Abstract: An apparatus for providing a roof structure of the type having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement is disclosed. The purlins have a generally vertical portion. The space between the vertical portions of adjacent purlins defines an insulation cavity which is generally rectangular in cross-sectional shape. The apparatus includes a carriage which is 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, the support sheet is dispensed so that the support sheet depends from the top portion of adjacent purlins. The apparatus further includes a first bar having a curvilinear shape which is mounted on the carriage and extends across the width of the support sheet. The first bar is positioned so that the support sheet contacts and is guided by the first bar as the support sheet is dispensed.

Abstract: A method for providing a roof structure having a plurality of trusses spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement is disclosed. The trusses each have a top portion. A support sheet is payed out so that the support sheet depends from the top portions of adjacent trusses. Flexible insulation material is applied above the support sheet so that the flexible insulation material is supported by the support sheet. Metal deck sheets are fastened to the top portion of the trusses, thereby forming a metal deck. A temporary waterproofing sealant is applied to the metal deck to protect the flexible insulation material, thereby creating a partially completed roof structure. Rigid insulation board and a waterproofing membrane are subsequently applied onto the metal deck, thereby forming a completed permanently sealed roof structure.

Abstract: Asphalt/polymer fibers include, by weight, 30% to 85% polymeric material and 15% to 70% asphaltic material, where the polymeric material has a melt flow index of no more than about 35 grams/10 minutes. Preferably, the combination of polymeric material and asphaltic material has a melt flow index of from 80 grams/10 minutes to 800 grams/10 minutes. The asphaltic material is preferably asphalt having a softening point of from 82.degree. C. to 177.degree. C. The polymeric material is preferably a polymer selected from polypropylene, polyethylene, polystyrene, polyesters, ethylene copolymers, acrylates, methacrylates, and mixtures of these polymers. The organic fibers of asphalt/polymer may be intermingled with mineral reinforcing fibers and formed into products such as mats.

Abstract: An angled roofing shingle for a roof ridge line is made from an organic, resinous material and a filler material. The shingle has a first elongated portion and a separable, second elongated portion. These two portions each have a longitudinal edge provided with a mating edge surface and are joined together at an angle less than 180 degrees so that the shingle can cover and conform to the ridge line. Means are included for moving the first and second elongated portions relative to each other to change the angle of the shingle to accommodate a variety of angles of ridge lines.

Abstract: A loose-fill insulation product is provided which is formed from a blend of first and second insulating materials having three-dimensional groups of fibers of different sizes and densities. At least one of the insulating materials is comprised of irregularly-shaped glass fibers comprised of two distinct glass compositions. When blended with the fibers of a standard insulation or with other irregularly-shaped fibers of different sizes, the resulting loose-fill insulation product shows improved coverage and thermal efficiency.

Abstract: In a method for producing hollow polymer fibers, molten polymer is supplied to a rotating polymer spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner rotates so that molten polymer is centrifuged through a first tube extending through the peripheral wall of the spinner to form fibers. Gas is introduced into the interior of the molten polymer to form hollow polymer fibers. The hollow polymer fibers are then collected as a product such as a mat. The hollow polymer fibers produced by the method are microfibers having an average outside diameter of from about 2.5 microns to about 62.5 microns.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for producing dried sized glass fibers wherein a drying device is used to produce current flow along sized fibers to thereby partially or fully dry the size on the fibers. The apparatus may include an applicator for applying a size to the fibers and a drying device which comprises a high voltage electrode connected to a high voltage source and at least one grounded electrode. Drying is performed by passing the sized fibers by the electrodes such that a current flows along the sized fibers from the high voltage electrode to the at least one grounded electrode. The grounded electrodes may comprise grounded gathering shoes.

Abstract: Apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner includes orifices located on the peripheral wall thereof for centrifuging the dual component fibers, with the spinner being divided into a series of generally vertically-aligned compartments by baffles positioned circumferentially around the interior of the peripheral wall. First and second molten thermoplastic materials are supplied to the spinner and directed into alternate ones of the compartments so that adjacent compartments contain different thermoplastic materials. Passages are located in each of the compartments through which the respective molten thermoplastic materials flow to the orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner. The passages in adjacent ones of the compartments communicate with one another and with the orifices to join the first and second molten thermoplastic materials together into dual component fibers.

Abstract: Vacuum insulation panels include an insulating media made up of glass fibers having a carbonized asphalt coating thereon. When such carbon-coated glass fibers are used as fillers for metal jacketed vacuum insulation panels, the resulting panels can be used for substantially higher temperature applications. The carbon on the carbon-coated fibers can be activated to absorb any outgassing that occurs from the insulation media within the panels to help ensure satisfactory vacuum levels over time.

Abstract: A composite sheet is made of a moldable resin and reinforcement fibers, where the resin is a thermoplastic resin, thermosetting resin or mixture thereof, and the reinforcement fibers are fibers centrifuged from a rotary process fiberizer, where the composite sheet has at least 5 distinct layers of reinforcement fibers per mm of thickness. The composite sheet has at least 10 distinct layers of reinforcement fibers, and preferably at least 30 distinct layers. At least 85 percent of the reinforcement fibers are monofilaments, and the reinforcement fibers are wool glass fibers.

Abstract: Fiberglass insulation having improved parting strength is prepared by forming a fiberglass mat, applying an aqueous acid aluminum phosphate binder, curing the binder, and autoclaving the resultant insulation batt.

Abstract: The method for applying granules to a moving coated asphalt sheet includes selecting blend drop areas on the sheet, the remainder of the sheet comprising background areas, depositing background granule drops on portions of the background areas such that the background granule drops have generally sharp leading edges which define upstream edges of the blend drop areas and have generally fuzzy trailing edges, depositing blend drops on the blend drop areas such that the blend drops have generally sharp leading edges and generally fuzzy trailing edges which overlap the background granule drops, and then depositing background granule drops on remaining portions of the background areas. The generally sharp leading edges of the background granule drops define the trailing edges of the blend drops so that when blend drops which overlap the background granule drops are removed by inverting the sheet, blend drop areas having sharp leading and trailing edges are produced.

Abstract: A fibrous glass binder comprises a polycarboxy polymer, a .beta.-hydroxyalkylamide, and an at least trifunctional monomeric carboxylic acid.