Abstract: A building roof structure includes rafters, purlins, braces, and a suspension fabric. The suspension fabric, which may be part of a fall protection system, insulation support system, and/or vapor barrier system, extends across a bay or other portion of the roof structure such that the suspension fabric is above the rafters and below the purlins. The braces connect at least some of the purlins to at least some of the rafters, and each brace extends through a corresponding slit or other opening in the suspension fabric. Brace covers are provided for some or all of the braces to conceal the fabric opening, to facilitate sealing around the brace near the fabric opening, and/or to provide support for the suspension fabric near the fabric opening.

Abstract: A package is provided for a storage of dilated protective elastomeric sleeve of the type which shrinks upon exposure to ambient air. The package is formed by two concentrically arranged tubular members, one of which is positioned over the sleeve. Both tubular members have a length exceeding the length of the sleeve. The ends of the inner tubular member are sealed to the interior surface of outer tubular member, thereby forming a hermetically sealed chamber within which the sleeve is disposed. The ends of the outer tubular member are then sealed to completely close the package.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming foam articles is described. Thermoplastic resin beads containing a blowing agent are continually agitated in a heated pre-expansion chamber to a temperature near the fusion point of the beads and above the boiling point of the blowing agent at substantially atmospheric pressure. The beads soften and expand substantially in volume. A dry gaseous medium may be swept over the beads to remove moisture and any blowing agent which has escaped. Thereafter, the chamber is evacuated. Evacuation continues until a predetermined amount of blowing agent is removed from the beads. As a preferred embodiment of the invention, steam may be injected into the chamber prior to evacuation. This serves to further expand the beads, and facilitates the removal of the blowing agent. This embodiment also provides a means of manufacturing particularly stable low-density foam.

Abstract: An insulating system for reducing heat loss from a structure during one part of the day and for permitting light to enter the structure during another part of the day, this system comprising a roll mounted on the structure, a flexible sheet of material wound around the roll, structure supporting the roll immediate its length and engaging portions of the wound sheet, and means for unwinding the sheet from around the roll and deploying it in a plane and for rotating the roll to rewind the sheet therearound; and a system for detecting build-up of snow or ice.