Abstract: A support system for trimming exposed edges of suspension ceilings provides a trim strip mounting clip which mounts on the bulb of an adjacent grid tee member and provides a face portion which snaps into and locks with a channel-shaped trim strip. The connector clip supports the trim strip from the adjacent grid members without any exposed fasteners and provides an uninterrupted finished edge appearance. Several embodiments of connector clips are illustrated, one of which provides a support portion pivotally connected to a face portion so that trim strips can be mounted on adjacent grid members in positions parallel to the adjacent grid members and at angles relative thereto.

Abstract: A horizontally curved grid tee for suspension ceilings is bent in the direction parallel to the plane of the flanges of the grid tee. Such grid tee is provided with end connectors and openings so that the grid tee can be assembled in a suspension ceiling grid combining curved grid tees and/or straight grid tees to produce aesthetically pleasing patterns. When panels are installed in the openings defined by the curved grid tees, appropriate mating curves are formed in the panels so that the panels are supported at their periphery. A method and apparatus for producing such grid tees involves curved tooling which cooperates to confine a straight grid tee as it is bent to the curved shape. The tooling provides grooves into which the flanges project during the bending operation. Such grooves are constructed and dimensioned so that the inner portion of the flange which is subjected to compressive stresses is not buckled.

Abstract: Low density mineral wool structural panels are manufactured by frothing a dilute aqueous dispersion of mineral wool, lightweight aggregate, binder and a small amount of amine-based cationic surfactant onto a non-woven scrim cover sheet, dewatering the mass and drying it. The froth is a mass of weakly resilient bubbles that rapidly dewater and burst to concentrate the solids in the mass. The bubbles are readily broken without loss of the voided structural configuration by a first application of brief pulses of high vacuum followed by further dewatering under vacuum and rapid drying by passing large volumes of air through the voided mass without collapse of the structure to result in lightweight structural mineral wool panels.

Abstract: A suspended ceiling structure adapted for unopposed intersections wherein the webs of the main grid runners adjacent the cross runner slots are provided with embossments which strengthen the web and contain the cross runner end connector against withdrawal. It is preferred that the embossments are placed at each side of the cross runner slots. The cross runner end connectors have tabs bent laterally from the longitudinal axis of the cross runners with the rearward edge of the tab bearing against the face of the main runner web, whereby upon the application of a pull out force, the tab edge bends outwardly until it presses against the ends of the embossments. This unopposed intersection structure is commonly referred to in the art as an "ashlar" condition or configuration.

Abstract: A wet pulp of mineral fibers or the like is forced between a pulp carrier and a corrugated texturing skid inclined toward the downstream end of a moving slab of the pulp. The corrugations of the skid are co-directional with the machine direction of the conveyor belt that transports the pulp under and beyond the skid.

Abstract: A method for the manufacture of very low density mineral wool structural panels on a moving foraminous support wire by frothing a dilute aqueous dispersion of mineral wool is disclosed. The forth, a mass of delicate, non-resilient and non-uniform bubbles among the entangled mineral wool fibers readily breaks, is stripped of water and dried without substantial loss of the highly open, porous structural configuration by a first controlled rate of maturation dewatering followed by brief pulses of high vacuum. Then the open structure is rapidly stripped of remaining water and dried by passing high volumes of heated dry air through the structure with continued vacuum. The drainage water may be recycled in the process to maintain a low level of binder and any frothing aid additions.

Abstract: A cold-forming method is disclosed for thinning localized, longitudinally extending portions of sheet metal by lateral shear deformation without any substantial longitudinal deformation. With such method, it is possible to produce elongated members which are thinned in zones of low stress and are thicker in zones of higher stress so as to provide high metal use efficiency. The method is performed by an apparatus including a rotating mandrel providing opposed conical surfaces and pressure rolls operable to apply forces substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the mandrel to cause a portion of the sheet metal to yield in shear to reduce the thickness of longitudinally extending portions of the sheet metal. The forces are applied in a plane normal to the length of the strip in order to avoid longitudinal elongation.

Abstract: This invention comprises a suspended ceiling grid system having an adjustable compression strut installed between the grid members of the system and the building or construction superstructure which lies in a plane above the suspended ceiling. The adjustable compression strut stabilizes the ceiling system and prevents upward movement of the system such as might occur during a seismic shock or earthquake tremor. The compression strut comprises two co-axial, telescoping cylindrical strut members having a spring clip attached to the inner end of the inner strut member that allows the strut to be extended but not retracted. The compression strut is installed by simply holding it in position between the suspended ceiling grid and the superstructure and then extending the strut members until they are locked in place by the action of the spring clip.

Abstract: An apparatus for texturing the surface of wet cast plastic acoustical composition during manufacture of acoustical tiles by use of spinning air rolls. In the apparatus, at least one hollow cylindrical roll that is perforated in a random manner is suspended over the surface of wet cast plastic acoustical composition, the roll being driven by a motor. The interior of the roll is preferably provided with a perforated air tube or pipeline, from which issues uniform air pressurization of the spinning roll vessel. By providing differential speed of the roll in contrast to the line speed of the wet plastic composition and different air pressurization of the roll, a wide variety of textures may be produced on the surface of the wet plastic acoustical composition.

Abstract: Hang-on furniture modules from various manufacturers differ in the placement of the hanger hooks extending from their back wall. A support cleat is frontally inserted in the unobstructed opening of a bifurcated, longitudinal channel at the edge of a stud in a partition. A longitudinal standard having a column of slots located to receive the hooks of a particular module is supported by the cleat as the standard straddles the stud in which the cleat is anchored.

Abstract: A cold-forming method is disclosed for thinning localized, longitudinally extending portions of sheet metal by lateral shear deformation without any substantial longitudinal deformation. With such method, it is possible to produce elongated members which are thinned in zones of low stress and are thicker in zones of higher stress so as to provide high metal use efficiency. The method is performed by an apparatus including a rotating mandrel providing opposed conical surfaces and pressure rolls operable to apply forces substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the mandrel to cause a portion of the sheet metal to yield in shear to reduce the thickness of longitudinally extending portions of the sheet metal. The forces are applied in a plane normal to the length of the strip in order to avoid longitudinal elongation.

Abstract: A drywall corner bead providing a rounded nose and two mounting flanges extending from opposite sides of the nose is formed from a strip of galvanized metal of uniform thickness. The two flanges are provided with three discrete longitudinally extending bands of reduced thickness formed by shear deformation of the material forming the band. The flanges are knurled to emboss the surface thereof and openings are formed in the flanges at intervals along their length. The corner bead is formed by a method in which shear deforming forces are progressively applied to the material forming the thinned bands to produce lateral deformation of such material without any appreciable lengthwise deformation. After the thinned bands are formed, forces are applied to straighten the corner bead. Subsequently, the flanges are knurled to provide an embossed surface and holes are punched in the flanges at intervals along their length.

Abstract: An elevated floor panel is disclosed in which a lower sheet metal element is formed with a plurality of projections extending from the lower plane of the panel to the upper planar surface. The projections are formed in sequential die drawing operations. In the first die drawing operation, square truncated pyramids of intermediate height are drawn so that the upper surfaces of the intermediate projections provide substantially unworked material. In the second drawing operation, four symmetrically arranged, semispherical projections are drawn from the unworked material at the tops of the preliminary projections. In one embodiment, the tops of the semispherical projections are flattened. In another embodiment, the semispherical projections formed in the second drawing operation are fully curved. In such embodiment, a third operation is performed to produce a flattened extremity.

Abstract: The twisting of studs within the ceiling and floor rails of a partition is prevented by a quickly installable stud clip which may be moved along the rail to its desired position before being fastened to the rail and stud.The channel form top rail in this system has a pair of longitudinal slots just below the web which are defined by inwardly extending longitudinal tracks which are parallel to the web. The stud clip has a base plate from whose central portion a stud-engaging standard depends at a right angle. On the lateral portions of the plate there are skid elements which fit into the slots and engage the tracks. Extending from one lateral portion of the plate beyond the plane of the standard is a relatively narrow locking tab which is in edgewise abutment with a track. The abutment of the locking tab with the track prevents rotation of the stud clip within the rail.

Abstract: An oil well drilling fluid containing mineral fibers which have been coated individually with a dispersant is better able to plug voids and fractures in the rock being drilled than those of the prior art because the mineral fibers are thoroughly dispersed. The fluid is substantially free of nodulated fibers. A dispersant such as a polyethoxylated quaternary ammonium salt is added to a stream of air which attenuates streams of molten slag into fibers. The fibers are uniformly coated with the dispersant and nodules thereof uravel easily when placed in a drilling fluid.

Abstract: A drywall furring system comprises a plurality of longitudinal carrying channels having congruent tongues co-planar with, spaced apart along and depending from the opposite flanges of the channels and a plurality of furring channels having pairs of slots spaced apart along the opposite flanges thereof. On opposite edges of the tongues there are tabs tapering upwardly from the rounded corners thereof and elongated, narrow fingers whose lower margins angle up from a point space apart from the distal edges of the tongues. The tabs and fingers have seats in the same horizontal plane and the fingers have retaining hooks extending up beyond the seats. A gridwork of the carrying channels and furring channels is constructed by aligning opposed congruent fingers of the former with a pair of slots in the latter and passing the fingers through the slots and pushing the opposite flanges of the furring channel over the rounded corners of the tongues so that the furring strips rest on the seats of the fingers and tabs.