Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing fibrous includes establishing a flow of fibrous material, positioning at least one flow distributor in a position to direct at least one gaseous flow into contact with the flow of fibrous material to distribute the fibrous material, and directing an intermittent flow of gas from the distributor, where the flow of gas increases and decreases linearly during the flow cycles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for distributing fibrous material includes establishing a flow of fibrous material, positioning at least two flow distributors in a position to direct a gaseous flow into contact with the flow of fibrous material, such as a flow of glass fibers, each flow distributor having an outer surface having one or more openings for the emission of gas, an inner surface having one or more orifices for the emission of gas, and a pressurized source of gas in contact with the inner surface, the inner surface being moveable with respect to the outer surface to intermittently align some of the openings with some of the orifices, thereby enabling gas from the pressurized source of gas to be emitted through the inner and outer surfaces and into contact with the flow of fibrous material to distribute the fibrous material, and moving one of the surfaces relative to the other of the surfaces to control the emission of gas from the flow distributor.

Abstract: A thermosetting asphalt product includes a blend of an asphalt and an epoxy-functionalized polymer, the epoxy-functionalized polymer being present in an amount within the range of from about 4 to about 30 percent of the combination of asphalt and epoxy-functionalized polymer, where the epoxy-functionalized polymer forms a continuous phase within the asphalt product.

Abstract: A method for dispensing or depositing particulate material includes accumulating particulate material in a nozzle having an opening at the bottom for discharging the particulate material, and applying positive air pressure to a buffer chamber positioned in communication with the accumulation of particulate material to start and control the flow of particulate material through the opening and applying negative pressure to the buffer chamber to stop the flow of particulate material. An unobstructed interface can exist between a surface of the particulate material and air in the buffer chamber. In one embodiment, roofing shingle granules are applied intermittently to a moving coated asphaltic sheet through a slot to form strip roofing shingles.

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: Apparatus for making dual component fibers is provided and includes a spinner having a peripheral wall. The spinner includes orifices located on the exterior of the peripheral wall for centrifuging dual component fibers, with the spinner being divided into at least two compartments. The 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 molten thermoplastic materials flow to the orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner. At least some of the passages have branches which form a common inlet adjacent to the interior of the peripheral wall and which communicate with at least two different orifices on the peripheral wall of the spinner.

Abstract: A method for producing mineral fibers includes centrifuging mineral fibers from one or more rotary mineral fiber spinners to establish one or more downwardly moving veils of mineral fibers positioned above a collecting surface, centrifuging organic fibers from molten organic material using one or more rotary organic fiber spinners to establish one or more downwardly moving veils of organic fibers positioned above the collecting surface, the veils of mineral fibers being generally colinear with the veils of organic fibers, the veils of organic fibers alternating with the veils of mineral fibers to integrate the organic material and the mineral fibers, and collecting the integrated organic material and mineral fibers on the collecting surface.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for extending the life of spinners by means of reinforcement which includes a plurality of arms secured to the bottom wall of a spinner either individually or via an annular plate from which the arms extend. The reinforcement applies a radially inward force on a flange extending from the top or center of an outer sidewall of the spinner. The arms exert the radial force as the result of offset cams, due to a prestressed condition which is released after the reinforcement is installed in a spinner or otherwise. If the spinner includes both a center flange and an upper flange, the reinforcement may be installed to engage the center flange with gussets interconnecting the center flange and the upper flange at least at locations corresponding to the reinforcement to thereby provide reinforcement for both flanges.

Abstract: A fiber insulation product is provided which includes a fibrous material having a binder dispersed throughout. The binder comprises an inorganic material having thermoplastic properties. Preferably, the binder is a low-melting glass composition or a glass-forming compound such as, for example, boric acid. The insulation product is ideally suited for use in insulation panels having a compressed board encased in a evacuated jacket, high temperature, low smoke, odorless and building insulation applications.

Abstract: A fiber manufacturing apparatus including a spinner, fixed to one end of a rotatable shaft and equipment for supplying at least one molten thermoplastic material to the spinner is provided. The spinner includes a radial wall and an outer peripheral wall. The radial wall extends radially out from the shaft and has an outer periphery. The peripheral wall is disposed around the outer periphery of the radial wall and has a plurality of orifices for centrifuging fibers from at least one molten thermoplastic material. The spinner is operatively adapted to be radially balanced during the centrifuging operation. By being so balanced, the spinner is less likely to exhibit temperature induced deformation that introduces undesirable process variables during the fiber manufacturing process.

Abstract: A reinforcing composition is provided comprising pellets produced by the process of hydrating glass fibers to achieve a water content on the glass fibers of from about 11 weight percent to about 20 weight percent, mixing the glass fibers for at least about three minutes, thereby forming pellets, and drying.

Abstract: An insulation assembly and method of making is disclosed. A fiber pack is engaged along its side edges to tuck the fibers inwardly and also establish a desired width. The insulation assembly has the longitudinally extending tucks along each of its side edges and each of the side edges has a generally concave cross section.

Abstract: Irregularly-shaped glass fibers and insulation therefrom comprising two different glasses having differing coefficients of thermal expansion. The irregularly-shaped dual-glass fibers exhibit a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and provide improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material.

Abstract: A thermosetting asphalt composition includes a blend of an asphalt and an epoxy-functionalized polymer, the epoxy-functionalized polymer being present in an amount within the range of from about 4 to about 30 percent of the combination of asphalt and epoxy-functionalized polymer.

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: A method and apparatus for installing insulation material within a roof structure (11). The apparatus includes a carriage (26) which is urged along the purlins (18) of the roof structure (11). A roll of insulation material (43) is mounted to the carriage (26) and dispenses a substantially continuous sheet of blanket insulation material (39) over the purlins (18) as the carriage (26) is progressively moved along the length of the purlins (18). A radiant barrier dispenser (70) dispenses a layer of radiant barrier material (72) over the dispensed blanket insulation material (39), and a cross-wise layer of insulation (86) is applied across the length of the purlins (18) in a direction normal to the direction of application of the blanket insulation material (39). Thereafter, sheets of hard metal roofing material (24) are attached to the purlins (18) over the cross insulation (86) to form the insulated roof structure (11).

Abstract: An improved fibrous glass insulation assembly (10) having a fibrous glass body (12), a moisture barrier (14) that substantially encloses the fibrous glass body (12), and a desiccant (18) positioned adjacent the fibrous glass body (12) and within the moisture barrier (14). The fibrous glass body (12) is sufficiently encapsulated or enclosed by the moisture barrier (14), the moisture barrier (14) sufficiently retards the passage of moisture therethrough, and the desiccant (18) is disposed in a sufficient quantity so that enough moisture is removed to improve the recovery performance of the fibrous glass body (12), from a recoverable compressed state, and/or to improve the stiffness performance of the fibrous glass body (12), once the glass body (12) has recovered.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for installing insulation material within a roof structure (11). The apparatus includes a carriage (26) which is urged along the purlins (18) of the roof structure (11). A roll of insulation material (43) is mounted to the carriage (26) and dispenses a substantially continuous sheet of blanket insulation material (39) over the purlins (18) as the carriage (26) is progressively moved along the length of the purlins (18). A radiant barrier dispenser (70) dispenses a layer of radiant barrier material (72) over the dispensed blanket insulation material (39), and a cross-wise layer of insulation (86) is applied across the length of the purlins (18) in a direction normal to the direction of application of the blanket insulation material (39). Thereafter, sheets of hard metal roofing material (24) are attached to the purlins (18) over the cross insulation (86) to form the insulated roof structure (11).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for applying granules to a coated asphalt sheet to form at high production speeds a variegated pattern having uniform edges between areas of different colored granules. Granules of a first color or color blend are applied to spaced first areas on a moving, tacky, asphaltic strip by dropping the granules onto the moving strip. The leading and/or trailing edges of each granule drop are trimmed off by cutting or deflecting to provide predetermined sharp leading and/or trailing edges to the first areas. Granules of a second color or color blend are then deposited on the strip by dropping on tacky second areas between the spaced first areas. If desired, one or both edges of the second color granule drops also may be trimmed, the second color granules may be deposited on only a portion of the tacky strip areas between the spaced first areas, and additional color granules may be applied to the remaining tacky areas to form shingles with three or more colored areas.

Abstract: A method for making a mineral fiber insulation assembly is disclosed. The insulation assembly includes a mineral core having opposed major surfaces, opposed side surfaces and opposed end surfaces. polymer film covers only the opposed major surfaces and opposed side surfaces. One or multiple lanes of mineral fiber packs are moved along a predetermined path. At least one sheet of polymer film is supplied to the predetermined path to cover the major surfaces and side surfaces. The polymer film is attached to at least one of the core side surfaces and a plurality of openings are in the polymer film adjacent at least one side surface. The mineral fiber pack and the polymer film cover are cut perpendicular to the predetermined path to form individual ones of the mineral fiber insulation assemblies.