A one-piece, Z shaped steel plate foundation comprising a main plate body extending the longitudinal length of the foundation from a top to a bottom of the foundation, a single rear flange extending perpendicular to the main plate body in a first direction at a rear edge of the main plate body, wherein the single rear flange does not extend past the main plate body in the direction opposite the first direction, a single front flange extending perpendicular to the main plate body in the direction opposite the first direction at a front edge of the main plate body, wherein the single front flange does not extend past the main plate body in the first direction; and a plurality of mounting holes at the top of the one-piece metal plate foundation configured for attachment to the structure to be supported.

A one-piece, Z shaped steel plate foundation comprising a main plate body extending the longitudinal length of the foundation from a top to a bottom of the foundation, a single rear flange extending perpendicular to the main plate body in a first direction at a rear edge of the main plate body, wherein the single rear flange does not extend past the main plate body in the direction opposite the first direction, a single front flange extending perpendicular to the main plate body in the direction opposite the first direction at a front edge of the main plate body, wherein the single front flange does not extend past the main plate body in the first direction; and a plurality of mounting holes at the top of the one-piece metal plate foundation configured for attachment to the structure to be supported.

A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) injecting a third gas between the skin sheet and the mould, to force the skin sheet against the core sheet.

A process and apparatus for forming a structure comprising: a) forming a pack from a skin sheet and a core sheet, b) placing the pack in a mould and heating the pack; c) injecting a first gas between the core and skin sheets to urge the skin sheet against the mould; d) injecting a second gas on the side of the core sheet remote from the skin sheet to urge the core sheet against the skin sheet; e) maintaining gas pressure of the second gas thereby diffusion bonding the sheets; and f) injecting a third gas between the skin sheet and the mould, to force the skin sheet against the core sheet.

A hanger for connecting a structural member to a structural support including a base sized and shaped for receiving the structural member thereon. First and second side panels extend upward from the base. First and second back panels each extend from a respective one of the side panels. First and second top flanges each extend from a respective one of the back panels. An opening in one of said first and second side panels and said first and second back panels is configured to receive a fastener to attach the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support. A slot is adjacent the opening. An area between the opening and the slot defines a yieldable portion selected to deform at a load that is less than the shear load capacity of the fastener when received through the opening for connecting the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support.

A hanger for connecting a structural member to a structural support including a base sized and shaped for receiving the structural member thereon. First and second side panels extend upward from the base. First and second back panels each extend from a respective one of the side panels. First and second top flanges each extend from a respective one of the back panels. An opening in one of said first and second side panels and said first and second back panels is configured to receive a fastener to attach the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support. A slot is adjacent the opening. An area between the opening and the slot defines a yieldable portion selected to deform at a load that is less than the shear load capacity of the fastener when received through the opening for connecting the hanger to one of the structural member and the structural support.

A tool for manufacturing hot formed structural components having locally different microstructures and mechanical properties, the tool comprising upper and lower mating dies, each die being formed by two or more die blocks (10) comprising one or more working surfaces (34) that in use face the structural component to be formed and one or more supporting blocks, the upper and lower dies comprising die blocks are adapted to operate at different temperatures corresponding to zones of the structural component to be formed having locally different microstructures and mechanical properties, the die blocks including one or more warm die blocks adapted to operate at a higher temperature, and one or more cold die blocks adapted to operate at a lower temperature, and wherein at least one of the warm die blocks is an electrically conductive die block which is electrically connected to a current source configured to provide a DC current through the die block to control the temperature of the die block. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing hot formed structural components is also provided.

A tool for manufacturing hot formed structural components having locally different microstructures and mechanical properties, the tool comprising upper and lower mating dies, each die being formed by two or more die blocks (10) comprising one or more working surfaces (34) that in use face the structural component to be formed and one or more supporting blocks, the upper and lower dies comprising die blocks are adapted to operate at different temperatures corresponding to zones of the structural component to be formed having locally different microstructures and mechanical properties, the die blocks including one or more warm die blocks adapted to operate at a higher temperature, and one or more cold die blocks adapted to operate at a lower temperature, and wherein at least one of the warm die blocks is an electrically conductive die block which is electrically connected to a current source configured to provide a DC current through the die block to control the temperature of the die block. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing hot formed structural components is also provided.

A one-piece, Z shaped steel plate foundation comprising a main plate body extending the longitudinal length of the foundation from a top to a bottom of the foundation, a single rear flange extending perpendicular to the main plate body in a first direction at a rear edge of the main plate body, wherein the single rear flange does not extend past the main plate body in the direction opposite the first direction, a single front flange extending perpendicular to the main plate body in the direction opposite the first direction at a front edge of the main plate body, wherein the single front flange does not extend past the main plate body in the first direction; and a plurality of mounting holes at the top of the one-piece metal plate foundation configured for attachment to the structure to be supported.

A one-piece, Z shaped steel plate foundation comprising a main plate body extending the longitudinal length of the foundation from a top to a bottom of the foundation, a single rear flange extending perpendicular to the main plate body in a first direction at a rear edge of the main plate body, wherein the single rear flange does not extend past the main plate body in the direction opposite the first direction, a single front flange extending perpendicular to the main plate body in the direction opposite the first direction at a front edge of the main plate body, wherein the single front flange does not extend past the main plate body in the first direction; and a plurality of mounting holes at the top of the one-piece metal plate foundation configured for attachment to the structure to be supported.