Wall systems and buildings having such wall systems are disclosed. Such wall systems include parametric mullions each of which is constructed from a plurality of interconnecting components so that the wall systems may be disposed much closer to the building frame than conventional wall systems. Such wall systems may include panels disposed to form convex or concave facades. Such wall systems may also include decorative features superimposed over one or more panels or extending outward from the facade surface. The parametric mullions may be formed into trusses which may be used as part of a wall system or independently of such wall systems.

A safety enclosure for building structures is an apparatus that provides maintains a safe and healthy living environment and shields hazardous conditions from a surrounding environment. The apparatus includes a structure enclosure, at least one entrance, a plurality of anchoring posts, a plurality of indoor environmental systems, a plurality of indoor maintenance systems, a main controller unit, and a power supply. The structure enclosure surrounds a building and any supplemental buildings. The building may include a variety of extensions as well. The at least one entrance provides access into and out of the structure enclosure. The plurality of anchoring posts secures the structure enclosure with the ground. The plurality of indoor environmental systems ensures livable conditions within the structure enclosure. The plurality of indoor environmental systems ensures the safety within the structure enclosure. The main controller provides a user with manual operation and the power supply provides the necessary power.

The disclosed technology provides a module useful in constructing an energy efficient, durable building structure, the module including walls to form a vacuous, sealed chamber substantially void of structural elements, materials and gaseous molecules. One or more ribs are affixed to or formed integral with an exterior surface of the exterior wall of the module, extending the width of the module. The disclosed technology further provides a vacuum apparatus which may be incorporated in communication with the vacuous, sealed chamber, for creating and maintaining a vacuum within the module. A method of controlling heat transfer within a structure is also provided, utilizing the modules as herein disclosed, each module being coupled with a vacuum apparatus in communication with the vacuous, sealed chamber, for creating and maintaining a vacuum within the module.

Vacuum tube railway system comprising a vacuum tube mounted on a ground support, a magnetic levitation railway track mounted inside a wall forming the vacuum tube for guiding a magnetic levitation railway vehicle, the vacuum tube assembled in sections along the ground support, at least some of a plurality of sections of vacuum tube being coupled together by a dilatation joint configured for hermetically sealing a dilatation gap between said sections of tube. The dilatation joint comprises at least first and second support plates mounted on an outer surface of the tube wall, a first support plate fixed to a first section of vacuum tube and a second support plate being fixed to a second section of vacuum tube, the support plates extending longitudinally over the dilatation gap over a length (L1) greater than a maximum dilatation gap (G).

A frame for retaining one or more masonry slips is provided. The one or more masonry slips each have at least two slots formed on at least two sides thereof. The frame includes a supporting structure including a back plate, and is configured to house two or more masonry slips, and two or more face rails positioned on the back plate of the supporting structure. Each face rail is configured to house at least one masonry sup, and includes a projection directed away from the back plate of the supporting structure, and a retaining element positioned at the end of the projection so that the retaining element is approximately parallel to the back plate of the supporting structure, and the retaining element is configured to be positioned within one of the two slots formed on the sides of the masonry slip.

A chemical storage tank assembly for storing sulfuric compounds includes a plurality of bricks that is each comprised of basalt. In this way each of the bricks can resist ingress of sulfuric compounds into the bricks. The plurality of bricks are arranged to define a floor, a plurality of walls and a roof of a storage tank to contain sulfuric compounds. A grout is positioned between each of the bricks for binding the bricks together to define the storage tank. Additionally, the grout is comprised of calcium silicate to resist the ingress of sulfuric compounds into the grout.

An arch building structure includes a plurality of structural arch assemblies, a plurality of purlins, and a plurality of flat roofing sections. The plurality of structural arch assemblies is positioned parallel and offset from each other upon the length of the building. The plurality of purlins is positioned perpendicular to the plurality of structural arch assemblies and radially positioned on the vertexes of the plurality of structural arch assemblies to further strengthen the building. Each of the plurality of flat roofing sections is mounted across a corresponding pair of adjacent purlins from the plurality of purlins so that the building roof can be completed.

Modular shelter systems are described herein. In one aspect, the modular shelter system includes an endcap positioned at a first end of the modular shelter system. The endcap includes a first support arch; and an endcap frame. The modular shelter system also includes a second support arch positioned at a second end of the modular shelter system. The modular shelter system also includes at least one section assembly disposed between the first support arch and the second support arch. The section assembly includes a plurality of purlins oriented along a longitudinal axis of the modular shelter system.

A building module which is a sandwich panel comprising a first region which provides part of the roof structure of a building, a second region which provides part of the wall structure of the building, and a third region which provides part of the floor structure of the building.