A method of constructing multiple conduits in building foundations that eliminates the process of core drilling after the foundation has been poured and set. This method creates optional openings for possible future connections. The process uses removable conduit molds installed before the foundation is poured. Once the foundation has set, conduit molds are removed to explose conduits in the foundation as needed.

The invention discloses a load cell component for improving the structural strength of a pile body after self-balanced testing of a pile foundation, which comprises a loading unit component, upper displacement rod components fixed on the upper part of the loading unit component, and lower displacement rod components fixed on the lower part of the loading unit component, and further comprises telescopic rod components and a grouting component; there is a plurality of telescopic rod components, the telescopic rod components are fixed to the loading unit component, and the telescopic direction of the telescopic rod components is parallel to the loading direction of the loading unit component; each telescopic rod component comprises an inner rod and an outer sleeve, wherein a part of the inner rod is positioned in the outer sleeve, a slurry cavity is formed between the outer wall of the inner rod positioned in the outer sleeve and the inner wall of the outer sleeve, and the outer sleeve is provided with a slurry inlet; and the grouting component communicates with the slurry inlets, and when in use, slurry is introduced into the slurry cavities through the grouting component.

A pocket structure for receiving containerized plants is sloped and hung from a wire of a wire basket. The pocket structure includes hooks, an irrigation fitting and corresponding drip channel to transmit water toward the rear of the pocket, and slots in the walls. The mesh units include braces and are sized for shipping. An earth wall is formed of the mesh units and pockets, and includes irrigation tubing. The components may be formed into a palletized kit.

Elements, methods, and systems are presented for facilitating construction of a tiered wall of elements most or all of which are oriented along the wall. Such elements may each have a front, for example, that extends between opposite sides of the wall. Such walls may include localized widening or graduated element weights, for example, engineered to allow advantageous pressure distributions over those of conventional retaining walls. Alternatively or additionally such elements may include frontal projections that stabilize a curvilinear wall by allowing an element to penetrate an adjacent element of the same tier in one or two dimensions.

Elements, methods, and systems are presented for facilitating construction of a tiered wall of elements most or all of which are oriented along the wall. Such elements may each have a front, for example, that extends between opposite sides of the wall. Such walls may include localized widening or graduated element weights, for example, engineered to allow advantageous pressure distributions over those of conventional retaining walls. Alternatively or additionally such elements may include frontal projections that stabilize a curvilinear wall by allowing an element to penetrate an adjacent element of the same tier in one or two dimensions.

Elements, methods, and systems are presented for facilitating construction of a tiered wall of elements most or all of which are oriented along the wall. Such elements may each have a front, for example, that extends between opposite sides of the wall. Such walls may include localized widening or graduated element weights, for example, engineered to allow advantageous pressure distributions over those of conventional retaining walls. Alternatively or additionally such elements may include frontal projections that stabilize a curvilinear wall by allowing an element to penetrate an adjacent element of the same tier in one or two dimensions.

An antenna device includes a conductive manhole cover for partitioning an internal space of a manhole and an external space, a wireless device installed in the internal space, and a base station that is installed in the external space and transfers a radio wave with respect to the wireless device. When a notch portion is formed on the edge of the manhole cover and the manhole cover is attached to an opening of the manhole, a slot-shaped void is formed. By using this void as a slot antenna, radio waves from the wireless device can be re-emitted to the external space. With such a configuration, it is not necessary to specially prepare a slot antenna, and a low-cost antenna device can be realized.

In an exemplary embodiment, a system for making tied block mat with a border includes a mold having an array of mold cavities; and a hopper that receives a hardenable paste and is spaced from the mold to receive a sheet of mesh material therebetween, the hopper having an opening for depositing the hardenable paste into selected mold cavities, the hopper forming a filling zone with the mold wherein the hardenable paste flows through the opening into the selected mold cavities, and a blocked zone where the hardenable paste is prevented from entering other selected mold cavities of the mold; whereby the tied block mat is formed wherein the hardenable paste in the selected mold cavities becomes embedded in the sheet of mesh material in the filling zone, and a border is formed in the blocked zone where the hardenable paste is blocked from entering the other selected mold cavities.

A rotomolded lid for a meter box and a method of making the same are provided. The lid is formed in a rotomold process that embeds a pair of rebars within a hollow lid product. Concrete is then poured into the hollow portion and allowed to cure. The end result is a reinforced meter box lid that is configured to handle loads of up to 16,000 lbs. In addition, the presence of the rebars, which are ferromagnetic, allows a metal detector to detect the presence of the lid should it ever be inadvertently covered over or otherwise obscured from view. Furthermore, the central lid portion may also include a passageway covered by a hinged door to permit access to the meter box without having to lift up the lid itself. Another passageway, along with an associated countersunk portion in an upper lid surface, permits a wireless transponder to be positioned therein and connected to meter equipment in the box.

Extensible shells and related methods for constructing a support pier are disclosed. An extensible shell can define an interior for holding granular construction material and define a first opening at a first end for receiving the granular construction material into the interior and a second opening at a second end. The extensible shell can be flexible such that the shell expands when granular construction material is compacted in the interior of the shell. A method may include positioning the extensible shell in the ground and filling at least a portion of the interior of the shell with the granular construction material. The granular construction material may be compacted in the interior of the extensible shell to form a support pier.