A method of constructing buildings of modules is disclosed in which the modules are formed of overhead and wall panels fabricated with means embedded therein having no portion extending beyond the boundaries thereof for distributing the weight thereof to a plurality of points spaced from each other along their edges, which edges are mechanically interconnected by removable hinge joinder means extending between the embedded means in adjacent panels when they are in selected juxtaposition. Means f...

There is shown the preforming of walls and floor slabs as a stack wherein the walls of each story are connected to the next floor slab thereabove by lift pick-up cables spaced along the to be top edge of each wall. Lift apparatus forming no part of the building is provided for attaching lift fixtures to elements cast in the edges of the floor slabs. The lift apparatus includes pairs of columns as necessary supporting a repositionable upward bridge therebetween having lifting jacks operating lift...

In a building construction method a plurality of building segments are coupled together and raised in unison from a central control point via a crane. The crane has a plurality of lifting cables selectively driven from a plurality of winches under the control of the operator. The building segments are pivotably coupled together for lifting into position and for locking together to form a rigid self supporting building structure. Successive layers of the building are hoisted into position via det...

A method for erecting absorber towers using trestle means (26) with jack means (32) to assemble a course and then lift it while constructing the next course below it. The first course is lowered on the just assembled course and welded thereto. These steps are repeated to form the outer wall (34) of the absorber tower (10). A clearance (48) is provided between the elevated course and the course to be assembled for installing the internal components of the tower. Advantageously, the method of the ...

A prefabricated wall insert unit is disclosed for rapid installation in a wall having an outer surface, an internal space, a ceiling plate, and a floor support. When installed, an exterior assembly, with upper and side perimeter attachment areas, projects away from the outer wall surface. A header is fastened to the exterior assembly proximate the upper perimeter attachment area and is within the wall internal space immediately below the ceiling plate. At least two side support members are faste...

A structural support system for a building is formed from preferably prefabricated, light weight steel framed, bearing wall panels and precast, hollow core concrete floor slabs that are positively interlocked by, for example, splice plates, provided at the top of the bearing wall panels, reinforcing bars and grout, which fills the joints between adjacent slabs to form a unitary structure. A method of making such a supporting system also is disclosed.

A panel assembly includes a resiliently deflectable panel and a plurality of retainer clips. The panel includes a relatively thick rectangular base section and a relatively thin rectangular lip section which extends outwardly from the periphery of the base section. The retainer clips are connected with the base section and cooperate with the lip section of the panel to engage a support structure to hold the panel in place. To mount the panel in the support structure, the panel is resiliently fle...

A wall base for wall-to-wall carpeting, formed of a rubbery plastic material, has a flat planar portion for engaging against the wall and an outwardly extending bead or flange positioned to engage the surface of the carpet and to cover its edge. In a preferred embodiment the extending bead has a convexly curved upper surface and a flat lower surface, giving the bead appreciable rigidity, so that a carpet with its edge lying over the bead can easily be tucked under the bead using a blade-type too...

There is disclosed a novel precast building structure system for a polygonal building, preferably a twelve-sided building structure. In particular, the precast structures are constituted by four basic units namely, a system of central core elements, a floor panel system constituted by essentially identical precast concrete floor elements, a plurality of like numbered wall elements which may have openings of various kinds for doors, windows, etc., and a plurality of roof panel elements correspond...

A retractable support column for overhead structures that comprises there sets of rectangular shaped links that have mating hooks extending laterally outward from adjacent link chains so that the hooks can engage each other when the links are placed vertical next to each other and can disengage each other when the lower link is rotated into a horizontal position with a drive mechanism for engaging gear racks on the link chains to permit the user to raise and lower retractable column.