Abstract: Inorganic fiber production burner apparatus and methods of use are disclosed. One burner includes a refractory block adapted to be in fluid connection with sources of primary oxidant and fuel, the refractory block having a fuel and primary oxidant entrance end and a flame exit end, the flame exit end having a substantially rectangular flame exit having a width greater than its height, the refractory block defining a combustion chamber and a second chamber fluidly connecting the combustion chamber and the flame exit end; and an oxygen manifold fluidly connected to the combustion chamber and adapted to route oxygen to the combustion chamber through a plurality of passages through the refractory block. This abstract allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the disclosure. It will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).

Abstract: A faced fibrous insulation assembly includes: a fibrous insulation blanket whose fibers, preferably, are bonded together with a formaldehyde free binder; a facing formed by a kraft paper sheet material; and an asphalt coating layer on the inner surface of the facing that bonds the facing to the fibrous insulation blanket. The asphalt coating layer contains an odor-reducing additive in an amount sufficient to substantially eliminate odor that would otherwise be emitted by the asphalt coating layer without adversely affecting the adherent qualities of the asphalt coating layer. Preferably, the facing and the asphalt coating layer are fungi growth resistant.

Abstract: Making mats using glass fibers having a diameter of about 13+/?3 microns, bound with a binder formed from a homopolymer or a copolymer of polyacrylic acid and a polyol produces fibrous nonwoven mats having high tensile strength and also an unexpected high flame resistance considering the amount of oxygen in the binder. Mats of the present invention pass the National Fire Protection Association's (NFPA) Flammability Test. Tabor stiffness of these mats is greater than about 40, preferably greater than about 50 and most preferably greater than about 55. Air permeability of the mats is preferably within the range of about 500 to about 800 CFM/sq. ft. Methods of making the mat are also disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to sprayed insulation application systems, and more particularly to systems that utilizes a sole power source to directly or indirectly drive the system's multiple components independent of the location of a power-take-off. In one embodiment of the invention, the system utilizing a sole power source comprises at least one power-take-off operably associated with the power source. An insulation blower and a hydraulic drive are operably associated with the at least one power-take-off. An electrical generator and a vacuum fan are operably associated with the hydraulic drive, with at least one control regulating the operable association of the generator and the vacuum fan with the hydraulic drive. In another embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic drive is operably associated with the power-take-off, with the generator, vacuum fan and insulation blower operably associated with the hydraulic drive.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to the application of a sprayed insulation mixture, and more particularly to an apparatus and method for applying the sprayed mixture in high reach areas of extended elevation and removing any excess mixture therefrom. In one embodiment of a system for spraying an insulation mixture into a cavity and removing any excess mixture therefrom, the system preferably comprises a lift defining upper end lower ends, with the upper end of the lift being adjustably movable between lowered and raised positions. An insulation applicator is located on the lift proximal to the upper end for spraying the insulation mixture into the cavity. The applicator may be rotatably connected to the lift and driven to move in a reciprocating, sweeping motion. A scrubber is also located on the lift, preferably above the applicator, for removing or scrubbing any excess insulation from the cavity.

Abstract: Composites made from at least two plies are described, where one of the outer layers is a layer comprising glass fibers, and in particular is a staple glass fiber nonwoven. The layers have been bonded to one another by needling, and the extent of this needling is such that some of the fibers of the organic nonwoven emerge from the surface of the glass fiber sheet. The composite is then provided with a binder by using a rotating roll for single-side application to the glass fiber surface. The composites are particularly suitable for producing bituminized prefabricated roofing and waterproofing sheets, and as backings for coatings, e.g. PVC coatings.

Abstract: A roofing membrane temperature indicator is provided for preventing the installation of a roofing membrane or roofing membranes at a temperature below a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) for a particular installation procedure. The membrane temperature indicator is visibly associated with the roofing membrane(s) and includes a thermochromic indicator having a first color at temperatures below a designated temperature and a second color visibly different from the first color at and above the designated temperature. The designated temperature at which the color of the membrane indicator changes is at or above a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) and/or a minimum recommended installation temperature for the roofing membrane(s) for a particular installation procedure.

Abstract: A self-adhered roof system includes a plurality of waterproof self-adhering base sheets that are self-adhered by watertight bonds to underlying and overlying layers of the roof system and, preferably, waterproof fire-retardant cap sheets that are adhered to an underlying layer formed of the self-adhering base sheets. Base sheet assemblies that each include a base sheet with release sheets overlying its bottom and top major surfaces and, preferably, fire-retardant cap sheet assemblies that each include a fire-retardant cap sheet with release sheets overlying its bottom major surface and a selvage edge portion of its top major surface are utilized to form the self-adhered roof system. The self-adhering base sheets may be used with cap sheets other than fire-retardant cap sheets and with other roof components.

Abstract: A system for transporting insulation particles suitable for use in a process for forming an insulation product is provided, comprising: a blowing machine for forming an insulation particle/air suspension, wherein the blowing machine comprises at least one opening, and a hose in communication with the at least one opening, for transporting the suspension to or from the blowing machine, wherein the internal diameter variation of at least a portion of the hose is less than about 0.20 inch.

Abstract: A test method for measuring tuft gripping strength characteristics of a tufted nonwoven primary backing mat for making tufted carpets, the tufted backing mat having no additional binder on the backside of the mat for tufted carpet is disclosed. The test is used in a method of developing primary backing mats for making tufted carpets that are competitive or superior in TGS.

Abstract: Coated and uncoated fibrous mats, and laminates containing the mat, having one or more surfactants on the fibers and binder holding the fibers together in only a portion of the thickness of the mat are disclosed. The mat contains a major portion of non-cellulosic fibers and a minor portion of cured resinous binder with the most typical fibers being glass fibers. The surfactant on the surface of the fibers causes a slurry or other liquid applied to the mat in a later process to form a board or laminate like faced gypsum board, a faced foam board, etc. to uniformly penetrate the mat to the desired distance. Also disclosed are methods of applying the surfactant(s) to the hot, coated or uncoated, mat soon after the coated or uncoated mat exits a drying oven used in the process of making, or coating, the mat.

Abstract: New coated nonwoven fibrous mats having properties particularly suited for a facer on gypsum wallboard and other substrates and in laminates of various types, and the method of making the coated mat is disclosed. The mat preferably contains a major portion of glass fibers and a minor portion of a resinous binder. The coating is preferably permeable and reduces fiber dust and abrasion experienced in the past with relatively coarse, relatively inexpensive glass fibers in the mat. Contrary to previous coating methods, the coated fibrous mat is made in-line on a wet mat forming production line by applying a wet foam binder onto a wet, fibrous web followed by drying and curing in-line.

Abstract: A prefabricated asphalt-based waterproof roofing membrane for use in a multi-ply asphalt-based commercial roofing system, e.g. a cap sheet that forms the exposed layer of a multi-ply built-up roofing system, is manufactured at a factory to have a highly reflective thermoplastic elastomeric sheet layer with a top surface that has a reflectance that meets current EPA Energy Star requirements. Preferably, a polymer primer layer is interposed between the highly reflective thermoplastic elastomeric sheet layer and an asphalt saturated and coated reinforcing substrate to keep oils and other colored components in the asphalt from exuding into the highly reflective thermoplastic elastomeric sheet layer.

Abstract: Self-adhering flashing cap strip and end lap connector cap sheet assemblies include a reinforcing layer encapsulated within self-adhering bitumen. The bottom major surfaces of the flashing cap strips and the connector end lap cap sheets are formed by the self-adhering bitumen and the top major surfaces of the flashing cap strips and the connector end lap cap sheets have lateral edge portions formed by the self-adhering bitumen and a coated central portion that extends between the lateral edge portions. The flashing cap strips are used to interconnect cap sheets at roof surface intersections in the formation of waterproof roofing layers and the connector end lap sheets are used to connect lengths of cap sheets at the job site.

Abstract: A fiberizing apparatus for converting molten material into continuous fibers has an internal support structure to minimize high temperature creep and sagging of a tip plate, the reinforcing structure forming at least about 16 internal cells and the hole pattern in a bushing screen is engineered such that the hole area in each screen area above each of the at least 16 cells controls the amount of molten material flowing into each cell to produce a substantially improved tip plate temperature profile and fiberizing efficiency.

Abstract: A method of measuring the extent of cure of a binder in a fibrous product is provided. The method comprises (a) providing a sample of a fibrous product, the fibrous product comprising fibers and a binder, (b) subjecting the sample to infrared spectroscopy to generate a spectral analysis, and (c) determining a binder cure ratio of the binder in the sample using the spectral analysis. The binder has carboxylic acid groups and alcohol groups that crosslink to form ester groups as the binder cures, and the binder cure ratio comprises a ratio between infrared absorption corresponding to a bond of the carboxylic acid groups in the binder and infrared absorption corresponding to a bond of the ester groups in the binder.

Abstract: A fibrous nonwoven mat particularly suited for hiding the color of a substrate when the mat is bonded to the substrate is made by forming a web of fibers from a wet fibrous slurry, saturating the mat with a resinous binder containing 1-20 weight percent of a paper coating material, removing excess binder from the mat to produce a mat having a resin binder content of 5-25 weight percent and drying the mat. The mat has high hiding power for substrates like board or blanket of fiber glass insulation and other colored materials.

Abstract: A system for controlling the residual moisture in pre-cured binder coated glass fibers. The moisture of the binder coated glass fibers is measured after the process water is extracted in a collection box. Based on the level of moisture found in the coated glass fibers, adjustments are made to the process upstream of the moisture measurements. The adjustments include, but are not limited to, adjusting the amount of water used to make the binder composition; adjusting the amount of heat applied to the binder composition as it is applied to the glass fibers and adjusting the vacuum conditions used to extract the process water from the binder coated glass fibers. Control of the residual moisture in the precured binder coated glass fibers helps ensure proper curing of the binder during the subsequent curing step.

Abstract: A multi-layer reflective insulation system for walls, ceilings, floors, roofs and similar applications includes a sheet of multi-layer reflective insulation from a roll product. The sheet of multi-layer reflective insulation is a laminate that includes first and second pliable sheet layers with reflective major surfaces and a separation media, intermediate opposed major surfaces of the first and second pliable sheet layers, that holds the first and second pliable sheet layers in a spaced apart relationship relative to each other. The separation media creates air space between the opposed major surfaces of the first and second pliable sheet layers for the enhanced reflection of incident radiation and the emission of radiation by a reflective surface of the product.