Abstract: To optimize an optical component of synthetic quartz glass, in the case of which a quartz glass blank is subjected to a multistage annealing treatment, with respect to compaction and central birefringence, the present invention suggests a method comprising the following steps: (a) a first treatment phase during which the quartz glass blank is treated in an upper temperature range between 1130° C. and 1240° C., (b) cooling the quartz glass blank at a first-higher-mean cooling rate to a quenching temperature below 1100° C., a fictive temperature with a high mean value of 1100° C. or more being reached in the quartz glass, (c) a second treatment phase which comprises cooling of the quartz glass blank at a second-lower-mean cooling rate, and in which the quartz glass blank is treated in a lower temperature range between 950° C. and 1100° C. such that a fictive temperature is reached in the quartz glass with a low mean value which is at least 50° C.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a quartz glass blank for an optical component for transmitting radiation of a wavelength of 15 nm and shorter, the blank consisting of highly pure quartz glass, doped with titanium and/or fluorine, which is distinguished by an extremely high homogeneity. The homogeneity relates to the following features: a) micro-inhomogeneities caused by a local variance of the TiO2 distribution (<0.05% TiO2, averaged over a volume element of (5 ?m)3 in relation to the mean value of the TiO2 content), b) an absolute maximum inhomogeneity in the thermal expansion coefficient ?? in the main functional direction (<5 ppb/K), c) a radial variance of the thermal expansion coefficient over the usable surface of the quartz glass blank of not more than 0.4 ppb/(K.cm); d) a maximum stress birefringence (SDB) at 633 nm in the main functional direction of 2 nm/cm with a specific progression; and e) a specific progression of the ??, averaged according to (b) on the optical surface.

Abstract: In a known method for coating a crucible for use at a high working temperature in a crucible drawing method for quartz glass, a base body wall of tungsten has applied thereto a protective layer containing a coating metal consisting of the group selected from iridium, rhenium, osmium and ruthenium. Starting therefrom, to provide a method for producing such a component exhibiting high corrosion resistance to the quartz glass melt at low material costs, it is suggested according to the invention that the protective layer should be produced from a layer material which contains tungsten and the coating metal, and in which the amount of the coating metal should be dimensioned such that it exceeds the limit amount of a coating metal-rich phase boundary of a solid mixture phase of tungsten and the coating metal, with the solid mixture phase being thermodynamically stable at the working temperature, by not more than 25 at. % (based on the total amount of tungsten and the coating metal in the layer material).

Abstract: Methods for producing a quartz glass component with reflector layer are known in which a reflector layer composed of quartz glass acting as a diffuse reflector is produced on at least part of the surface of a substrate body composed of quartz glass. In order, taking this as a departure point, to specify a method which enables cost-effective and reproducible production of uniform SiO2 reflector layers on quartz glass components, it is proposed according to the invention that the reflector layer is produced by thermal spraying by means of SiO2 particles being fed to an energy carrier, being incipiently melted or melted by means of said energy carrier and being deposited on the substrate body. In the case of a quartz glass component obtained according to the method, the SiO2 reflector layer is formed as a layer which is produced by thermal spraying and has an opaque effect and which is distinguished by freedom from cracks and uniformity.

Abstract: In a known method for bonding components made of material with a high silicic acid content by means of a substance to substance bond, a SiO2-containing bonding mass is formed between connecting surfaces of the components. In order to provide for cost-efficient manufacture of a thermally stable composite, the invention proposes to generate a SiO2-containing bonding mass that is generic with regard to the material with a high silicic acid content, comprising the following procedural steps: provision of a slurry containing amorphous SiO2 particles; formation of a slurry mass between the connecting surfaces which are fixed in position with regard to each other; drying of the slurry mass; and solidification of the slurry mass by heating under formation of the SiO2-containing bonding mass. A component assembly manufactured according to the method of the invention shows high temperature resistance and thermal fatigue resistance and can also be used in contamination-sensitive applications.

Abstract: A display apparatus comprises an elongate support member configured to support a plurality of packaged products thereon. A product pusher device is movably supported on the support member for forward and rearward movement along it. The product pusher device has a biasing mechanism therein that engages the support member and applies a relative force thereto from the pusher device such that the product pusher device engages a rearmost one of the plurality of packaged products and applies a pushing force thereto so as to move the packaged products forward towards the distal end of the support member. The biasing mechanism is completely supported in the product pusher device and moves therewith on the support member.

Abstract: A mixed quartz powder contains quartz powder and two or more types of doping element in an amount of from 0.1 to 20 mass %. The aforementioned doped elements include a first dope element selected from the group consisting of N, C and F, and a second dope element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Sc, Y, Ti, Zr, Hf, the lanthanides and the actinides. The “quartz powder” is a powder of crystalline quartz or it is a powder of glassy SiO2 particles. It is made form natural occurring quartz or it is fabricated synthetically. The “quartz powder” may be doped. The compounding ratio of the total amount (M1) of the aforementioned first elements and the total amount (M2) of the aforementioned second elements as the ratio of the number of atoms (M1)/(M2) is preferably from 0.1 to 20. Al as well as the aforementioned doped elements is preferably included in a mixed quartz powder of this invention.

Abstract: According to a known vertical drawing method for producing a cylindrical glass body, the cylinder longitudinal axis of the glass cylinder is adjusted by hand in relation to the longitudinal axis of a heating tube. The aim of the invention is to optimize the stability of said glass body.

Abstract: A one-piece back support apparatus comprises a belt portion being configured to provide back and abdominal support encircling a wearer's waist and a compression pants portion. The belt portion has a front portion, a back portion, a top portion, a bottom portion and an inner surface. The compression pants portion secured to the belt is configured to provide support for the wearer's pelvis, legs, and groin area. The inner surface of the belt has one or more pack support portions with slots for receiving one or more gel packs so as to maintain contact between the gel packs and the wearer's back. Slots in the belt portion may accommodate vertically extending inserts of rigid plastic to reinforce the belt portion over the lumbar region of the wearer.

Abstract: The production of an optical component from quartz glass by elongation of a coaxial arrangement of a core rod and a hollow cylinder is known. The arrangement is thus introduced into a heating zone, such that the lower end begins to partly soften and the component drawn from the softened part. According to the invention, a pseudo-continuous method for the formation of the restriction in the inner passage of the hollow cylinder on which the core rod is supported, is disclosed, whereby an upper hollow cylinder is fused end on with a lower hollow cylinder to form an axial composite cylinder, a core rod is introduced into the lower hollow cylinder and the axial cylinder composite partly softened and elongated to form the optical component.

Abstract: Known methods for producing a semifinished product for an optical component of synthetic quartz glass of high homogeneity require a great number of forming or shaping steps for homogenization, which is troublesome in terms of energy and time and entails the risk that impurities might be introduced.

Abstract: In a known method for producing tubes of quartz glass, a hollow cylinder (2) of quartz glass is continuously supplied to a heating zone (1) and is softened therein in regions, and a tube strand (21) is drawn off at a drawing speed from the softened region with formation of a drawing bulb (26), and the tubes to be produced are cut to length in the form of tube strand pieces by separating the tube strand (21) at a desired separation point (T, Vu, Vo) and an internal pressure differing from the external pressure applied to the outer cladding is maintained in the inner bore (4) of the hollow cylinder (2) in that the inner bore (4) of the tube strand is provided with a flow obstacle.

Abstract: The invention starts from a known method for producing a glass body, comprising forming a cylindrical blank by successive deposition of a plurality of material layers on the outer surface of a substrate body which is rotating about its longitudinal axis, by using an arrangement of a plurality of depositors which are directed onto the substrate body and which are fed via supply lines with process media for material layer deposition and which are moved without a reversing movement relative to the longitudinal axis of the substrate body. Starting therefrom, to provide a method for producing a glass body of high homogeneity that can be realized in a constructionally simple way, the invention suggests that the movement of the depositor arrangement along the longitudinal axis of the substrate body should be accompanied by a displacement of the substrate body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for interferometrically measuring large optics. A combination of a method known as stitching technique, during which the sub-interferograms are determined on partial surfaces of measuring area and are joined in a software-controlled manner and which, as a result, enables the use of small, more cost-effective interferometers, however polished surfaces of the test piece being assumed, together with an immersion method, during which, in fact, lower demands for the surface quality of the test piece exist that, however, is accompanied by edge faults. In order to make this combination possible, a modification of the stitching technique is developed, during which the measuring area (CA) is completely covered by a film consisting of an immersion liquid.

Abstract: In a known method for the production of a blank mold for optical fibers, a fluorine-doped SiO2 enveloping glass is produced on a core glass cylinder that rotates about its longitudinal axis, wherein a silicon-containing starting substance is fed to a plasma burner, said substance is then oxidized in a plasma flame assigned to the plasma burner to obtain SiO2 particles, the SiO2 particles are deposited by layers on the enveloping surface of the cylinder of the core glass cylinder in the presence of fluorine and sintered into the enveloping glass. The invention aims at providing an economical method, which builds upon the above-mentioned method, in order to produce a blank mold from which optical multi-mode fibers (52) can be obtained.

Abstract: A vehicle simulator having a projection system for projecting a generated scene and symbology onto a common viewing screen. Tracking apparatus is provided for providing position and/or angular orientation signals representative of the eye of a person viewing the projected scene and symbology. An image generation system is included for generating the scene and symbology for the projection system, such scene and symbology being generated as a function of the position and/or angular orientation signals provided by the tracking apparatus. Such symbology is representative of symbology produced by a head-up display. The image generation system generates the scene and symbology with characteristics which simulate vignetting and/or occulting effect characteristics of the head-up display.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to improve a known quartz glass cylinder for the production of an optical component, comprising an inner drilling, which is mechanically machined to size and provided with an etched structure by means of an etching treatment, subsequent to the mechanical machining, such that in the application thereof for production of pre-forms and optical fibers, few bubbles arise along the boundary surface between core and sleeve. Said aim is achieved, whereby the etched structure comprises striations with a maximum depth of 2.0 mm and a maximum width of 100 ?m.

Abstract: A known method for producing synthetic quartz glass with a predetermined hydroxyl group content comprises the following steps: a porous SiO2 soot body is produced by flame hydrolysis or oxidation of a silicon-containing start compound and by layerwise deposition of SiO2 particles on a rotating support; the soot body is subjected to a dehydration treatment in a reaction gas-containing drying atmosphere at a drying temperature for removing hydroxyl groups; and the SiO2 soot body is vitrified into a body consisting of the synthetic quartz glass. Starting from this, and in order to permit a reproducible and reliable manufacture of synthetic, UV-radiation resistant quartz glass with predetermined hydroxyl group content and low chlorine content, it is suggested according to the invention that the dehydration treatment according to method step (b) comprises a drying phase during which ozone is used as the reaction gas, whereby the ozone content of the drying atmosphere is between 0.5% by vol. and 10% by vol.

Abstract: A low power self-organizing network is made up of a plurality of wireless communication nodes communicating wirelessly with each other. The nodes each have a sensor providing a respective sensor data value indicative of a physical parameter in the environment of that node. The wireless network discontinues communication with any nodes in which the sensor data value is outside a range of network sensor data values. The network is preferably a group of vehicles moving together, especially a train in which each node is associated with a respective wheel of a railroad car. The nodes are low-power devices that communicate using wireless communications according to a Zigbee protocol. The nodes each have an additional sensor sensing a physical parameter the respective wheel thereof and determines from said electrical signal a degree of degradation of a bearing of the wheel, and transmits data of the degree of degradation to the main node.