Abstract: A machine for distributing blowing insulation material from a package of compressed loosefill insulation material is provided. The machine includes a chute. The chute has an inlet portion, an outlet portion, a bale guide and a cutting mechanism. The inlet portion is configured to receive the package with the package having a substantially vertical orientation. The inlet portion has a vertical height. The bale guide has a length and is configured to urge the package against the cutting mechanism. The cutting mechanism is configured to open the package. A lower unit is configured to receive the material exiting the outlet portion of the chute. The lower unit includes a plurality of shredders and a discharge mechanism. The discharge mechanism is configured to discharge conditioned loosefill insulation material into an airstream. The length of the bale guide extends substantially across the height of the inlet portion of the chute.

Abstract: A passive fire suppression system including at least one tapered cellular glass block and having a cap with a tapered shape disposed on the top of the at least one cellular glass block. The passive fire suppression system allows drainage from the upper surface to the bottom of the system. The drainage is beneficial for both environmental conditions such as rain as well as for incidents where combustible liquids are spilled on the top surface of the system. Therefore, the system will not only shield any combustible materials that are under the system but will also quickly drain any combustible liquids that may spill onto the top of the system to the lower surface.

Abstract: A laminated roofing shingle includes an overlay sheet, an underlay sheet secured to the overlay sheet to define a two-layer portion of the shingle, and a tape member secured on a front surface of the headlap portion of the overlay sheet by an asphalt coating of the overlay sheet, with the tape member being positioned such that at least a portion of the tape member is adhered to a single layer portion of the shingle. The shingle further includes a granular material secured to the front surface of the headlap portion of the overlay sheet, with no granular material adhered to the tape member, such that a portion of the overlay sheet carrying the tape member has a smaller thickness than a portion of the overlay sheet carrying the granular material.

Abstract: A machine for distributing insulation material from a package of compressed insulation material is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and outlet end. The inlet end is configured to receive the package of compressed insulation material. The chute further has a removable hose hub configured for wrapping with a distribution hose. The removable hose hub is further configured for engagement with opposing flange assemblies such that rotation of the hose hub results in rotation of the flange assemblies. A lower unit is configured to receive the compressed insulation material exiting the outlet end of the chute. The lower unit includes a plurality of shredders and a discharge mechanism. The discharge mechanism is configured to discharge conditioned insulation material into an airstream.

Abstract: A rollable ridge vent for covering an open ridge of a roof and for allowing a flow of air to exit from the open ridge through the ridge vent includes a top panel having a center portion, a left side portion, and a right side portion, in which the top panel includes a plurality of louvers for allowing a flow of air to exit the ridge vent. In addition, the rollable ridge vent includes a spaced apart series of inner walls and a spaced apart series of outer walls extending downward from the left side portion of the top panel. The spaced apart series of inner walls and the spaced apart series of outer walls of the left side portion are staggered. The rollable ridge vent also includes a spaced apart series of inner walls and a spaced apart series of outer walls extending downward from the right side portion of the top panel. The spaced apart series of inner walls and the spaced apart series of outer walls of the right side portion are staggered.

Abstract: Fibrous material webs and methods of making the fibrous material webs. Binderless webs can be formed in a continuous process where fiber material, such as glass is melted and formed into fibers. The fibers are formed into a web of binderless glass fibers or a web with a dry binder. The binderless web or the web with dry binder can be layered and/or the fibers that make up the web can be mechanically entangled, for example, by needling.

Abstract: A shingle coating asphalt composition is provided that is produced from a paving grade asphalt. The shingle coating asphalt composition comprise a paving grade asphalt that has been overblown to achieve a first penetration value that is at or below about 15 dmm and a first softening point that is at least about 210° F. The shingle coating composition may further include an additive that is included in an amount to achieve a second softening point that is less than about 230° F. and a second penetration value that is between about 15 and 20 dmm. The additive may comprise at least one ester. The inventive shingle coating asphalt composition may be thermally stable at processing temperatures of at least 450° F.

Abstract: An emulsified drilling fluid additive includes an emulsion of asphalt, at least one emulsifier, cellulose ether, and water. The asphalt has a softening point of 160 to 212° F., a penetration depth of 0 to 45 mm, and a viscosity of 200 to 800 cP at 350° F. The drilling fluid additive has an average particle size of 0.1-10 microns. The drilling fluid has an API fluid loss at 7.5 minutes of 0 to 0.5 mL and an API fluid loss at 30 minutes of 0 to 3.5 mL. A method of making the drilling fluid additive includes mixing at least one emulsifier, cellulose ether, and water to form a solution, heating a water-dispersible asphalt to above 300° F. and adding the asphalt to the water-based solution in a colloid mill to form an emulsion.

Abstract: A foamable polymeric mixture is provided that includes a polymer composition and at least one blowing agent. The blowing agent may comprise any blowing agents known not to deplete the ozone or increase the prevalence of global warming, such as CO2, HFO, HFC and mixtures thereof. The foamable polymeric mixture may further includes at least one processing aid comprising an organic phase changing material. The inventive foamable mixture is capable of processing at a pressure range of 800 to 1200 psi (5.5 to 8.3 MPa).

Abstract: A machine for distributing material from a package of compressed loosefill insulation material is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is configured to receive compressed loosefill insulation material. A lower unit has a shredding chamber configured to receive the compressed loosefill insulation material from the outlet end of the chute. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured to condition the loosefill insulation material. The shredders include a shredder shaft and a plurality of vane assemblies. The vane assemblies are oriented such that adjacent vane assemblies are offset from each other by an angle of about 45° to about 75°. A discharge mechanism receives the loosefill insulation material exiting the shredding chamber and distributes the loosefill insulation material into an airstream and a blower is configured to provide the airstream flowing through the discharge mechanism.

Abstract: A machine for distributing loosefill insulation material is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is configured to receive compressed loosefill insulation material. A lower unit has a shredding chamber configured to receive the compressed loosefill insulation material from the outlet end of the chute. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured to shred, pick apart and condition the loosefill insulation material. The shredders include a shredder shaft and a plurality of vane assemblies. The vane assemblies are oriented such that adjacent vane assemblies are offset from each other by an angle in a range of from about 45° to about 75°. A discharge mechanism is mounted to receive conditioned loosefill insulation material exiting the shredding chamber. The discharge mechanism is configured to distribute the conditioned loosefill insulation material into an airstream.

Abstract: An exemplary foam insulation board includes a plurality of insulation panels hingeably connected by hinged portions. The foam insulation board has a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. The hinged portions allow the insulation panels to fold flat against each other in the folded configuration. The plurality of insulation panels includes a first insulation panel and a plurality of additional insulation panels, one of which is adjacent to the first insulation panel. The first insulation panel also includes a starter portion that extends beyond at least the adjacent insulation panel of the additional panels.

Abstract: A prefabricated offset shingle kit includes a first shingle packet, a second shingle packet, and a third shingle packet. The first shingle packet has a first wrap portion disposed around only a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, and a left face. The second shingle packet has a second wrap portion disposed around only a top face, a bottom face, a front face, a rear face, and a right face. The third shingle packet has a wrap portion disposed around only a top face, a bottom face, a front face, and a rear face.

Abstract: Oil-enhanced polymer modified asphalt adhesive compositions, membrane materials including the oil-enhanced polymer modified asphalt adhesive composition, and methods for making are provided. The oil-enhanced polymer modified asphalt adhesive compositions have improved elongation, recovery, heat resistance, and cold adhesion and may include a polymer modified asphalt and an oil or oil derivative additive. The polymer modified asphalt may include an elastomeric copolymer. The oil or oil derivative additive may include one or more of vegetable oils, nut oils, and seed oils. A membrane including the oil-enhance polymer modified asphalt is also provided. A multi-layered roofing membrane is also provided.

Abstract: Ridge vents are configured to cover an open ridge of a roof and allow a flow of air to exit from the open ridge through the ridge vents. The ridge vents include a projection and a projection receiving area. When a first ridge vent is secured over a ridge opening, the projection of a second ridge vent is at least partially receivable in the projection receiving area of the first ridge vent.

Abstract: A machine for distributing loosefill insulation material. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end is configured to receive loosefill insulation material. The chute has a first portion in fluid communication with a second portion and forms an angle with the second portion. A shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured to shred, pick apart and condition the loosefill insulation material. A discharge mechanism is mounted to receive the loosefill insulation material exiting the shredding chamber. The discharge mechanism is configured to distribute the loosefill insulation material into an airstream. A blower is configured to provide the airstream flowing through the discharge mechanism. The angle between the first portion of the chute and the second portion of the chute is configured to control the descent of the loosefill insulation material into the shredding chamber.

Abstract: A machine for distributing loosefill insulation material from a package of compressed loosefill insulation material. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end receives compressed loosefill insulation material. The chute has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion forms an angle with the second portion. A shredding chamber receives the compressed loosefill insulation material from the chute. The shredding chamber forms conditioned loosefill insulation material. A discharge mechanism is configured to distribute the conditioned loosefill insulation material into an airstream. A blower provides the airstream. The angle between the first and second portions of the chute is configured to form a bend in the package of compressed loosefill insulation material. The bend in the package of compressed loosefill insulation material is configured to control the descent and direction of the loosefill insulation material entering the shredding chamber.

Abstract: An improved unbonded loosefill insulation material having a multiplicity of tufts and a plurality of voids between the tufts is provided. The tufts have an average major tuft dimension. The average major tuft dimension of the tufts of the improved unbonded loosefill insulation material is shorter than an average major tuft dimension of tufts of conventional unbonded loosefill insulation material, thereby providing the improved unbonded loosefill insulation material with a higher insulative value than conventional unbonded loosefill insulation material.

Abstract: A machine for distributing loosefill insulation from a package of compressed loosefill insulation material is provided. The machine includes a chute having an inlet end and an outlet end. The inlet end receives the loosefill insulation material. A shredding chamber is configured to receive the loosefill insulation material from the outlet end. The shredding chamber includes a plurality of shredders configured to shred, pick apart and condition the loosefill insulation material. A discharge mechanism is mounted to receive the conditioned material. The discharge mechanism is configured to distribute the conditioned material into an airstream. A blower is configured to provide the airstream flowing through the discharge mechanism. The blower has a rotational speed that defines the volume and the velocity of the airstream. A remote control assembly is configured to communicate with the machine such that the volume and velocity of the airstream can be adjusted in a remote location.

Abstract: A laminated roofing shingle has an overlay sheet having top surface and bottom surface opposite the top surface. The overlay sheet includes a headlap portion and a butt portion. The butt portion defines a series of tabs and cutouts. An underlay substrate has a top surface attached to the bottom surface of the butt portion of the overlay sheet. The underlay sheet includes a covered portion positioned beneath the tabs of the overlay sheet and a prime portion positioned beneath the cutouts. A layer of reflectivity-increasing granules and/or a layer reflectivity-increasing asphalt, is positioned on only one or both of the tabs of the overlay sheet and the prime portion of the underlay sheet.