An apparatus and method for applying mortar, grout, bonding materials and caulk ("sealing material") into or between building components or materials includes a handheld power tool having or adapted to mount, a hopper receiving a supply of sealing material, an auger associated with the hopper selectively to convey the sealing material, and a nozzle adjacent the end of the auger to direct the sealing material to the point of application. The auger may have temporary auger extension(s) releasably and rotatably coupled thereto for conveying sealing material into voids, cracks or holes ("holes") in the building components or materials, with the temporary auger extension(s) being uncoupled and left in the filled holes as a central anchor or reinforcing member. When used with caulk, the apparatus is preferably adapted to have a disposable caulk container coupled to the assembly to replace the hopper and a removable and disposable plastic auger assembly to replace the steel auger.

A helical structure having a shaft defining an axis of rotation and a substantially helical flight extending about the axis of rotation and composed of a plurality of sections each having a segment disposed in substantially right angular relation to the axis of rotation. A method for manufacturing a helical structure or the like including the steps of producing a mold having a mold cavity defining a configuration for the helical structure having a substantially helical flight composed of a plurality of sections having segments disposed in substantially right angular relation to an axis of rotation for the helical structure, introducing a moldable substance into the mold cavity to form the helical structure in the configuration and removing the helical structure from the mold cavity by separating the mold along a path substantially aligned with the segments. An apparatus for manufacturing a helical structure or the like, the apparatus including a first mold body having a mold cavity defining a first portion of a configuration for a helical structure having an axis of rotation with a substantially helical flight extending thereabout, a second mold body having a mold cavity defining a second portion of the configuration, and a structure for releasably interconnecting the first and second mold bodies for movement to and from an assembled relationship only along a path substantially right-angularly related to the axis of rotation of the configuration.

A vehicle discharge system for a vehicle (1) provided with a rearwardly tippable bed (2) which includes a tailgate (3) is constituted by a housing (5) mounted at the rear of the bed (2) adjacent to the tailgate (3), a discharge auger (4) rotatably supported within the housing (5) and arranged to receive material which passes the tailgate (3) when the bed is tipped, an auger drive (9) to drive the auger and discharge material carried within the vehicle bed (2) to the side of the vehicle (1) as the bed is tipped and flow control structure (1) capable of differentially exposing material held within the vehicle bed (2) to the discharge auger (4). The flow control structure is constituted by a flow control gate (1) which is capable of being moved in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the base of the vehicle bed (2) and tilted to form a tapered and adjustable opening which exposes material within the vehicle bed to the auger as the bed is tipped. The nature of an auger is to preferentially pick up material from one end remote from that at which material is discharged and so the flow control gate is tilted to expose less of the auger to the material at that end. The combination of varying the opening height and degree of tilt of the flow control gate ensures that material is discharged evenly and controllably across the width of the vehicle bed.