12798results about "Towers" patented technology

The present invention is a polymeric panel system and method for production and use thereof, enabling the rapid construction of a building foundation wall or other structure and in particular a below-grade foundation. The polymeric foundation system includes polymeric wall panels and other components suitable for withstanding lateral and end compression loads. The walls include two parallel faces separated by a series of webs or ribs, where the webs and faces of the wall panels may be formed of a similar polymer material such as polyvinylchloride (PVC). The wall panels and / or other components may be extruded so as to enable the rapid production of sections of wall panels, where the panels may be cut to length and then affixed to adjacent panels to form a foundation wall. The method of affixing adjacent panels may include welding, gluing or other techniques and may be performed on the job site or in a pre-fabrication facility. Furthermore, the wall panels may be co-extruded with an insulating material inserted in the voids between the parallel faces so as to provide improved thermal performance of the foundation as well.

An attachment assembly and a method for mounting a traffic control device to a mast arm are provided. The attachment assembly includes an attachment device. The attachment device includes a first portion operably connect to the mast arm so that a first surface of the first portion is oriented toward the mast arm, a second portion extending substantially parallel to the first portion along at least a portion of a first length, a second surface of the second portion is oriented toward the traffic control device, and a third portion having a third length and extending between the first portion and the second portion so that a gap is formed between a second face of the first portion and a first face of the second portion that allows the attachment device to flex when the traffic control device is mounted to the mast arm.

The invention relates to a full-automatic utility pole centralizer comprising a hoop, a hydraulic mechanism, a length adjuster, a connecting shaft, a right hand thread screw, a left hand thread screw, a base, a mercury switch and an electric hydraulic pump. The hoop is connected with the hydraulic mechanism through the connecting shaft. The hydraulic mechanism and the right hand thread screw are welded together. The right hand thread screw and the left hand thread screw are screwed in two ends of the length adjuster, respectively. A limit stopper is arranged at the end of each of the screws screwed into the length adjuster. The other end of the left hand thread screw is connected with the base through the connecting shaft. The hydraulic mechanism is provided with a relief valve and a hydraulic joint. The electric hydraulic pump is connected with the hydraulic joint through a high-pressure rubber pipe. The mercury switch is parallelly attached to a utility pole and is connected with the electric hydraulic pump through a circuit. The full-automatic utility pole centralizer has the advantages that when tilting, the utility pole can be automatically centralized with no power outage; power supply reliability is ensured, work efficiency is improved, and risks caused by power outage are reduced.

Precise parameters are maintained in a support system for solar panels or other panel-like structures through use of a collapsible folding, support frame which is preassembled to precise tolerances at a convenient staging site before being collapsed for shipment. Installation on flat roofs is also facilitated through the use of a roof interface frame which rotatably supports the panel support frame of the support system and folds along with it at the assembly, staging site.

An apparatus for reinforcing an upstanding utility / meter pole having a worn top includes an elongate brace adapted to bear against the pole near a top end of the pole. A washer plate is disposed in overlying relation to the elongate brace. A front support is secured to an opposite side of the pole by an elongate bolt that extends diametrically through the pole and is engaged by a nut to secure the brace and front support in sandwiching relation to the pole. A second embodiment reinforces a cross arm of a pole and a third embodiment ensleeves a pole at its uppermost end in a cylindrical body that serves as a prosthesis for a disintegrating pole top.

A tower comprises a base tower member fixed on a base in the ground, a lower tower member hingedly connected at a lower end thereof with an upper end of the base tower member through a hinge and swinging between a lying position and a standing position, a first stage connecting tower member connected at a lower end thereof with an upper end of the lower tower member, a second stage connecting tower member connected at a lower end thereof with an upper end of the first stage connecting tower member, and a third stage connecting tower member connected at a lower end thereof with an upper end of the second stage connecting tower member. Thus formed tower is raised swingingly around the hinge from the lying position to the standing position. A nacelle includes a tower penetrating hole through which the tower vertically penetrates and is formed by a plurality of nacelle sections divisible around the tower penetrating hole. After the tower is built, a plurality of nacelle sections are collected around the tower and are connected with each other while the nacelle is penetrated by the tower. Then, the nacelle is lifted up along the tower in that state and fixed to the top end of the tower.

A wooden post protective sleeve including a collar having an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a surrounding side wall. The open upper end is dimensioned for receiving the lower end of the wooden post therein. The surrounding side wall has a plurality of apertures therethrough downwardly of the open upper end. The apertures are dimensioned for receiving wood screws therethrough for engaging the lower end of the wooden post. The closed lower end has a plurality of drainage apertures therethrough. The drainage apertures include a central aperture and four peripheral apertures. The collar is fabricated of plastic.

A metal stud and clip assembly is designed for use in a non-load-bearing wall to allow a horizontal ceiling to vertically float thereon. This is accomplished by an elongated receiving channel on the stud spaced inwardly from its edges. A clip member has an elongated stabilizing bar slidably inserted into the channel, and the stabilizing bar itself then is secured to a horizontal ceiling or a track system mounted to the ceiling. Thus, relative movement of the ceiling with respect to the wall allows the stabilizing bar to move up and down in the receiving channel on the stud member.

An illuminated umbrella assembly having self-contained and protected lights is described. The illuminated umbrella assembly comprises (i) a lower vertical support pole having a first end for engagement to a generally horizontal surface and a second end extending upwardly there from; (ii) an upper vertical support pole having a first end coupled to the second end of the lower vertical support pole and a second end extending upwardly there from; (iii) a plurality of umbrella support bars extending from the second end of the upper vertical support pole; (iv) an umbrella panel overlaying and coupled to the plurality of umbrella support bars; (v) a hinged column coupled coaxially around and selectively movable along the upper vertical support pole; (vi) a plurality of hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rails, each having a first end coupled to the hinged column and a second end coupled to one of the plurality of umbrella support bars; (vii) a plurality of light strands positioned internally within and extending substantially along the length of the plurality of hollowed, elongated and non-opaque support rails, each of the plurality of light strands having one of a plurality of plugs on one end thereof; (viii) a battery sleeve containing a series of rechargeable DC batteries wherein the battery sleeve is contained coaxially within the lower vertical support pole and is electrically wired to provide power to the light strands by including outlets to engage with said plugs; (ix) a solar panel overlaying at least a portion of the umbrella panel and electrically wired to provide power to the light strands through the outlets; and (x) a plurality of coupling hinges for individually attaching the second ends of the support rails to the plurality of umbrella support bars. A power switch is often provided to control the illumination of the light strands.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention relate to the design of inexpensive mounting and pointing apparatuses for linear arrays of solar energy collectors and converters. Particular embodiments in accordance with the present invention disclose a rigging system comprising at least one, and preferably a plurality of, tensile cables onto which a plurality of solar modules are fastened. Such an arrangement provides a way of suspending solar modules over land, vegetation, bodies of water, and other geographic features without substantial perturbation of the underlying terrain. Certain embodiments comprise additional tensile cables fastened to the solar modules, such that differential axial motion of the cables produces a rotational motion component of the individual solar modules of the array. This rotational motion component effects an orientation control along one rotational axis.

A solution for a tower (10) that may be substantially tall, characterized by the appearance of a monopole, the capacity to support large objects and consequently sustain great lateral loads generated by wind or earthquake, the facility to conceal vertical access ladder and all other installations, such as antenna feeder cables, and the availability at an acceptable cost level. The heart of the invention is the basic concept of separation between the structurally functioning elements, which are kept concealed, and a non-structural shell (12) which provides the tower (10) the shape of a monopole. The tower (10) comprises, therefore, a tall metal lattice structure (14) having a central vertical axis (1) and certain apparatus for its anchoring to a foundation, concealed within a shell (12) concentric with said central vertical axis (1) and further characterized, at any given level, by a closed cross-section which is either circular or equi-sided polygonal, said shell (12) being internally secured to and supported by said lattice metal structure (14) in an appropriate density throughout its area, so as to maintain its shape when subjected to wind loads or any other likely loads.

The present invention relates to a moment-resistant structure, sustainer, and method of construction for deformably resisting episodic loads, particularly those of high intensity. The episodic loads may be due to earthquake, impact, or other intense episodic sources. The structure and sustainer may be in buildings, bridges, or other civil works, land vehicles, watercraft, aircraft, spacecraft, machinery, or other structural systems or apparati. Deformation capacity is enhanced by the use of multiple dissipative zones. Dissipative zones that function in a manner similar to plastic hinges are determined by one or more voids that are located in the web of a sustainer. The one or more voids are of a size, shape, and configuration to assure that the dissipative zones deform inelastically when a critical stress, i.e., a maximum allowable demand, is reached, thereby developing the action of a structural fuse, preventing the occurrence of stress and strain demands sufficient to cause fracture of the connection welds or adjacent heat-affected zones, i.e., preventing the stress and strain demands from exceeding the strength capacity of the connection welds or adjacent heat-affected zones. The sustainers may be removably connected to the remainder of the structure, facilitating their replacement after inelastic deformation. The structure, sustainer, and method of construction may be utilized in new construction and in the rehabilitation of existing construction. Mechanical equipment and utilities may pass through the voids.

An elongate modular decking plank is provided for assembly on a supporting subfloor together with a plurality of like planks to form a decking structure. The decking plank has a top wall spaced-apart from a bottom wall, and opposing laterally spaced downwardly converging side walls interconnecting the top and bottom walls. An integrally-formed flange extends outwardly from the bottom wall on one of said sides of the decoding plank. The flange includes a fastening portion for receiving fasteners therethrough to the supporting subfloor to mount the decking plank on the supporting subfloor, and a connecting portion for connecting the plank to an adjacent like plank in a manner which permits limited lateral and angular adjustment between adjacent planks. The plank is preferably extruded from high-impact polymeric material, such as PVC plastic.

A method and apparatus for installing a stanchion on a tile roof includes a tile which has an aperture and a stanchion which fits through the aperture. An existing roof tile is removed and the stanchion is connected to the roof sheathing at the place of removal. The tile is then placed over the stanchion so that the stanchion project through the aperture. In an embodiment of the invention, a sleeve surrounds the aperture and a seal provides a weather proof seal between the stanchion and the sleeve.

An umbrella base is comprised of a body portion containing a power source for powering umbrella lights or electrical devices or appliances used around the umbrella or other furniture accessory held by the base. A power console is provided for use on or above the base to provide connectivity to the power supply.

Disclosed are apparatus and corresponding methodology for providing a base support, such as including concrete, and used such as for a wind-driven generator. Precast concrete cylinders are stacked in place upon a platform that may be partially precast and partially cast in place during assembly and supported, in certain embodiments, by plural concrete legs, the other ends of which are supported on a unitary or subdivided concrete foundation. In other embodiments, the platform may be supported by ribbed concrete panels. The concrete cylinders are glued together using an epoxy and then secured by an internal vertical post tension system extending from the platform to the upper most cylinder. Different types of concrete are used between upper and lower sections of the stacked cylinders. The lower section uses reinforced concrete while the upper section used ultra high performance fiber reinforced concrete.

A building framework includes metal columns (e.g., tubular or I-beam), wood-product beams, and bracket connectors for joining the beams to the columns to form a building joint of sufficient strength and durability for buildings suitable for human occupation. First mechanical fasteners (such as bolts and nuts) secure a selected connector to the column, and second mechanical fasteners (such as lag bolts) secure a selected beam to the connector. The columns include double rows of holes. A plurality of different connectors with differently angled flanges are provided, such that beams can be connected at a wide variety of different angles. Further, the system allows columns and / or beams to be cut at the construction site, or at a building supply company. Thus, basic building components can be inventoried in a manner not previously possible, yet the system supports a wide variety of different building frames for on-site customization and adaptability.

A pre-stressed segmented concrete tower for wind power generators is described, and a method for its fabrication, wherein in a pyramidal structure is formed by prefabricated segments, the structure comprising three rounded walls formed with circular segments, and three flat walls, formed with flat segments between the circular walls. One standard curved mold is used for the circular walls, and the flat walls are fabricated horizontally, over templates.

Metal profiles used as top and bottom tracks with legs spaced apart a width to accommodate wall stud framing and resilient channel attached to at least one side of the stud framing One of the profile legs having a minimum of one return flange aiding in holding studs in place during construction and assembly life cycle. Intumescent material attached to a portion of at least one of the legs located proximate to the overhead (ceiling) structure or floor structure. Profiles are used to provide stud support, drywall edge support, fire stop protection at intersection joints, and accommodate the buildup of resilient channel used in the wall assembly All in one piece is installed at one time saving labor, materials, replacing limited caulk type materials used and eliminating installation defects typical in current construction methods

There is provided a PET-MRI hybrid apparatus and method for integrating a PET image and an MRI image so that anatomical, hemodynamical and molecular information on human tissues are simultaneously presented in a single image. The PET-MRI hybrid system comprises a first scanner for obtaining anatomical and hemodynamical information, and a second scanner for obtaining molecular and functional information on the human tissues. Along a path between the first scanner and the second scanner, a transferring railway system which includes runs, and a movable bed for supporting a subject installed on the railway. The PET-MRI hybrid system also comprises a “RF+ magnetic” shield and a “magnetic” shield between path between the first scanner and the second scanner, which switch between an open status and a close status in a completely synchronized manner to assure a complete magnetic shield for the PET system at any given time. The subject is fastened on the bed and transferred along the railway between the first and second scanner to provide accurately fused MRI and PET images.