The present disclosure generally pertains to blocks for building landscape walls and similar structures, the molds used to make the blocks, and the methods for making the blocks. Such block can be securely coupled to another block. A block can be vertically coupled to another block by coupling the dorsal face of one block to the ventral face of another block. The block can be horizontally coupled by coupling the male side of one block to the female side of another block. A secure, exemplary landscape wall may be created by coupling the blocks both horizontally and vertically to reach a desired height, width, and shape.

An adjustable mold capable of making castings of various configuration is provided. The adjustable mold has an adjustable die with a core and an adapter, a protrusion, a cavity, and an outer portion with at least two sidewalls, at least two endwalls, and a base therebetween, which outer portion at least partially surrounds the adjustable die to thereby define a mold. During casting, molding material is poured in the mold and allowed to cure to make a casting. The adapter is replaceable to enable castings of multiple configurations to be cast suing the adjustable mold.

A panel insert is provided which is installed in a concrete wall form and secured at an intended location such that when the concrete is poured into the form and cured, the panel remains in place and through which holes or openings can be readily formed after the concrete wall has been constructed. The panel insert comprises a box or enclosure made of a suitable plastic or other material and having an interior filled with a structural and thermally insulative foam or other material. At least one gasketed flange is provided around the periphery of the enclosure which forms a watertight seal between the concrete and panel.

A panel insert is provided which is installed in a concrete wall form and secured at an intended location such that when the concrete is poured into the form and cured, the panel remains in place and through which holes or openings can be readily formed after the concrete wall has been constructed. The panel insert comprises a box or enclosure made of a suitable plastic or other material and having an interior filled with a structural and thermally insulative foam or other material. At least one gasketed flange is provided around the periphery of the enclosure which forms a watertight seal between the concrete and panel.

A universally adaptable waffle-cavity form and methods for constructing a waffle panel are described. The waffle-cavity form is provided with a standard shape and size and can be easily adapted to alter the dimensions thereof. The form can be cut down and combined with one or more other cut down forms to provide a combined form with desired dimensions. The forms can also be combined without first being cut down through the use of a saddle that is placed over a joint therebetween. A plurality of the forms can be affixed to a mold decking in a desired arrangement using anchors installed therebetween to form a mold that is reusable to produce multiple waffle panels.

A block reinforcement cage made from reinforcing material and adapted for loading within a machine during a block manufacturing process for molding a concrete U-wall construction block structure. The block cage includes an open aperture formed in each of its stem reinforcing portions. During the block manufacturing process, the first and second support members of a support mechanism are inserted within the open apertures formed in the stem reinforcing sections of the block cage, and cooperate with the open apertures of the block cage so as to (i) support the block cage when being loaded into a block manufacturing machine, (ii) define central apertures molded in each stem portion of the concrete U-wall construction block structure, and (iii) lift the molded concrete U-wall construction block when being unloaded from the machine.

A manhole base assembly and a method for making the same employ a non-cylindrical, low-volume concrete base that is fully lined to protect the concrete against chemical and physical attack while in service. This lined concrete manhole base assembly may be readily produced using a modular manhole form assembly which can be configured for a wide variety of geometrical configurations compatible with, e.g., varying pipe angles, elevations and sizes. The form assembly is configurable to provide any desired angle and elevation for the pipe apertures to interface with various underground systems, and can be formed on-site to facilitate compatibility with existing structures. The assembly provides for flexible, modular construction of a wide variety of lined manhole base assemblies at minimal cost, reduced concrete consumption and reduced operational complexity. The modular nature of the production form assembly also facilitates reduced inventory requirements when various manhole base assembly geometries are needed.

A skirt supports an access hatch at a predetermined height as the hatch is formed in concrete. The skirt can be permanently embedded in the concrete. The skirt includes a rigid frame defining a central opening, the frame has an inner surface and an outer surface opposite the inner surface. The frame defines a height between the upper edge and the lower edge. The height of the skirt is predetermined such that the combined height of the skirt and the hatch approximate the desired thickness of the concrete slab. The skirt may include an alignment tab extending from the frame at an angle with respect to the frame, with the alignment tab extending above the upper edge of the frame to guide the hatch into alignment with the upper edge of the frame as the hatch is moved into position on the skirt.

The present disclosure generally pertains to blocks for building landscape walls and similar structures, the molds used to make the blocks, and the methods for making the blocks. Such block can be securely coupled to another block. A block can be vertically coupled to another block by coupling the dorsal face of one block to the ventral face of another block. The block can be horizontally coupled by coupling the male side of one block to the female side of another block. A secure, exemplary landscape wall may be created by coupling the blocks both horizontally and vertically to reach a desired height, width, and shape.

A method for forming a hole within a ceramic matrix composite component includes forming a first core portion for a ceramic matrix composite component; embedding a hollow member into the first core portion at a desired location; wrapping the first core portion with a first ceramic matrix composite material; inserting a rod through the hollow member and into the first core portion; removing the hollow member; assembling a second core portion to the first core portion such that the rod extends into the second core portion; and wrapping the first core portion and the second core portion with a second ceramic matrix composite material.