Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations:
Net income	$ 434.8	$ 403.5	$ 377.9
Adjustments to reconcile income to cash provided (required) by operating activities of continuing operations:
Depreciation	113.1	86.1	80.7
Amortization	33.1	21.7	20.6
Multi Phase Meters contingent earn-out consideration obligation	42.0		5.2
Employee benefit plan and stock-based compensation costs	110.4	77.8	66.0
Deferred income tax provision (benefit)	(9.8)	(15.1)	86.6
Unrealized loss (gain) on derivative instruments	13.5	(14.2)	11.5
Other	(6.2)	(6.4)	3.8
Changes in operating assets and liabilities, net of effects of acquisitions:
Trade receivables, net	(337.3)	(286.7)	(217.3)
Inventories, net	(206.6)	(162.6)	19.4
Accounts payable, trade	83.0	214.7	2.8
Advance payments and progress billings	25.9	(95.9)	(111.7)
Income taxes	(71.4)	70.5	(56.5)
Accrued pension and other post-retirement benefits, net	(63.1)	(112.9)	(51.6)
Other assets and liabilities, net	(23.0)	(15.7)	(42.6)
Cash provided by operating activities of continuing operations	138.4	164.8	194.8
Cash provided by discontinued operations—operating			0.5
Cash provided by operating activities	138.4	164.8	195.3
Cash provided (required) by investing activities:
Capital expenditures	(405.6)	(274.0)	(112.5)
Acquisitions, net of cash and cash equivalents acquired	(615.5)
Proceeds from disposal of assets	3.2	2.2	3.1
Other	(2.0)	(1.9)
Cash required by investing activities	(1,019.9)	(273.7)	(109.4)
Cash provided (required) by financing activities:
Net increase (decrease) in short-term debt	13.4	0.5	(19.9)
Net increase (decrease) in commercial paper	189.7	269.1	(67.6)
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	1,068.9		30.0
Repayments of long-term debt	(288.8)	(5.6)	(0.4)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	0.7	1.3	2.3
Purchase of treasury stock	(91.1)	(114.0)	(164.4)
Payments related to taxes withheld on stock-based compensation	(34.8)	(15.5)	(17.5)
Excess tax benefits	27.1	8.7	5.5
Other	(3.7)	(3.5)	1.2
Cash provided (required) by financing activities	881.4	141.0	(230.8)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	(1.8)	(3.6)	(0.3)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	(1.9)	28.5	(145.2)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	344.0	315.5	460.7
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	342.1	344.0	315.5
Supplemental disclosures of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest (net of interest capitalized)	18.5	10.9	12.5
Cash paid for income taxes (net of refunds received)	$ 225.4	$ 83.3	$ 126.1