Segment Information- Reporting Information by Segment (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 169,294	$ 231,844	$ 213,959	$ 160,138	$ 193,963	$ 269,114	$ 330,049	$ 210,003	$ 775,235	$ 1,003,129	$ 811,070
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue	1,977,947	2,009,575	1,962,636	1,802,570	1,785,922	1,850,653	1,836,981	1,681,540	7,752,728	7,155,096	6,626,648
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Interest expense, net									127,179	120,654	121,269
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations									1,094,207	1,045,986	931,065
Provision for income taxes									316,067	248,459	280,990
Earnings from continuing operations	171,835	225,683	210,581	170,041	172,227	217,045	247,988	160,267	778,140	797,527	650,075
Operating Margins [Abstract]
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									17.30%	18.20%	18.00%
Earnings from continuing operations (in hundredths)									10.00%	11.10%	9.80%
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and Amortization									307,188	278,033	229,934
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Capital Expenditures									166,033	141,694	146,502
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets of continuing operations	8,763,214				8,076,118				8,763,214	8,076,118
Assets of discontinued operations	327,171				2,779,063				327,171	2,779,063
Total assets	9,090,385				10,855,181				9,090,385	10,855,181
Note receivable from buyer					16,250					16,250
Energy Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									2,017,239	1,853,853	1,788,295
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations									461,815	459,649	466,801
Operating Margins [Abstract]
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									22.90%	24.80%	26.10%
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and Amortization									111,956	99,075	87,921
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Capital Expenditures									66,998	60,756	65,520
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets of continuing operations	2,645,567				1,901,200				2,645,567	1,901,200
Engineered Systems Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									2,385,965	2,177,970	2,143,687
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations									386,998	347,497	319,704
Operating Margins [Abstract]
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									16.20%	16.00%	14.90%
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and Amortization									61,946	59,058	60,670
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Capital Expenditures									29,749	29,145	25,314
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets of continuing operations	2,348,684				2,224,519				2,348,684	2,224,519
Fluids Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									1,430,566	1,236,838	1,087,526
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations									251,639	224,523	182,544
Operating Margins [Abstract]
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									17.60%	18.20%	16.80%
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and Amortization									60,903	48,812	41,381
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Capital Expenditures									34,319	21,868	22,655
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets of continuing operations	1,414,387				1,390,777				1,414,387	1,390,777
Refrigeration and Food Equipment Segment [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									1,921,189	1,887,840	1,607,602
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations									238,734	267,307	223,397
Operating Margins [Abstract]
Operating margins (pre-tax) (in hundredths)									12.40%	14.20%	13.90%
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and Amortization									68,701	67,228	37,295
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Capital Expenditures									33,510	27,173	30,863
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets of continuing operations	1,494,121				1,540,295				1,494,121	1,540,295
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Depreciation and Amortization [Abstract]
Depreciation and Amortization									3,682	3,860	2,667
Capital Expenditures [Abstract]
Capital Expenditures									1,457	2,752	2,150
Total Assets [Abstract]
Assets of continuing operations	860,455				1,019,327				860,455	1,019,327
Intersegment Elimination [Member]
Reconciliation from Segment Totals to Consolidated [Abstract]
Revenue									(2,231)	(1,405)	(462)
Total segments [Member]
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations									1,339,186	1,298,976	1,192,446
Corporate expense / other [Member]
Reconciliation of Earnings from Continuing Operations from Segments to Consolidated [Abstract]
Earnings from continuing operations before provision for income taxes and discontinued operations									117,800	132,336	140,112
U.S. Pension Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]
Total Assets [Abstract]
Noncurrent pension asset	$ 25,800				$ 75,591				$ 25,800	$ 75,591