Abstract: Method for bending a plastic pipe including arranging a bending portion of a plastic pipe in a heating zone of a heater and performing contactless local heating of the bending portion, wherein the heater is adapted to provide a first predetermined temperature difference between a neutral zone of the bending portion and a compression zone of the bending portion and a second predetermined temperature difference between the neutral zone and the compression zone of the bending area and an expansion zone of the bending area, introducing bending forces on holding regions arranged on the plastic pipe at a distance from the bending area and/or introducing bending forces on the bending area for deforming the plastic pipe into a deformation position and cooling the plastic pipe in the deformation position.

Abstract: An optical waveguide comprising a core and a clad characterized in that a desired part is heated and transited to machining strain release state, the part transited to the machining strain release state is curved with a specified bending radius and transited to machining strain state. That part of the optical waveguide is heated to a temperature within a range between the bending point and softening point and transited to machining strain state. The optical waveguide is an optical fiber having the outer diameter not shorter than 50 ?m. The optical waveguide has the outer diameter not shorter than ten times of the mode field diameter of the optical waveguide. The optical waveguide has a bending radius of 5.0 mm or less and difference equivalent of refractive index &Dgr;1 between the core and clad falls within a range of 0.8-3.5%.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming glass coiled tubes from a source of glass in which a molten glass thread is drawn, and a method for forming glass coiled tubes. The apparatus has a shaping mandrel having a first end and an opposing second end, having a desired shape for receiving around it the molten glass thread such that when the thread is drawn about the desired shape, a formed coil is developed that essentially takes a desired shape from the shaping mandrel; a block simultaneously applies the newly formed coil to the back of the formed tube and moves the formed tube in a direction towards the second end in response to the additional molten glass thread drawn to the coil; a hook engages the molten glass thread and a rotating motor rotates the hook.

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.

Abstract: A process for bending tempered glass. The process involves adhering two sheets of tempered glass in overlying relation and positioning a containment barrier such as vinyl sheets over the adhered unit. The glass is fractured and the unit manipulated into a desired shape. Once the adhesion has set, the vinyl is removed.

Abstract: A device for manufacturing a spiral fluorescent tube is disclosed. The device includes a rod aerially supported in a first predetermined direction; a first clamp supporting a straight fluorescent tube in a second direction which is at right angles to the first predetermined direction; heating device for heating a part of the straight fluorescent tube, which is not facing the rod, to a glass softening temperature; two second clamps disposed in a direction parallel to the rod for clamping ends of the straight fluorescent tube; and device for winding the straight fluorescent tube around the rod by rotating the two second clamps in opposite directions to each other around an axis of the rod while shifting the two second clamps away from each other in a direction parallel to the first predetermined direction.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method in a sequential bending furnace for bending glass sheets. According to the method, carriages are advanced in the furnace into a section downstream in the traveling direction of the carriages for a subsequent bending cycle essentially by using at least two transfer assemblies, providing a transfer mechanism and including first and second locking elements which are in a transfer-force transmitting relationship during the course of a transfer. This is followed by disengaging the locking elements and then transfer and locking rods included in the transfer assemblies are returned to a transfer commencing position in such a manner that at least one transfer assembly is in a locking position during transfers.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for coiling fluorescent tubes, so that the tubes may be placed within a bulb. The apparatus includes a rotatable turntable having a plurality of ovens thereon. Each oven has a lever to enable the oven to be opened for placement of a fluorescent tube therein. A piston/cylinder assembly is mounted in proximity to the rotatable turntable and can selectively engage one of the levers for opening the corresponding oven. A ratchet assembly is provided for selectively rotating the turntable into positions where the piston/cylinder assembly in contact one of the levers and open the respective oven. A tube coiling screw is disposed in proximity to the turntable to enable coiling of a fluorescent tube thereabout after sufficient heating in one of the ovens.

Abstract: A capillary flow cell in which a capillary (9) partially extends along the optical path of the cell and has its two end portions (12, 13) bent to achieve an essentially Z-shaped configuration. A template (1) has a central bore (2) in which the middle part (11) of the capillary (9) is positioned. A method of manufacture of this capillary flow cell including inserting a capillary in a central bore of a template, heating the capillary immediately outside the bore to soften the capillary material, and bending the two ends to achieve an essentially Z-shaped or U-shaped configuration.

Abstract: A glass tube bending apparatus according to the present invention includes a drum for bending a heated/softened glass tube into a circular shape, a first driving device, coupled to the drum, for moving the drum straight, and a second driving device, coupled to the drum, for rotating the drum in a direction, and a control for independently controlling the rotating speed and the moving speed of the drum. According to this apparatus, the operation speeds of rotating and moving of the drum can be controlled independently. Therefore, distortion of glass tubes can be decreased, and thermal bending of tubes can be performed with high precision. Further, various sorts of glass tubes can be treated. Still further, since the first driving device and the second driving device are operated in synchronism, the precision of the thermal bending of glass tubes is enhanced.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping a tube into circle includes a dummy rod to be engaged to a rear end of the tube for constituting an extention of the tube and a support for supporting the combination of the tube and the dummy rod so that the combination is movable toward the front end of the tube. The support initially supports the tube section of the combination and finally supports the dummy rod section of the combination. A heater is located in front of the support for locally softening the tube. A turning arm is coupled at its free end to the front end of the tube for pulling the tube along a circle around the axis of the other end of the turning arm so that the tube is shaped into a circle defined by the turning movement of the turning arm. A motor moves the combination ahead.

Abstract: To prevent weakened corners when forming a U-shaped discharge tube with sharp corners (28, 29) during a bending operation from a straight tube, two glass tubes (1, 3) having a wall dimension suitable for a compact fluorescent tube are fused to a central tubular glass element (2) of thicker wall dimension so that, upon bending into U-shape with sharp corners (28, 29), the thicker wall portion can stretch and form the essentially right-angle corners of requisite wall thickness. Preferably, during the heating steps for forming the glass, the initially straight glass portions (1, 2, 3) are rotated.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing bends in optical bends in optical fibers comprising a pair of plates hingedly connected along one edge of each of the plates so that the plates may lie in face-to-face contact and may be hingedly separated, means defining a cavity between the plates when in face-to-face contact, the cavity having two portions for receiving lengths of a fiber on opposite sides of a bend to be formed, the portions being joined at an apex section, means defining an opening into the cavity at the apex section, a fiber channel in each of the portions, the fiber channels being mounted in the portions for relative movement in the cavity to a desired bend angle while the apex of the desired angle is positioned at the opening in the apex section, and pulling means for acting on an optical fiber in the channels when the plates are in face-to-face contact and thereby positioning a fiber at the desired angle whereby the apex of the bend of the fiber is accessible through the opening; several variations of the a

Abstract: A curved discharge tube is manufactured by preparing a straight quartz tube having an eccentric longitudinal opening and then bending the heated tube into a current tube with a thicker waall portion of the tube on the outside and the thinner wall portion on the inner side. It is advantageous to seal inner gas into the tube before bending so as to obtain a curved tube having uniform wall thickness.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending a glass tube to a U shape having a pair of chucks for holding the glass tube at both sides, a heating device for heating and softening the glass tube held by the chucks at the predetermined zone for bending, and a turning mechanism for the chucks. The turning centers of the turning mechanism are set each at positions located at a predetermined distance inwardly from an axis of the unbent glass tube held by the chucks. The distance between the turning centers is less than the distance between the axes of straight zones of the glass tube formed after bending. There is also a bending drum for guiding bending, which drum moves forwardly and backwardly into and away from the predetermined zone for bending of the glass tube.

Abstract: A fluorescent lamp of high brightness and compact size is provided by forming the envelope from vitreous tubing that is bent upon itself in such a manner that the envelope has either five or seven U-shaped sections which are disposed in tridimensional array and define a single convoluted discharge channel. The U-shaped sections are so oriented that the tubular legs of the U's are positioned in side-by-side columnar relationship with each other and the sealed ends of the tubing are located adjacent one another. The lamp thus has an arc length that is more than six or eight times as long as the overall height dimension of the convoluted envelope and generates light in a very efficient manner.

Abstract: A pattern table for forming of heated glass tubing such as neon light tubing according to a prescribed flat pattern. The table includes three support surfaces: a first for holding the pattern; a second light transmitting plate held directly over the pattern; and a third light transmitting screen supported on a top surface of the plate. Heated glass tubing can rest against the screen and be formed according to a pattern viewed through the screen and glass plate. The pattern is insulated from the heated glass tubing being formed. The heated glass tubing in turn is isolated from the heat absorbing glass plate by an interposed air space within the screen structure.

Abstract: An elongated envelope for a fluorescent light bulb is held at each of its ends, and heated to a degree by which it is bendable. The ends are then moved relatively to each other in a path by which they are turned inwardly in opposition to each other and toward the center portion of the envelope while being directed out of the plane of the center portion to in part overly the center portion.

Abstract: A system for manufacturing lamp tubes formed in a circular configuration features a plurality of carrier devices attached to a transfer apparatus which links a lamp-tube-softening apparatus, a bending apparatus and an exhaust apparatus, respectively, in an endless or continuous manner. Each carrier device which receives and holds a sealed lamp tube from a supply source or station can thus return to its starting position after completing its passage around the lamp-tube-softening apparatus, the bending apparatus and the exhaust apparatus, respectively.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a tubular lamp envelope for a fluorescent lamp in which a glass tube is softened by heating, bent around abending jig by means of bending members and then cooled until the material of the tube has solidified. During the solidification the tube assumes a horizontal position and the cooperation of the bending members with the tube is interrupted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a torus-shaped lamp envalope in which a straight tube is softened by heating and is then bent in a vertical plane around a bending mould and is again cooled after which the cooperation of the still slightly soft tube with the bending mould is interrupted as soon as the tube is supported by a supporting member.The invention further relates to a fluorescent lamp having a lamp envelope thus shaped, as well as a device for carrying out the method.