Improvements in machine walls to construct a building or house is disclosed. Adjacent side of the wall sections are tapered and dovetailed that lock-in-place. The dovetails are spaced to reduce the height that one section must be lifted to engage in an adjoining wall section. The footers/base plate will also have integrated earthquake or hurricane hold-downs in the footer/base plate that aligns and can be secured from the foundation to the wall sections. The connection of the wall section to the foundation to have counter flashing at the concrete insert and the wall-to-wall sections can be self-flashed. The wall sections can have GPS locators for positioning the wall sections. Plumbing and electrical conduit creating circuits that can be integrated into the walls and are connected sealed or bonded together.

There is provided a ventilating sill plate for elevating a wall portion from a receiving surface. The ventilating sill plate comprises at least one longitudinal base having a first and a second face opposite the first face extending along a longitudinal axis, the first and the second face extending laterally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis between a first and a second lateral side. A plurality of longitudinally spaced support legs extend away from the second face and define at least one ventilating channel extending from the first to the second lateral side of the at least one longitudinal base. A plurality of support pads project from the first face and collaborate for supporting the wall portion. A plurality of longitudinally spaced arms are shaped and sized to receive the wall portion therebetween.

A solar tracking carport comprises a supporting structure including a foundation and at least two columns connected or connectable to the foundation; a three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck having a length from a first edge to a second edge of at least one car, the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck including one or more upper blocks, each of the upper blocks being rigid at least in its longitudinal direction, each of the upper blocks including at least one solar panel; a deck frame configured to support the one or more upper blocks, the deck frame including a torque transmitting member; a rotation enabling connection configured to rotatably connect at least the torque transmitting member of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck to the at least two columns of the supporting structure; and a drive system configured to control tilting of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck about the supporting structure over one axis of rotation to a first maximum angle in a first direction and to a second maximum angle in a second direction, the first maximum angle preventing the first edge of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck from going below a first minimum threshold height, the second maximum angle preventing the second edge of the three-dimensionally rigid canopy deck from going below a second minimum threshold height.

A lateral bracing system having high initial stiffness and including yield links capable of effectively dissipating stresses generated within the lateral bracing system under lateral loads.

An apparatus for adjusting a haunch height and related systems and methods includes a support angle. The support angle includes first and second flanges, and a surface of the first flange includes a hole. The apparatus also includes a coil rod and a rotatable nut.

A resilient prestress-free steel structure includes the elastic centering beam and two pin-ended box column bases. The elastic centering beam includes two cantilever segment I-shaped steel beams, a middle segment I-shaped steel beam and buckling restrained high strength steel bars. The cantilever segment I-shaped steel beams are fixed to the two pin-ended box column bases, the middle segment I-shaped steel beam is connected between the two cantilever segment I-shaped steel beams, the buckling restrained high strength steel bars are symmetrically arranged. One end of each of the buckling restrained high strength steel bars is firmly connected with the web of each of the cantilever segment I-shaped steel beams, and the other end of each of the buckling restrained high strength steel bars is firmly connected with the web of the middle segment I-shaped steel beam. The resilient prestress-free steel structure is arranged in left and right symmetrical manner.

A clearspan structure including component systems, and methods of forming a clearspan structure including component systems, for mitigating hazards to personnel or equipment from explosions, fires, toxic material release, and other hazards in hazardous locations. The exemplary clearspan structure is also capable of withstanding environmental conditions such as snow loads and wind. The exemplary clearspan structure is, for example, a tent or fabric structure which includes a plurality of frame members forming a support system for the clearspan structure, and fabric roof portions and walls for enclosing the clearspan structure.

An apparatus comprises a solar panel or solar tile; and a pultrusion fiber reinforced polymer (PFRP) bracket connected to the solar panel or solar tile. The PFRP bracket mounts the solar panel or solar tile on a roof, and is configured to elevate the solar panel or solar tile a sufficient amount above the roof to enable airflow to occur under the solar panel or solar tile. The PFRP material comprises fibers embedded in a resin matrix. Exemplary fibers are glass, carbon, and synthetic fibers. PFRP products can be formed using a pultrusion method that eliminates outgassing. An intumescent fire barrier can be applied to the PFRP to meet National Fire Protection Association fire endurance codes and standards.

A louver system including a louver assembly mounted to a frame. The louver assembly includes first and second side members mounted to respective side elements of the frame, and a number of slat subassemblies with respective slat bodies that are rotatable about respective axes of rotation thereof. The slat bodies are rotatably held between the first and second side members by pivot pins. The pivot pins include one or more extended pivot pins, for securing the louver assembly to the side elements of the frame. Each extended pivot pin extends between inner and outer ends thereof. The outer end is formed to be partially positioned in a selected one of the side elements, and to engage an outer side of the selected side element. The inner end is formed for location in a selected one of the slat bodies, to rotatably secure the selected slat body between the side elements.

A clearspan structure including component systems, and methods of forming a clearspan structure including component systems, for mitigating hazards to personnel or equipment from explosions, fires, toxic material release, and other hazards in hazardous locations. The exemplary clearspan structure is also capable of withstanding environmental conditions such as snow loads and wind. The exemplary clearspan structure is, for example, a tent or fabric structure which includes a plurality of frame members forming a support system for the clearspan structure, and fabric roof portions and walls for enclosing the clearspan structure.