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 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 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: 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.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to vapor retarding building materials and methods for making them. The present inventors have found simple and cost-efficient materials that have low water vapor permeability at low relative humidities and that can be provided as a coating on a building material substrate. Notably, in many embodiments, the materials can have high water vapor permeability at high relative humidities. In one embodiment, the disclosure provides vapor retarding articles comprising a building material substrate; and a polymeric coating layer coated on the building material substrate, the polymeric coating layer comprising an inorganic hydrophilic particulate filler dispersed in a continuous organic phase comprising a hydrophobic polymer, wherein the content of the filler is from about 30% to about 85% by weight of the polymeric coating layer, the vapor retarding article configured to have a water vapor permeance of no more than about 1 Perm at 25% relative humidity.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to methods, devices and systems for insulation, e.g., of cavities associated with walls, ceilings, floors and other building structures, with foam insulation. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a method for providing a cavity of a building with an expanded foam insulation.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to silicone-coated mineral wool insulation materials, methods for making them using specific coating methods, and methods for using them. One aspect of the disclosure is a method for making a silicone-coated mineral wool, the method comprising: providing a mineral wool comprising a collection of mineral wool fibers; applying to the mineral wool a solvent-borne coating composition comprising a silicone, the silicone of the coating composition having a number-average molecular weight of at least 25 kDa; and allowing the solvent to evaporate to provide silicone-coated mineral wool.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is an exterior cladding panel including one or more courses of simulated shingles, a locking clip extending from a front face of the exterior cladding panel, and a locking leg extending from a rear face of the exterior cladding panel. The exterior cladding panel also includes a first plurality of tabs extending from a top edge of the exterior cladding panel, where each tab in the first plurality of tabs includes at least one projection extending approximately perpendicular to the front face. A respective top end of each tab in the first plurality of tabs extends a common distance from the top edge of the exterior cladding panel. A second plurality of tabs extends from the top edge of the exterior cladding panel, where a respective top end of each tab in the second plurality of tabs extends the common distance from the top edge.

Abstract: A method of making the asphalt shingles includes applying a substrate to a layer of shingle-forming material, the substrate having indicators at predetermined spaced-apart distances, with the indicators being sensed as the shingle-forming layer is moved along a predetermined path, with adhesive zones being applied to the shingle such that the application of the adhesive zones is synchronized in response to sensing the locations of the indicators, and with the shingle-forming layer then being cut into individual shingles.

Abstract: Roofing granules having a color coating layer are covered with a clear, transparent or translucent outer coating composition including a functional material, such nanoparticles of anatase titanium dioxide.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to cladding for covering a building surface, for example suitable for covering the exterior surface of a building. The present disclosure relates more particularly to a siding panel including a panel body having a length, a width, a front face, and a rear face. The panel body further includes a first strip extending along the length of the panel body with a three dimensional surface texture. The three dimensional surface texture is a geometric pattern repeating along the front face of the panel body. The panel body includes a second strip extending along the length of the panel body adjacent to the first strip with a surface texture that is different than that of the first strip. The siding panel further includes a first lock, a second lock, and a fastening strip secured to the first lock.

Abstract: A solar thermoelectric power generation system includes roofing products such as shingles with solar heat reflective areas and roofing products with solar heat absorptive areas. Thermoelectric power generating elements are provided in thermal contact with the solar heat reflective areas and the solar heat absorptive areas.