Abstract: A belt roll-up machine which includes at least two endless belts. The endless belts have portions that overlap one another. The overlapping portions of the belts form a loop. A compressible strip of insulation material may be rolled in the loop.

Abstract: A process of forming a thermal insulation layer (34) includes advancing a multifilament strand of continuous filaments (12) through a nozzle (10) to separate the filaments (16) from each other to form a continuous-filament wool (14), applying a binder to the filaments, placing a charge comprising the wool in a mold (32), and molding the charge to form an insulation layer (34). In a preferred embodiment, the charge (30) further comprises a container, such as a bag (24) formed from a poylmer film. The filaments are preferably prepared from a high-strength, high-temperature resistant glass material. The molded wool is advantageously used to manufacture products, such as catalytic converters (46) wherein the wool is used to thermally insulate the catalytic core element (48).

Abstract: An aqueous binder composition suitable for use as a binder in making wool and board products including fiberglass insulation comprising a phenolic resole resin binder made from phenol and formaldehyde by using an excess amount of a basic catalyst.

Abstract: A method of increasing the amount of entrained vapor in fiber-reinforced resin composite materials, and in particular filament wound composites, wherein a particularly effective chemical foaming or blowing agent is incorporated into the resin matrix composition used to form the composites. The foaming agent creates vapor-filled voids throughout the resin matrix of the composite as it cures. The superior composites containing these vapor-filled voids demonstrate high burst strength retention and excellent resistance to cyclic fatigue. The invention also relates to composite materials and articles thereof.

Abstract: The invention relates to glass mats and their method of manufacture. In particular, the invention relates to a wet-laid method of making a glass mat and the mats formed by this method. The method includes combining a dispersant, water, glass fiber bundles, and a charged viscosity modifier to form a slurry, adding an oppositely charged viscosity modifier to the slurry, and removing the water from the slurry to form a wet glass mat. The present invention enables improved control of fiber dispersion and subsequent bundling of the fibers to form, for example, bundled glass mats with high porosity and a uniform weight. Mats produced by the present invention may be formed into a variety of products, such as in glass fiber paper, roofing shingles, and composite articles.

Abstract: A process for cutting a fiberglass panel comprises cutting the fiberglass panel with a liquid jet containing a sealant which coats and adheres to the cut edge of the panel, and thereafter curing the sealant to harden and encapsulate the edge of the panel to reduce the emanation of fiberglass dust particles therefrom.

Abstract: A tucking bar for directing sheet material between a drive roller and a mandrel of a roll-up machine comprises an elongated member having opposing ends that are supported by an arm. The arm is adapted to pivot about an axis that is substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the drive roller to move the elongated member along an arcuate path about the drive roller. A roll-up machine comprises a drive roller supported by a frame and a mandrel supported adjacent the drive roller. A tucking bar supported by a forward end of the frame is provided for tucking the sheet material between the drive roller and the mandrel. A method for rolling sheet material includes the steps of displacing the tucking bar to direct sheet material between a drive roller and a mandrel and rolling the sheet material on the mandrel.

Abstract: Fabric retainers and methods for installing the fabric retainers within an acoustically treated room. The fabric retainers have a fabric retaining portion, and a chase or a raceway for running wires within the interior of the retainers. The chase has an open side which allows fasteners to be installed through the base of the retainer, and which allows for the insertion of wires into the chase. Retainers also have a retainer groove in which an acoustical fabric is secured, and a fabric retaining pocket to store the inserted fabric. Alternative retainer embodiments have two retainer grooves. A removeable cover is provided to secure the wiring within the chase, and to conceal the wiring within the chase. Also disclosed are methods for combining various retainer embodiments within a structure.

Abstract: A bushing tip plate support assembly for a bushing in a filament forming apparatus is disclosed. The support assembly improves the flatness of the tip section within the spans between the external support and the center support. The filament forming apparatus includes a bushing having a bottom plate from which nozzles or tips depend. The disclosed support assembly is an improvement on the internal support assemblies in conventional bushings because it has several functions. The support assembly includes two vertical dividers mounted in the bushing. The bottom ends of the dividers are welded to the tops of tip plate gussets in the bushing. The dividers are attached to side plates of the bushing as well. An upper portion of each divider serves as an upper side wall for the bushing and defines part of the throat of the bushing into which the molten glass flows. The dividers also include middle and lower portions with perforations through which the glass in the bushing may flow.

Abstract: The present invention generally relates to methods for preparing extruded foam products and more particularly to a methods for producing such products with a blowing agent containing 134a and an alcohol.

Abstract: An aqueous glass fiber sizing composition comprising at least one diol-organosilane coupling agent and at least one triol-organosilane coupling agent.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing foam board or sheet including the steps of (A) forming a foamable mixture of (1) a major amount of a styrenic polymer having a high melt index, (2) a minor amount of a low melt index styrenic polymer, and (3) a blowing agent containing a major amount of carbon dioxide under a pressure sufficient to prevent prefoaming of the mixture, and (B) foaming the mixture into a region of reduced pressure to form a foam product.

Abstract: A method for making a nonwoven reinforcing may for vinyl floor coverings is described. A base mat is formed from a mixture of glass fibers and polymeric binder fibers and/or powder, follows by treatment with a second water-based polymeric binder composition. The mat has been found to be highly satisfactory as a substrate for compressible vinyl floor covering.

Abstract: A cross-head die which is comprised of a die body with a flow chamber, a plurality of die cavities, die elements within the die cavities, communication between the die cavities and the flow chamber, a means for individual flow adjustment to each die cavity, and a means for axial motion of the filamentary member(s) through the die elements. The single flow chamber communicates to a plurality of die cavities through individual radial flow ports. The flow chamber is open at one end and closed at the other except for a cleaning hole. Within each of the radial flow ports resides a device for adjusting flow restriction. Within each die cavity is a cylindrical die piston. A gap created between the die piston and the die cavity defines a path for resin flow. The resin flow path is tapered to a point at which the filamentary member exits from a smaller cylindrical bore through the center of the die piston.

Abstract: A method of applying tiles to a roof, the tiles being of at least two different appearances, includes establishing a collection of pattern units, each pattern unit representing an arrangement of a plurality of tiles formed into a specific pattern, the specific pattern of each pattern unit being different from the specific pattern of every other pattern unit in the collection of pattern units. Each pattern unit includes representations of tiles of at least two different appearances, such as different colors. Tiles are applied according to a first one of the pattern units, to a first portion of the roof. Tiles are applied according to one of the pattern units, to a second portion of the roof that abuts the first portion of the roof. Additional tiles are applied to additional portions of the roof, the tiles being applied to each additional portion of the roof according to one of the pattern units, with each additional portion of the roof abutting a previously applied portion of the roof.

Abstract: A method of molding roofing shingles includes the steps of providing a compression mold having two mold bodies, and installing a mold insert in each of the two mold bodies. The surfaces of the inserts are shaped to correspond with the desired shape of a roofing shingle. A multiplicity of roofing shingles are molded using the compression mold. Each molding step includes charging the mold with a moldable material containing resin in an amount within the range of from about 10 to about 40 percent, and filler material in an amount within the range of from about 60 to about 90 percent, wherein the filler material subjects the inserts to wear by abrasion. The inserts in the mold are replaced when they are worn out, but this is done without replacing the mold bodies.

Abstract: An acoustically significant composite panel having a general sound-absorbing face (or a general sound-diffusing face) and a tuned sound-absorbing face. Such a panel includes a sandwich or composite of a first layer of molding media, a honeycomb of cells and a second layer of molding media. The first layer has at least one or more apertures in it that convert the corresponding cells into Helmholtz resonators. These Helmholtz resonators can be tuned to the same or different frequencies. The second layer is generally sound-absorbing. A general diffuser structure can be attached to the second layer. These panels can be attached to the walls and/or ceilings of a room to control its sonic quality. Also, these panels can be suspended vertically below a ceiling to control noise.

Abstract: Apparatus for manufacturing fibrous insulation includes a porous conveyor mounted for transporting fibrous material in a machine direction in the form of pack. A pack lift blower is positioned beneath the porous conveyor, in a direction transverse to the machine direction, to direct gases upwardly through the porous conveyor to fluff the fibers within the pack. The pack lift blower has a nozzle that is readily removable and replaceable for cleaning without requiring interruption in the motion of the conveyor. The nozzle may also include slots which allow the passage of air and a reciprocal member which cleans the slots.

Abstract: Briefly, according to the present invention there is provided a refractory lined glass melter for producing refined glass from raw glass-forming material using at least one oxygen-fuel burner recessed within a burner block mounted in the roof of the furnace and a process of using the burner. The velocities of the gaseous fuel and of the oxygen from the oxygen-fuel burner are controlled such that the velocities of the gaseous fuel and the oxygen are substantially equivalent to provide a generally laminar gaseous fuel and oxygen flow to combust proximate a top surface of the raw glass-forming material and produce a flame which impinges the surface of the raw glass-forming material and which has a middle portion of a columnar shape.

Abstract: A guardrail assembly movable along a roof structure is disclosed. The guardrail assembly is used in cooperation with a roof structure having a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement and sheets of roofing material fastened to the purlins. The sheets have ends which define an edge of the roof structure extending in a first direction. The guardrail assembly is movable along the roof structure in the first direction. The guardrail assembly includes a railing positioned above the sheets of roofing material and extends generally in the first direction.