Abstract: This invention relates to the manufacture of glass-ceramic articles having integral surface layers exhibiting ferrimagnetic behavior. More specifically, this invention is directed to glass bodies having compositions within the Li.sub.2 O-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 -SiO.sub.2 -TiO.sub.2 base system, and that additionally contain NiO and/or CoO, which, when heat treated under oxidizing conditions to effect crystallization in situ to glass-ceramic articles, spontaneously develop crystallites of NiFe.sub.2 O.sub.4 and/or CoFe.sub.2 O.sub.4 in the surfaces thereof. The ferrite surfaces can be magnetized in a strong magnetic field and demonstrate magnetic properties eminently suitable for the recording, storage, and erasing of information.

Abstract: A device is provided for holding and centering a rotating glass body such as a rod or tube. The device includes a tubular tip holder which may be held in a lathe chuck. The device can utilize a variety of centering tips each adapted for a particular configuration, such as a glass O-ring joint or semi-ball joint.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the production of foamed alkali metal silicate articles of low density, good chemical durability, and low thermal conductivity which can readily be made in essentially unlimited sizes and configurations. The process of the invention contemplates four general steps. First, an anhydrous glass consisting essentially of narrowly-defined compositions within the Na.sub.2 O and/or K.sub.2 O-Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or B.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or ZnO and/or Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 -SiO.sub.2 field is hydrated. Second, particles of said hydrated glass not exceeding about 5 mm. in diameter are dehydrated in such a manner as to cause the formation of individual foamed bodies. Third, the individual foamed particles are collected together and rehydrated to a sufficient extent to bond said particles into an integral mass, but not so much to cause the foamed particles to collapse. Fourth, the integral mass is dehydrated to cause foaming thereof.

Abstract: A porous layer is formed on a surface of a body of phase separable glass by heat treating the glass to cause it to become separated into at least two distinct phases of different solubility. A surface of the body is subjected to a leaching solution which preferentially leaches at least the most soluble phase, leaving a surface layer consisting of a skeletal structure that comprises the least soluble phase disposed on a substrate of phase separated glass. The glass body is then subjected to a second heat treatment at a sufficiently high temperature that the phase separated glass substrate is caused to become homogeneous, the porous surface layer remaining substantially unchanged. The resultant homogeneous glass substrate is more chemically durable than it was in the phase separated state.

Abstract: A permanent butt joint between optical fibers is made by inserting the bare fiber ends into the opposite ends of a slightly oversized bore in a sleeve of glass of lower melting point than the fibers. The central region of the sleeve is collapsed by softening. By this collapse, the butted fibers are brought into alignment. The joint may be protected with a length of heat shrink tubing fitted over the sleeve.

Abstract: Disclosed is an assembly or matrix comprising an arrangement of integrally fused tubes forming a series of nonporous, longitudinal parallel passageways therethrough. The matrix is of a low-expansion ceramic material and the passageways therethrough have thin walls; a high proportion of the cross-sectional or frontal area of the matrix is free open area. Also disclosed are methods for making such a matrix from glass tubes that are thermally crystallizable; one method involves longitudinally bundling the tubes with their ends sealed and heating the assembly to soften, expand and fuse the tubes in a heat treatment schedule that also nucleates and thermally crystallizes the matrix to the final ceramic product. Another embodiment involves superimposing a plurality of layers of tubes, one layer above the other in successive parallel planes, with the tubes in each plane being essentially parallel to each other and transverse to the tubes in adjacent layers.

Abstract: Ophthalmic lenses with locally variable indices of refraction produced from microporous glass bodies diffused with inorganic salts and rendered transparent by heat treatment. Local variations in refractive index result from differences in concentrations of the salts produced by controlled diffusion and/or selective leaching after impregnation of the porous bodies.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making vitreous silica crucibles of exceptional high quality for use in the growing of a silicon crystal from molten silicon. The crucibles are formed from fine particles of high purity fused silica by slip casting or other suitable process, are dried and fired to provide a rigid porous body, and are thereafter sintered to a high density, preferably to the transparent state. The invention solves the problem of spalling, blistering and cracking during crystal growing and the resulting contamination of the molten silicon, which has long plagued the industry, by eliminating water from the fused silica particles before the porous body is sintered to the transparent state. Said body is thoroughly dried in a vacuum furnace at a high temperature and at a sub-atmospheric pressure low enough to remove the chemically bound water which cannot be removed by heat alone.

Abstract: Optical sections (lenses) of pseudophakoi having tangential holes are produced without drilling operations. A preform of lens material is drawn with embedded acid soluble rods and/or openings corresponding in diametral size and relative juxtaposition to the size, shape and locations of holes needed in a lens, a lens blank is cut from the drawn preform and portions of rods remaining therein are etched away prior to or following final edging and surface finishing of the lens blank.

Abstract: An individual section of a Hartford I.S. type glassware forming machine is modified to provide for in-line, or parallel motion, of the split mold halves at both the blank and blow stations. Vertically extending rock shafts move the blank and blow mold holder structures on fixed ways, through toggle links similar to those in a conventional I.S. machine, but the space formerly occupied by the hinge pin at the blow side is made available for the mold structure because the ways are oriented parallel to and slightly below the neck ring hub mechanism. This design provides for an increased mold closing force at the blank side and simplifies the mold holder structure itself whereby the molds can be continually cooled from an internal chamber in the mold holder which is supplied with cooling air through a vertical interface between the movable mold holder structure and the fixed machine frame.

Abstract: Thermally crystallizable glasses of the Na.sub.2 O--Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 --SiO.sub.2 and the Na.sub.2 O--Li.sub.2 O--Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 --SiO.sub.2 systems, and glass-ceramics made therefrom which are highly transparent, have high indices of refraction, and excellent strength properties. By varying the heat treatment schedule for crystallization of a glass to a glass-ceramic, a specific high index of refraction coming within a prescribed range may be imparted to the finished, transparent glass-ceramic. A transparent glass-ceramic having two or more different indices of refraction may also be produced.

Abstract: The invention consists a device for feeding automatic continuous process (kinematic) machines for the manufacture of glass objects characterized in that it comprises a turning feeder integral with the drum of the machine.

Abstract: A method for forming a cadmium-containing glass-reacted-ceramic body is described. This material is advantageously employed as the dielectric material in a capacitor. The method comprises mixing a barium-titanate alkaline-earth-metal-zirconate powder with glass powder, forming a cake or layer of the powder mix and firing the cake at from 1600.degree. to 2050.degree. F in a controlled cadmium containing atmosphere to sinter and densify the material. The cake is buried in an inert powder to which has been added a cadmium oxide powder to supply a source of cadmium external of the cake and to control the cadmium containing atmosphere during firing. Cadmium ions diffuse, during sintering, into the glass and further, into the ceramic grains to promote grain growth and to downwardly shift the Curie temperature.

Abstract: Molding of hollow glass articles wherein a gob flows from a feeder into a mold and forms a hollow tube as it enters the mold, and a pressure differential is applied across the tube so that the tube is shaped in the mold to form the hollow article. During application of the pressure differential, deformation of the glass between the feeder and mold, is prevented by proximately positioning of the feeder and mold. This pressure differential is obtained by applying vacuum between the mold and molten tube.

Abstract: Amber glass is made by melting a soda-lime glass-forming batch in which at least 1 percent of the silica content is provided by lignite fly ash.

Abstract: Glass-based soft-edged aperture filters having good thermal stability are produced by diffusing a coloring element such as Ag into a glass, thus providing a transmittance gradient in the colored portion thereof. A glass composition comprising a basic glass, such as a silicate, borosilicate or phosphate glass, and 1 to 10% by weight of As.sub.2 O.sub.3 and/or Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 is especially suitable for producing such soft-edged aperture filters.

Abstract: A press-and-blow container making machine wherein one of two rotary tables supports a set of blank molds receiving gobs from a gob feed and the other rotary table supports a set of blow molds serving to convert parisons obtained from the blank molds into finished containers. An endless flexible conveyor carries neck rings which transport parisons from the first table, past a preliminary treating unit and on to the blow mold. The neck rings also transport finished containers away from the blow molds.

Abstract: Glassware forming apparatus includes a first arm for supporting a first neck ring and a second arm for supporting a first blow head. The first and second arms are supported from a vertical column for projection along its axis and for independent pivotal movement about the axis. The apparatus also includes a parison mold and two blow molds. Each of the blow molds is divided into two portions, the portions of each mold being joined at a hinge. The axis of each hinge extends generally parallel to the column axis. Apparatus is provided for opening and closing the molds, and for pivoting and projecting the first and second arms to convey glassware blanks supported by the neck ring alternately to the two blow molds from the parison mold, and to move the blow head between the two blow molds to blow the glassware blanks into articles of glassware.

Abstract: Glassware forming apparatus includes a turret mounted for rotation about, and projection along, a vertical axis. First, second, third and fourth arms are rigidly mounted on said turret to extend horizontally and radially outwardly. The first arm supports a first neck ring. The second arm supports a second neck ring. The third arm supports a first blow head. The fourth arm supports a second blow head. The apparatus further includes a parison mold and first and second blow molds. Each of the blow molds is divided into two mold portions joined along a vertical hinge. The axes of the blow mold hinges extend generally parallel to the turret axis.

Abstract: The invention provides a process for producing a transparent optical-glass body having a linear index of refraction gradient. Particles of optical glass which contain leachble ingredients are pressed to form a self-supporting porous optical glass body. Some of the leachable ingredient is leached from a part of the porous glass, and a different amount is leached from a second part of the porous glass, the index of refraction varying in proportion to the different amounts leached from the glass body. The porous optical glass body is heated to eliminate the pores. Various means for effecting the different amounts of leaching over the length of the glass body are shown.