Abstract: An insulation product includes an elongated comformable body of fibrous insulation having front and rear major surfaces and two elongated side surfaces. A facing is adhered to the front major surface of the conformable body, the facing having sufficient tensile strength to withstand a pressure, without tearing, of about 1.0 pound per square foot from the fibrous insulation in a wall cavity defined by wall studs, when the facing is adhered to the wall studs. The facing is bonded to the conformable body with sufficient strength to provide product integrity to the insulation product when it is cut lengthwise. The insulation product can be expanded when unconstrained to a high loft thickness so that when the batt is placed in an insulation cavity having a thickness less than or equal to the high loft thickness, the insulation product can be expanded to fill the insulation cavity. The fibrous insulation material has a resistance to compression less than about 1.

Abstract: Protecting coverings are provided for glass windows and the like. The protective coverings comprise a fiber reinforced polymeric fabric flexible enough to be rolled upon itself.

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 cam follower includes a radially inner arcuate bearing surface that matches the curvature of the outer surface of the cam. Engagement of this bearing surface with the surface of the cam opposes undesired motion of the cam follower, including motion radially away from the cam, about an axis perpendicular to the cam rotation axis, and/or about an axis parallel to the cam rotation axis. This arcuate engagement also facilitates effective lubrication of the cam follower. The cam housing is formed with arcuate bearing surfaces that define with the cam surface an annular cam follower cavity and that engage a radially outer arcuate bearing surface of the cam follower, maintaining the cam follower in position against the cam surface.

Abstract: A conformable insulation assembly is provided and includes a mineral fiber batt of a binderless fibrous material of substantially long fibers having low dimensional stability. The insulation assembly is capable of conforming and expanding its shape to an area into which it is installed better than prior art insulation assemblies.

Abstract: An extrusion system utilizes single or tandem extruders and a mixer-cooler to extrude a foamable extrudate through a die in a sealable chamber. The foamable extrudate is shaped and calibrated within the chamber. The die is mounted on the end of a gel tube projecting through a gland seal in a fixed bulkhead forming the upstream end of the chamber. The gel tube and mixer-cooler are mounted on a movable carriage, movement of which may be used to adjust the die with respect to shaping and calibrating equipment inside the chamber. The mixer-cooler achieves a selected narrow range of uniform viscosity of the melt at the die depending on the size of the product and density. The chamber is preferably a vacuum chamber producing low density foams. The product exits the chamber to atmosphere on a continuous basis through a submerged orifice in a water baffle immersion seal.

Abstract: A roofing shingle includes organic, resinous material and an inorganic filler material, the single having a top surface, two side surfaces, an upper end, and a lower or butt end, defining a cavity on the underside of the shingle, with ribs positioned within the cavity. When applied to a roof, the shingle has the appearance of wooden shake shingle and provides a Class A fire barrier when tested according to ASTM test E108-93 for flame spread, burning brand and intermittent flame.

Abstract: A method of integrating organic fibers with mineral fibers includes centrifuging organic fibers from molten organic material, using a rotating organic fiber spinner, directing the organic fibers into a downwardly moving veil of organic fibers and gases, with the veil having an inwardly converging shape as it moves downward, centrifuging mineral fibers from molten mineral material using a rotary mineral fiber spinner positioned concentrically within the downwardly moving veil of organic fibers, directing the mineral fibers into a downwardly moving veil of mineral fibers and gases within the veil of organic fibers, wherein the veil of mineral fibers intersects with the veil of organic fibers to integrate the mineral fibers with the organic fibers, and collecting the integrated mineral fibers and organic fibers as a fibrous pack. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A fire resistant thermosetting resin composite formulation comprising an effective amount of a flame suppressant additive. The thermosetting resin used in the formulation can be a polyester resin. The flame suppressant additive is a polyvinyl chloride powder which may be obtained as a reaction product of an emulsion polymerization, or alternatively, it may be obtained from recycled products containing significant amounts of polyvinyl chloride. The additive can be used in an amount of from 1% by weight to about 75% by weight based on the amount of an inorganic filler material that may be present in the formulation.

Abstract: A shock absorber assembly for a finish looper that reduces breaks of a asphalt-coated sheet. The finish looper includes a plurality of looper rolls forming a plurality of free hanging loops of the asphalt-coated sheet. The shocker absorber assembly is mounted on a frame structure capable of relative movement with respect to the looper rolls. The shock absorber assembly includes a plurality of rolls including an indexing roll, a guide roll, and a shock roll positioned between the indexing roll and the guide roll. Just prior to the last free hanging loop being completely payed out, the shock roll is in an up position and the indexing roll is in a down position. When the asphalt-coated sheet is further payed out, the asphalt-coated sheet engages the indexing roll and causes it to pivot from the down position to an up position. The weight and acceleration of the adjacent, upstream free hanging loop causes the shock roll to move from the up position to the down position.

Abstract: A consumable container is molded from a composition comprising 40 to 90 weight % of an asphalt and 10 to 60 weight % of a polymer material, which advantageously can include a first polymer such as PP that imparts heat resistance and a second polymer such as EVA that imparts toughness and impact resistance. This molded asphalt/polymer material preferably has an unnotched Izod impact strength of at least 2 joules. The container is consumable--it can be melted along with roofing asphalt held in the container without adversely affecting the properties of the asphalt and without requiring undue mixing. The composition also can be used to reduce fumes normally emitted from a kettle of molten asphalt, e.g., as measured by a reduction of the visual opacity of the fumes by at least 25%, a reduction of the hydrocarbon emissions of the fumes by at least 20%, or a reduction of the total suspended particulates emissions of the fumes by at least 15%. The container may be used, e.g.

Abstract: Acoustical housing for supporting and enhancing the performance of speakers. A preferred apparatus includes a support well that is fabricated from acoustically absorptive material and is adapted to be mounted between wall or ceiling studs. A cover or a portion of wall board may be installed to completely enclose the support well within the wall to define a cavity into which a portion of a speaker body may extend. The speaker or speakers are affixed to the cover or wallboard in a conventional manner such that the speaker body extends into the cavity and the sound emitting surface of the speaker is exposed. Methods for installing the acoustical housings into existing wall or ceiling structures without compromising the acoustical and structural integrities of such structures are also disclosed.

Abstract: In a method for recovering vapors during the dispensing of a bituminous product into a tank, an inlet opening of the tank is closed with a fitting. The bituminous product is dispensed into the tank via the fitting. The bituminous product emits vapors inside the tank. The vapors are exhausted from the tank without direct contact of the vapors with moving parts. The vapors are transported to a condenser, and condensed to a liquid in the condenser. The condensed liquid is returned to the tank via the fitting.

Abstract: In a method of forming a pattern of granules on a moving asphalt coated sheet, a blend drop of first and second granules is discharged onto the sheet. The blend drop forms a granule deposit on the sheet including an inner portion of first granules and an outer portion of second granules. An apparatus for use in the method includes a nozzle having an orifice for discharging a blend drop of first and second granules onto the sheet. A first granule feed chamber is provided for feeding first granules into the nozzle. A second granule feed chamber is provided for feeding second granules into the nozzle. The first and second granule feed chambers are positioned so that the first granules are fed inside the second granules in the nozzle.

Abstract: An extrusion system utilizes single or tandem extruders and a mixer-cooler to extrude a foamable extrudate through a die in a sealable chamber. The foamable extrudate is shaped and calibrated within the chamber. The die is mounted on the end of a gel tube projecting through a gland seal in a fixed bulkhead forming the upstream end of the chamber. The gel tube and mixer-cooler are mounted on a movable carriage, movement of which may be used to adjust the die with respect to shaping and calibrating equipment inside the chamber. The mixer-cooler achieves a selected narrow range of uniform viscosity of the melt at the die depending on the size of the product and density. The chamber is preferably a vacuum chamber producing low density foams. The product exits the chamber to atmosphere on a continuous basis through a submerged orifice in a water baffle immersion seal.

Abstract: In one embodiment, the present invention relates to a process for preparing a foam product including the steps of (A) forming a foamable mixture of (1) an alkenyl aromatic polymer and (2) a blowing agent 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, wherein the difference between the glass transition temperature of the foamable mixture and the foaming temperature is less than about 62.degree. C.

Abstract: Protective coverings are provided for glass windows and the like. The protective coverings comprise impact and puncture resistant protective panels formed from strand material which includes reinforcing fibers and polymeric material.

Abstract: An insulation assembly includes an elongated batt of fibrous insulation material having two opposed major surfaces, where the batt has a first facing secured on its first major surface. The first facing extends beyond the side edges of the batt to form opposed flanges suitable for attaching the insulation assembly to a building structure. The batt has a second facing secured on its second major surface, with the second facing extending beyond the side edges of the batt to form opposed flanges suitable for attaching the insulation assembly to a building structure. The method of making an insulation assembly includes moving a pack of fibrous insulation material along a path, where the fibrous insulation material has two opposed major surfaces. A continuous encapsulation material is applied to the pack, and a portion of the encapsulation material is continuously gathered to form a two part fold.

Abstract: An aqueous emulsion of a substantially solvent free polyester comprising substantially solvent free polyester resin and ethylene oxide/propylene oxide surfactant, and method for making same.

Abstract: A mineral fiber is disclosed having a composition including the following components in about the indicated weight percents:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 48-64 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-6 MgO 21-31 CaO 11-20 Iron Oxide 4.2-8 (as FeO) K.sub.2 O 0-5 Na.sub.2 O 0-5 TiO.sub.2 0-3 ______________________________________wherein the total weight of Na.sub.2 O and K.sub.2 O does not exceed 5% and the total weight of all components, including trace elements, if any, is 100%.