Abstract: Fabric retainers and methods for installing the fabric retainers within an acoustically treated room. The fabric retainers have a fabric retaining portion, and a chase or a raceway for running wires within the interior of the retainers. The chase has an open side which allows fasteners to be installed through the base of the retainer, and which allows for the insertion of wires into the chase. Retainers also have a retainer groove in which an acoustical fabric is secured, and a fabric retaining pocket to store the inserted fabric. Alternative retainer embodiments have two retainer grooves. A removeable cover is provided to secure the wiring within the chase, and to conceal the wiring within the chase. Also disclosed are methods for combining various retainer embodiments within a structure.

Abstract: A fibrous glass binder that reduces corrosion of polycarboxy based binders, such as polyacrylic acid based binders, on carbon steel. The disclosed binder contains corrosion inhibitors such as tin oxalate, tin sulfate, tin chloride and thiourea.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for preparing extruded foam products and more particularly to a methods for producing such products with a blowing agent containing 134a and an alcohol.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing foam board or sheet including the steps of (A) forming a foamable mixture of (1) a major amount of a styrenic polymer having a high melt index, (2) a minor amount of a low melt index styrenic polymer, and (3) a blowing agent containing a major amount of carbon dioxide under a pressure sufficient to prevent prefoaming of the mixture, and (B) foaming the mixture into a region of reduced pressure to form a foam product.

Abstract: An acoustically significant composite panel having a general sound-absorbing face (or a general sound-diffusing face) and a tuned sound-absorbing face. Such a panel includes a sandwich or composite of a first layer of molding media, a honeycomb of cells and a second layer of molding media. The first layer has at least one or more apertures in it that convert the corresponding cells into Helmholtz resonators. These Helmholtz resonators can be tuned to the same or different frequencies. The second layer is generally sound-absorbing. A general diffuser structure can be attached to the second layer. These panels can be attached to the walls and/or ceilings of a room to control its sonic quality. Also, these panels can be suspended vertically below a ceiling to control noise.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing fibrous insulation includes a porous conveyor mounted for transporting fibrous material in a machine direction in the form of pack. A pack lift blower is positioned beneath the porous conveyor, in a direction transverse to the machine direction, to direct gases upwardly through the porous conveyor to fluff the fibers within the pack. The pack lift blower has a nozzle that is readily removable and replaceable for cleaning without requiring interruption in the motion of the conveyor. The nozzle may also include slots which allow the passage of air and a reciprocal member which cleans the slots.

Abstract: A guardrail assembly movable along a roof structure is disclosed. The guardrail assembly is used in cooperation with a roof structure having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement and sheets of roofing material fastened to the purlins. The sheets have ends which define an edge of the roof structure extending in a first direction. The guardrail assembly is movable along the roof structure in the first direction. The guardrail assembly includes a railing positioned above the sheets of roofing material and extends generally in the first direction.

Abstract: An insulation assembly includes an elongated batt of fibrous insulation material having two opposed major surfaces, where the batt has a first facing secured on its first major surface. The first facing extends beyond the side edges of the batt to form opposed flanges suitable for attaching the insulation assembly to a building structure. The batt has a second facing secured on its second major surface, with the second facing extending beyond the side edges of the batt to form opposed flanges suitable for attaching the insulation assembly to a building structure. The method of making an insulation assembly includes moving a pack of fibrous insulation material along a path, where the fibrous insulation material has two opposed major surfaces. A continuous encapsulation material is applied to the pack, and a portion of the encapsulation material is continuously gathered to form a two part fold.

Abstract: A quick and easy technology for attaching, and facilitating reconfiguration (detachment and reattachment) of, panels to walls that uses a clamp assembly including a base, a receptacle attached to the base and a clasp that fits into and attaches to the receptacle. The clasp has resilient arms and a head. Insertion of the resilient arms of the clasp into the receptacle draws the head towards the base, which produces a clamping action. Alternatively, the clamp assembly includes a channel having sidewalls attached to a base and at least one fastener having a blade-like shank and a head. The sidewalls converge so as to be more closely spaced together at the opening of the channel than at its base. The at least one fastener appears T-shaped in cross section, and is sized so that insertion of the blade-like shank into the channel widens the opening. Alternatively, the clamp assembly includes a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece configured to cooperatively engage each other.

Abstract: An apparatus for propelling a carriage along a roof structure of the type having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement, and method of using same are disclosed. The apparatus includes a carriage movable along the length of the purlins for dispensing a support sheet from a roll for support of insulation material as the carriage travels along the length of the purlins so that the support sheet depends from the top portion of adjacent purlins. The apparatus further includes a puller assembly attached to the carriage. The puller assembly includes a driven wheel frictionally engaged with a surface a purlin, and a drive mechanism for rotating the driven wheel.

Abstract: An aqueous phenol/formaldehyde resole resin is disclosed having improved speciation. An aqueous extended phenol/formaldehyde and polycarboxylic acid co-binder and low emissions process for making the same are also disclosed. Glass fiber products may be prepared using the co-binder.

Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for distributing a veil by applying low frequency sound to at least one portion of the veil, and causing the veil to deviate in its generally downward direction of travel. In its simplest embodiment, the lapping device of the present invention includes one low frequency sound generator having one resonator tube shaped for emission of low frequency sound and having an open end from which sound may be emitted to a portion of a veil. Preferably, the lapping device has two resonator tubes whose open ends are in spaced, opposing relationship, and in the preferred method low frequency sound is alternately applied at generally opposing locations near the veil, causing portions of the veil to deviate in generally alternate directions in its direction of travel.

Abstract: An insulation product includes an elongated batt of fibrous insulation material, and a facing adhered to a major surface of the batt, wherein the facing is a coextruded polymer film of barrier and bonding layers, with the bonding layer having a softening point lower than the softening point of the barrier layer, with the bonding layer being one or more materials of the group consisting of ethylene N-butyl acrylate, ethylene methyl acrylate and ethylene ethyl acrylate, and wherein the facing has been heated to a temperature above the softening point of the bonding layer, but below the softening point of the barrier layer, whereby the facing is adhered to the batt by the attachment of the bonding layer to the fibers in the batt due to the softening of the bonding layer.

Abstract: A spinner is adapted to be fixed at one end of a rotatable shaft in a fiberizer, the spinner including a radial wall extending radially out from the shaft and having an upper surface, a dam separating the upper surface into an inner portion and an outer portion, a lower surface, at least one first flow hole connecting the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one second flow hole connecting the inner portion and the outer portion of said upper surface, and an outer peripheral wall connected to the radial wall and having a plurality of orifices therethrough.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of molten mineral compositions wherein organic impurities are removed by reaction with oxygen introduced via the decomposition of calcium peroxide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molding media and method of producing resin stabilized polymeric fiber mats useful as thermal and acoustical insulation. The molding media and method of the invention lower the cost of producing such mats while still maintaining the necessary mechanical and acoustical properties. One embodiment of the molding media and method of the invention further provides environmental advantages over glass fiber and foam mats.

Abstract: An insulation product includes an elongated comformable body of fibrous insulation having front and rear major surfaces and two elongated side surfaces. A facing is adhered to the front major surface of the conformable body, the facing having sufficient tensile strength to withstand a pressure, without tearing, of about 1.0 pound per square foot from the fibrous insulation in a wall cavity defined by wall studs, when the facing is adhered to the wall studs. The facing is bonded to the conformable body with sufficient strength to provide product integrity to the insulation product when it is cut lengthwise. The insulation product can be expanded when unconstrained to a high loft thickness so that when the batt is placed in an insulation cavity having a thickness less than or equal to the high loft thickness, the insulation product can be expanded to fill the insulation cavity. The fibrous insulation material has a resistance to compression less than about 1.

Abstract: A conformable insulation assembly is provided and includes a mineral fiber batt of a binderless fibrous material of substantially long fibers having low dimensional stability. The insulation assembly is capable of conforming and expanding its shape to an area into which it is installed better than prior art insulation assemblies.

Abstract: A method of integrating organic fibers with mineral fibers includes centrifuging organic fibers from molten organic material, using a rotating organic fiber spinner, directing the organic fibers into a downwardly moving veil of organic fibers and gases, with the veil having an inwardly converging shape as it moves downward, centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material using a rotary mineral fiber spinner positioned concentrically within the downwardly moving veil of organic fibers, directing the mineral fibers into a downwardly moving veil of mineral fibers and gases within the veil of organic fibers, wherein the veil of mineral fibers intersects with the veil of organic fibers to integrate the mineral fibers with the organic fibers, and collecting the integrated mineral fibers and organic fibers as a fibrous pack. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.