Abstract: A process is provided for filling a muffler shell with fibrous material. The process comprises the steps of: providing a muffler shell comprising first and second muffler shell outer parts which define an internal cavity when coupled together and an internal structure adapted to extend at least part way through the shell internal cavity for defining at least one channel having one or more openings communicating with the shell internal cavity; placing a form over at least one of the internal structure and the first muffler shell part; drawing a partial vacuum through a first end of the channel; feeding fibrous material into the form while drawing a partial vacuum through the channel; removing the form after the fibrous material feeding step; and positioning the second muffler shell part over at least one of the internal structure and the first muffler shell part.

Abstract: An insulation assembly for a forced gas unit comprises a facing layer and a porous insulation layer joined together by an adhesive. The facing layer includes pressure-balancing and non-pressure-balancing regions. Perforations are formed in the facing layer after the facing layer and the insulation layer are joined together and after the adhesive is cured. The perforations allow gas to flow through the facing layer so as to adequately balance the static pressures acting on the exposed and non-exposed surfaces of the facing layer.

Abstract: A method of applying blend drop granules to an asphalt coated sheet includes moving an asphalt coated sheet in a machine direction, generating vertically moving blend drops of granules and directing the vertically moving blend drops of granules into contact with a curved conveyor. The blend drops are moved along the curved conveyor to change the direction of the blend drops of granules to a generally horizontal orientation in the machine direction. The blend drops are released from the curved conveyor for contact with the asphalt coated sheet.

Abstract: A method of recycling building materials is described, including the steps of introducing the building material into a cement kiln, and combusting a combustible portion of the building material as a fuel within the kiln. The noncombustible portion of the building material is incorporated into a clinker material within the kiln.

Abstract: A process for making a composite article comprising providing a coating composition comprising a silane, optional pH modifying agent, and optional lubricant, wherein the silane is compatible with one or more ROMP catalysts used to initiate ring opening metathesis polymerization of the cycloolefin resins; coating fibers with the coating composition; contacting the coated fiber with an uncured cycloolefin resin catalyzed using one or more ROMP catalysts used to form a resin and reinforcing fiber material mixture; and curing the resin and reinforcing fiber material mixture to form the composite article.

Abstract: A bushing including a terminal ear and a method of manufacturing the bushing are disclosed. The bushing includes a bushing body which can include side plates, end plates, a bottom plate, and terminal ears coupled to the bushing body. Clamps are attached to the terminal ears to supply electrical current to the bushing to maintain the glass inside in a liquid state. Each terminal ear includes an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is coupled to a side plate of the bushing. A clamp is attached to the lower portion of the terminal ear. The upper and lower portions are oriented at an angle with respect to each other. Support portions are provided along the side edges of the upper portions of the terminal ears. Support portions stiffen the terminal ear, thereby increasing its resistance to bending and fatigue stresses. Support portions do not contact the bushing and therefore do not directly conduct current to the bushing.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming multiple packages on a single collet includes a pair of collets that are mounted on a rotatable turret. A moving strand is provided and the collet is rotated to wind the strand and build a first package on one end of the collet. The strand is reciprocated with a strand reciprocator to lay the strand on the package surface as the package rotates. After the first package is built, a strand positioner and a secondary shoe assist in transferring the strand to build a second package on the collet. After the second package is built, the turret is rotated while the cam moves away from the collet and turret. The strand breaks off after a few revolutions of the second collet. Then, the cam moves toward the second collet to begin building a first package on the second collet.

Abstract: An asphalt-based roofing material includes a substrate coated with an asphalt coating, a protective coating adhered to the upper surface of the asphalt coating, a layer of granules adhered to the protective coating, and a web bonded to the lower region of the asphalt coating. A method of manufacturing a roofing material includes coating a substrate with an asphalt coating, applying a protective coating to the upper surface of the asphalt coating, applying a layer of granules to the protective coating, and applying a web to the lower region of the asphalt coating.

Abstract: A laminated shingle simulates a tiled roof when placed with other similar shingles on a roof deck. The laminated shingle includes an overlay member and an underlay member fixedly attached to each other. The overlay member includes an upper or headlap portion and a lower or exposed butt portion with one or more substantially identically shaped tabs with a cutout between each tab. The lower edge of the tabs may have a curving or negative contour. The tabs may taper in width from the butt edge to the lower edge of the headlap portion. The upper edge of the cutouts may have a generally straight contour or a generally curved contour. The lower edge of the underlay member may have a generally straight contour or a portion of the lower edge may have a generally curving contour. The overlay member and/or underlay member may include a darker shading area to enhance the tile simulating aspect of the shingle.

Abstract: A filament forming apparatus and cooling apparatus for and method of inducing a uniform air flow between a filament forming area beneath a bushing and the cooling apparatus are disclosed. The cooling apparatus includes an air housing extending beneath the bushing. The air housing has a top wall and side walls defining an air chamber therebetween.

Abstract: A siding system including an improved siding strip and a starter strip for assisting in attaching a first siding strip to a side of a dwelling or other stable mounting structure is provided. The siding strip includes at least one integral portion having the simulated appearance of grout or chinking. When two or more siding strips are placed adjacent to each other, this integral portion remains exposed such that the appearance of grout or chinking between the siding strips is simulated. The starter strip is provided with a C-shaped channel that receives a fastener portion or other part of a first siding strip in snap-fit engagement. As a result of this engagement, the starter strip may be inverted to begin installation of the siding strips at the top of a wall or other stable mounting structure while fully retaining its functionality.

Abstract: A method of dispensing netting on a roof structure to provide fall protection for workers on the roof structure is disclosed herein. The roof structure includes a plurality of purlins spaced apart from one another in a parallel arrangement. A carriage is provided which is moveable in a direction along the length of the purlins. A supply of netting is attached to the carriage. The carriage is then moved along the length of the purlins, wherein movement of the carriage dispenses the netting onto the end of the roof structure.

Abstract: A vacuum extrusion line of the horizontal barometric leg type includes a vacuum chamber having an extrusion die at one end and a water baffle immersion cooler at the other end for extracting the extrudate to atmosphere, extrudate shaping and sizing equipment downstream of the die, a large diameter fixed bulkhead at the die, and first and second 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 with the second section being movable within the limits of the gap. The second section also seals against the large diameter fixed bulkhead. 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. A simplified lock mechanism facilitates the quick opening and closing of the chamber.

Abstract: A type of (and method of making) fiberglass insulation is disclosed. Such insulation comprises: glass fibers; a polyacrylic glycerol (PAG) binder coating said glass fibers; and at least one of a coloring agent and a biocide adhered to said PAG binder. Such fiberglass insulation can take the form of a batt, board (a heated and compressed batt) or molding media (a different form of heated and compressed batt). The coloring agent and/or the biocide can be applied where the batt (or board or molding media, as the case may be) is manufactured or can be applied after the batt is installed in the field.

Abstract: A nonaqueous sizing for glass fibers useful for reinforcement of polymers. The sizing composition comprises one or more film formers miscible with the polymer to be reinforced, one or more coupling agents and one or more powders. The sizing composition of the invention provides a glass fiber which has improved processability and notched izod without any loss in dispersability characteristics of the glass pellets.

Abstract: A shingle bundle palletizer includes a bundle metering conveyor, an incline conveyor, a pattern conveyor, a lug conveyor, an adjustable height transfer conveyor, a shuttle conveyor, and a pallet removal conveyor. The bundle metering conveyor includes one or more upstream and downstream belts. Each upstream belt is driven by an in-roller, variable speed motor that is independent of each downstream belt. The pattern conveyor includes a pair of outer pattern belts rotatably mounted on a pair of outer pulleys, and a center pattern belt rotatably mounted on a center pulley. The pair of outer pulleys is keyed to a pulley shaft and the center pulley is free-rotating about the pulley shaft to decouple the center pattern belt from the pair of outer belts. The pair of outer pattern belts and the center pattern belt are independently driven by separate motors and belts made of elastomeric material. The shuttle conveyor includes a belt made of an elastomeric material driven by a motor connected to a drive shaft.

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 applicator for the deposition of size and other coating compositions onto the surfaces of reinforcing fibers, such as glass. The device may be used to apply aqueous or non-aqueous size to continuously formed fiber materials in a high speed forming process. The applicator may include an atomizing spray pre-applicator in combination with a slide-die applicator. The atomizing spray pre-applicator can be connected to a vacuum source, which increases contact of the spray with the fibers, and thereby improves coating coverage. The slide-die applicator may include a slide-die configuration that reduces leakage of the liquid coating. The process of using the invention can provide a more uniform thin film coating, higher coating efficiency, and better coating coverage than size applicators otherwise known in the art.

Abstract: A method for substantially reducing sulfur-oxide emissions from an asphalt air-blowing process involves adding an emission-reducing additive to the asphalt prior to air-blowing, or early in the air-blowing process, and filtering the flue gases produced in the process. The emission-reducing additive includes at least one metal hydroxide, metal oxide, metal carbonate, or metal bicarbonate, where the metal is sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, copper, or aluminum. The filter is preferably of the fiber-bed type, and removes at least a portion of the sulfur-containing compounds via condensation. The filtered stream of flue gases is subjected to an incineration process before being passed into the atmosphere.

Abstract: A coating composition for forming a water-resistant coating on fiber-reinforced articles such as rods or cables. The composition comprises an aqueous solution of a superabsorbent water-soluble polymer, a viscosity modifying agent, and optionally a lubricant. the coating formed by applying the composition effectively prevents the treated surface from water-permeation damage by absorbing water that contacts the layer containing the superabsorbent component.