A building construction and method of constructing a building including at least a lower level and a roof permits elevation of the roof of the original building as a unitary structure to a sufficient additional height to enable an additional level to be constructed intermediate the lower level and the raised roof. Vertically extendable stabilizing members are installed in the original building structure and are later used to support the roof structure after raising it so that an additional floor...

A biodegradable material comprising a mixture of at least one polymer with at least one cereal grain flour and, optionally, one or more acceptable additives.

Apparatus and method for raising a roof including at least two lifting beams which are generally parallel to the peak or highest point of the roof and at least two pairs of lifting towers which are arranged about the building. Each pair of lifting towers has one tower disposed along one face of the building and the other tower disposed along the opposite face of the building. The lifting beams are interconnected with the roof portion and the lifting towers; the selected roof portion is then seve...

A method for raising foundations of building structures is shown and described. The method uses a bracket assmebly having a tubular portion with a central channel and a lip that extends from the tubular portion. The lip is placed under the bottom surface of the foundation or slab and an assembly of pilings is driven through the channel until bedrock or other similar load bearing strata is encounterd. A hydraulic cylinder having a ram may be used to drive the sections of pipe that constitute the ...

A method and apparatus for constructing a multi-storey building. A first slab (22) is formed directly on top of a second slab (21). The slab (22) is formed with a plurality of apertures spread about the slab area. A plurality of extendible prop means (10) are positioned in the respective apertures, the head portion (12) of each prop means being connected to the first slab (22), the foot portion (13) of each prop means being supported by a slab below the first slab (22). The prop means (10) is ex...

The invention relates to an apparatus for the construction of monolithic of multi-level or pillar-framed buildings having suspended ceilings, said apparatus is provided with surface- and in given case working level-forming formwork shell surrounding the monolithic concrete form-space of the ceiling, formwork bearer supporting the formwork shell, furthermore actuating mechanisms, e.g. lifting units for lifting and lowering the formwork bearer, the actuating mechanism, e.g. lifting units are in fo...

Arc welding apparatus for use in conjunction with conventional link forming apparatus is operable for welding the closed ends of a link after it is formed. The electrode is mounted on a swinging arm which presents the electrode from the front of the assembly and positions the electrode substantially over the top of the link for welding thereof. The vertical, horizontal and angular positions of the electrode are adjustable by means of threaded adjustment knobs. A shield and gas tube are mounted a...

A free access floor comprising a plurlaity of units juxtaposed to both traversing and vertical direction, each unit comprising two right-angled triangular plates and first, second and third rectangular covers. Two triangular plates are so arranged to constitute a rectangle by facing their hypotenuses to each other. Two other side of each triangular plate have steps. Each triangular plate has three legs at its corners. The first, second and third rectangular covers are rested on the steps of the ...

A method and apparatus for raising concrete floor slabs to form a multi-floor structure. Slabs are cast near ground level with apertures cast for well placed columns. The slabs are lifted sequentially, uppermost first, by an air cushion backed up by follower means to hold the slabs safely at any elevation reached. The air cushion is created between the current uppermost slab, the slab below, and the walls of a steel enclosure erected around the stacked slabs and extending upward allowing slabs t...

A method for constructing masonry (brick, thin brick, tile, marble, stone, etc.) panels. Masonry units are placed face-down on an adhesive-coated positioning board, joint control means are applied, and a standard tilt-wall or precast panel construction is accomplished. Removal of the positioning board, adhesive, and joint control means results in a standard masonry faced wall panel which may be grouted.