Abstract: An apparatus and method for making a composite roofing material includes a reel support for reels of each of a vulcanized rubber sheet, a polymeric film and a fleece matting and pinch rollers which advance the rubber sheet from its reel through a path including a cleaning and scrubbing vat, a stretcher, and a heater. In the cleaning and scrubbing vat, counter-rotating brush cylinders with special abrasive bristles effectively remove the non-stick talc coating from the vulcanized rubber. Once the rubber sheet is heated, polymer film and fleece matting from separate rollers are sandwiched with the rubber sheet and passed through a pair of compression pinch rollers where the polymeric film is melted.

Abstract: An apparatus for making a composite roofing material includes a reel support for reels of each of a vulcanized rubber sheet, a polymeric film and a fleece matting and pinch rollers which advance the rubber sheet from its reel through a path including an abrading roller, a cleaning and scrubbing vat, a stretcher, a heater and then, along with the polymer film and the matting, through a pair of compression pinch rollers. The cleaning and scrubbing vat effectively removes the non-stick talc coating from the vulcanized rubber. The thus cleaned rubber sheet is heated by the heater to a temperature which is sufficient to melt the polymeric film as it comes into contact with the vulcanized rubber sheet. The melted film acts as an adhesive to cause the fleece matting to adhere to the vulcanized rubber sheet as the rubber sheet, the polymeric film and the fleece matting are compressed together by the compression pinch rollers.

Abstract: To indicate the origin of manufacture of the components of a roofing system, magnetically permeable particles are incorporated into the components. The particles are preferably loaded into the lap sealant and adhesive used to form field splices. Thus loaded, the lap sealant and/or adhesive has magnetically permeable properties or characteristics which are electromagnetically detectable through and beyond one layer of rubber sheeting. Detection of these particles provides an indication of origin of the material.

Abstract: A method of attaching the perimeter of a membrane roof to a roof deck and an abutting parapet wall is disclosed. The method employs a flexible attachment strip which is mechanically fastened to either the parapet wall or the roof deck. The membrane covers the attachment strip and is secured to the horizontal portion of the attachment strip and adhered to the parapet wall. The attachment strip is a flexible strip of either fabric reinforced or non-reinforced membrane. The attachment member can be either attached to the parapet wall or can be attached to the roof deck at the foot of the parapet wall. This improves the wind uplift resistance of the perimeter securement and reduces installation cost.

Abstract: A one piece pourable sealer pocket includes a flexible support strip bonded to a strectchable water impervious membrane strip. The membrane strip has an exterior surface which is not tacky and an interior surface which is tacky. A portion of the membrane strip extends above the collar and a portion extends below the collar. In application, the collar is fastened surrounding a projection in a roof and the lower portion of the membrane is stretched to form an annular flange around the collar bonded to the roof surface. The upper portion of the membrane strip bends over the collar to form a continuous upper water impervious barrier around the collar. This pourable sealer pocket is easy to construct and easy to apply in the field.

Abstract: A membrane type liquid containment system such as a membrane roof, pond liner and the like is disclosed wherein a large membrane is formed by adhering together individual membrane sheets at lap seams or field splices. The field splice includes a primary adhering seal formed by a splicing cement. The splice also includes a thick bead of a sealant applied between the overlapped edges. This seal acts to form a secondary or redundant seal in the field splice whereby any failure in the splicing cement or primary bond does not cause failure. A method of forming this seal is also described which permits application of the lap sealant after the cement has been applied while the cement is developing body or strength.

Abstract: A non-penetrating fastener for mounting elastomeric sheeting to a roof includes a base plate adapted to be fixedly mounted to the roof and having a surface which mounts an induction heating element coated with hot melt adhesive, and a rigid top plate having a surface which mounts a second induction heating element coated with hot melt adhesive. The rigid top plate and base plate are positioned on opposite sides of an elastomeric sheet so that their adhesive coated surfaces of their induction heating elements contact the sheet and the rigid top plate overlies the base plate. In response to bombardment with a magnetic flux from an induction welding device, the induction heating elements of both the base plate and rigid top plate heat the adhesive thereon to the molten state for adhesion to the elastomeric sheet.

Abstract: A method for extruding, stretching and sintering polytetrafluoroethylene in a single pass operation to form tubular articles of low density, low matrix tensile strength, sintered polytetrafluoroethylene and articles such as electric cable having low density, low matrix tensile strength sintered polytetrafluoroethylene insulation applied about a conductor by such method. A high reduction ratio rating polytetrafluoroethylene powder with a lubricant is extruded by an extruder having a low reduction ratio, and the extrudate is heated to remove the lubricant and is stretched prior to sintering of the polytetrafluoroethylene tube which is held in its previously stretched state during sintering.

Abstract: An insulated conductor for high temperature use and methods of manufacture thereof. The conductor is insulated by at least three layers of insulation, the inner layer being made of a perfluoroalkoxy, a polytetrafluoroethylene, an ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene, or a fluorinated ethylene-propylene resin compound, the second layer being made of a polyimide resin compound and the third layer being made of perfluoroalkoxy, an ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, a non-hydrolizing, thermoset polyamide or a polyvinylidene fluoride resin compound. The layers are coated or extruded over the conductor and each other and preferably, the first layer is etched before the second layer is applied.

Abstract: A wire having enhanced solderability characteristics is formed by applying a very thin uniform coat of silver to a clean copper wire substrate. A coat of tin is plated on top of the silver. Heat treatment causes the silver and tin to form an interface alloy. The device can be other than a wire and the substrate can be other than copper.

Abstract: A seam is described wherein two sheets of material are bonded together to form one unified sheet. Edges of each sheet are stepped so that one side of an edge has a stepped portion and the opposite has a planar or flat surface. The planar or stepped surfaces of the two edges are joined together to form a seam in such a manner that the thickness of the seam is no greater than one and one half times the thickness of the sheet material. This is preferably used to form a longitudinal seam in a roll of sheet material.

Abstract: A fastener adapted to secure a roof membrane to a roof surface without penetration of the membrane includes an anchor disc having an inverted frustoconical button, an externally threaded tined retainer adapted to fit over the button with the membrane trapped between the retainer and the button and an internally threaded cover adapted to screw over the retainer and hold it in place over the button. The anchor disc includes a plurality of ribs which extend from the base up to the button. The tined retainer includes a number of tines corresponding to the areas between the individual ribs so that one tine fits between each pair of adjacent ribs. These ribs thereby prevent the rotation of the retainer when the cover is screwed over the retainer. The retainer also includes an upper ring portion and a lower tined portion which permits the tines to flex outwardly but not upwardly. Therefore the threads on the tined portion cannot become misaligned.

Abstract: A membrane roof system includes a single ply water impermeable membrane held to a roof deck by two separate fastening systems. The peripheral portion of the membrane is bonded to the peripheral edge of the roof deck by an adhesive and without mechanical fasteners. The central portion of the roof membrane is held down by traditional fastening means such as ballast, membrane-penetrating mechanical fastenings or preferably, non-membrane-penetrating mechanical fasteners. This provides maximum adherence around the periphery to withstand high uplift forces at a relatively low cost.