Abstract: An apparatus for dispensing granules onto a moving asphalt coated sheet includes first and second granule feed chambers containing granules that are fed to a discharge slot by first and second pockets. The pockets are formed in a slidable divider positioned between the feed chambers and the discharge slot. The divider is slid between a first position and a second position by a fluid powered actuator via an actuator rod. In the first position, the first pocket is in communication with the first granule feed chamber to receive granules from the feed chamber and the second pocket is in communication with the discharge slot for discharging the granules contained in the second pocket. In the second position the first pocket is in communication with the discharge slot for discharging the granules contained in the first pocket and the second pocket is in communication with the second feed chamber to receive granules from the feed chamber.

Abstract: An asphalt-based roofing material includes a substrate coated with an asphalt coating. The asphalt coating includes a lower region that is positioned below the substrate when the roofing material is installed on a roof. A web is fused to the lower region of the asphalt coating. A portion of the web and of the asphalt coating have been intermingled by melting, thereby fusing the web and the asphalt coating. A method of manufacturing the asphalt-based roofing material includes the steps of coating a substrate with an asphalt coating, applying a web to the lower region of the asphalt coating, and intermingling a portion of the web and of the asphalt coating by melting, thereby fusing the web to the lower region of the asphalt coating.

Abstract: A vacuum extrusion line of the horizontal barometric leg type includes a vacuum chamber 10 having an extrusion die 18 at one end and a water baffle immersion cooler 20 at the other end for extracting the extrudate to atmosphere, extrudate shaping and sizing equipment downstream of the die 18, a large diameter fixed bulkhead 16 a the die 18, and first 44 and second 46 large diameter movable sections surrounding the shaping and sizing equipment, a smaller fixed section of the chamber. The first section sealing against the second section and the fixed section and telescoping over the fixed section to form a gap 68 with the second section being movable within the limits of the gap 68. The second section also seals against the large diameter fixed bulkhead 16. In this manner the downstream equipment can be fully exposed by movement of one or both movable sections and adequate volume and spatial working environment is provided for large through-put.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting materials is provided comprising a melter body having a batch injection portion including a batch inlet port, a batch melting portion including a batch melting chamber adapted to receive materials from said batch injection portion, and a molten materials delivery portion including a molten materials outlet port. At least one jet stream injection assembly injects a jet stream into said batch melting chamber. The jet stream comprises a fuel, an oxidant, and heated products of combustion and produces a vortex flow pattern in said batch melting chamber. Fuel and oxidant within said vortex flow pattern react to form laminar flamelets within said vortex flow pattern. The heat generated in the flamelets melts the materials.

Abstract: A tube printer and method for printing information on an interior surface of a tube. The tube printer including a housing, an ink wheel assembly and a print wheel. The housing having at least two side members interconnected by a top plate extending there between and including spring biased guide wheels that cooperatively center the housing within the tube. An operating handle is operatively attached to an end of the housing to provide a means to push and pull the tube printer within the tube. The ink wheel assembly is operatively positioned between the side members of the housing and the print wheel is operatively positioned between the side members of the housing and adjacent the ink wheel and includes a raised surface containing the information to be printed on the interior surface of the tube.

Abstract: A quick and easy technology for attaching, and facilitating reconfiguration (detachment and reattachment) of, panels to walls that uses a clamp assembly including a base, a receptacle attached to the base and a clasp that fits into and attaches to the receptacle. The clasp has resilient arms and a head. Insertion of the resilient arms of the clasp into the receptacle draws the head towards the base, which produces a clamping action. Alternatively, the clamp assembly includes a channel having sidewalls attached to a base and at least one fastener having a blade-like shank and a head. The sidewalls converge so as to be more closely spaced together at the opening of the channel than at its base. The at least one fastener appears T-shaped in cross section, and is sized so that insertion of the blade-like shank into the channel widens the opening. Alternatively, the clamp assembly includes a first clamping piece and a second clamping piece configured to cooperatively engage each other.

Abstract: An aqueous phenol/formaldehyde resole resin is disclosed having improved speciation. An aqueous extended phenol/formaldehyde and polycarboxylic acid co-binder and low emissions process for making the same are also disclosed. Glass fiber products may be prepared using the co-binder.

Abstract: A filament forming apparatus and cooling apparatus for and method of cooling a filament forming area beneath a bushing is disclosed. The cooling apparatus includes a manifold with a cooling fluid channel formed therein, and a plurality of hollow cooling fins operatively coupled to the manifold. A cooling fluid flows into the manifold, through first and second fluid flow channels in the cooling fins, and back into the manifold from which it is subsequently discharged. Each cooling fin includes a plurality of divider members between the first and second fluid flow channels. Adjacent divider members define a small channel between each other. The cooling fluid flows from the first fluid flow channel through the small channels to the second fluid flow channel. The overall heat transfer coefficient is increased due to the forced convection of the surfaces of the cooling fin using a single-phase fluid passing through the cross-sectional area of a small channel.

Abstract: A method and device is disclosed for distributing a veil by applying low frequency sound to at least one portion of the veil, and causing the veil to deviate in its generally downward direction of travel. In its simplest embodiment, the lapping device of the present invention includes one low frequency sound generator having one resonator tube shaped for emission of low frequency sound and having an open end from which sound may be emitted to a portion of a veil. Preferably, the lapping device has two resonator tubes whose open ends are in spaced, opposing relationship, and in the preferred method low frequency sound is alternately applied at generally opposing locations near the veil, causing portions of the veil to deviate in generally alternate directions in its direction of travel.

Abstract: An insulation product includes an elongated batt of fibrous insulation material, and a facing adhered to a major surface of the batt, wherein the facing is a coextruded polymer film of barrier and bonding layers, with the bonding layer having a softening point lower than the softening point of the barrier layer, with the bonding layer being one or more materials of the group consisting of ethylene N-butyl acrylate, ethylene methyl acrylate and ethylene ethyl acrylate, and wherein the facing has been heated to a temperature above the softening point of the bonding layer, but below the softening point of the barrier layer, whereby the facing is adhered to the batt by the attachment of the bonding layer to the fibers in the batt due to the softening of the bonding layer.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for forming coated fibers suitable for making a composite article. A plurality of fibers are coated with an aqueous- or non-aqueous-based chemical treatment containing a curable resin such that the resin on the fibers is in a partially cured or uncured state. The coated fibers may then be formed into a composite article in a subsequent forming operation, for example, by filament winding, pultrusion, weaving, knitting, or extrusion coating. The strand of fibers may also be shaped into a preform which can be used in resin transfer molding (RTM) and injection molding processes.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a foam product involving the steps of (A) forming a foamable mixture of (1) a polymer comprising about 10% to about 90% monomers of at least one of meta-substituted styrene and para-substituted styrene and 0% to about 90% monomers of styrene, and (2) 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 the foam product.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are provided for forming filament wound composite workpieces. The process comprises the steps of: providing reinforcement material; providing an injection die; providing a winding apparatus including a rotatable mandrel; passing the reinforcement material through the injection die; injecting a resin material into the injection die to impregnate the reinforcement material with the resin material to form impregnated reinforcement material; and winding the impregnated reinforcement material about the mandrel so as to form a composite workpiece.

Abstract: A spinner is adapted to be fixed at one end of a rotatable shaft in a fiberizer, the spinner including a radial wall extending radially out from the shaft and having an upper surface, a dam separating the upper surface into an inner portion and an outer portion, a lower surface, at least one first flow hole connecting the upper surface to the lower surface, and at least one second flow hole connecting the inner portion and the outer portion of said upper surface, and an outer peripheral wall connected to the radial wall and having a plurality of orifices therethrough.

Abstract: This development is a method for accelerating thermoset resin cure and enhancing adhesions of coatings to thermoset articles comprising the steps of providing a thermoset article having at least one surface and corona treating the thermoset article to increase the surface energy thereof. The corona treating allows for painting in line with the pultrusion process for producing thermoset articles.

Abstract: A method of using repairing cracked or otherwise leaking polymer-modified asphalt-based containers for packaging asphalt. A strip of consumable adhesive tape is adhered to cover and seal the damaged portion of the container. Molten asphalt is then added to the repaired container. The molten asphalt is added to the container at a temperature that is below the melting temperature of the tape. Upon solidification of the asphalt in the repaired container, the entire asphalt package is melted prior to use in a melting apparatus, such as a gas-fired asphalt kettle melter. At the melter temperatures, the tape, container, and packaged asphalt melts or solubilizes in the melted mass.

Abstract: The present invention provides a molding media and method of producing resin stabilized polymeric fiber mats useful as thermal and acoustical insulation. The molding media and method of the invention lower the cost of producing such mats while still maintaining the necessary mechanical and acoustical properties. One embodiment of the molding media and method of the invention further provides environmental advantages over glass fiber and foam mats.

Abstract: A process for the preparation of molten mineral compositions wherein organic impurities are removed by reaction with oxygen introduced via the decomposition of calcium peroxide.

Abstract: In a method of melting asphalt in a vessel, the molten asphalt normally emitting fumes, 0.2 weight percent to 6 weight percent of a polymer is added to the asphalt to reduce the visual opacity of the fumes by at least 25% over the same asphalt without the polymer. In another embodiment, the total emissions of benzene soluble suspended particulates is reduced by at least 15% over the same asphalt without the polymer. Preferably, the added polymer has a melt flow index of from 15 grams/10 minutes to 95 grams/10 minutes, and the added polymer reduces the visual opacity of the fumes by forming a skim on the upper surface of the molten asphalt.