction of buildings and structures of different purposes in order to reduce labor consumption during formation of floor slabs, and to facilitate integrity retention of a slab and hoisting equipment during the rotation operation. The carcassing method assumes simultaneous construction of bearing solid-cast reinforced-concrete structural vertical elements and hinged to them vertically oriented reinforced-concrete pivot floor slabs. The construction process involves preliminary installation of separating elements between slabs and bearing structures as well as between adjacent slabs. After the concrete has developed its strength, the above slabs shall be flipped to the horizontal position and butt joints between slabs and bearing vertical elements as well as between adjacent floor slabs shall be grouted.

Abstract: A deck unit has a hinged, cover panel for use in a deck system as a ceiling. The hinge may be a continuous hinge running the length of the deck unit, preferably a continuous hinge, and extend the length and width of the deck unit including its side flanges or be recessed within it. The edge of access panel cover opposite its hinge is secured using a securing mechanism to a bracket affixed inside the deck unit. By example, a set screw is threaded through a hole in the cover panel, through a weld nut on the inside face of the cover panel and through a U-nut straddling the bracket. Accordingly from a distance, the hinge, latch and the securing mechanism are not visible to indicate that the cover can be opened to permit access to the deck system interior.

Abstract: A truss hinge that includes a number of different labeled parts, where connections between the two different parts can constrain the truss to different angles.

Abstract: A transportable, transformable structure utilizing a tower shuttle apparatus for converting the structure from a closed, transportable unit to an open, stationary unit. The tower shuttle includes a connection post, including a socket joint, connected to a shuttle cart on casters. The socket joint is capable of receiving a ball connection at the base of a structural tower affixed to the transformable structure. This connection allows a single operator to fully assemble a mobile performance stage or other transportable, transformable structure with ease and with no damage to the stage deck. The tower shuttle allows the towers to be moved into position no matter the required direction.

Abstract: Buildings are described that incorporate at least a folding building module and a complementary building module that also can be a folding building module. The building modules can be shipped to the building site separately and can be unfolded and connected quickly. The described foldable houses and buildings exhibit more design flexibility, are formed from easily transported building modules, and/or allow folded building modules that are substantially in finished condition. Additionally, methods for forming the buildings and houses are described.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a unit-wall structure for a liquefied gas storage tank on land, which enables rapid and easy construction of a cylindrical wall of the storage tank by stacking a plurality of pre-produced unit-wall structures to overlap one another. The unit-wall structure includes iron rods arranged lengthwise and breadthwise therein, wherein the unit-wall structure has an arc shape so that a plurality of unit-wall structures are stacked to form a cylindrical wall of the storage tank.

Abstract: A shelter including a wall unit having walls. Each wall has a top edge, a bottom edge, and opposite side edges extending between the top and bottom edges. Each side edge is joined to a corresponding side edge of an adjacent wall to form a corner of the wall unit. The wall unit includes an access port in at least one wall. The shelter includes an upper rigid shell having a central portion surrounded by a channel for receiving the top edges of walls of the wall unit so the upper shell forms a roof of the shelter. The shelter includes a lower rigid shell having a central portion surrounded by a channel for receiving the bottom edges of walls of the wall unit so the lower shell forms a floor of the shelter.

Abstract: A construction element for erecting a structure has a first panel extending vertically to form a wall and a second panel extending horizontally to form a horizontal partition when they are arranged in an erected structure, the panels together form a three-dimensional configuration and are connected with one another so that in the erected structure they extend perpendicularly to one another and are turnable to include an angle there between to reduce a horizontal extension of the construction element for transportation purposes.

Abstract: The foldable habitation has a foldable roof with a central section which can be folded into a generally flat configuration for transportation and storage, and which can be automatically deployed into a chevron shape upon deploying lateral sections of the roof. A novel method of handling a foldable habitation is also disclosed.

Abstract: A construction block is provided that includes at least one base member that includes a plurality of lower side wall receptacles. The construction block further includes a plurality of side wall assemblies. Each of the side wall assemblies includes a plurality of interconnected panels. Each of the panels is hingedly connected to each adjacent one of the panels of the respective one of the side wall assemblies. Each of the side wall assemblies defines a hollow load chamber having an open top and an open bottom. At least some of the panels of each of the side wall assemblies are angled relative to one another. Each of the lower side wall receptacles receives one of the side wall assemblies.

Abstract: A transportable, transformable structure utilizing a tower shuttle apparatus for converting the structure from a closed, transportable unit to an open, stationary unit. The tower shuttle includes a connection post, including a socket joint, connected to a shuttle cart on casters. The socket joint is capable of receiving a ball connection at the base of a structural tower affixed to the transformable structure. This connection allows a single operator to fully assemble a mobile performance stage or other transportable, transformable structure with ease and with no damage to the stage deck. The tower shuttle allows the towers to be moved into position no matter the required direction.

Abstract: Movable partitions and systems are provided and may include accordion-style folding doors or partitions having sheets of folding panels. In one embodiment, the movable partition may include at least two hinge panels indirectly connecting adjacent folding panels. The hinge panels may have laterally space the adjacent folding panels from one another such that a compartment is formed upon retraction or folding of the sheets of folding panels. One or more control devices, such as an actuation device or a display panel, may be mounted on at least one of the hinge panels, or on the panel disposed between hinge panels such that, when the movable partition is in a retracted or folded state, the actuation devices are housed within the compartment.

Abstract: Load bearing and non-load bearing frames for walls, roofs and floors are prefabricated according to a predetermined building plan and made to disengage and collapse to a compact and intact frame, where, as with a wall frame, studs are resting against one another and the upper and lower tracks are in close approximation to each other, separated only by said resting studs. Said frames for walls, roofs and floors can be readily be transported to a construction site, where the collapsed frames are expanded, engaged, stabilized and permanently plumbed and braced.

Abstract: A construction block is provided that includes at least one base member that includes a plurality of lower side wall receptacles. The construction block further includes a plurality of side wall assemblies. Each of the side wall assemblies includes a plurality of interconnected panels. Each of the panels is hingedly connected to each adjacent one of the panels of the respective one of the side wall assemblies. Each of the side wall assemblies defines a hollow load chamber having an open top and an open bottom. At least some of the panels of each of the side wall assemblies are angled relative to one another. Each of the lower side wall receptacles receives one of the side wall assemblies.

Abstract: A door security system serves to substantially improve the reliability of the entire door assembly with sidelights. The system may comprise five or six components. Several doorjamb stanchion shields may be mounted around a door jamb stanchion on the side of the door jamb corresponding to the door slab free swinging edge. Similarly several door jamb stanchion shields may also be mounted on a doorjamb stanchion on the hinge side of the door jamb. The shields include sleeves that wraps on three sides around the door jamb stanchion to reinforce and stabilize the door system.

Abstract: A recoverable gabion is disclosed. The gabion comprises opposed side walls connected together at spaced intervals by a plurality of partition walls such that spaces between neighbouring pairs of partition walls define, together with the side walls, individual compartments of the gabion, adjacent side and partition walls being connected to one another by pivotal connections wherein at least one partition wail comprises at least three partition wall elements, a first partition wall element being pivotally connected to a first side wall and a second partition wall element being connected to a second side wall, and the partition wall comprising at least a third partition wall element between said first and second partition wall elements acting as a spacer element therebetween to extend the width of the gabion compartment and being releasably connected to the first and second partition wall elements.

Abstract: A transportable building system including at least partially erecting a building, transporting the at least partially erected building on its side to a building location, locating the at least partially erected building on a support at the building location, and orientating the at least partially erected building so that it is correctly orientated relative to its support. Further disclosed is a transportable building, including a first structural component, a second structural component and a hinge coupling the first and second structural components whereby the second structural component is pivotable between a folded position and an unfolded erected position of the building. The hinge is reconfigurable to allow the second structural component to be relatively displaced away from the first structural component in the unfolded erected position of the second structural component.

Abstract: Precast planar construction wall blocks are provided with various configurations of fingers. Structures are rapidly assembled by aligning the fingers and inserting a pin through vertical sleeves provided in the fingers. Finger joints are typically shimmed and grouted for additional strength. Openings for doors and windows are provided in some wall blocks. Floor blocks are supported on ledges at the top of wall blocks or by portions of the top edges of wall blocks. A concrete or other topping may be added to floor blocks, and conduit may be run in the topping.

Abstract: In a system for making walls, at least two pairs of connector plates are provided, each including receptacle for receiving an end of a structural member. At least one spacer plate is located between and rotatably coupled to successively positioned connector plates. To form a wall, a pair of connector plates is coupled via the retaining means, one to each of a pair of generally opposing ends defined by structural members. The connector plates are rotatably movable relative to the spacer plates thereby allowing the structural members to be oriented relative to one another so as to form a surface having desired contours.

Abstract: A curved metal track for receiving a series of metal studs and forming a part of a curved metal wall. The track comprises a plurality of sections with each section being pivotally connected to an adjacent section. Structurally each section comprises a base plate having opposed first and second end portions. Formed in the first end portion is a slit or opening. The second end portion of each section is adapted to be inserted into the slit or opening of an adjacently disposed section. A pivot connector is utilized to pivotally connect the first end portion of one section with the second end portion of another section. There is also provided a pair of opposed stud tabs that extend normal to the base plate and which are adapted to be secured to the sides of a stud. By pivotally connecting the individual sections of the track, the track can be curved and accordingly can be configured to form a part of a curved metal wall.

Abstract: The present invention relates to prestressed composite truss girder and construction method of the same. The prestressed composite truss girder of the present invention comprises a concrete bottom plate having structure of composite truss; a lower-chord member being composed of prestressed concrete wherein prestress is induced to resist against the elongation strength generated when composing and not composing and to reduce the droop occurred at the state of composition and having perpendicular and horizontal cross-section of certain shape and certain length; web members wherein vertical chords and diagnal chords composed of rolled steel to upper plate of said lower-chord member; and upper-chord member combined with said web members along the longitudinal direction of said lower-chord member to resist against the compressive force generated before said concrete bottom plate being composed.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming curved structures comprises a plurality of pivotally connected sections, each section having a track portion, and a strap member adapted for slidably engaging the track portion of the sections such that the sections are movable to form a radius of curvature. A method of forming a curved structure comprises providing runners having a plurality of pivotally connected sections, each section having track portions, and each runner further having two strap members slidably engaging each of the track portions. The method also includes oppositely placing the runners in a curved position such that the runners are substantially aligned and attaching studs between the runners.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a sloped floor includes a plurality of elongate arms disposed in radial array relative to a drain. Each arm has a common height along its extent. The radially innermost end of each arm is positioned near or connected to the drain. In a first embodiment, the radially innermost end of each arm is pivotally connected to an adapter that is connected to a center ring that circumscribes the drain. In a second embodiment, each arm is positioned at an incline by an adapter that rigidly joins the arm to the center ring. In a third embodiment, the arms are of shallow construction and are removed after the concrete has been poured. A mounting strip secured to the shower wall may support the radially outermost end of each arm. In all embodiments, the concrete is worked so that it is flush with the uppermost edge of each elongate arm.

Abstract: A substantially preassembled modular frame system for erecting permanent school buildings. The system design, materials, and construction have been pre-approved by state inspectors. The system provides a roof that is extensible from a low position that is configured to permit the system to be transported on highways and fit under common overpasses and bridges to a pitched position that provides a sloped roof profile to improve insulation factors of completed buildings and better shed rain, snow, and debris. The system includes anchor assemblies that are rigidly connected to the frame to inhibit uplift forces acting on the building from distorting or dislodging the building from the foundation. The system also includes preassembled wall panels and a convenient mechanism for emplacing and securing the wall panels within the modular frames.

Abstract: A method for erecting a modular building on the ground of a building site with the use of a lifting device having a support pedestal and having a mechanism therein for causing relative movement relative to the support pedestal comprising the steps of providing a floor supported by the ground and having an outer perimeter. A plurality of wall components are provided. The lower extremities of the wall components are hingedly secured to the perimeter of the floor. The lower extremities of the roof components are hingedly secured to the upper extremities of the wall components. The wall components and the roof components are positioned so that they lie in planes parallel to the floor. The support pedestal is vertically positioned on the floor. Pulling cables are secured to the upper extremities of the roof components and extend to the upper extremity of the support pedestal.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved modular panel arrangement for the assembly of a first panel to a second modular panel or a portion of a permanent wall. The arrangement comprises a modular panel of generally rectilinear configuration, having at least one edge thereon. A first corner block is attached to the edge of the panel. An elongated tensile connecting rod is pivotally attached to a pivot hinge of the first corner block, the rod having a lug disposed transversely across at least one end thereof. A second corner block is attached to the second panel or portion of the wall. The second block has at least one cammed locking finger on a base thereof, wherein the rod is swingable about the pivot hinge on the first corner block to permit the lug thereon to engage a cam surface on the second corner block to lockably secure and align the edge of the first modular panel with the second modular panel or wall. The tensile rod may be adjustable to accommodate variations in spacing of the panels and/or wall.