Business Segment And Geographic Information (Segment Investment In And Advances To Equity Affiliates) (Details) (USD $) In Millions	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2009
Segment and Consolidated Totals	$ 1,011.6	$ 912.8	$ 868.1
Merchant Gases [Member]
Segment and Consolidated Totals	800.4	749.4	713.8
Other Segments [Member]
Segment and Consolidated Totals	$ 211.2	$ 163.4	$ 154.3

Total investments in (A) an entity in which the entity has significant influence, but does not have control, (B) subsidiaries that are not required to be consolidated and are accounted for using the equity and or cost method, and (C) an entity in which the reporting entity shares control of the entity with another party or group. Includes long-term advances receivable from a party that is affiliated with the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Name:	us-gaap_InvestmentsInAffiliatesSubsidiariesAssociatesAndJointVentures
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant