Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing glass. A mixture of solid glass-forming materials comprising at least one fining agent are introduced into a doghouse located upstream of an elongated tank. The glass-forming materials are melted in the doghouse at a temperature at or above a fining-onset temperature of the at least one fining agent by application of heat from one or more submerged combustion burners. The resulting molten glass is relatively foamy and may comprise greater than 25 vol. % gas bubbles. The molten glass is directed from the doghouse into an upstream end of the tank where it is refined to produce molten glass having on average less than 20 seeds per ounce.

Abstract: A drill bit comprising a body that includes a metal matrix composite (MMC). The MMC comprises a mixture comprising a plurality of particles and another plurality of particles, wherein each of the other plurality of particles is softer than each of the plurality of particles. The MMC comprises a metallic binding material that is metallurgically bonded to each of the plurality of particles and the other plurality of particles.

Abstract: A feed assembly for a melting chamber having a plurality of walls and at least one submerged burner, and related methods of its operation are disclosed. The feed assembly includes a tubular body being hollow and having a first end and extending to a second end. The second end is for connecting to one of the plurality of walls. The tubular body further includes a port proximate the second end wherein the port has a first port end and tapers radially inwardly to a second port end at the second end. The feed assembly also has a batch charger disposed within the tubular body and having a first charger end and extending to a second charger end.

Abstract: A process for forming coating on an interior surface of a glass container. A glass preform is formed at blank molding station from a gob of molten glass. Thereafter, a glass container is formed at a blow molding station from the glass preform. A coating material comprising a suspension of nanoparticles in a liquid medium is introduced into an interior of the glass preform or the glass container while the glass is still hot from being formed. Heat from the glass is transferred to the liquid medium to vaporize the liquid medium and form a coating on an interior surface of the glass preform or the glass container. Thereafter, the glass container is annealed.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for manufacturing glass. A mixture of solid glass-forming materials comprising at least one fining agent are introduced into a doghouse located upstream of an elongated tank. The glass-forming materials are melted in the doghouse at a temperature at or above a fining-onset temperature of the at least one fining agent by application of heat from one or more submerged combustion burners. The resulting molten glass is relatively foamy and may comprise greater than 25 vol. % gas bubbles. The molten glass is directed from the doghouse into an upstream end of the tank where it is refined to produce molten glass having on average less than 20 seeds per ounce.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of refining molten glass are disclosed. An upstream vessel contains molten glass, a downstream vessel is arranged downstream of the upstream vessel, and vacuum refining vessels are located between the upstream vessel and the downstream vessel and are in separate, alternating fluid communication with the upstream vessel and in separate, alternating fluid communication with the downstream vessel.

Abstract: A gradient fining tank and a method of operating the tank to refine foamy molten glass is disclosed. The gradient fining tank includes a floor, a roof, and two laterally-spaced sidewalls that at least partially define an interior chamber of the tank. The floor of the tank is profiled to provide the tank with an extended shallow portion that defines an inlet to the interior chamber and a deep holding portion that defines an outlet from the interior chamber. An entry section of the floor provides the extended shallow portion of the tank and a transition section and exit section of the floor provide the deep holding portion. A depth of the interior chamber at an outlet end of the deep holding portion is greater than a depth of the interior chamber at the outlet end of the extended shallow portion.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods of refining glass, in a multi-stage, downwardly cascading manner, include a melting chamber housing molten glass and having an outlet, a first refining chamber downstream from the melting chamber and having a first outlet and a first inlet below the outlet of the melting chamber, and a second refining chamber downstream from the first refining chamber and having a second outlet and a second inlet below the first outlet of the first refining chamber. The first refining chamber has a first negative pressure and the second refining chamber has a second negative pressure.

Abstract: A rotary magnetic transmission structure that can achieve stable transmission is provided. Two magnetic members having radial magnetic fields are fixed on each shaft of two parallel shafts A and B; the radial magnetic fields of the two co-axial magnetic members both spread at an angle greater than 60 degrees and less than 90 degrees; using the first magnetic members of each shaft A and B as references, the direction of opening of the angle between the radial magnetic field of the second magnetic member and the radial magnetic field of the co-axial first magnetic member on the same shaft is opposite to that on the other shaft. This structure can obviously reduce the peak effect at the two poles of the magnetic fields of the magnetic members between the two shafts, so that the transmission is stable during non-contact rotary transmission.

Abstract: A glass container and a process for forming an inorganic silica coating on an exterior surface of the glass container to improve one or more surface characteristics of the glass container. A sol-gel solution including a polysilazane and an organic solvent is applied to the exterior surface of the glass container to form a sol-gel coating thereon. The glass container and the sol-gel coating are then exposed to a water vapor-containing environment and heated at a temperature of between 150 degrees Celsius and 600 degrees Celsius to transform the sol-gel coating into an inorganic silica coating. The as-formed silica coating has a hardness of greater than 8.5 GPa and is bonded to the exterior surface of the glass container through a plurality of siloxane bonds.

Abstract: A glass container and a process for forming an inorganic silica coating on an exterior surface of the glass container to improve one or more surface characteristics of the glass container. A sol-gel solution including a polysilazane and an organic solvent is applied to the exterior surface of the glass container to form a sol-gel coating thereon. The glass container and the sol-gel coating are then exposed to a water vapor-containing environment and heated at a temperature of between 150 degrees Celsius and 600 degrees Celsius to transform the sol-gel coating into an inorganic silica coating. The as-formed silica coating has a hardness of greater than 8.5 GPa and is bonded to the exterior surface of the glass container through a plurality of siloxane bonds.

Abstract: A drill bit comprising a body that includes a metal matrix composite (MMC). The MMC comprises a mixture comprising a plurality of particles and another plurality of particles, wherein each of the other plurality of particles is softer than each of the plurality of particles. The MMC comprises a metallic binding material that is metallurgically bonded to each of the plurality of particles and the other plurality of particles.

Abstract: A glass furnace includes a furnace chamber for containing glass melt and a conveyor for receiving glass batch material and feeding the glass batch material to the furnace chamber. A dam wall is disposed with respect to the conveyor such that batch material from the conveyor must flow upward over the dam wall before entering the furnace chamber. The top of the dam wall may be below the level of the melt pool in the furnace chamber.

Abstract: A glass furnace includes a furnace chamber including a side wall and a bottom wall and containing a pool of glass melt having a melt level. A batch feed hopper is adjacent to the side wall of the furnace chamber to supply batch material under gravity to a bottom of the hopper. A feed opening is in the side wall of the furnace chamber and feeds batch material from the bottom of the hopper to the pool of glass melt below the melt level. A conveyor is proximate the bottom wall of the hopper and feeds the batch material from the bottom of the hopper through the feed opening and into the furnace chamber.

Abstract: A process for forming coating on an interior surface of a glass container. A glass preform is formed at blank molding station from a gob of molten glass. Thereafter, a glass container is formed at a blow molding station from the glass preform. A coating material comprising a suspension of nanoparticles in a liquid medium is introduced into an interior of the glass preform or the glass container while the glass is still hot from being formed. Heat from the glass is transferred to the liquid medium to vaporize the liquid medium and form a coating on an interior surface of the glass preform or the glass container. Thereafter, the glass container is annealed.

Abstract: A glass furnace includes a furnace chamber including a side wall and a bottom wall and containing a pool of glass melt having a melt level. A batch feed hopper is adjacent to the side wall of the furnace chamber to supply batch material under gravity to a bottom of the hopper. A feed opening is in the side wall of the furnace chamber and feeds batch material from the bottom of the hopper to the pool of glass melt below the melt level. A conveyor is proximate the bottom wall of the hopper and feeds the batch material from the bottom of the hopper through the feed opening and into the furnace chamber.

Abstract: A glass furnace includes a furnace chamber for containing glass melt and a conveyor for receiving glass batch material and feeding the glass batch material to the furnace chamber. A dam wall is disposed with respect to the conveyor such that batch material from the conveyor must flow upward over the dam wall before entering the furnace chamber. The top of the dam wall may be below the level of the melt pool in the furnace chamber.

Abstract: A glass furnace includes a furnace chamber for containing glass melt and a screw conveyor for receiving glass batch material and feeding the glass batch material to the furnace chamber. A dam wall is disposed with respect to the screw conveyor such that batch material from the screw conveyor must flow upward over the dam wall before entering the furnace chamber. The top of the dam wall may be below the level of the melt pool in the furnace chamber.

Abstract: A bearing component including a body of composite material having a surface configured as a bearing surface, the composite material including a plurality of round particles bound by a braze material, each of the plurality of round particles comprising a round outer layer encapsulating a wear resistant element.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to the development of temperable UV blocking coatings having enhanced UV blocking efficiency and aesthetic appearance on stock sheets of glass substrates using large-scale wet coating manufacturing methods. A glass substrate is provided. A base coat is curtain coated on the glass substrate from a oxide precursor material including zinc, cerium, titanium, and silicon precursor materials. The base coat is cured. A top coat is roll coated, directly or indirectly, on the base coat, with the top coat being a sacrificial cross-linked organic polymer-based layer. The substrate is heat treated with the base coat and the top coat thereon. The base coat and the top coat are substantially uniform in thickness, and the heat treating removes substantially all of the top coat while causing substantially no cracking in the base coat.