Abstract: A system for processing material has a power supply and a machine having a hopper for receiving and passing material to an auger. The auger has a shaft with an axis about which it rotates, a helical flighting mounted to the shaft, pins mounted to the helical flighting, and paddles mounted to the shaft. The radial outer edge of the helical flighting is crenelated with periodic notches that form rectangular blades on the helical flighting. The pins are rotationally and angularly aligned with leading edges of the rectangular blades. The system may include a vehicle, such as a trailer, having first and second compartments separated by a partition. The power supply is located in the first compartment and has a power supply member extending though the partition. The machine is located in the second compartment and coupled to the power supply member.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to roofing structures, for example, suitable for covering houses and other structures. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a roofing structure including a decking layer, a base layer, a cap layer, and a plurality of rails disposed over the cap layer. The base layer includes a plurality of strips that form seams including a first base layer seam. The cap layer also includes a plurality of strips that form seams including a first cap layer seam that is spaced from the first base layer seam. The rails include a first rail that is aligned with the first base layer seam and a second rail that is aligned with the first cap layer seam.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface panels, for example, polymer siding suitable for covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding panel having a depth extending from a rear elevation to a front elevation. The siding panel includes a fastening strip at the upper side, an upper lock adjacent to the fastening strip, a lower lock at the lower side, and a panel body extending from the upper lock to the lower lock. The panel body has a contoured profile including an upper edge that is disposed at the front elevation and abuts the upper lock, a lower edge that is disposed at the front elevation and abuts the lower lock, and a first section disposed between the upper edge and the lower edge that projects toward the rear elevation of the siding panel to a first trough.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to the photovoltaic generation of electrical energy. The present invention relates more particularly to photovoltaic arrays for use in photovoltaically generating electrical energy. Aspects of the present invention provide a variety of photovoltaic roofing elements and systems that include, for example, interlocking geometries to provide for water handling and integration with conventional roofing materials; and wire management features that can protect wiring and associated electrical components from physical and/or environmental damage.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to wallboards, for example, suitable for use in constructing internal walls. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a wallboard and a method that provides simplified high-quality surface finishing. The wallboard includes a wall panel having a front surface and a rear surface. A sandable coating is disposed on the front surface of the wall panel. The method includes positioning wallboards adjacent to one another, applying sandable joint compound over joint formed between the wallboards, and sanding the joint compound and the sandable coating of the wallboards.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to siding, for example, suitable for use covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding attachment accessory including an attachment platform having a front face and a rear face. The attachment accessory also includes at least one siding hanger extending forward from the front face of the attachment platform that is configured to hold a siding component. Each siding hanger of the attachment accessory includes a retaining arm having a proximal end attached to the front face of the attachment platform and a distal end spaced from the attachment platform.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to acoustic panels, for example, suitable for use in a ceiling to control sound. The present disclosure relates more particularly to an acoustic ceiling panel including an acoustic substrate formed of a porous material having an air flow resistivity of at least 300 kPa*s/m2. The acoustic substrate includes an upper face and a lower face with a pattern of perforations formed therein, where the pattern of perforations covers at least 6% of the area of the lower face. The acoustic ceiling panel also includes a backing layer disposed over the upper face of the acoustic substrate and a veil disposed over the lower face.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to acoustic panels and methods for preparing them. The disclosure relates more particularly to panels having a porous facing and to methods for making such panels. One aspect of the disclosure is an acoustic panel comprising a base structure. The base structure has one or more edges, an outward major surface having a total area, and an inward major surface opposing the outward major surface. The base structure has a noise reduction coefficient (NRC) of at least about 0.3. The panel includes a coating layer directly disposed on the outward major surface of the base structure, the coating layer being formed of an open-cell foam. The coating layer has an exterior major surface opposing the outward major surface of the base structure. The coating layer is substantially scattering for light in the wavelength range of 380 nm to 780 nm, and has an absorption coefficient of less than 0.5 for acoustic frequencies in the range of 100 Hz to 10,000 Hz.

Abstract: Disclosed is a building board construction with increased surface strength. More specifically, increased nail pull strength is achieved via the application of an external surface coating. The surface coating is ideally applied to a paper faced gypsum building board. In one possible embodiment, the coating is formed from a water soluble polymer.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for the production of gypsum board using starch pellets. In accordance with the present disclosure, the starch necessary for board formation is provided in the form of starch pellets. These pellets are mixed with a gypsum slurry in a mixer. The pellets are initially insoluble and do not dissolve. However, during subsequent drying stages, the pellets become soluble and dissolve into the gypsum phase. This both provides the desired starch component and also results in the formation of voids within the set gypsum.

Abstract: A system and method for introducing a slurry mixture for making gypsum board is disclosed. The system includes a mixer for mixing slurry and directing it to an exit gate, a foam injector for injecting foam into the slurry, and a canister connected to the mixer for inducing swirl to the slurry. The system also includes an elongated hose and an optional adapter for depositing the slurry onto paper to form the board. Ends of the elongated hose are coupled to the canister and to the inlet of the adapter. Slurry is directed from the canister, through the hose, and into the adapter for exiting its outlet. Optionally, a mixing boot and/or elbow joints may be included. Use of the hose and adapter enhances the flexibility of the system, including moving the mixer offline or adjacent to the paper or belt, and improves foam blending in the slurry mixture.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface products, for example, panels suitable for forming a building surface. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a building surface product including a gypsum panel with an upper edge that overlaps a lower edge of a neighboring gypsum panel.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to an extruder for producing an extrudate. The present disclosure relates more particularly to an extruder including an extruder body having at least one material inlet and an exit opening. A rotatable outlet is coupled to the exit opening of the extruder body and is configured to rotate as the extrudate is expelled from the extruder body.

Abstract: A method of fabricating panels includes providing an insert having an interior portion with a top portion and a positioning stop opposite the top portion, and an exterior portion including a fastener hem. Further, the method includes placing the insert in a mold such that only the fastener hem and the positioning stop contact the mold and centering the insert in the mold with the top portion and the positioning stop. The method also includes filling the mold with a casting material such that the interior portion is submerged in the casting material including the top portion, but some of the positioning stop is not submerged in the casting material, curing the casting material to form a panel on the insert, and removing the panel form the mold.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to building surface joint supports, for example, suitable for covering a seam between two building surface panels. In certain aspects, the disclosure provides joint supports that include an elongate layered structure having inside and outside surfaces, the elongate layered structure including a support strip that includes first and second elongate flanges. In certain embodiments, the elongate layered structure also includes an inner facing sheet disposed on the inside surface of the support strip; and an outer facing sheet disposed on the outside surface of the support strip, wherein the each of the inner facing sheet and the outer facing sheet is formed from a fibrous polymer material.

Abstract: A method of forming an asphalt mixture can include mixing a bio-source material and a bitumen source to form a bitumen mixture. The bitumen mixture can be mixed with a catalyst to form the asphalt mixture. Particles can be added to the asphalt mixture to form a roofing-grade asphalt mixture. In an embodiment, the bitumen source material can have a softening point of at least approximately 93° C. and a penetration distance no greater than approximately 25 dmm. In another embodiment, the roofing-grade asphalt mixture can have a softening point of at least approximately 104° C., a penetration distance no greater than approximately 12 dmm, a viscosity of at least approximately 3000 cps at a temperature of 204° C., or any combination thereof. The asphalt mixture can be applied to a base material to form a roofing product. The asphalt mixture can be applied as a pavement product.