Abstract: A process and apparatus for making densified glass fiber pellets substantially encapsulated in a polymeric shell from chopped segments of multi-filament glass strand is described. The densified pellets may be advantageously produced by hydrating chopped glass strands and then pelletizing them by tumbling in a rotary drum, densifying the resulting pellets by tumbling in a rotating zig-zag or undulating tube, drying the pellets and encapsulating them in a polymeric composition. The resulting pellets exhibit enhanced degradation resistance during bulk storage and handling.

Abstract: In a method of reinforcing and waterproofing a paved surface, a layer of liquefied asphalt is applied on a paved surface. A reinforcement mat is applied over the liquefied asphalt. The reinforcement mat is a nonwoven mat produced from fibers having a melting point above about 320° F. (160° C.), and selected from mineral fibers such as glass fibers, polymer fibers, or mixtures thereof. The liquefied asphalt penetrates and soaks the reinforcement mat to form a water barrier. A layer of paving material is applied over the reinforcement mat.

Abstract: A construction beam includes a pair of lateral members and a resilient web extending therebetween, so as to present a cross-sectional profile corresponding to commonly used construction beams (e.g., 2″×4″ or 2″×6″). The resilience of the web helps to attenuate sound transmission through the beam from one lateral member to the other. In particular, in a wall frame, the lateral members are mounted at opposite ends thereof to end plates consisting of other construction beams according to the present invention. When the wall frame is used in a building structure, the lateral members of the end plates on the same side are attached to the surrounding structure, leaving the other side of the frame resiliently free floating. A wall is mounted on the free floating side of the wall frame so as to provide a resiliently free floating wall that acts as a sound attenuating absorber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided to place a series of timing marks on a granule covered roofing sheet. A rotary pattern cutter cuts a pattern of tabs and cutouts in the continuous granule covered sheet. The rotary position of the pattern cutter and the position of the timing marks are sensed, and the position of the continuous granule covered sheet with respect to the rotary position of the pattern cutter is synchronized in response to the sensed position of the timing marks and the sensed rotary position of the pattern cutter.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to processes for preparing extruded foam products and more particularly to a process for producing such products wherein surface defects are minimized. There has been a movement to replace conventional halo-carbon blowing agents in favor of purportedly more environmentally safe halo-carbon free blowing agents such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, argon, water, air, nitrogen, and helium. However, these halo-carbon free blowing agents, in particular carbon dioxide, have higher foaming rates and higher volatility leading to greater surface defects in the extruded foam. The present invention employs polyethylene wax to reduce or eliminate the occurrence of surface defects where halo-carbon free blowing agents are employed in an extruded foam manufacture process.

Abstract: A method for splicing fibrous mats including separating an edge of one fibrous mat into two sections, inserting an adhesive-containing edge of another fibrous mat between the two sections and applying heat to the adhesive-containing edge. Upon cooling, both of the mats are bonded together, forming a seam, completing the splice.

Abstract: A reinforcement liner and methods of manufacturing the liner are disclosed. The liner includes a fabric (100) material having first and second fibers (112, 122). The second fibers comprise chopped fibers in substantially parallel alignment for being positioned substantially about the circumference of a pipe, so the fabric can be elongated in a direction parallel to the second fibers. The liner may includes a stitching material (130) that is used to couple the first and second fibers together. The stitching material is preferably an elastic yarn.

Abstract: A resiliently flexible construction beam includes a pair of lateral flange portions and a web extending therebetween, preferably, but not necessarily, so as to present a cross-sectional profile corresponding to commonly used construction beam members (e.g., 2″×4″ or 2″×6″). The resilience of the beam helps to attenuate sound transmission through the beam from one lateral member to the other. In particular, in a wall frame, beams according to the present invention are mounted at opposite ends thereof to end plates. In one example, the end plates include slits into which the webs of the beams can be received. The resilient web according to the present invention is conveniently made from a unitary piece of material such as, for example, steel.

Abstract: Dies which facilitate the threading of a strand are disclosed. Each die embodiment includes portions that move relative to each other to allow access to the area between the portions. One embodiment of a die embodying the principles of the invention includes an upper portion and a lower portion. Each die portion includes components corresponding to substantially half of a wirecoating die. Accordingly, when the die portions are adjacent each other, they form a complete wirecoating die. In the preferred embodiment, the upper portion is moveable relative to the lower portion, which is fixed. Each portion is coupled to a support by a conduit through which resin can be supplied to the particular die portion. The upper portion is pivotally mounted to the support for movement between an upper position in which the die is open and a lower position in which the die is closed. This die is used in an in-line wirecoating process in which a strand is wirecoated downstream from a bushing during a fiber forming process.

Abstract: Apparatus for depositing granules onto a substrate includes a hopper for containing granules, the hopper having a discharge slot, and a reciprocating gate mounted for rotation across the slot to open and close the slot. A method of depositing granules onto a moving substrate includes providing a hopper for containing granules, where the hopper has a discharge slot. A gate is moved across the slot to open and close the slot. When the slot is open granules fall from the hopper, and when the slot is closed granules are prevented from falling from the hopper. The method further includes detecting the speed of the substrate, and controlling the extent of opening of the slot by the gate to meter the granules falling from the hopper in response to the speed of the substrate.

Abstract: A process is provided for filling a muffler shell with fibrous material. It comprises the step of providing a muffler shell comprising one or more muffler shell outer parts which define an internal cavity and an internal structure adapted to extend at least part way through the shell internal cavity and having one or more openings adapted to communicate with the shell internal cavity. The process further comprises the step of providing a bag filled with fibrous material. The bag has a first side with one or more first perforations defining a first side total open area and a second side with either no perforations or one or more second perforations defining a second side total open area. The first open area is greater than the second open area.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for applying a sizing composition to glass fibers with improved size application efficiency, while also providing for the collection and reuse of sizing composition, as well as for providing sizing composition to the applicator device, The apparatus includes a rotatable, but otherwise stationary, sizing applicator device which can be replaced without substantial interruption of the sizing application process while also providing a sizing reservoir for the collection and reuse of sizing composition, as well as for providing sizing composition to the applicator device.

Abstract: To provide a type of phenol foam characterized by the fact that the phenol foam is formed by using a hydrocarbon as the foaming agent. The phenol foam has excellent heat-insulating performance, high compressive strength and other mechanical strengths, improved brittleness and is friendly to the environment of the earth.

Abstract: A process is provided for filling a muffler shell with fibrous material. The process involves providing a muffler shell comprising first and second muffler shell outer parts which define an internal cavity when coupled together and an internal structure adapted to extend at least part way through the shell internal cavity and having one or more openings communicating with the shell internal cavity.

Abstract: A method of applying blend drop granules to an asphalt coated sheet includes moving an asphalt coated sheet in a machine direction, depositing a blend drop of granules on a blend drop conveyor that is moving at a first speed, changing the speed of the blend drop conveyor to a second speed that is closer to the speed of the moving asphalt coated sheet than is the first speed, and releasing the blend drop from the blend drop conveyor for contact with the asphalt coated sheet.

Abstract: A laminated shingle simulates a tiled roof when placed with other similar shingles on a roof deck. The laminated shingle includes an overlay member and an underlay member fixedly attached to each other. The overlay member includes an upper or headlap portion and a lower or exposed butt portion with one or more substantially identically shaped tabs with a cutout between each tab. The lower edge of the tabs may have a curving or negative contour. The tabs may taper in width from the butt edge to the lower edge of the headlap portion. The upper edge of the cutouts may have a generally straight contour or a generally curved contour. The lower edge of the underlay member may have a generally straight contour or a portion of the lower edge may have a generally curving contour. The overlay member and/or underlay member may include a darker shading area to enhance the tile simulating aspect of the shingle.

Abstract: A wet-formed permeable mat composed of wet use chopped strands (WUCS), chopped roving, and potentially unidirectional roving coupled with an alkaline resistant binder are combined to create an randomly oriented open mat structure with a high degree of openness that can be used in cement backerboard applications. The cement backerboard that is subsequently formed from the wet-formed permeable mat has lower binder content, superior decorative finish, and better permeability control than known glass scrim systems and can be produced in a single continuous step.

Abstract: A string binder is disclosed which is useful for making reinforcing articles for use in the manufacture of molded composite articles. The string binder, in one embodiment, includes a fibrous carrier substrate material covered with a solidified coating comprising a binder resin material having an acid value of less than about 30 mg KOH/g of resin. Additionally, the coating may include a catalyst applied as a separate layer or in combination with the binder resin material. The string binder may be co-roved with one or more ends of a separate fibrous reinforcing material to make a product suitable for use in various molding applications.

Abstract: A process for forming a multilayer composite insulator includes the steps of forming an insulator precursor by orienting an insulation insert in a desired location between a first facing layer and a polymer based blanket layer, applying differential heat to two opposing sides of the insulator precursor and applying pressure to the insulator precursor. Together, the applied differential heat and applied pressure mold the insulator precursor to a desired shape while also providing the polymer based blanket material with a first relatively high density adjacent a warmer of the two opposing sides and a zone of relatively low density adjacent the cooler of the two opposing sides. The process also includes the cooling of a molded precursor to set the insulator in the desired shape.