Abstract: A plurality of individual building construction pieces (20, 22, 24) of varying sizes, colors and geometrical shapes, which can be joined to one another in an unlimited number of ways through used of double-sided hook tabs (44) and display loop fabric (12). A user is enabled to create an unlimited number of practical and whimsical structures such as adult and children's furniture, protective pads, felt boards, make-believed animals, and play houses for the education, convenience and entertainment of children, and for the convenience and comfort of teenagers and adults.

Abstract: In this CIRIA report, industrial by-products and reclaimed materials used in road pavement foundations and earthworks were investigated for likely contamination of groundwater and surface water. By-products that are already used, or could be used in the construction of roads include: black top planings, cement kiln dust, China clay sand, brick rubble, crushed concrete, blast furnace slag (BFS), basic oxygen steel (BOS) slag, electric arc furnace (EAF) steel, minestone spoil, municipal solid waste, incinerator ash, PFA, rubber crumb, spent oil shale. Laboratory tests were carried out to determine leaching behaviour and the possible consequences of using by-products for water quality. in addition the testing procedures developed during the course of the study and outlined in this report provide a methodology for further research on other materials and combinations of the materials not analysed here.

Abstract: A previous account (Thompson and James, 1994) described the design, construction and instrumentation of four different pavements - asphalt (AS), concrete brick…

Abstract: Using a system based on non-dispersive infrared (NDIR) detectors, evolved gas analysis (EGA) was able to identify and quantify the principal volatiles produced by heating powdered samples of UK brick clays. From these results, atmospheric emissions likely to result from brick production can be predicted. In addition, EGA results for extruded brick clay test pieces are significantly different from those of powdered samples. Within an extruded brick clay body, evolved gases are contained within a pore system and evolved gas-solid phase reactions also occur. This EGA study provides further evidence on the nature of firing reactions within brick clay bodies. The qualitative and quantitative influence of heating rate — a key process condition in brick manufacture — on gas release is also outlined.

Abstract: An edge protector (10) for a brick package (20) is provided. The edge protector (10) comprises a length of pliable material (11) having a fixed width (13) and corrugated profile (15). The edge protector (10) is installed on the edges of the brick package (20) such that a general "L" shape is formed, thus protecting bricks (22) during shipping.

Abstract: Brick making in developing countries, which relies on biomass fuel, is facing energy shortage. This paper reports a study aiming to develop an energy-efficient brick kiln. The drying, preheating, firing and cooling of bricks were studied by computer simulation of a fixed bed model and resulted in a new design of downdraft brick kiln. The new kiln has four chambers to serve the four processes separately but simultaneously. A heat recovery feature was incorporated in the kiln operation. A kiln was constructed for full-scale experimentation. The experiments showed that the specific energy consumption could be as low as 2·3 MJ kg−1 of brick, which was only half of that presently consumed in traditional open top updraft kilns. The energy efficiency of the new kiln was 62·6% on average. © 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract: A template for laying a plurality of bricks including a substantially planar and rigid sheet having a plurality of support pins projecting therefrom at a 90° angle in a predetermined pattern for supporting a plurality of bricks. This pattern includes a first plurality of support pins being disposed along a first horizontal line at predetermined spaces corresponding to the length of a brick, and a second plurality of support pins being disposed along a second horizontal line at predetermined spaces corresponding to the length of a brick. The first horizontal line of support pins is parallel to the second horizontal line of support pins, and the first horizontal line is spaced from the second horizontal line by more than the height of a brick. In addition, the support pins in the first horizontal line are offset from the support pins in the second horizontal line. The template also includes a first plurality of holes formed in the sheet for receiving nails, screws or rivets for attaching the sheet to a fixed surface; and a second plurality of holes formed in the sheet for receiving an L-shaped wall tie for attaching the sheet to the bricks being layed.

Abstract: In conjunction with Boral and TNO Environment, Energy and Process innovation, Reststoffenunie has manufactured on an industrial scale a trial production run of bricks (70,000) from clay to which drinking-water sludge was added. The bricks were assessed in terms of production technique and environmental impact (leaching behaviour). The results of the study were then taken as a basis for closer evaluation of the feasibility of this option. The Dutch government is fostering the useful application of waste substances and therefore part financed the project (DROP subsidy scheme from the Department of Public Works/Road and Hydraulic Engineering Division and the ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment). The study showed that water iron is ideally suited as a red-colouring agent in brick production. From the process technique point of view, water iron is relatively simple to incorporate. In terms of leaching behaviour, the bricks satisfy the requirements of the Building Materials Decree and this application is economically attractive both to the water companies and the brick industry. The process has now become reality. Reststoffenunie has signed a 5-year contract with Boral Industrie B.V. on the basis of these study results.

Abstract: This work describes a reseach carried out on the manufacture of ceramic elements through the addition of brick powder to clay. Brick powder can the defined as a waste resulted from processing of ceramic materials. That experiment was developed using seven different clay samples from pottery located in the surroundings of UFSM. This material was used to study the following variables: basic clay, proportion of each component of the mixture, moisture drift to the moulding and burning temperature. The main physical and mechanical characteristics observed were: drying linear retraction, rupture tension, fire damage, burning linear contraction, water absorption, porosity, apparent specific mass and starting suction. Results indicate that it is possible to add homogeneized brick powder to clay in order to manufacture ceramic elements in an ideal proportion and burnt at a suitable temperature.The rupture tension and water absorption results satisfy the requirements established by brazilian rules, as well as brick powder addition controlled the retraction of the elements. Also, it can be concluded that the addition of brick powder to clay allows for a useful final destination to ceramic waste obtaining good quality products and avoiding environment pollution.

Abstract: The production of bricks, one of the main components in conventional construction technology, has been carried out by either a hand moulding process or by a fully mechanized process. Both processes have limitations in developing countries. An alternative solution is the use of decentralized non-power-consuming brick making units, utilizing unconventional raw materials which do not require baking to develop strength. A manually energized brick making machine (MEBM) has proven the feasibility of extruding various mixes including a lime-fly ash-sand mixture. The production of bricks with a keyed cross-section is investigated using the MEBM to establish the functional and economic viabilities of the technology to create a construction technology which relies on abundant resources, unskilled labour and zero energy input. La production de briques, l'un des elements essentiels de la construction traditionnelle, est assuree soit par moulage manuel, soit par des procedes entierement mecanises. Les deux procedes mo...

Abstract: The machine (1) is for automatic construction of walls, especially for building a house. It has a chassis (15) running on wheels (16) on the floor (10). Stacks of bricks or building blocks (2) are placed on the top of the pallet, surrounding a central column (18). The column is telescopic and has an arm (19) at the top. There is a telescopic arrangement for adjusting the reach of the arm. There is a fitting (4) at the end of the arm with a vertically movable rod (21) with a gripper (7) at the end. The bricks are picked up by the gripper and are taken to a processing station where they may be covered in mortar before they are placed on the wall (3).

Abstract: In cold regions like Canada, frost action was reported to be the major cause of disintegration of brick veneer. Two approaches to ensure frost durability of clay bricks were studied in this research. One involved the evaluation of durability, while the other studied the improvement of durability through impregnation. In order to carry out these studies, three major objectives were set out for this research. They were: (1) to develop an index to evaluate frost durability, (2) to investigate the feasibility of using nondestructive methods to evaluate durability, and (3) to study the effect of impregnation with different materials on improving durability. It was intended in this research to develop a general durability index for clay bricks, irrespective of the manufacturing process adopted. The performance of the brick was studied using laboratory freeze-thaw test. As the time and facility requirements necessary for the unidirectional freezing test were beyond the constraints which existed in this research, an accelerated omnidirectional freeze-thaw test was used. This fact must be considered while interpreting the results from the freeze-thaw test. The study carried out to compare the performance of existing durability indices showed that they had limitations in reliably assessing durability. Therefore new durability indices were developed based on water absorption properties of bricks. These indices were found to overcome the limitations of existing indices. The feasibility study on nondestructive evaluation of durability was carried out using ultrasonic pulse velocity. New durability provisions were derived based on pulse velocity, using ASTM C216 specifications. At this stage it can be used only along with the ASTM method but it can avoid the time consuming ASTM procedure in many cases. Studies on impregnated bricks showed that there was a general shifting of pore sizes towards lower diameter region. Paraffin impregnated brick showed excellent freeze-thaw performance. The bond between brick and mortar was found to have been adversely affected due to impregnation. But more studies using brick wall component are recommended before final conclusions are drawn on brick-mortar bond strength. Paraffin was found to be the most cost effective among the impregnating materials studied.

Abstract: This work describes a reseach carried out on the manufacture of ceramic elements through the addition of brick powder to clay. Brick powder can the defined as a waste resulted from processing of ceramic materials. That experiment was developed using seven different clay samples from pottery located in the surroundings of UFSM. This material was used to study the following variables: basic clay, proportion of each component of the mixture, moisture drift to the moulding and burning temperature. The main physical and mechanical characteristics observed were: drying linear retraction, rupture tension, fire damage, burning linear contraction, water absorption, porosity, apparent specific mass and starting suction. Results indicate that it is possible to add homogeneized brick powder to clay in order to manufacture ceramic elements in an ideal proportion and burnt at a suitable temperature.The rupture tension and water absorption results satisfy the requirements established by brazilian rules, as well as brick powder addition controlled the retraction of the elements. Also, it can be concluded that the addition of brick powder to clay allows for a useful final destination to ceramic waste obtaining good quality products and avoiding environment pollution.

Abstract: The thermal insulation, for insertion into the joints (3) of load-bearing brickwork, is an insulation body (4) at least partially of an insulation material which can resist push and pull forces. The body can be of single or compound materials, in layers and/or sections using brick materials, sintered materials, calcium silicate or hard foam. The insulation body can be a hollow profile of a fibre-reinforced material, especially a plastics containing glass or carbon fibres. The interior of the hollow body can be filled with an insulation such as a hard foam, polystyrene, and the like.

Abstract: A construction modification and associated method used in pre-stressed building structures is designed to enhance resistance to extreme high wind environments, such as hurricanes and tornadoes, and in earthquake prone regions is most useful for structures built of lightweight materials such as wood or aluminum but is also applicable to structures built of heavy materials such as brick, stone, concrete, reinforced concrete and steel. Modifications include increased spacing of the wall frame elements, namely wall studs or columns, symmetrical sheeting at both sides of the frame when wood is used to build wall panels or symmetrical building of walls inside the frame when heavy material as brick, concrete block, stone, cast concrete etc. are used to build panels, a new incorporated into structures is complement system of strings and balance beams and modification of the effective weight or gravity of the structure. The strings of the complement system are placed in channels running through the wood studs of wood wall panels (or columns of the frame system or massive walls if other heavy materials herein mentioned are used) and a balance beam is placed at the top of the walls of each story. A pre-stressing forces are supplied to the strings at the top of each story by a hydraulic devices or other mechanical means in direction coinciding with the direction of the structure's natural gravity. The balance beam distributes applied forces uniformly on the walls. The additional energy in the wall structure, called relative gravity, eliminates problems associated and caused by wind loads and seismic loads including intense vibration of walls, tension and uplift forces in structure, structure's instability and the other modifications eliminates the presence of anemic connectors and fasteners as the means in prior art for load transfer throughout the structure.

Abstract: Bricks are laid in courses using an adhesive rather than mortar between the superposed and adjacent bricks. Spacer plates e.g.(2), which may be of a hard plastics material, e.g. P.V.C, may be employed between the bricks, with the adhesive, e.g. an epoxy adhesive, being applied to the plates. The plates are positioned to give the appearance of a conventional mortared construction. Separate plates may be employed for the horizontal and the vertical courses. As an alternative, the bricks may be glued together directly, in which case the bricks have rebated edges to provide a conventional appearance. The adhesive may be pre-applied and covered by a release paper, or applied on site from a cartridge gun prior to the brick or plate being placed in position.

Abstract: In laboratory tests, clay mixtures were produced with increasing volume proportions of styrofoam, paper sludge, perlite and diatomaceous earth. The effects of the porosifiers on brick density, ceramic body density and compressive strength were compared with each other. The diatomite admixture results in a reduction in the brick and ceramic body density and at the same time in an increase in the compressive strength of the ceramic body. This recently discovered effect is explained as a density/compressive strength paradox. By determination of the ceramic body conductivity as a function of the diatomite amount added, it shown that the thermal properties of the ceramic body are improved.

Abstract: The sintered gangue brick is produced through the processes of material selection, crushing, compounding, stirring, feeding, pressing to form and baking, and the material composition includes gangue powder 75-80 weight portions, clay 20-25 weight portions, and water 13-14 weight portions. The present invention has the merits of simple technological process and low cost, and the product is regular, high in strength and light.

Abstract: A novel bonded light brick foam contains brick dust, one or more binders and one or more foaming agents, optionally together with setting accelerator and/or other additive. Preferably, the foam contains (by wt.) 40-80% brick dust and 60-20% binder (preferably cement, hydrated lime or other inorganic binder), together with (based on binder wt.) 2-30% foaming agent (preferably an anionic surfactant). Also claimed is production of the above foam by mixing the components with water to form a suspension or slurry which is then foamed with compressed air.

Abstract: An electrical busway plug-in brick for mounting on a busway housing includes openings which allow access to bus bars running along the length of the housing. Barrier members are preferably positioned across the openings to restrict access of fingers or other similarly sized objects through the openings, while allowing electrical contacts to be made therethrough. The plug-in brick preferably includes a lockable cover which deters unauthorized access to the openings of the plug-in brick. The openings may extend unequal distances through the plug-in brick in order to provide increased creep and strike distance which prevents electrical arcing. The plug-in brick may be mounted on the busway housing by release pockets which prevent destruction of the plug-in brick upon a short circuit by allowing the plug-in brick to be detached from the housing.

Abstract: The glass brick unit, for use in single shell walls with a fire resistance class F, is composed of two hollow glass bricks (1,10), bonded together by an adhesive mass (12) along a wall (6,7) forming a visible surface. The visible walls (6,7) of the hollow glass bricks (1,10) have a wall thickness of at least 18 mm. The adhesive mass (12) is transparent and is heat resistant, of a water glass base.

Abstract: A refractory brick particularly suited for constructing a diffusor wall for an industrial heat source. The brick includes a substantially tubular body having a first end, a second end opposed to the first end, an inner surface defining a passageway extending in the longitudinal direction of the body from the first end to the second end, and an outer peripheral surface extending from the first end to the second end. The outer peripheral surface has a complementary shape that allows mating of a plurality of the bricks to form cooperatively a diffusor wall. Mating means is formed on or in the outer peripheral surface for engaging corresponding mating means formed on or in outer peripheral surfaces of adjacent bricks when assembled as a diffusor wall.