Reshaping Of Tubular Preform, Retaining Cavity Patents (Class 65/108)
  • Patent number: 11975999
    Abstract: A method for further processing of a glass tube semi-finished product includes: providing the glass tube semi-finished product, along with tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product; reading the tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product; and further processing of the glass tube semi-finished product including a step of thermal forming carried out at least in sections. At least one process parameter during the further processing of the glass tube semi-finished product including the step of thermal forming carried out at least in sections is controlled as a function of the tube-specific data for the glass tube semi-finished product. In this way, the further processing can be matched more efficiently to the particular characteristics of a glass tube semi-finished product to be processed or a particular subsection thereof, and the relevant characteristics of the particular glass tube semi-finished product do not need to be measured again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: André Witzmann, Andreas Wirth, Ulla Trinks
  • Patent number: 11271358
    Abstract: In a draw tower for producing a length of optical fiber, a preform feed accepts a preform into the draw tower and a furnace downstream of the preform feed heats the preform. Fiber shaping hardware downstream of the thermal furnace is controlled by fiber shaping control electronics to produce along the fiber at least one low-absorption fiber section having a first cross-sectional geometry of the inner cladding layer corresponding to a first level of absorption of input pump light from the inner cladding layer to the core and at least one high-absorption fiber section having a second cross-sectional geometry of the inner cladding layer corresponding to a second level of absorption of input pump light from the inner cladding layer to the core that is greater than the first level of absorption. A tractor downstream of shaping hardware pulls the preform through the furnace and shaping hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventor: Peter C Reeves-Hall
  • Patent number: 9580349
    Abstract: A method for producing a vial with low alkali elution by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial is disclosed. The method is for forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes, which includes a first step of forming a mouth of the vial; a second step of forming the borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body to form a bottom of a vial; and a third step of fire-blasting an internal surface of the cup-shaped body with a flame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: NIPRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo Kuwabara, Hideki Yamauchi, Yoshitaka Ishimi, Shinichiro Senga
  • Patent number: 9027365
    Abstract: A method of forming fused quartz glass is provided. The method includes the steps of: (a) providing a starting body made of fused quartz glass; (b) positioning the fused quartz glass starting body on a base plate; (c) inserting a first insert device into an interior cavity of the starting body to form an assembled structure; (d) heating the assembled structure to a predetermined temperature at which the fused quartz glass has a viscosity in a range of 105 to 1013 poise; and (e) deforming the fused quartz glass of the starting body at the predetermined temperature or in the viscosity range of 105 to 1013 poise around the first insert device to change a shape of the starting body. A method for making a large fused quartz glass vessel and a forming assembly for forming fused quartz glass are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Heraeus Quartz America LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Donelon
  • Patent number: 8844320
    Abstract: A manufacturing method of a sheet glass material for magnetic disk, the method includes, dropping process for dropping a lump of molten glass; pressing process for sandwiching simultaneously the lump from both sides of the dropping path of the lump with surfaces of a pair of dies facing together, and performing press forming to the lump to obtain a sheet glass material, wherein at least one of the pair of dies has a concave shape with respect to the dropping path of the lump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hideki Isono, Hidekazu Tanino
  • Publication number: 20140227465
    Abstract: Two conventional thick-walled, drawn, fused quartz tubes 1,2 are arranged the one within the other. At their forward end of them, each is gripped in a collet 3,4. These forward collets are supported for travel along a track 5 by a distance equivalent to the length of the tubes. A heating, and drawing, station 6 is arranged a short distance back in the length of the tubes from an initial position of the forward chucks. At its furthest end, the outer tube is gripped by a tensioning collet 8, itself supported on the track. The collets are arranged to be driven along the track by respective stepper motors 9,10,11. At the heating station, heaters in the form of burners 12 are provided for heating the outer tube. Heat is applied at a rate to soften the outer tube. The forwards stepper motors draw the forward collets 3,4 such that the outer tube stretches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Publication date: August 14, 2014
    Inventor: Edwin Charles Odell
  • Publication number: 20140041413
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method and apparatus for shaping an elongated glass body 81, which is a glass tube or glass rod and has an initial profile, to an elongated glass body having a different profile. In order to be properly shaped, an elongated glass body 81 passes through, in a hot malleable state, a nip, which is formed by squeezing rollers 1 and which has a nip width which is less than an outer dimension of the initial profile. In order to accomplish an enhanced precision of the shaping process, according to the invention the position of at least one of the squeezing rollers is varied continuously so that a contact area between the respective squeezing roller and the hot glass body is varied cyclic reciprocating movement. Disturbing effects such as local overheating of the squeezing rollers or an accumulation of dirt or glass particles on the surface of the squeezing rollers can thus be effectively prevented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2013
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: SCHOTT AG
    Inventors: Reiner BARTSCH, Ralf BIERSACK, Wolfgang PULZ, Csaba DEBRECZENY
  • Publication number: 20130327740
    Abstract: Embodiments of glass containers resistant to delamination and methods for forming the same are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a delamination resistant glass container may include a glass article having a body extending between an interior surface and an exterior surface. The body defines an interior volume. The body may include an interior region extending from 10 nm below the interior surface of the body into a thickness of the body. The interior region has a persistent layer homogeneity such that the body is resistant to delamination.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Publication date: December 12, 2013
    Inventors: Kaveh Adib, Paul S. Danielson, James P. Hamilton, Robert M. Morena, John S. Peanasky, Robert A. Schaut, Susan L. Schiefelbein
  • Publication number: 20130233022
    Abstract: A method for producing a vial with low alkali elution by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial is disclosed. The method is for forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes, which includes a first step of forming a mouth of the vial; a second step of forming the borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body to form a bottom of a vial; and a third step of fire-blasting an internal surface of the cup-shaped body with a flame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NIPRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo KUWABARA, Hideki YAMAUCHI, Yoshitaka ISHIMI, Shinichiro SENGA
  • Publication number: 20130233021
    Abstract: A method for producing a vial with low alkali elution by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial is disclosed. The method involves forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes including a first step of forming a borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body by formation of a bottom of a vial, and a second step of forming the cup-shaped body into the vial by formation of a mouth of the cup-shaped body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2013
    Publication date: September 12, 2013
    Applicant: NIPRO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hideo KUWABARA, Hideki YAMAUCHI, Yoshitaka ISHIMI, Shinichiro SENGA
  • Publication number: 20130129921
    Abstract: Methods for producing crucibles for holding molten material that contain a reduced amount of gas pockets are disclosed. The methods may involve use of molten silica that may be outgassed prior to or during formation of the crucible. Crucibles produced from such methods and ingots and wafers that are produced from crucibles with a reduced amount of gas pockets are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 23, 2013
    Applicant: MEMC ELECTRONIC MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Steven L. Kimbel, Harold W. Korb, Richard J. Phillips, Shailendra B. Rathod
  • Patent number: 8418502
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating apparatus for glass-sheet-forming, which prevents formation of a heater distortion in a portion of a glass sheet facing to a temperature-distributing heat shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuo Yajima, Akira Sugahara, Hiroshi Yamakawa, Akio Imaichi
  • Publication number: 20120047955
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for pulling tubular glass, such as pipettes, is disclosed. The invention is generally directed apparatus and techniques for precisely scanning a laser beam on the selected surfaces of the glass tube to uniformly, controllably and programmably soften the tube prior to and during pulling. The invention has application to both vertical and horizontal pullers.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Applicant: Sutter Instrument Company
    Inventors: Jack Belgum, Dale Flaming
  • Patent number: 8061162
    Abstract: In a known method for producing a tube of quartz glass by elongating a hollow cylinder of quartz glass having an outer diameter AD, said cylinder is continuously supplied to a heating zone with a vertically oriented heating tube having an inner diameter d, with the proviso that the diameter ratio d/AD is set to a value ranging from 1.02 to 1.7. The hollow cylinder is softened therein zonewise, and a tubular strand is drawn off from the softened region and shortened to obtain the tube. Starting therefrom, in order to optimize the dimensional stability of the quartz glass tube obtained, it is suggested according to the invention that the heating zone should have a length L which is set such that the ratio L/d is smaller than 0.9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Bogdahn
  • Patent number: 7980096
    Abstract: In order to avoid deposition of evaporating alkali compounds on an inner surface of a hollow glass body during thermal processing to form a glass container from the hollow glass body, an overpressure is provided in the hollow glass body during the thermal processing. Either rinsing the hollow glass body with a gas, such as air, or at least partially closing the glass body at one end so that sufficiently rapid pressure equilibration is avoided, can provide this overpressure. The glass containers made by these methods are especially suited for food or pharmaceuticals because they have a reduced alkali release from their inner surfaces, for example at most about 2.0 mg/l sodium oxide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventor: Reiner Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20110069497
    Abstract: The invention relates to production methods for producing a transparent body which is textured at least on the inside, [which] comprises the steps of producing the glass body (1) in order to prepare a blank (2) to be further treated, of producing a first defined texture (4) of an interior space (6) of the glass body (1) in order to form a treatment area (8) and of treating the treatment area (8) in order to enlarge the interior space (6) of the glass body (1). According to the invention the treatment of the treatment area (8) results in a second texture (10) formed in a random manner at least in part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Publication date: March 24, 2011
    Inventor: Richard Gareis
  • Patent number: 7900479
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating the ends of glass rods in which glass rods are inserted into receptacles in a carrier and with the carrier are carried past a burner and at least one rail in an advancing direction, the flame of the burner melting at least one end of the glass rods and the glass rods being lifted by the rail in the receptacles and rolling on the rail so that the glass rods are made to rotate during the melting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Johann Piegendorfer, Martin Zoettl
  • Publication number: 20100290041
    Abstract: An improved optical flow cell adapted for use in a flow cytometer for differentiating formed bodies (e.g., blood cells). Manufactured from a monolithic transparent material, the improved flow cell has an internal flow channel of polygonal transverse cross-section through which prepared samples can be metered and an external envelope suited to acquisition of optical parameters from formed bodies in such samples. Preferably, such flow cell is formed by a glass-drawing process in which a relatively large glass preform having a rectilinear internal channel of a desired polygonal cross-sectional shape is heated and drawn to achieve a desired cross-sectional area of reduced size. Also disclosed are preferred methods for differentiating formed bodies using the flow cell of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2009
    Publication date: November 18, 2010
    Applicant: Beckman Coulter, Inc.
    Inventors: Marshall Donnie GRAHAM, William Gerry GRAHAM, James P. CLARKIN, Mark A. WELLS, Jose M. CANO, Carlos Alberto ARBOLEDA, Armando Jose SANCHEZ
  • Patent number: 7797965
    Abstract: In a known method for producing tubes of quartz glass, a hollow cylinder (2) of quartz glass is continuously supplied to a heating zone (1) and is softened therein in regions, and a tube strand (21) is drawn off at a drawing speed from the softened region with formation of a drawing bulb (26), and the tubes to be produced are cut to length in the form of tube strand pieces by separating the tube strand (21) at a desired separation point (T, Vu, Vo) and an internal pressure differing from the external pressure applied to the outer cladding is maintained in the inner bore (4) of the hollow cylinder (2) in that the inner bore (4) of the tube strand is provided with a flow obstacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Norbert Cibis, Oliver Ganz
  • Publication number: 20100132407
    Abstract: In a known method for producing a tube of quartz glass by elongation, a hollow cylinder of quartz glass is continuously supplied to a heating zone, softened therein zone by zone, and a tube strand is drawn in the direction of a drawing axis out of the softened region by using a roll puller, the roll puller comprising a frame by which a plurality of puller rolls are fixed, which are rotatable around a rotation axis and which are distributed over the circumference of the tube strand and adjoining the tube strand with their cylindrical outer surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2008
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Oliver Ganz, Thomas Bogdahn, Harald Hain
  • Publication number: 20100089097
    Abstract: The invention discloses a method for the production of packaging made from borosilicate glass for pharmaceutical products and medical products comprising the steps of: providing a glass tube made from a borosilicate base glass, generating a temporary interface layer on an inner surface of the glass tube, hot-forming the glass tube at a temperature above Tg, and cooling down the glass tube to room temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2009
    Publication date: April 15, 2010
    Inventors: Heike Brack, Uwe Rothhaar, Stephan Tratzky, Juergen Thuerk
  • Patent number: 7681415
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for treating the ends of glass rods in which glass rods are inserted into receptacles in a carrier and with the carrier are carried past a burner and at least one rail in an advancing direction, the flame of the burner melting at least one end of the glass rods and the glass rods being lifted by the rail in the receptacles and rolling on the rail so that the glass rods are made to rotate during the melting process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Johann Piegendorfer, Martin Zöttl
  • Publication number: 20090260398
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing glass pipettes or glass capillaries. In said method, a pipette or capillary (1) with a conical tip and a tubular section that adjoins the latter is fixed in a retaining device (2), the fixed glass pipene (1) is then introduced into the thermal radiation field of a heating unit (3), the glass pipette is softened at least in the tip region, a gas pressure is applied to the interior of the glass pipette in such a way that the diameter of said pipette is abruptly lengthened by a small amount between the base surface of the cone and the tubular section, the expanded glass pipette (1) is then removed from the thermal radiation field of the heating unit (3) and the abrupt lengthening of the diameter of the glass pipette (1) is verified and preferably controlled with the aid of an optical observation unit (4).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2007
    Publication date: October 22, 2009
    Applicant: Flyion GmbH
    Inventor: Albrecht Lepple-Wienhues
  • Publication number: 20090095022
    Abstract: Disclosed are synthetic silica glass body with a birefringence pattern having low fast axis direction randomness factor and glass reflow process. The glass reflow process comprises steps of: providing a glass tube having a notch; and thermally reflowing the glass tube to form a glass plate. The process can be advantageously used to produce fused silica glass plate without observable striae when viewed in the direction of optical axis. Also disclosed are optical members comprising the fused silica glass body and a process for reflowing glass cylinders.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Steven Roy Burdette, Polly Wanda Chu, James Gerard Fagan, Thomas William Hobbs, Sumalee Likitvanichkul, Daniel Raymond Sempolinski, Terry Lee Taft, Michael John Walters
  • Publication number: 20090099000
    Abstract: To provide a vial with low alkali elution and a method for producing the same by removing a deteriorated region caused by processing on an internal surface of a vial. A vial with reduced alkali elution and a method for producing the same by forming vials from borosilicate glass tubes comprises a first step of forming a borosilicate glass tube into a cup-shaped body by formation of a bottom of a vial, and a second step of forming the cup-shaped body into the vial by formation of a mouth of the cup-shaped body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2006
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Inventors: Hideo Kuwabara, Hideki Yamauchi, Yoshitaka Ishimi, Shinichiro Senga
  • Publication number: 20090019893
    Abstract: In a known method for producing a tube of quartz glass by elongating a hollow cylinder of quartz glass 6b having an outer diameter AD, said cylinder is continuously supplied to a heating zone with a vertically oriented heating tube having an inner diameter d, with the proviso that the diameter ratio d/AD is set to a value ranging from 1.02 to 1.7. The hollow cylinder is softened therein zonewise, and a tubular strand is drawn off from the softened region and shortened to obtain the tube. Starting therefrom, in order to optimize the dimensional stability of the quartz glass tube obtained, it is suggested according to the invention that the heating zone should have a length L which is set such that the ratio L/d is smaller than 0.9.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 11, 2006
    Publication date: January 22, 2009
    Applicant: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Thomas Bogdahn
  • Patent number: 7467528
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a preform for a glass ferrule and a fabrication method thereof. It is an objective of the present invention to fabricate dual hole ferrules having various distances between two holes by using a single preform. It is another objective of the present invention to fabricate a preform for a dual hole glass ferrule by a simple process. To meet the above and other objectives, the present invention provides a preform for a glass ferrule, comprising two holes which are formed through the preform and exit out both side cross-sections of the preform, wherein the two holes are symmetrical to the center in a diameter direction of the preform and a distance between the two holes changes in a lengthwise direction of the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2008
    Assignees: Research Institute of Industrial Science & Technology, JCCOM. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Soon-Cheol Hwang, Sun-Uk Kim, Myong-Cheul Chun
  • Publication number: 20080223080
    Abstract: A method of making an article having channels therethrough includes the steps of: providing a ductile structure defining at least one macro-channel, the macro-channel containing a salt; drawing the ductile structure in the axial direction of the at least one macro-channel to reduce diameter of the macro-channel; and contacting the salt with a solvent to dissolve the salt to produce an article having at least one microchannel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2007
    Publication date: September 18, 2008
    Applicant: UT-Battelle, LLC
    Inventor: Brian R. D'Urso
  • Patent number: 7401478
    Abstract: The manufacturing method comprises: a softening step of softening a straight glass tube in a heating furnace; a moving and placing step of moving the softened glass tube so that the glass tube is placed on the top of the mandrel; and a winding step of winding the glass tube placed on the top of the mandrel around the periphery of the mandrel. The mandrel is disposed beneath the glass tube starting to get soft, and the glass tube being soft is perpendicularly lowered in order to be placed on the top of the mandrel. In the winding step, the winding speed Vr at which the glass tube is wound around the mandrel is higher than the moving speed Vs at which chuck units holding the ends of the glass tube move toward the mandrel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Yabuki, Noriyuki Uchida, Takayuki Iwasaki, Shiro Iida
  • Patent number: 7392667
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for shaping a tubular object made of glass or glass ceramics or any other thermoplastic material, comprising the following method steps: the object is heated up to softening; an inner shaping tool and an outer shaping tool are provided for shaping The outside and inside jacket surface of the object, of which at least the inner shaping tool consists at least in the region of its shaping surface of open-pored material with a permeability of between 10?11 and 10?16 m2; a free-flowing pressurized medium is conducted through the open-pored material towards the surface of the object to be shaped; the inner shaping tool is introduced into the object; the outer shaping tool is applied on to the object in order to shape the same
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Christian Kunert, Friedrich Lampart, Jurgen Thurk, Michael Plapp, Roman Oberhaensli
  • Publication number: 20080148778
    Abstract: A curved lamp manufacturing method including a curving process in which a straight glass tube sealed with reduced pressure inside is heated and curved. The curving process includes: a first step of holding a predetermined portion of the glass tube using a first chuck, and holding one end portion of the glass tube using a second chuck such that the second chuck can slide in a longitudinal direction of the glass tube; and a second step of, while heating a planned curved portion of the glass tube positioned between the predetermined portion and the end portion by a heater, curving the planned curved portion by moving the second chuck relative to the glass tube. The end portion is moved in the second step so that a weight of the end portion is applied to the planned curved portion that has been softened by the heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Publication date: June 26, 2008
    Inventors: Hironobu Ueno, Takaharu Yanata, Hayato Kameyama, Yoshimitsu Mino, Akio Kikuchi
  • Publication number: 20080127680
    Abstract: A method and device for making high precision glass forms (110). A glass rod (1) is pushed into a melting tube (47) and the glass form is pulled from the chamber. Preferably, both the push rate and the pull rate are controlled. Fiber optic glass ferrules and other components manufactured by the use of this invention have precision dimensions that fall well within the tight dimensional tolerances required for ferrules and others.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Applicant: Quantum Quartz, LLC
    Inventors: Vaughan Morrill, Roger Wilke
  • Patent number: 7318329
    Abstract: A bottle is separated along at least one or two severance planes and the base of the bottle is discarded leaving the body portion behind. The body portion having a rim (10) is inverted to form the bowl of the goblet. Under heat and rotation, the original mouth (20) is flared to form a foot and the neck portion (30) is twisted or otherwise closed to seal the goblet from leakage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Cavu Glass, LLC.
    Inventor: Sean C. Penrith
  • Patent number: 6935137
    Abstract: There is disclosed a method for forming a discharge tube for a low-pressure discharge lamp. In the method, an end of a section of the discharge tube is fastened with first clamping means, and a second end of the section in held in an oriented position. The section is heated to a softening temperature, and a bending moment is exerted on the section between the first end and the second end for achieving the desired radius or direction of curvature of the section. The holding of the second end of the section and the exertion of the bending moment on the section are effected at least partly with another re-solidified section of the discharge tube which is adjacent to the softened first section. An apparatus for performing the method is also disclosed. The apparatus comprises first and second clamping means for positioning the ends of a bending section of the discharge tube in an oriented position relative to each other, and for exerting a bending moment on the ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: IstvĂ¡n KerĂ©nyi, JĂ³zsef CsapĂ³, JĂ³zsef TökĂ©s
  • Patent number: 6925839
    Abstract: A method of making a capillary splice includes applying pressure to a bore in a tube, applying heat to a portion of the tube to soften the portion of the tube, and forming a bubble within the bore in the heated portion under the influence of the pressure and heat. While forming the bubble, a diameter of the bore at the heated portion is measured to determine when the bubble has enlarged to a target size. When the bubble has enlarged to the target size, a force is applied along an axial axis of the tube to shape the bubble to a desired size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2005
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Hoa Dempsey, James G. Fagan, William J. Miller, Stephen R. Ormbsy, Terry L. Taft
  • Publication number: 20040231365
    Abstract: The manufacturing method comprises: a softening step of softening a straight glass tube in a heating furnace; a moving and placing step of moving the softened glass tube so that the glass tube is placed on the top of the mandrel; and a winding step of winding the glass tube placed on the top of the mandrel around the periphery of the mandrel. The mandrel is disposed beneath the glass tube starting to get soft, and the glass tube being soft is perpendicularly lowered in order to be placed on the top of the mandrel. In the winding step, the winding speed Vr at which the glass tube is wound around the mandrel is higher than the moving speed Vs at which chuck units holding the ends of the glass tube move toward the mandrel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventors: Tatsuhiro Yabuki, Noriyuki Uchida, Takayuki Iwasaki, Shiro Iida
  • Patent number: 6812173
    Abstract: Lighting glass containing 0.3 to 1.0% by weight of Sb as Sb2O3 and 0.5 to 1.0% by weight of S as SO3 in a SiO2—Al2O3—R1O—R22O-based glass (where R1 represents Ca, Sr, Mg and Ba and R2 represents Na, K and Li) in which colloids comprising SbS2 and/or Sb2S3 are generated in the glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2004
    Assignee: Nipro Corporation
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6769276
    Abstract: Apparatus for shaping a selected end region of a hollow cylindrical glass tube includes an internal mold placed within the selected end region for supporting the walls of the tube and controlling the shape of the internal surface of selected end region of the tube, during the period of time heat is applied to the tube and the tube is being shaped. In one embodiment the internal mold has a variable configuration and may be selectively set to an extended (open) configuration or to a collapsed (closed) configuration. With the internal mold set to its extended configuration, sufficient heat may be applied to the selected end region to render it malleable. Then, compression forces may be applied to the exterior surface of the tube to press the inner surface of the selected end region of the tube against the outer surface of the internal mold, causing the inner surface of the selected end region to conform to the outer surface of the internal mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2004
    Assignee: Avaya Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Jason A. Kay, David S. Kerr, Peter M. Mueller, Ivan Pawlenko, Larry Samson
  • Patent number: 6766662
    Abstract: There are provided a method of manufacturing a glass part for connecting optical fibers, which allows insertion of optical fibers into the internal hole of the glass part smoothly, and glass parts for connecting optical fibers manufactured using the method. Predetermined parts of a glass tube having an internal hole are heated while pressure is applied into the internal hole, to expand the predetermined parts, thus forming tapered portions. As a result, a continuous curved surface can be achieved at the boundary between each tapered portion of each obtained glass part and the internal hole thereof, and the surface can be made smooth where the tapers are formed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2004
    Assignee: Nippon Sheet Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Morishita, Katsuya Kamisaku, Toshiaki Mizuno
  • Publication number: 20040129030
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of making a glass tube. In the method, a diameter expanding member is inserted through a hole in a tubular glass blank so as to expand the diameter of the hole while the temperature of the glass blank is controlled to be more than or equal to the softening point. The tubular glass blank may be a purchased product or a self-made product. In the above-mentioned method of making a glass tube, the diameter of the hole in the glass blank may be expanded while at least the rear end of the diameter expanding member is supported. The diameter of the hole in the glass blank may be expanded while both ends of the diameter-expanding member are supported. The present invention also relates to an apparatus for manufacturing a glass tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventors: Haruyoshi Tanada, Motonori Nakamura, Yuichi Ohga, Tadashi Enomoto, Masaaki Hirano, Masashi Onishi, Kazuyuki Soma, Tomomi Moriya, Eiji Yanada
  • Publication number: 20040129026
    Abstract: In order to avoid deposition of evaporating alkali compounds on an inner surface of a hollow glass body during thermal processing to form a glass container from the hollow glass body, an overpressure is provided in the hollow glass body during the thermal processing. Either rinsing the hollow glass body with a gas, such as air, or at least partially closing the glass body at one end so that sufficiently rapid pressure equilibration is avoided, can provide this overpressure. The glass containers made by these methods are especially suited for food or pharmaceuticals because they have a reduced alkali release from their inner surfaces, for example at most about 2.0 mg/l sodium oxide.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2003
    Publication date: July 8, 2004
    Inventor: Reiner Bartsch
  • Publication number: 20040045322
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a linearly or non-linearly tapered bore, with minor undulations within the bore wall, in vitreous tubing includes a laser and elements for focusing the laser onto the vitreous tubing. The vitreous tubing is rotated in the laser beam and is moved in the laser beam to provide a taper in the interior bore. The power of the laser beam is controlled and a lens, to provide a desired width of the beam at the vitreous tubing to produce the desired features, appropriately focuses the laser beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventor: Griffin Stephen
  • Publication number: 20040045319
    Abstract: A method for opening or sealing glass ampoules (38) by melting the glass with the help of a jet (36) of a hot medium, characterized in that the medium is an atmospheric plasma, produced by an electric discharge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Publication date: March 11, 2004
    Inventors: Joachim Schussler, Peter Fornsel, Christian Buske
  • Publication number: 20040025539
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for cutting glass tubes, characterised by the following steps: a glass strand is drawn; a heating device is driven synchronously with the glass strand and is directed towards the region of a desired separation point; the glass strand is drawn in the region of the desired separation point; a separation device is driven synchronously with the glass strand; the separation device is actuated in such a way that it severs the glass strand at the desired separation point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2003
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Erich Fischer, Alexander Hummer, Volker Trinks, Rupert Fehr, Alfons Wolfrum, Markus Reindl, Gottfried Haas, Andre Witzmann, Ulla Trinks, Hubertus Kramer, Klaus Rustler
  • Patent number: 6684664
    Abstract: A process for manufacture of a component made of opaque synthetic quartz glass, and a quartz glass tube manufactured according to said process. The process comprises (i) providing a starting material in the form of granulated material of highly pure, synthetic SiO2 comprising at least partially porous agglomerates of SiO2 primary particles, the granulated material having a compacted bulk density of no less than 0.8 g/cm3, (ii) filling the granulated material into a mold and converting it to an opaque quartz glass preform through a process of melting, and (iii) reshaping the preform in a heat reshaping process to obtain a component made of opaque quartz glass. A quartz glass tube is made of quartz glass consisting of a granulated material of synthetic SiO2 with a lithium content of no more than 100 wt-ppb, and the wall thickness of said component being in the range of 0.5 mm to 15 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2004
    Assignee: Heraeus Quarzglas GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Waltraud Werdecker, Udo Gertig, Johann Leist, Helmut Leber
  • Publication number: 20040000169
    Abstract: A method of making glass tubing includes assembling together a first glass rod having at least one bore and a second glass rod having at least one bore to form a single glass unit, shaping an outer surface of the glass unit to a desired cross-section, and drawing the glass unit to form a glass tubing having a predetermined outer and inner dimension.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2002
    Publication date: January 1, 2004
    Inventors: James Gerard Fagan, David J. Gokey, Nikki J. Russo
  • Publication number: 20030182967
    Abstract: A flat elliptic thin glass tube for a discharge tube is produced by the following steps: (a) a cylindrical glass tube is hermetically sealed; (b) the cylindrical glass tube is heated and deformed in a mold by an increased internal pressure of the glass tube caused by the heating of the glass tube to form a flat elliptic glass tube, the mold having means for defining at least the minor axis of the flat elliptic glass tube; and (c) the flat elliptic glass tube is heated and drawn to form the flat elliptic thin glass tube.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: October 2, 2003
    Applicant: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Akira Tokai, Hitoshi Yamada, Manabu Ishimoto, Kenji Awamoto, Tsutae Shinoda
  • Publication number: 20030121916
    Abstract: Lighting glass containing 0.3 to 1.0% by weight of Sb as Sb2O3 and 0.5 to 1.0% by weight of S as SO3 in a SiO2—Al2O3—R1O—R22O-based glass (where R1 represents Ca, Sr, Mg and Ba and R2 represents Na, K and Li) in which colloids comprising SbS2 and/or Sb2S3 are generated in the glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2002
    Publication date: July 3, 2003
    Inventor: Yoshihisa Ishihara
  • Patent number: 6568216
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a discharge tube, including heating a quartz tube by irradiation and closing it shut, is presented, in which variation of the heating temperature of the quartz tube can be reduced. Laser light is irradiated on a portion of the quartz tube, and in the step of sealing the portion of the quartz tube onto which laser light has been irradiated, the laser light is scanned while oscillating back and forth. The intensity of the laser light is controlled such that the intensity of the laser light when the size of a displacement of the laser light is maximal is smaller than the intensity of the laser light when the size of the displacement of the laser light is minimal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Meguro, Masaji Sakamoto, Kenji Hirai, Motomi Sakoda
  • Patent number: 6568217
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fluorescent lamp that can achieve stable luminous characteristics and discharge characteristics and also does not suffer from cracks in the interconnected portion of the glass tubes while handling or lighting the fluorescent lamp is provided. Interconnecting portions located in the vicinity of open end portions of glass tubes that are positioned adjacent to each other are heated respectively from inside to form a welding portion, and then, the glass tubes are thrust against each other and thinned by conducting a preliminary tapping of the welding portion from inside using hammers. Next, the welding portion is opened by conducting a main tapping to form an interconnected portion, and end portions in the vicinity of the interconnected portion are closed by heating and melting, and then the end portions are molded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2003
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyoshi Sudou, Masahiro Takeuchi, Kazumasa Koyabashi