Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass sheet laminate to be formed by integrally laminating two glass sheets includes: laminating the two glass sheets by bringing surfaces thereof in a vicinity of an outer peripheral portion into surface contact with each other; performing laser fusing so as to cut and remove a part of a surface contact portion under a state in which the surface contact portion has a surface roughness of 2.0 nm or less; and processing a fusing end surface of the surface contact portion into a curved surface and sealing the fusing end surface with heat generated when the laser fusing is performed.

Abstract: A manufacturing method that enables stably making a high-quality optical fiber is provided. The manufacturing method of the present invention comprises: a softened portion falling step in which an optical fiber preform is heated in a heating furnace and a dropping part of softened portion of the preform thus heat-softened is allowed to drop; and a drawing step for drawing the preform such that the softened glass is drawn into a fiber by applying a tension with a take-up means after the softened portion falling step, whereas the preform is rotated about its axis at the softened portion falling step.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing at least one optical fibre preform comprising: providing a plurality of partially porous intermediate preforms, each partially porous intermediate preform having a longitudinal axis and comprising a respective soot intermediate clad layer formed around a respective glass core rod comprising a central core region of radius a and an inner clad region of radius b to define a first core-to-clad ratio a/b; consolidating the formed soot intermediate clad layers to form a respective plurality of intermediate glass preforms, each of the plurality of intermediate glass preforms comprising an intermediate clad region having an external radius c to define a second core-to-clad ratio a/c of from 0.20 to 0.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber includes drawing an optical fiber preform and forming a bare optical fiber, disposing a coating layer formed of a resin on an outer circumference of the bare optical fiber, and curing the coating layer and obtaining an optical fiber. A direction of the bare optical fiber is changed by a direction changer in any position from drawing the optical fiber to disposing the coating layer, and the direction changer includes a guide groove which guides the bare optical fiber.

Abstract: Methods and systems for de-stabilizing foam produced in submerged combustion melters. A molten mass of glass and bubbles is flowed into an apparatus downstream of a submerged combustion melter. The downstream apparatus includes a floor, a roof and a wall connecting the floor and roof, but is devoid of submerged combustion burners and other components that would increase turbulence of the molten mass. The molten mass has foam on at least a portion of a top surface of the molten mass. Certain methods include imposing a de-stabilizing force directly to the foam or to the molten mass and foam, where the de-stabilizing force may be a vibratory force, an acoustic wave force, a particulate-based force, or a non-particulate-based mechanical force. Systems for carrying out the methods are described.

Abstract: A melter apparatus includes a floor, a ceiling, and a substantially vertical wall connecting the floor and ceiling at a perimeter of the floor and ceiling, a melting zone being defined by the floor, ceiling and wall, the melting zone having a feed inlet and a molten glass outlet positioned at opposing ends of the melting zone. The melting zone includes an expanding zone beginning at the inlet and extending to an intermediate location relative to the opposing ends, and a narrowing zone extending from the intermediate location to the outlet. One or more burners, at least some of which are positioned to direct combustion products into the melting zone under a level of molten glass in the zone, are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for melting and refining a silica-based glass composition includes a vertical first reaction chamber having an input adjacent to a lower end for receiving glass-forming components. The glass-forming components are heated to elevated temperature during upward flow through the vertical first reaction chamber to form a glass precursor melt adjacent to an upper end of the vertical first reaction chamber. A vertical second reaction chamber has an input adjacent to an upper end and an output adjacent to a lower end for delivering glass melt. A cross passage connects the upper end of the vertical first reaction chamber to the upper end of the vertical second reaction chamber such that the precursor melt flows from the vertical first reaction chamber through the cross passage and then through the vertical second reaction chamber to homogenize the precursor melt.

Abstract: A glass container that includes a microwave susceptor coating on an exterior surface thereof, and a process for healing flaws in an exterior portion of the glass container. When the glass container is exposed to microwave radiation, the microwave susceptor coating generates heat and selectively and locally provides a major portion of such heat to regions of glass in the exterior portion of the glass container that are in close proximity to the flaws. These regions of glass in the exterior portion of the glass container may be selectively and locally heated so that the glass therein can flow and thereby fill-in the flaws in the exterior portion of the glass container. This process can be used to heal flaws in an exterior portion of a glass container without impairing the structural integrity of the glass container.

Abstract: A method comprising the claimed oven, blowing units, and heaters inside a blowing chamber in an oven where convection air is blown through nozzle rows and wherein a roll space and a suction space are separated with the help of pressure from each other by extending the length and/or width of a spacer plate which measures essentially larger than the length and/or width of a spacer plate or by arranging gaps or part which constricts the flow of the convection air between the roll space and the suction space where the gaps or part has an effect on the pressure of suction channels, suction channels extension, or of the suction space so that the convection air is sucked at least mainly from the rolls space through the mentioned suction channels, suction channels extension, and the suction space.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of heating a glass sheet for tempering. It comprises conveying the glass sheet on top of rollers in a roller-hearth furnace, heating the glass sheet in the roller-hearth furnace to a transfer temperature at which the glass sheet is transferred into an air support furnace. The glass sheet, while resting on an air cushion, is carried on an air support table and the glass sheet is heated in the air support furnace to a tempering temperature. The transfer temperature is not lower than 620° C. and not higher than 675° C. and the tempering temperature is not lower than 650° C. and not higher than 720° C.

Abstract: The disclosure is directed to a chemically strengthened glass having antimicrobial properties and to a method of making such glass. In particular, the disclosure is directed to a chemically strengthened glass with antimicrobial properties and with a low surface energy coating on the glass that does not interfere with the antimicrobial properties of the glass. The antimicrobial has an Ag ion concentration on the surface in the range of greater than zero to 0.047 ?g/cm2. The glass has particular applications as antimicrobial shelving, table tops and other applications in hospitals, laboratories and other institutions handling biological substances, where color in the glass is not a consideration.

Abstract: A bushing assembly is provided including terminal ears coupled to opposed end walls of the bushing assembly. Each of the terminal ears includes an electrically conductive plate with a first terminal edge (1D) coupled to a bushing first end wall, and extending away from the first end wall to a second, free terminal edge (1A) and having a curved geometry. The curvature, 1/(2R), at any point of the curved second end of the slot is less than the reciprocal, 1/ Wo, of the smallest gap width, Wo, of both slot first open end, WA, and elongated portion, WB, where R is defined as the radius at any point of the curved second end.

Abstract: The invention provides a method of making a vessel having a sculptural interior, comprising attaching a textile core to the air inlet port of an I.S. machine, inserting a gob of molten glass into a mold to surround the textile core, applying compressed air to press the molten glass around the textile core, applying compressed air to inflate the textile core creating the bottle, allowing the bottle to cool sufficiently to withdraw the core from the bottle, and withdrawing the textile core from the bottle.

Abstract: Methods of processing molten material comprising the step (I) of flowing molten material through an interior of a conduit from a first station to a second station of a glass manufacturing apparatus and the step (II) of cooling the molten material within the interior of the conduit by passing a cooling fluid along an exterior of the conduit. The method further includes the step (III) of directing a travel path of the cooling fluid toward a vertical plane passing through the conduit. In further examples, a glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a first station, a second station, and a conduit configured to provide a travel path for molten material traveling from the first station to the second station. The glass manufacturing apparatus further comprises at least one baffle configured to direct a travel path of cooling fluid toward a vertical plane passing through the conduit.

Abstract: Refractory glass-forming tools, including glass-forming molds incorporating protective metal nitride surface coatings, with optional alumina barrier layers disposed between the mold bodies and coating for high-temperature nitride coating stability, offering particular advantages for the manufacture by direct molding of optically finished glass products such as information display cover glasses from refractory alkali aluminosilicate glasses at molding temperatures up to and above 800° C.

Abstract: A glass forming system (200) and a method are described herein for forming a glass sheet (230). In one example, the glass forming system and method can use a glass composition with a liquidus viscosity less than 1000 poises to continuously form a glass sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus includes a first and second conduits configured to form an annulus between them. An adjustable structure includes a body having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a circumferential surface abutting a portion of the internal surface of the second conduit. The structure is adjustable axially in relation to and removably attached to the first conduit via a hub. The hub defines a central passage for fuel or oxidant. The body has one or more non-central through passages configured such that flow of an oxidant or fuel therethrough causes the fuel or oxidant to intersect flow of fuel or oxidant exiting from the central passage in a region above the upper surface of the body.

Abstract: A method of reforming glass includes placing a glass sheet on a mold having a shaping surface for forming the glass sheet into a shaped glass article. A target starting mold forming temperature and temperature window are selected for the mold. A target starting mold forming temperature and temperature window are also selected for the glass sheet. The glass sheet and mold are simultaneously exposed to a first furnace condition controlled to a furnace temperature set point above the target starting mold forming temperature until a temperature of the mold is within the first temperature window. The glass sheet and mold are simultaneously exposed to a second furnace condition controlled to a furnace temperature set point between the target starting mold forming temperature and first furnace temperature set point until a temperature of the glass sheet is within the second temperature window, after which forming of the glass sheet starts.

Abstract: A device for cooling sheets of glass by jets of air emitted by at least one nozzle in a form of a pipe, including a box supplying the nozzle with air, airflow ejected via an ejection orifice of the nozzle passing successively through a conical part, of which an internal section is reduced in a flow direction, and then through a cylindrical part including the ejection orifice, of which an internal section corresponds to a smallest internal section of the conical part and to an internal section of the ejection orifice. The cylindrical part of the nozzle has a length greater than 6 times the diameter of the ejection orifice. The device achieves a high level of heat exchange when the sheets of glass are cooled, which makes it possible to increase reinforcing effect on the glass and/or to reduce power of fans used to convey air through the nozzles.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an optical fiber including drawing an optical fiber preform and forming a bare optical fiber, disposing a coating layer formed of a resin on an outer circumference of the bare optical fiber, and curing the coating layer and obtaining an optical fiber is provided. A direction of the bare optical fiber is changed by a direction changer in any position from drawing the optical fiber to disposing the coating layer. In a flow rate of a fluid from a blowout port, an average flow rate or a highest flow rate in an inlet wire portion and an outlet wire portion is higher than a lowest flow rate of the fluid in an intermediate portion.