Acquisitions (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Current assets, net of cash acquired	$ 208,173,000								$ 208,173,000
Property, plant and equipment	138,669,000								138,669,000
Goodwill	734,264,000								734,264,000
Intangible assets	556,286,000								556,286,000
Other non-current assets	16,802,000								16,802,000
Total liabilities assumed	(311,733,000)								(311,733,000)
Net assets acquired	1,342,461,000								1,342,461,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Acquisition purchase price									1,382,217,000	104,418,000	221,994,000
Intangible assets acquired	556,286,000								556,286,000
Goodwill	734,264,000								734,264,000
Portion of acquired goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes	306,780,000								306,780,000
Revenue from continuing operations:
As reported	2,004,486,000	2,138,606,000	1,994,970,000	1,812,078,000	1,737,436,000	1,757,253,000	1,664,447,000	1,481,055,000	7,950,140,000	6,640,191,000	5,344,331,000
Pro forma									8,142,808,000	7,233,927,000
Net earnings from continuing operations:
Earnings from continuing operations, As reported	208,938,000	223,438,000	239,198,000	174,791,000	184,906,000	216,331,000	167,226,000	122,288,000	846,365,000	690,751,000	373,423,000
Pro forma									857,446,000	726,980,000
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations:
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.13	$ 1.20	$ 1.28	$ 0.94	$ 0.99	$ 1.16	$ 0.90	$ 0.65	$ 4.55	$ 3.70	$ 2.01
Pro forma (in dollars per share)									$ 4.61	$ 3.89
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations:
As reported (in dollars per share)	$ 1.12	$ 1.19	$ 1.26	$ 0.92	$ 0.97	$ 1.15	$ 0.89	$ 0.65	$ 4.48	$ 3.65	$ 2.00
Pro forma (in dollars per share)									$ 4.54	$ 3.84
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Goodwill - Tax deductible	306,780,000								306,780,000
Goodwill - Non deductible	427,484,000								427,484,000
Intangible assets	556,286,000								556,286,000
Total	1,290,550,000								1,290,550,000
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Number of business acquisitions									9	6
Aggregate revenue of current period acquisitions included in the Company's consolidated revenue									393,000,000
Acquisition-related costs (after-tax)									10,368,000
Amount of nonrecurring expense, excluded from current period net earnings in pro forma financials related to the fair value adjustments to acquisition-date inventory									6,357,000
Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	18,631,000								18,631,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	18,631,000								18,631,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	18,631,000								18,631,000
Customer Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	506,403,000								506,403,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	506,403,000								506,403,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	506,403,000								506,403,000
Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	19,226,000								19,226,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	19,226,000								19,226,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	19,226,000								19,226,000
Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	12,026,000								12,026,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	12,026,000								12,026,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	12,026,000								12,026,000
Communication Technologies Segment [Member]
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Portion of acquired goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes	302,000,000								302,000,000
Revenue from continuing operations:
As reported									1,360,077,000	1,076,012,000	916,031,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Goodwill - Tax deductible	302,000,000								302,000,000
Goodwill - Non deductible	141,088,000								141,088,000
Total	738,977,000								738,977,000
Communication Technologies Segment [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	8,200,000								8,200,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	8,200,000								8,200,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	8,200,000								8,200,000
Communication Technologies Segment [Member] | Customer Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	280,000,000								280,000,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	280,000,000								280,000,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	280,000,000								280,000,000
Communication Technologies Segment [Member] | Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	7,500,000								7,500,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	7,500,000								7,500,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	7,500,000								7,500,000
Communication Technologies Segment [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	189,000								189,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	189,000								189,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	189,000								189,000
Energy Segment [Member]
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Portion of acquired goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes	924,000								924,000
Revenue from continuing operations:
As reported									1,900,749,000	1,303,507,000	998,272,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Goodwill - Tax deductible	924,000								924,000
Goodwill - Non deductible	256,204,000								256,204,000
Total	488,560,000								488,560,000
Energy Segment [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	8,234,000								8,234,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	8,234,000								8,234,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	8,234,000								8,234,000
Energy Segment [Member] | Customer Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	207,964,000								207,964,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	207,964,000								207,964,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	207,964,000								207,964,000
Energy Segment [Member] | Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	9,820,000								9,820,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	9,820,000								9,820,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	9,820,000								9,820,000
Energy Segment [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	5,414,000								5,414,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	5,414,000								5,414,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	5,414,000								5,414,000
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Portion of acquired goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes	3,856,000								3,856,000
Revenue from continuing operations:
As reported									3,100,735,000	2,786,442,000	2,298,581,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Goodwill - Tax deductible	3,856,000								3,856,000
Goodwill - Non deductible	30,192,000								30,192,000
Total	63,013,000								63,013,000
Engineered Systems Segment [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	2,197,000								2,197,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	2,197,000								2,197,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	2,197,000								2,197,000
Engineered Systems Segment [Member] | Customer Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	18,439,000								18,439,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	18,439,000								18,439,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	18,439,000								18,439,000
Engineered Systems Segment [Member] | Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	1,906,000								1,906,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	1,906,000								1,906,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	1,906,000								1,906,000
Engineered Systems Segment [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	6,423,000								6,423,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	6,423,000								6,423,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	6,423,000								6,423,000
Sound Solutions business line [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Current assets, net of cash acquired	88,339,000								88,339,000
Property, plant and equipment	86,335,000								86,335,000
Goodwill	443,088,000								443,088,000
Intangible assets	295,889,000								295,889,000
Other non-current assets	12,504,000								12,504,000
Total liabilities assumed	(141,625,000)								(141,625,000)
Net assets acquired	784,530,000								784,530,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Acquisition purchase price									855,000,000
Intangible assets acquired	295,889,000								295,889,000
Goodwill	443,088,000								443,088,000
Portion of acquired goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes	302,000,000								302,000,000
Settlement for working capital and other contractual adjustments									22,000,000
Adjustments to goodwill relating to finalization of purchase price allocations									40,000,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Goodwill - Tax deductible	302,000,000								302,000,000
Intangible assets	295,889,000								295,889,000
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%
Sound Solutions business line [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	8,200,000								8,200,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	8,200,000								8,200,000
Acquired intangible assets amortized over weighted average lives (in years)									15
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	8,200,000								8,200,000
Sound Solutions business line [Member] | Customer Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	280,000,000								280,000,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	280,000,000								280,000,000
Acquired intangible assets amortized over weighted average lives (in years)									11
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	280,000,000								280,000,000
Sound Solutions business line [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	7,689,000								7,689,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	7,689,000								7,689,000
Acquired intangible assets amortized over weighted average lives (in years)									10
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	7,689,000								7,689,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Current assets, net of cash acquired	119,834,000								119,834,000
Property, plant and equipment	52,334,000								52,334,000
Goodwill	291,176,000								291,176,000
Intangible assets	260,397,000								260,397,000
Other non-current assets	4,298,000								4,298,000
Total liabilities assumed	(170,108,000)								(170,108,000)
Net assets acquired	557,931,000								557,931,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Acquisition purchase price									557,931,000
Intangible assets acquired	260,397,000								260,397,000
Goodwill	291,176,000								291,176,000
Portion of acquired goodwill expected to be deductible for tax purposes	4,780,000								4,780,000
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Goodwill - Tax deductible	4,780,000								4,780,000
Intangible assets	260,397,000								260,397,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member] | Trademarks [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	10,431,000								10,431,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	10,431,000								10,431,000
Acquired intangible assets amortized over weighted average lives (in years)									11
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	10,431,000								10,431,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member] | Customer Intangibles [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	226,403,000								226,403,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	226,403,000								226,403,000
Acquired intangible assets amortized over weighted average lives (in years)									12
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	226,403,000								226,403,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member] | Patents [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	11,726,000								11,726,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	11,726,000								11,726,000
Acquired intangible assets amortized over weighted average lives (in years)									10
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	11,726,000								11,726,000
Series of Individually Immaterial Business Acquisitions [Member] | Other Intangible Assets [Member]
Business Acquisition Purchase Price Allocation [Abstract]
Intangible assets	11,837,000								11,837,000
Sound Solutions Acquisition [Abstract]
Intangible assets acquired	11,837,000								11,837,000
Acquired intangible assets amortized over weighted average lives (in years)									7
Goodwill and intangible assets [Abstract]
Intangible assets	$ 11,837,000								$ 11,837,000
Tagc Limited LLC [Member]
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	60.00%								60.00%
Harbison-Fischer, Inc. [Member]
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%
Dosmatic, Inc. [Member]
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%
EnviroGear Product Line [Member]
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%
Tierra Alta Canada [Member]
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%
Oil Lift [Member]
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%
RedScrew Pump Manufacturing [Member]
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%
Advansor A/S [Member]
Other Acquisitions [Abstract]
Percentage of acquisitions made by the company (in hundredths)	100.00%								100.00%