12706results about "Towers" patented technology

A connector for interconnecting two building members together. The connector, in one embodiment, includes first and second plates secured together. Each plate includes one or more elongated slots wherein the elongated slots of one plate are oriented at an angle of approximately 90° with respect to the slots formed in the other plate. Fasteners extend through the slots in the plates and connect the plates of the connector to two building members such as a horizontal building member and a vertical building member. Once connected, one of the building members is free to move with respect to the other building member while the connector is connected to the two building members. In another embodiment, the connector is slidable within a track. In this embodiment, a portion of the connector extends from the track and connects to one of the building members while the track connects to the other one of the building members.

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.

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.

A portable drilling rig apparatus includes a rig floor having a pedestal structure thereon, the pedestal structure comprising a lower pivot point and a lower attachment point and wherein the pedestal structure is configured to be rotated to a vertical position about the lower pivot point. The drilling rig further includes a mast structure having a mast pivot point at a lower end of the mast structure wherein the mast pivot point is configured to be pinned to an upper pivot point of the pedestal structure.

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 plurality of studs (14) are spaced apart relative to each other. Upper end portions (32) of the studs fit into an upper channel space (22) and lower end portions (34) fit into a lower channel space (30). The lower channel space (30) is defined in part by a pair of spaced apart sidewalls (24, 26). Screw fasteners (52) extend through the sidewalls (24, 26) and connect them to the lower end portion (34) of the stud (14). The studs (14) have upper ends that are spaced from a web (20) forming the upper boundary of the upper channel space (22). Vertical elongated slots (48, 50) are provided in the sidewalls (38, 40) of the studs (14). Screw fasteners extend through the sidewalls (16, 18) of the upper channel member (10) and then extend into and through the slots (48, 50). The heads of the screw fasteners (52) bear against the sidewalls (16, 18) when the screw fasteners (52) are tightened. This firmly connects the screw fasteners (52) to the sidewalls (16, 18), but there is no connection of the screw fasteners (52) to the upper end portions of the studs (14). When the screw fasteners (52) are tightened, there is no clamping action between the heads (54) of the screw fasteners (52) and the upper end portions (32) of the studs (14). As a result, the studs (14) are completely free to move up and down relative to the upper channel member (10), within limits established by the lengths of the slots (48, 50).

A foldable member in the shape of a tube with at least one predetermined hinge area along the length of the tube and opposing sets of elongated slots in the tube at the hinge area thereof forming separated longitudinal strips of tube material between the slots which fold when subjected to localized buckling forces, each slot of each set of elongated slots separated longitudinally along the length of the tube from each adjacent slot by a bridge element of tube material. A collapsible structure constructed of such foldable members.

The invention relates to a paving system for tiles, especially flagstones, for paving ceilings, walls, or floors, in which each tile is provided with a paving frame on which the tile rests over at least part of its area. The paving frames comprise, on each of two adjacent (intersecting) limbs, a fin for the accommodation of a rubber-elastic sealing profile that defines the width of the seam.

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.

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.

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.