A method and mold assembly for forming a dry cast concrete corner blocks having non-parallel front and rear faces and non-parallel end faces, with a hollow central core in the blocks. The corner blocks can be used to build a square or irregular corner in a retaining wall, and can be used to build columns or pillars in the wall, without having to cut the corner blocks. Fill material may be poured into aligned cores in the stacked corner blocks which form the wall corner or column, to stabilize the corner blocks.

A hardscaping block includes a dry cast concrete backer block having angularly arranged contact surfaces and an integrated wet cast concrete veneer block chemically bonded to the contact surfaces, the veneer block having an exteriorly facing simulated stone surface. The integrated backer block and veneer block form a cast stone corner hardscaping block.

A block, block system and method of making a wall block. Multiple block embodiments with multiple embodiments of a visually exposed surface having three dimensional shaped areas and three dimensional angular valleys or joints that can be used to construct a patio, wall, fence or the like; the multiple embodiments creating a more random and natural appearance.

Heat storage devices suitable for storing solar energy, and associated systems and methods are disclosed. A representative system includes a storage housing that contains a working fluid. A working fluid inlet pipe is coupled to the storage housing. A plurality of concrete plates are positioned in the housing, with the adjacent plates at least partially forming individual flow passages. A working fluid outlet pipe is coupled to the housing. A controller maintains a predominantly laminar flow of the working fluid in the flow passages. In some embodiments, the working fluid can be thermal oil having a boiling temperature of 300 C. or higher.

An interlocking construction block system comprising a family of blocks that interlock along three axes, including a left/right axis, a front/back axis, and an up/down axis. The family of blocks are self-aligning and do not require skilled labor or mortar to create a structure of any length, width, height, or shape. Each block comprises a specific geometry that allows all blocks in the family to interlock in a woven pattern that not only locks the blocks in place but also allows even distribution of structural weights and stresses. The disclosed blocks can be manufactured in different sizes to conform to any building code requirement and to create wall lengths to a one-inch measurement. The blocks may comprise channel openings to allow for plumbing, electrical, and structural reinforcements in the structure and may each be reinforced with an internal mesh cage.

A permeable surface covering unit comprises a top surface and at least two pairs of irregularly shaped mating sides, one or more passageways extending downwardly from the top surface, and at least one under channel connected to the passageways for retaining liquid, such as storm water. The sides of the unit preferably define an irregular rotational tessellation element. The passageways may comprise gaps or side cavities between units and/or core cavities or other passageways within the unit. Optional undercuts may be provided in the core cavities. Pervious material plugs are cast into the cavities extending into the channel or undercut. Thereby the plug is locked into the cavity like a rivet and resists being dislodged by mechanical or hydraulic forces. A permeable surface embodiment comprises a combination of pervious and impervious units, wherein the ratio of permeable to impermeable units and resulting surface absorption rate may be adjusted.

The present invention discloses a water storage system, comprising: a water storage brick, a water storage stick and a water storage unit, wherein the water storage stick and the water storage brick are made of construction waste, so as to realize recycling of the construction waste and achieve the effects of protecting the environment and saving resources. The water storage unit uses a mixture of the construction waste, a water retaining agent and an organic or inorganic fertilizer as a culture substrate, so as to retain water and increase the fertilizer. Because the resource utilization of the construction waste is realized, a good environmental protection effect can be achieved. The present invention provides a water storage system and a manufacturing method therefor, so as to effectively solve the problem of difficult water supply for greening and tree planting in arid and water shortage regions, benefit the improvement on an ecological environment, increase a vegetation coverage rate and bring important significance to resource utilization of rainwater and construction of the ecological environment.

A retaining wall block having a false joint and a system of retaining wall blocks. The retaining wall block includes a body having a first textured surface and a second textured surface and a false joint dividing the first and second textured surface. The false joint can have a depth divided by the width greater than two inches. The false joint can have an interior angle of less than ten degrees. The system includes a plurality of retaining wall blocks and a first course of retaining wall blocks engaged with a second course of retaining wall blocks below. Each block in the system comprising a front face having a first textured surface and a second textured surface and a false joint dividing the first and second textured surface. The false joint can extend a predetermined depth of a third surface.

An interlocking construction block system comprising a family of blocks that interlock along three axes, including a left/right axis, a front/back axis, and an up/down axis. The family of blocks are self-aligning and do not require skilled labor or mortar to create a structure of any length, width, height, or shape. Each block comprises a specific geometry that allows all blocks in the family to interlock in a woven pattern that not only locks the blocks in place but also allows even distribution of structural weights and stresses. The disclosed blocks can be manufactured in different sizes to conform to any building code requirement and to create wall lengths to a one-inch measurement. The blocks may comprise channel openings to allow for plumbing, electrical, and structural reinforcements in the structure and may each be reinforced with an internal mesh cage.

A system of retaining wall blocks, a method of assembling a retaining wall block assembly, and a mold for manufacturing retaining wall blocks having adjustable engagement configurations.