Abstract: A lens for protective gear has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer therebetween. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers and encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers with the glass layer in compression. The lens may have a coating that provides the lens with (i) less than about 5 percent transmittance for light having wavelengths of less than 400 nm and greater than about 700 nm for an entire horizontal field of view of the lens, (ii) greater than 75 percent transmittance of light having wavelengths of between about 400 nm and about 700 nm for the entire horizontal field of view of the lens with less than about 5 percent transmittance of light having wavelength between about 530 nm and about 580 nm for a horizontal field of view of the lens of not greater than 60 degrees.

Abstract: A lens for protective gear has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer therebetween. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers and encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers with the glass layer in compression. The lens may have a coating that provides the lens with (i) less than about 5 percent transmittance for light having wavelengths of less than 400 nm and greater than about 700 nm for an entire horizontal field of view of the lens, (ii) greater than 75 percent transmittance of light having wavelengths of between about 400 nm and about 700 nm for the entire horizontal field of view of the lens with less than about 5 percent transmittance of light having wavelength between about 530 nm and about 580 nm for a horizontal field of view of the lens of not greater than 60 degrees.

Abstract: A lens for protective gear has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer therebetween. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers and encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers with the glass layer in compression. The lens may have a coating that provides the lens with (i) less than about 5 percent transmittance for light having wavelengths of less than 400 nm and greater than about 700 nm for an entire horizontal field of view of the lens, (ii) greater than 75 percent transmittance of light having wavelengths of between about 400 nm and about 700 nm for the entire horizontal field of view of the lens with less than about 5 percent transmittance of light having wavelength between about 530 nm and about 580 nm for a horizontal field of view of the lens of not greater than 60 degrees.

Abstract: A frac plug is configured to seal a pipe of a downhole well. The frac plug includes a cylindrical plug member comprising a glass body made of a tempered or high-compression glass. The plug member has axial opposite ends with a tapered outer diameter surface extending along its length between the ends. The frac plug further includes a seal of compressible material extending substantially around the plug member outer diameter. The seal has opposite axial ends corresponding to the axial ends of the plug member. The seal is movable axially relative to, and compressible against, the plug member outer diameter surface, thus allowing the seal expand radially outward to engage the bore of the pipe. The frac plug is anchored in the pipe bore with clamping portions on axially opposite ends of the plug member. The clamping portion may include bore engagement portions that are arcuate or radially expanding fingers.

Abstract: A vacuum insulating glass (VIG) panel comprises first and second panels of glass spaced from another with a separation space therebetween. The VIG panel further comprises spacers disposed between the first and second glass panels to define the separation space. The spacers are generally arranged in a matrix between the first and the second glass panels. The spacers are coated with a coating material comprising particles having an average size of less than about 1 micron. The coating material may be polytetrafluoroethylene particles having an average particle size in a range of about 200 nanometers to about 700 nanometers.

Abstract: A frac plug is configured to seal a bore of a pipe of a downhole well. The frac plug comprises a generally cylindrical plug member comprising a glass body. The glass body may be tempered or high-compression glass. The plug member has axial opposite ends and a length extending between the axial ends. The plug member has an outer diameter surface extending along the length. The outer diameter surface is tapered. The frac plug further comprises a seal of compressible material extending substantially around the plug member outer diameter. The seal has opposite axial ends generally corresponding to the axial ends of the plug member. The seal is movable axially relative to the plug member outer diameter surface. The seal is compressible against the plug member outer diameter surface and expandable radially outward to engage the bore of the pipe.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed electrodless lamp envelope includes: (1) forming an envelope blank; (2) depositing a gas and light generating expedient material in an interior of the envelope blank; (3) arranging a window on an open end of the envelope blank; and (4) using an ultra-short pulse laser system to locally heat the axial end of the envelope blank and the window to seal the window on the envelope blank without degrading the contents deposited in an interior of the envelope or damaging or cracking the envelope blank and/or window.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) panel includes a first glass panel and a second glass panel spaced from the first glass panels. A spacer is disposed between the first and second glass panels. The spacer includes first and second generally opposed faces, and a plurality of sides extending therebetween. The spacer is processed using tumbling and polishing operations to preferably round all corners of the spacer and form a circular contact footprint on opposed side faces of the spacer. The spacer surface break conditions are measured during tumbling and/or polishing operations using optical flat measuring equipment. Following the polishing operation the spacer is thermally processed to strengthen the spacer.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) panel includes a first glass panel and a second glass panel spaced from the first glass panels. A spacer is disposed between the first and second glass panels. The spacer includes first and second generally opposed faces, and a plurality of sides extending therebetween. The spacer is processed using tumbling and polishing operations to preferably round all corners of the spacer and form a circular contact footprint on opposed side faces of the spacer. The spacer surface break conditions are measured during tumbling and/or polishing operations using optical flat measuring equipment. Following the polishing operation the spacer is thermally processed to strengthen the spacer.

Abstract: A vacuum insulating glass (VIG) panel comprises first and second panels of glass spaced from another with a separation space therebetween. The VIG panel further comprises spacers disposed between the first and second glass panels to define the separation space. The spacers are generally arranged in a matrix between the first and the second glass panels. The spacers are coated with a coating material comprising particles having an average size of less than about 1 micron.