Abstract: A controller for propelling a carriage along a plurality of purlins, and method of using same are disclosed. A plurality of carriage sections are joined to form a continuous carnage spanning a plurality of purlins. A plurality of puller assemblies are attached to selective ones of the carriage sections. A controller is connected to the plurality of puller assemblies. The controller can be actuated to a master control mode which simultaneously engages the plurality of puller assemblies, thereby propelling the carriage along the purlins. The controller can also be selectively actuated to a selective mode which engages one of the puller assemblies.

Abstract: Acoustical housing for supporting and enhancing the performance of speakers. A preferred apparatus includes a support well that is fabricated from acoustically absorptive material and is adapted to be mounted between wall or ceiling studs. A cover or a portion of wall board may be installed to completely enclose the support well within the wall to define a cavity into which a portion of a speaker body may extend. The speaker or speakers are affixed to the cover or wallboard in a conventional manner such that the speaker body extends into the cavity and the sound emitting surface of the speaker is exposed. Methods for installing the acoustical housings into existing wall or ceiling structures without compromising the acoustical and structural integrities of such structures are also disclosed.

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 mineral fiber is disclosed having a composition including the following components in about the indicated weight percents:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 48-64 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-6 MgO 21-31 CaO 11-20 Iron Oxide 4.2-8 (as FeO) K.sub.2 O 0-5 Na.sub.2 O 0-5 TiO.sub.2 0-3 ______________________________________wherein the total weight of Na.sub.2 O and K.sub.2 O does not exceed 5% and the total weight of all components, including trace elements, if any, is 100%.

Abstract: A fibrous papermaking felt for carrying a paper web through a paper making process includes a resilient layer of glass fibers and a fabric backing layer.

Abstract: A process for making mineral wool fibers having high-temperature stability consisting essentially of: (a) preparing a mixture containing basalt and a quantity of uncalcined raw bauxite sufficient to provide the resulting fibers with an alumina content of at least 18 weight percent, preferably of from 19 to 23 weight percent; (b) heating the mixture to a temperature sufficient to form a substantially homogeneous melt, e.g., in a cupola furnace using coke in a quantity of from about 11 to 25 percent by weight of the mixture; and (c) forming the melt into fibers. The mixture may optionally contain a flux, e.g., limestone and/or dolomite, such as a flux providing a weight ratio of limestone plus dolomite to basalt of less than about 0.6, e.g., 0.1-0.4. The mixture may also contain slag in a weight ratio of slag:basalt of less than about 1.0, more preferably about 0.6.

Abstract: A system for applying preshaped self-stick products to selected substrates includes a roll of preshaped self-stick products on a common carrier, a conveyor line for advancing a plurality of substrates, a dispenser including a remover for selectively removing the preshaped self-stick products from the common carrier and dispensing the preshaped self-stick products onto the substrates, a controller for controlling an advancing speed of the conveyor line and for indexing the dispenser, and a pressure roller for applying pressure to the self-stick products, thereby fully bonding the self-stick products to the substrates.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a roof structure having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement is disclosed. The apparatus includes a carriage which is movable in a downstream direction along the length of the purlins. As the carriage moves in the downstream direction, a support sheet for support of insulation material is payed out so that the support sheet depends from adjacent purlins. The apparatus further includes a plate which is attached to the carriage. The plate supports a roll of insulation material which is unsupported axially. The insulation material is connected at the upstream end of the roof structure and is payed out on top of the support sheet as the carriage moves along the length of the purlins.

Abstract: A reshapable insulation assembly and a method of using such insulation assembly are provided. An insulation assembly of the invention of a type useful in the insulation of buildings includes a conformable mineral fiber batt extending in a first direction, wherein the batt has a perimeter in a cross-section that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction, and an exterior layer extending in the first direction and overlying the perimeter of the batt, wherein the exterior layer has a perimeter in the cross-section that is substantially greater than the perimeter of the batt. The exterior layer thereby loosely encapsulates the batt, whereby compression of the insulation assembly urges the assembly into a new shape with different dimensions in the cross-section.

Abstract: An apparatus for moving 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 grappling member mounted for movement along the length of a first one of the plurality of purlins. The grappling member is adapted to be temporarily placed into a locked position so that the grappling member is fixed with respect to the first purlin. A tension member operatively connects the grappling member to the carriage. A pulling device is used to pull on the tension member so as to shorten the distance between the grappling member and the carriage, thereby advancing the carriage along the length of the purlins in a direction towards the grappling member when the grappling member is in the locked position.

Abstract: The glass compositions of the present invention contain at least 2.0 wt % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 to give resulting glass fiber an acceptable chemical durability for product performance, but no more than 3.0 wt % to ensure the fiber maintains a relatively high biosolubility. The compositions further include relatively high amount of Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O+MgO+CaO, which tends to increase fiber biosolubility and allows for the use of reduced amounts of B.sub.2 O.sub.3 in the composition. The glass compositions have KI values that generally equal or exceed a KI value of 40 and are suitable for rotary processing. The compositions have liquidus temperatures below about 1800.degree. F. and viscosities above 300 Poise at the liquidus temperature. For higher B.sub.2 O.sub.3 compositions the liquidus temperatures are below 1650.degree. F., and the viscosities are above 1,000 Poises at the liquidus temperatures.

Abstract: An apparatus for straightening portions of a plurality of purlins of a roof structure which have been moved from an original position to a deformed position and a method of using the same is disclosed. A carriage is provided which is mounted for movement along the length of the purlins in a downstream direction. The carriage has a plurality of guides which are positioned adjacent the plurality of purlins in the deformed position. A purlin straightening device attached to the carriage moves the carriage in a direction lateral to the length of the purlins so that the guides move the portions of the plurality of purlins from the deformed position to the original position.

Abstract: Compositions for producing irregularly-shaped dual-glass fibers include a first glass composition and a second glass composition, the first and second glass compositions having nonidentical coefficients of thermal expansion, the difference between the coefficients of thermal expansion being greater than about 2.0 ppm/.degree. C.

Abstract: Acoustical diffuser apparatus for supporting and enhancing the performance of speakers. A preferred apparatus includes a diffuser panel that has an outwardly facing non-planar diffuser surface and an opening corresponding to each speaker for receiving at least a portion of the corresponding speaker therein. The diffuser panel does not cover the sound emitting surface of at least one speaker. The diffuser panel may have acoustically transparent material affixed thereto. Methods for installing the diffuser panels into existing wall or ceiling structures without compromising the structural integrity of such structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting an acoustical diffuser panel within a structure. A preferred apparatus includes a rigid support member fabricated from an acoustically absorptive material. The support member has a bottom and upstanding side walls that define a well that is sized to receive a diffuser panel therein. The diffuser panel may comprise a plurality of column members that are integrally formed with a planar bottom surface and extend therefrom. At least one column member is longer than at least one other column member. Another diffuser panel that can be successfully used has a series of elongated columns that extend for the width or length of the panel. At least one column member extends a distance above the bottom of the support member that differs from the distance that another column extends above the support member when the panel is received therein. A method for installing at least one acoustical diffuser assembly into a wall structure and an acoustical wall structure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A movable safety barrier for use in constructing a roof structure having purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement is disclosed. The barrier extends laterally across a plurality of the purlins. The barrier is mounted for movement along the length of the purlins as the roof structure is constructed. The barrier includes a plurality of runner portions positioned above the purlins. The barrier further includes a plurality of support portions extending between adjacent runner portions.

Abstract: A fibrous insulation blanket is disclosed. The blanket includes a binderless collection of long, single component inorganic fibers. Preferably, the blanket is made of glass fibers.

Abstract: A vacuum packaged conformable insulation assembly may be installed in a cavity before the vacuum in the insulation assembly is released. The insulation assembly includes a compressible batt of mineral fibers such as fibrous glass wool. During manufacture, the batt is encased in a gas-impervious envelope. The envelope is vacuum-sealed to retain the batt in a compressed state. The envelope may be provided with opening structures for selectively releasing the vacuum in the envelope. The envelope is sufficiently large to permit the batt contained therein to fully recover when the vacuum is released. According to a method of the present invention, the envelope is placed in a cavity to be insulated, and then the envelope is ruptured to allow the batt to expand to cause the insulation assembly to conform to the cavity.

Abstract: Fibrous insulation suitable for use in insulation cavities in buildings includes mineral fibers in an amount within the range of from about 90 to about 99 percent by weight, and organic material, in the form of organic fibers and organic particles, in an amount within the range of from about 1 to about 10 percent by weight. The mineral fibers and the organic material are integrated together so that the organic material is distributed generally uniformly among the mineral fibers. At least a majority, or about 50 percent by weight and, more preferably, a substantial amount, or about 75 percent by weight, of the organic material is in the form of organic fibers. The fibrous insulation is preferably binderless and encapsulated.

Abstract: The present invention is a non-woven fiber mat suitable for reinforcing resilient sheet floor coverings, such as vinyl floor coverings. The non-woven fiber mat is in the form of a sheet of reinforcement fibers which at least includes semi-coiled fibers and can also include coiled fiber, with one or more turns, and even some relatively straight or slightly curved fibers. It is desirable for most, if not all, of the reinforcement fibers to be made from glass. However, it may also be desirable for the reinforcement fibers to include glass fibers and synthetic fibers. It may even be possible for the reinforcement fibers to include only non-glass fibers. At least one polymeric binder is used for bonding together the reinforcement fibers so as to make the fiber mat a suitable substrate for reinforcing resilient sheet floor coverings, such as an interlayer for vinyl floor coverings.