Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing granules onto a moving asphalt coated sheet includes first and second granule feed chambers containing granules that are fed to a discharge slot by first and second pockets. The pockets are formed in a slidable divider positioned between the feed chambers and the discharge slot. The divider is slid between a first position and a second position by a fluid powered actuator via an actuator rod. In the first position, the first pocket is in communication with the first granule feed chamber to receive granules from the feed chamber and the second pocket is in communication with the discharge slot for discharging the granules contained in the second pocket. In the second position the first pocket is in communication with the discharge slot for discharging the granules contained in the first pocket and the second pocket is in communication with the second feed chamber to receive granules from the feed chamber.

Abstract: In a method of making a linear composite member, a hollow carrier is provided having a cavity and an inner surface. A curable liquid or gelled resin is applied to the inner surface. A curable foam is introduced into the cavity. The foam contacts the resin when the resin is not more than partially cured, and preferably when the resin has a viscosity not greater than 250,000 centipoise at 25.degree. C. The foam and resin, which are preferably both polyurethanes, are cured together to form a linear composite member having a foam core and a hard resin skin formed integrally. In a preferred embodiment, a reinforcement material, such as a glass fiber web, is embedded in the resin skin.

Abstract: In a method of forming a pattern of granules on an asphalt coated sheet moving in a machine direction, a flow of separate first granules and second granules is discharged onto the sheet. The flow of granules is rotated to form a pattern of first and second granules on the sheet that changes along the machine direction. Another embodiment of the invention provides a method of forming a pattern of granules, in which the flow of granules is oscillated in a direction transverse to the machine direction. The flow of granules can also be discharged intermittently onto the sheet.

Abstract: In a method of forming an irregular pattern of granules on an asphalt coated sheet, a flow of granules is discharged toward the sheet. The granules are deflected onto the sheet with a deflector having an irregular surface to form a granule deposit having an irregular pattern. In one embodiment of the method, the deflected granules are controlled with a shield. Apparatus for forming an irregular pattern of granules on an asphalt coated sheet includes a granule applicator for discharging a flow of granules, a deflector having an irregular surface for deflecting the granules, and optionally a shield for controlling the granules.

Abstract: In a method of forming a pattern of granules on a moving asphalt coated sheet, a blend drop of first and second granules is discharged onto the sheet. The blend drop forms a granule deposit on the sheet including an inner portion of first granules and an outer portion of second granules. An apparatus for use in the method includes a nozzle having an orifice for discharging a blend drop of first and second granules onto the sheet. A first granule feed chamber is provided for feeding first granules into the nozzle. A second granule feed chamber is provided for feeding second granules into the nozzle. The first and second granule feed chambers are positioned so that the first granules are fed inside the second granules in the nozzle.

Abstract: A method for applying granules to a moving asphalt coated sheet includes providing a nozzle for discharging granules onto a sheet having first and second edges. The nozzle is mounted for movement along a path which traverses the sheet and extends beyond the first and second edges to define first and second extension locations beyond the edges. The nozzle is moved along the path, and the discharge of granules is begun while the nozzle is adjacent or opposite the first extension location, and the discharge of the granules is ended after the nozzle has traversed the asphalt coated sheet and reached the second extension location so that the beginning and ending of the granule discharge do not occur between the first and second edges. The path and the speed of the nozzle can be adjusted so that the deposit of the granules applied to the sheet has a predetermined shape.

Abstract: The apparatus for applying granules to a coated asphalt sheet has a nozzle for holding an accumulation of granules, an opening at the bottom of the nozzle for discharging the granules onto the coated asphalt sheet, a buffer chamber positioned in communication with the accumulation of granules, and a vacuum source for reducing the pressure in the buffer chamber to stop the flow of granules through the opening.

Abstract: A glass fiber mat contains between 68% and 90% glass fibers and between 10% and 32% binder by weight of the mat. The binder contains between 2% and 90% polymer modified asphalt and between 10% and 98% thermosetting resin by weight of the binder. The polymer which modifies the asphalt is selected from thermoplastic and/or thermoset polymers. A preferred thermoplastic polymer is selected from reactive thermoplastic polymers and/or thermoplastic elastomers. The binder is preferably applied to the glass fibers in the form of a blend of thermosetting resin and an aqueous emulsion of polymer modified asphalt. The aqueous emulsion is prepared by combining between 5% and 75% asphalt, between 2% and 20% polymer selected from thermoplastic and/or thermoset polymers, between 25% and 95% water, and between 0.5% and 5% surfactant by weight of the aqueous emulsion.

Abstract: A glass fiber insulation product includes irregularly-shaped glass fibers of two different glasses having differing coefficients of thermal expansion, with the irregularly-shaped dual-glass fibers exhibiting a substantially uniform volume filling nature, and providing improved recovery and thermal conductivity abilities even in the absence of a binder material.

Abstract: A method for producing asphalt fibers includes supplying molten asphalt to a rotating asphalt spinner, centrifuging asphalt fibers from the asphalt spinner, and collecting the asphalt fibers. The molten asphalt is supplied to the asphalt spinner at a temperature within the range of from about 270.degree. to about 500.degree. F. Also disclosed is a method for integrating asphalt with reinforcement fibers including the steps of establishing a downwardly moving veil of reinforcement fibers, such as glass fibers, and centrifuging asphalt fibers from a rotating asphalt spinner positioned within the veil of reinforcement fibers to integrate the asphalt with the reinforcement fibers. A method for making an asphalt roofing shingle includes the steps of assembling together a mat of asphalt fibers with a mat of reinforcement fibers, coating the assembled mats to form an asphalt coated sheet, applying granules to the asphalt coated sheet, and cutting the asphalt coated sheet into roofing shingles.

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 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 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.

Abstract: A method for producing asphalt fibers includes supplying molten asphalt to a rotating asphalt spinner, centrifuging asphalt fibers from the asphalt spinner, and collecting the asphalt fibers. The molten asphalt is supplied to the asphalt spinner at a temperature within the range of from about 270.degree. to about 500.degree. F. Also disclosed is a method for integrating asphalt with reinforcement fibers including the steps of establishing a downwardly moving veil of reinforcement fibers, such as glass fibers, and centrifuging asphalt fibers from a rotating asphalt spinner positioned within the veil of reinforcement fibers to integrate the asphalt with the reinforcement fibers. A method for making an asphalt roofing shingle includes the steps of assembling together a mat of asphalt fibers with a mat of reinforcement fibers, coating the assembled mats to form an asphalt coated sheet, applying granules to the asphalt coated sheet, and cutting the asphalt coated sheet into roofing shingles.

Abstract: A method is provided for releasing a thin foil workpiece from adherence with a resilient surface to which it adheres due to compression occurring in a forming operation. The method includes the steps of applying pneumatic pressure greater than ambient pressure between the first forming element and the workpiece while the workpiece remains held by compression. Thereafter, a second surface of a second forming element is separated from contact with the thin foil workpiece, removing compression, and rapid or shock release of the thin foil workpiece from its adherence to the resilient surface ensues. An alternative method is further provided.

Abstract: A method for making dual-glass fibers includes supplying first and second molten glass to a rotating spinner having an orificed peripheral wall, where the first glass has a higher viscosity than that of the second glass, centrifuging the first and second glasses through the orifices as molten dual-glass streams, maintaining the dual-glass streams at a temperature sufficient to enable the second glass to flow around the first glass, and cooling the dual-glass streams to make dual-glass fibers.

Abstract: A method for fiberizing mineral material with organic material includes centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material with a first rotating spinner, changing the direction of the mineral fibers to form a downwardly moving veil of mineral fibers, establishing a flow of molten organic material moving toward a second rotating spinner positioned within the veil, dividing the flow of molten organic material into a plurality of streams, directing, by means of conduits, individual ones of the plurality of streams toward the peripheral wall of the second rotating spinner, the conduits shielding the molten organic material from heat from the first rotating spinner, and centrifuging organic fibers from the molten organic material.

Abstract: A method for fiberizing mineral material with organic material includes centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material with a first spinner rotating about an axis, changing the direction of the mineral fibers to form a downwardly moving veil of mineral fibers, establishing a flow of molten organic material moving downwardly in a first conduit positioned within the veil, and directing the flow of molten organic material to a position beneath the spinner, dividing the flow of molten organic material into a plurality of streams, directing, by means of individual conduits, individual ones of the plurality of streams radially outwardly away from the first conduit, rotating the individual conduits about the axis, centrifuging organic fibers from the molten organic material by means of nozzles at the radially outward ends of the individual conduits, and directing the organic fibers into contact with the veil of mineral fibers.

Abstract: A method for applying granules to a coated sheet, and in particular a coated asphaltic sheet for use in the manufacture of roofing, comprises controlling a fluid (e.g., pneumatic) counterflow through the discharge opening of a nozzle which holds an accumulation of granules therein to rapidly stop or otherwise modify the flow rate of granules onto the sheet. A buffer chamber is in communication with the granule accumulation in the nozzle, and an apparatus modifies the pressure in the buffer chamber to generate the desired fluid flow through the nozzle opening. A vacuum source provides a negative pressure for a pneumatic counterflow, and a positive pressure source is utilized to increase pressure in the buffer chamber to act as a discharge assistant.

Abstract: An insulation assembly of the invention includes a central roll of compressed, rolled insulation material and six peripheral rolls of compressed, rolled insulation material surrounding the central roll, all of the rolls having longitudinal axes in parallel, each of the rolls being individually restrained, and the entire assembly being enclosed in a wrapper.