Abstract: This invention concerns an antenna system for the transmission and reception of radio waves for, typically, cellular radio communication. The antenna is, ideally, formed on a vehicle window and is so designed to enable minimum obstruction to viewing through the window and to provide excellent electrical impedance matching between the antenna and connecting coaxial cable. Several embodiments are disclosed, however, the essential design comprises two closely located conducting members to which electrical connection is made, located on the window. The first conducting member is "V"-shaped with each leg of the "V" being equivalent in length to .lambda./4. The angle between the two arms of the "V" are carefully selected as is the angle between the arms and the edge of the window. The apex of the "V" points towards the edge of the window and an intervening second electrical conductor which is parallel to the edte of the window.

Abstract: A borosilicate glass composition consisting essentially of the following components:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 57-77 mol %, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-8.5 mol %, B.sub.2 O.sub.3 4.6-23.0 mol %, ______________________________________the total amount of SiO.sub.2 +Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 +B.sub.2 O.sub.3 being from 81 to 91 mol %, ______________________________________ Li.sub.2 O 0-1.5 mol %, Na.sub.2 O 2-7.5 mol %, K.sub.2 O 2-7.5 mol %, ______________________________________the total amount of Li.sub.2 O+Na.sub.2 O+K.sub.2 O being from 7.6 to 10.6 mol %, ______________________________________ CeO.sub.2 0.7-2.0 mol %, Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-0.3 mol %, As.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-0.3 mol %, TiO.sub.2 0-2.0 mol %, F.sub.2 0-2.0 mol %, ______________________________________and one or more of MgO, CaO, SrO, BaO, ZnO and PbO, in a total amount of from 0 to 7 mol %; the glass composition having a coefficient of linear expansion within the range 64.0-70.0.times.10.sup.-7 /deg.C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mechanism or hinge for use in a structural glass assembly. In particular the mechanism is attachable to a glass unit, e.g. a double glazing unit, to enable it to open or close. The mechanism has essentially two parts, a stationary part and a movable part. The stationary part which is attachable to the glass structure incorporates two blade-like plates between which the movable part is slideably located. The stationary part has two arcuate tracks (open and closed) over which a pair of roller bearings are guided during operation of the mechanism whereas the movable part which is attachable to e.g. a double glazed unit, has a single arcuate track over which a single roller bearing is guided during operation of the mechanism. The mechanism has a virtual pivot point on the glazing unit to which the mechanism is attachable. One embodiment of the invention includes a centring arrangement FIG.

Abstract: A glass melting tank has a melting chamber, a shallow uniflow conditioning chamber, a shallow refining chamber and a riser chamber between the melting chamber and refining chamber. Heat is input to glass in the riser chamber by electrodes located centrally in the riser chamber near the base of the riser chamber. Temperature sensors sense the temperature entering the riser chamber through a throat and near the base of a downstream wall of the riser chamber and the heat input is controlled to produce torroidal flow in the riser chamber.

Abstract: The invention relates to barrier coatings to prevent migration of alkali metal ions from a glass surface. The barrier coatings are deposited by pyrolysis of a silane gas on the glass surface above 600.degree. C. in the presence of a gaseous electron donating compound, whereby oxygen from the glass is incorporated with silicon to form a transparent barrier coating up to 50 nm thick on the glass surface. The barrier coatings are used to prevent migration of alkali metal ions into overlying layers sensitive to alkali metal ions e.g. in glass coated with electroconductive or infra red reflecting coatings, and in liquid crystal displays.

Abstract: An electromagnetic shielding panel incorporates at least two electroconductive coatings. In two of the panels the coatings are carried on separate sheets of float glass one of the coatings being an anti-abrasive coating is on the outermost surface of the glass in the panel arrangement while the other coating being a relatively soft abrasive-sensitive coating, e.g. silver, is on the innermost of the glass in the panel arrangements. In other panel arrangements the two coatings are located on opposing sides of one glass sheet and in two of the panels a plain sheet of float glass is employed to protect the soft silver coating. In another panel a sheet of glass carrying an anti-abrasive coating is employed. The panels are of the double glazed and the laminated type.

Abstract: A structural glass unit comprises a multi-ply glass assembly, for example a glass laminate or a sealed double glazing unit, which may be part of a roof structure. The glass assembly has a stepped configuration at a location where the assembly is secured to a supporting member, by a clamp which is clamped to one glass sheet only of the glass assemby.

Abstract: The invention concerns an electromagnetic shielding panel for attenuating electromagnetic radiation typically in the frequency range 20 MHz to 10,000 MHz. In one embodiment of the invention, the panel comprises a laminate of two panes of glass one of which includes an electroconductive coating sandwiched between the two sheets of glass is a plastics interlayer (i) into which is embedded four strips of fine electroconductive mesh which lie along the edge of the laminate and which are in electrical contact with the coating. In another embodiment of the invention, the coated glass includes peripheral bus bars which are in electrical contact with the coating. The mesh and bus bars are arranged to make electrical contact with a metal frame which may be earthed. Alternatively, no direct mechanical contact is made between the frame and the coating and a capacitive coupling (cc) suffices.

Abstract: A method to produce a microstructure on glass which is of excellent quality and allows for repeated use of a stamper. The method comprises heating the glass to a surface temperature corresponding to a log viscosity between about 13 to 8 poise, supporting the glass and impressing it with the stamper heated to about the same temperature as the glass so that a microstructure on the heated stamper will deform the surface of the glass to give a corresponding microstructure on the surface of the glass, which when separated from the stamper and cooled in a controlled manner gives the desired surface microstructure on the glass. The method is particularly suitable for forming tracking grooves on optical disk substrates.

Abstract: A double glazing unit comprising an outer pane of body colored heat absorbing glass and an inner pane of annealed glass with a coating including a silver layer having a thickness in the range 15 nm to 40 nm on its face turned towards the outer pane.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting glass batch material, the apparatus forming glass batch material into a pile having an elongate sloping surface, having a feed device for feeding batch material to an upper part of the pile and a pushing device which is located beneath the feed device to push batch material in the pile towards the elongate sloping surface. There is also disclosed a method of melting glass batch material, the method having the steps of (a) forming glass batch material into a pile having an elongate sloping surface by feeding batch material to an upper part of the pile and pushing batch material in a lower part of the pile towards the elongate sloping surface; and (b) heating the batch material in the elongate sloping surface.

Abstract: A process for coating a moving ribbon of hot glass by chemical vapor deposition comprises establishing a first flow of a first reactant gas along the hot glass surface substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the glass, establishing a second flow of a second reactant gas as a turbulent flow at an angle to the glass surface, introducing said second flow into said first flow at said angle, while avoiding upstream flow of said second reactant gas in said first flow, and directing the combined gas flow along the surface of the hot glass as a turbulent flow.

Abstract: A structural glass unit comprises a multi-ply glass assembly, for example a glass laminate or a sealed double glazing unit, which may be part of a roof structure. The glass assembly has a stepped configuration at a location where the assembly is secured to a supporting member by a clamp which is clamped to one glass sheet only of the glass assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for depositing onto the surface of a moving ribbon of hot glass a coating formed from the reaction of at least two gaseous reactants. The apparatus includes an open-faced coating chamber in which the gaseous reactants are caused to flow in contact with the glass surface to be coated in a direction substantially parallel to the direction of movement of the glass so as to form the desired coating on the glass surface. The coating chamber opens downwardly onto, and extends across the width of, the glass surface to be coated, and has a first inlet means for providing a flow of a first gaseous reactant over the glass surface through the chamber over the width thereof, and a second inlet means constituted by an inlet channel which extends across the ceiling of the chamber over the width of the chamber for introducing a second gaseous reactant to the flow of the first gaseous reactant in the coating chamber.

Abstract: An impact-resistant laminate has adhered to a rear glass face, opposite to the face which receives the impact, a polycarbonate sheet up to about 3 mm thick which is sufficiently thin to conform to the rear glass face and to be adhered thereto without preforming. Preferably the thickness of the polycarbonate sheet is in the range about 0.25 mm to about 0.64 mm, and it has an abrasion-resistant self-healing coating. The laminate may include toughened or annealed glass sheets.

Abstract: A low alkali borosilicate glass composition comprising60 to 78% by weight of SiO.sub.210 to 25% by weight of B.sub.2 O.sub.33.5 to 6.0% by weight of R.sub.2 O, wherein R.sub.2 O represents Na.sub.2 O, K.sub.2 O and/or Li.sub.2 O,2.0 to 6.5% by weight of CeO.sub.2, and0.25 to 8.0% by weight of Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or As.sub.2 O.sub.3,the percentages being based on the total weight of the glass composition. The glass composition of the invention are suitable for use as protective covers for solar cells, especially solar cells which are used in satellites.

Abstract: A method of producing molten glass wherein silica is heated with a batch component comprising a sodium alkaline earth silicate which includes a major portion of the sodium in the resultant molten glass. There is also disclosed a batch component for use in glass manufacture, comprising sodium calcium silicate, and, optionally, sodium magnesium silicate. There is further disclosed a method of producing a batch component comprising sodium calcium silicate for use in glass manufacture, the method comprising heating a mixture of (i) a source of sodium oxide and (ii) (a) a source of calcium silicate or (b) a source of calcium oxide and a source of silica, at a temperature of greater than about 800.degree. C.

Abstract: Coatings, which act as barrier layers to inhibit migration of alkali metal ions from a glass surface and/or act as color suppressing underlayers for overlying infra-red reflecting or electrically conducting layers, are deposited by pyrolysis of a gaseous mixture of a silane, an unsaturated hydrocarbon and an oxygen-containing gas other than carbon dioxide which does not react with the silane at room temperature on a hot glass surface at a temperature of 600.degree. C. to 750.degree. C.

Abstract: An apparatus for coating flat glass by directing a reactant gas over the glass surface incorporates a gas flow restrictor which comprises a chamber which is adapted to receive a supply of reactant gas and is adapted to output a flow of the reactant gas over the flat glass being coated. A series of at least two restrictions is provided in the gas flow restrictor, each restriction comprising a plate member extending across the chamber and having a plurality of apertures therethrough.

Abstract: An edge-encapsulated glazing module for a vehicle has a moulded encapsulation which embodies means to provide a function other than the fitting of the module to a vehicle body. The said means may be means for mounting a lighting unit; conduit means; or a mounting for a vehicle accessory. The lighting unit may be a rear light for the vehicle. The conduit means may comprise electrical leads on an RF lead. Alternatively, the conduit means may comprise a hollow tube for water or air. The vehicle accessory may be a rear view mirror; a license disc, windscreen wiper or a spoiler.