Abstract: A surface of a ceramic article, such as a glazed surface on a whiteware article, is treated with radiant energy such as infrared light from a laser to provide a localized remelting of the material at the surface in a fusing step. After the fusing step, the surface is treated with further radiant energy, desirably over a larger surface encompassing the fused zone and also desirably at a lower power density so as to limit the rate of cooling of the fusion zone and the immediately surrounding regions, thereby preventing thermal stress cracking. The fusion zone and surrounding regions desirably are preheated by additional radiant energy immediately prior to the fusing step so as to further limit thermal stresses during the fusing step. The process can be employed, among many other uses, for repair of glaze defects and for decoration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for simultaneously preheating cullet and removing pollutants from glass furnace gases is disclosed. Raw moist cullet having fine glass dust material and other impurities adhered to its surface is heated by furnace gases which remove the moisture and the impurities by entrainment. The dry, clean cullet is then electrically charged and used to filter the exhaust gases which have been electrostatically charged.

Abstract: A laser ablation mask repair method. Defects (holes) are located in a dielectric mask. The surface of the mask above the defect is melted with a CO.sub.2 laser to form a depression in the surface. The depression forms a lens which diffuses ablation laser energy instead of transmitting it. Thus, the ablation laser is prevented from ablating a polymer ablation layer, because the holes are blocked and, the mask is repaired. The method may also be used to make Engineering Changes (EC) laser ablation masks.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preheating material in a glass melting furnace is provided. An indirect heat exchanger is utilized in which exhaust gases from the glass melting furnace are directed, in a counter flow relation, to raw materials and glass cullet being fed into a glass melting furnace. A first conduit is connected to the heat exchanger to withdraw gases formed from the decomposition of organic matter present in the materials being preheated and the gases are directed by the conduit into the glass melting furnace where they are combusted. A second conduit may also be provided for extracting water vapor released from the preheated materials prior to decomposition of the organic material.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for cracking off glass attached to, or comprising a portion of, the constricted end (neck) of the glass funnel component of a glass cathode ray tube and thereafter sealing a replacement glass neck component to the funnel component. A gauge and sensor mechanism are used to produce a signal representative of the location of a defined plane through the funnel. This signal is sent to a central processing unit which controls the apparatus so that the cracking off of the old neck and subsequent sealing of the new neck take place at that defined plane. In this way, the individual method steps are integrated into an automated process.

Abstract: Process for the formation of a removable surface area of a specific depth on a substrate with all coatings seated on the surface of the substrate, wherein a layer of a material, thin as related to the substrate, with a thermal expansion coefficient strongly deviating as compared with the substrate, is bonded to the substrate at one temperature and is subsequently cooled to another temperature.

Abstract: The process and apparatus of the present invention enable the production of glass fiber product from scrap glass fibers. The process includes: feeding the scrap glass fibers having an average length up to around 12 inches to a glass melting tank having a pool of molten fiberizable glass, melting the scrap glass fibers without the presence of non-vitrified glass forming materials in an oxidizing environment, conditioning the melt to a formable viscosity, and forming the glass fiber from the conditioned melt where for a given glass fiber product there is a near constant pull of the melted glass from the melter. The rate of feeding of the scrap glass to the melter is sufficient to maintain the pool of melted glass with a level within the range of .+-.0.35 inch (9 mm.) over a period of eight hours. The scrap glass fibers have a similar fiberizable inorganic composition to that of the desired glass fiber product and generally include fibers with organic-containing sizes and/or coatings.

Abstract: A apparatus for simultaneously preheating cullet and removing pollutants from glass furnace gases is disclosed. Raw moist cullet having fine glass dust material and other impurities adhered to its surface is heated by furnace gases which remove the moisture and the impurities by entrainment. The dry, clean cullet is then electrically charged and used to filter the exhaust gases which have been electrostatically charged.

Abstract: Apparatus for windshield glass repair is provided. A cylinder having internal chambers is equipped with a piston head plunger at a top end and has a mounting device at a bottom end for securing a tight seal over a crack in a windshield. The withdrawal of the plunger creates a vacuum and allows for air to be pulled out of the crack, while a side stem in communication with the cylinder allows resin filler material to be introduced and forced into the crack. Air pressure is equalized by opening the side stem, whereupon the plunger can be depressed to force the resin filler into the crack. The mounting supports allow for quick connect and disconnect of the cylinder. The side stem obviates the necessity of removing the cylinder for re-filling of resin material whereby any length crack can be repaired without breaking the tight seal on the crack.

Abstract: An improved method preheating cullet and glass batch together for use as feedstock for a glass furnace. The method uses a preheater including a separator and a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger is a direct contact raining bed in which large particles in the feedstock are heated by hot gases as the particles flow down by gravity and fine particles become entrained with the hot gas flow. The separator removes the fine particles entrained in the hot gases and remixes preheated the fine particles with the preheated cullet. Preheater systems are described in which the hot gasses are provided by the glass furnace exhaust, by a separately fired heater, by a separately fired heater combined with the glass furnace exhaust and by a separately fired heater with exhaust gas recirculation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method which provides for controlled melting of both components of coal-ash, as well as the melting of selected additives, the melted coal-ash with additive being immediately available to a conventional fiberizing spinner stage. An arc furnace provides a shallow vat for molten pig iron. A first chute allows for introduction of coal-ash into the vat, and a second chute allows for the introduction of selected additives into the vat. The molten pig iron quickly melts any coal-ash and additive entering the vat, and the molten coal-ash/additive thereupon spreads out across the surface of the molten pig iron (the molten pig iron having a much higher specific gravity). In order to ensure that the molten coal-ash/additive has a predetermined fluidity at an adjacent spinner stage, the furnace is provided with a specially structured spout located above the spinner stage.

Abstract: A method and composition for coating scored regions or holes in glass articles prior to heat treatment in order to maintain residual compressive stresses and reduce venting are disclosed. The method and composition of the present invention utilize silica-containing sols which gel and density and ultimately form glassy films during the heat treatment of the coated glass articles.

Abstract: A process of surface-treating a laser glass is disclosed which comprises coating a specific sol solution obtained by hydrolysis and partial polycondensation of a mixture containing a metal alcoholate on the glass surface and heating the coated glass to form a glassy coating, wherein the glass surface may be treated, prior to the coating, with an alkali aqueous solution and with an aqueous solution of phosphoric acid in sequence, or the coating and the heating may repeated to form a double- or multilayer of the same or different kind of glassy coatings. The thus treated laser glass has increased thermal shock resistance and water resistance.

Abstract: A method of, and apparatus for, repairing mechanical and/or chemical damage to the surface of glass bottles destined for re-use. A bottle to be repaired is brought to a temperature in the region of the transformation point of the glass of the bottle, its surface is thermally treated with laser beams, and during the treatment the bottle surface is linearly scanned with the laser beams while rotating the bottle about its longitudinal axis to repair the surface. The apparatus comprises a laser source and optical means for directing the laser beam generated by the laser source onto the surface of a bottle being treated.

Abstract: A method for repairing fine leaks in the envelope of hermetically sealed packages is accomplished by using a liquid silicate and solvent mixture which is liquid well below the melting point of glass and which leaves a silicate patch after the solvent is removed.

Abstract: A plurality of open trenches or sluices is suspended from the underside of the forming floor of a glass factory to register with the lower, discharge ends of hot gob reject or cullet chutes. Each sluice is suspended with one end higher than the other, and with their lower, discharge ends communicating with one end of a large quenching tank, which is mounted on the floor beneath the forming floor. The tank contains a supply of cooling water, which is continuously pumped to the upper ends of the sluices, so that as hot gobs drop from the chutes into the sluices they are immersed in the cooling water and travel by gravity with the cooling water downwardly in the sluices to the quenching tank. A conveyor in the tank transports the cullet through the cooling water to a discharge point adjacent the opposite end of the tank. The bottom of each sluice is generally V-shaped in configuration so that frictional engagement of the hot cullet with opposite sides of a sluice is minimized.

Abstract: A method of reclaiming chemically coated glass scrap is disclosed. The scrap is introduced into the oxidizing atmosphere of a hydrocarbon-fuel fired glass melting furnace. Some of the glass is melted with the unmelted portion being melted with the glass batch as it moves through the furnace.

Abstract: A process for feeding scrap glass to a glass melting furnace is disclosed. The scrap glass is fed onto a blanket of batch in the furnace so that organics are burned off before the scrap melts.

Abstract: This invention relates to applying a protective composition to the vicinity of a scored region of a glass sheet. The scored region is weakened and develops vents as a result of the scoring. Such vents are likely to develop breakage when the glass sheet is subjected to a thermal treatment associated with tempering. The application of the protective composition is made before the glass sheet is subjected to thermal processing by heating to above its strain point followed by rapid cooling below its strain point. The protective composition flows at a lower temperature than the glass sheet to which it is applied and is capable of healing the scored region during the thermal treatment to which the glass sheet is subjected after the application of said protective composition, thereby reducing the tendency of a vent to develop into glass breakage during said thermal treatment.

Abstract: A process and a product made by the process for producing black glass from incinerated municipal waste including separating metal, stone and ash from the waste; melting the glass material comprising ferrous oxide and ferric oxide to convert at least a portion of the iron oxides to Fe.sub.3 O.sub.4, thereby causing the black coloration; and thereafter solidifying the molten glass.

Abstract: In a glass melting operation, cullet is employed as a particulate emissions collector. Cullet of a selected size is contacted with exhaust gases in a gas/solid contact vessel wherein particulates are deposited onto the cullet. Double screening of cullet is employed to avoid introducing cullet dust to the gas stream. Electrostatic means may be employed to enhance particulate collection in the bed of cullet.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for recycling scrap glass is disclosed. Removing the binder and preheating the scrap are carried out in one operation. The resulting cleaned, preheated scrap then may be fed directly into a conventional glass melting furnace.

Abstract: A glassware-making apparatus has a premold adapted to make a parison and a final mold spaced from the premold and adapted to receive and blow-mold the parison. An arm removes the parison from the premold and displaces it along a path to the final mold. A scrap chute can be displaced by a controller into a position intercepting this path to catch the parison and divert it to a recycle/scrap bin when the controller detects a malfunction at the final mold or downstream therefrom.

Abstract: A process is provided for employing scrap glass (cullet) having an organic coating thereon in an overall process wherein molten-glass forming ingredients are converted into agglomerates and the agglomerates preheated to an elevated temperature prior to melting in a glass melting furnace. The organic coating is pyrolized, i.e., thermally decarbonized, during the preheating of the agglomerates.

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of glass is disclosed. Dried glass batch agglomerates are used as the media in an electrified filter bed, preheated with furnace exhaust gases, and then fed to a glass melting furnace. Exhaust gases from the preheating are electrically charged and passed through the electrified bed of agglomerates to remove glass batch particulate from the spent gases.

Abstract: A method for imparting increased mechanical strength to a glass object having imperfections in a surface thereof. The glass object is heated to a temperature above the strain point of the glass. A laser beam is generated having a wavelength absorbable by the glass and impinged on all portions of the surface containing the imperfections. The power density at which the beam is impinged is sufficient to rapidly heat a surface stratum of the glass to establish a thermal gradient therein whereby the viscosity at a depth from the surface sufficient to encompass the imperfections is low enough that the stress induced by the surface tension of the glass at the sites of the imperfections is sufficient to cause flow of glass and effect a reforming of the glass surface at said sites.

Abstract: A process for preheating glass batch ingredients is disclosed. The invention uses a heat exchange method that employs furnace exhaust gases. The exhaust gases are electrically charged and passed through an electrified bed of heat transfer media to remove particulate from the gases. The gases heat the media while the media scrubs the gases. The heated media then is used to preheat glass batch which is fed to a glass melting furnace.

Abstract: Molten waste glass and rejected hot glass bottles from glass moulding processes are flattened in an apparatus comprising two rollers independently driven for rotation in opposing directions and having a gap therebetween through which the hot glass fed to the apparatus can be flattened, the two rollers being urged towards each other in normal operation at least one of the rollers being pivotally mounted. In order to prevent jamming of the apparatus there are provided means for swinging the pivotally mounted roller away from its normal operating position in the event of a foreign object being accidentally dropped into the apparatus and in the event of a power failure. Also there may be provided with a cam such that by rotation of the cam the pivotally mounted roller can be moved and the normal operating gap between the rollers altered. The gap between the rollers can be altered according to the rate of glass feed, the nature of glass fed to the apparatus and the required size of cullet granules.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for remelting scrap glass fibers is disclosed. The removal of binder and remelting of the scrap are carried out in one operation, and the resulting molten scrap fibers are fed directly into a conventional glass melting furnace. Granular raw glass batch also is fed into the glass melting furnace.

Abstract: A method and system for quenching, drying, and elevating glass compositions comprising an incline reciprocating conveyor arranged to receive a stream of molten glass. The reciprocating conveyor has deep side and lower end walls in order to hold a pool of quenching liquid which is constantly replenished. The reciprocating action of the incline conveyor moves the quenched and shattered glass up out of the quenching pool to the higher end of the conveyor where it is drained and then delivered to a second conveyor. The second conveyor preferably comprises a helical vibrating conveyor surrounded by infrared heaters. The infrared heaters can be adjusted to supply just enough heat to the shattered glass on a helical vibrating conveyor surface to provide drying of the glass.

Abstract: A receiver for waste molten glass, which automatically dumps the glass as cullet in lump or fragment form. The receiver comprises primarily a hopper or bin, with a central partition which divides the hopper into two compartments. The hopper or bin is pivotally mounted for reciprocating pivotal movement about a horizontal line in the plane of the partition such that the compartments formed on either side of the partition are alternately faced upwardly to receive molten glass and cooling water. Molten glass gobs, thus cooled, and water weight that side of the hopper in which they are received, thus causing it to pivot downwardly and thereby to dump cooled cullet in lump form while the alternative compartment is faced upwardly to receive subsequently poured waste molten glass and water until the weight of material in that compartment causes reverse pivotal movement and dumping. The hopper is triangular in vertical cross section, as are the partitioned compartments thereof.

Abstract: A method of preparing molten glass in a melting tank of the continuous type by utilizing, as part of the ingredients, waste glass which may be either pulverized cullet of chopped glass fiber and may comprise an organic substance detrimental to the color or other properties of the molten glass. The waste glass and other raw materials are fed to molten glass in the tank continuously but separately such that the waste glass is remelted without contacting the unmelted raw materials and that remelting of the waste glass is preceded by burning of any organic substance possibly adhered to the waste glass fed to the tank and dissipation of the resultant combustion gas.

Abstract: A glass break apparatus and method includes a pedestal which forms an airtight seal to a syringe and to the glass over the break. The flange on the pedestal enables the gripping and sealing.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for processing waste glass strands and/or fibrous filaments which are produced in the course of operating a glass fiber forming plant for subsequent reuse as batch ingredients for a glass fiber forming process. The method described involves controlled thermal treatment of the waste glass strands and/or filaments to produce particulate glass which can be recycled to a fiber glass forming furnace. The reprocessing of waste glass strands and/or filaments reduces substantially the raw material cost involved in feeding glass batch ingredients to a glass fiber forming operation. Apparatus for accomplishing the reprocessing of the waste glass filaments and/or strands in accordance with the method disclosed is also described.

Abstract: A process for disintegrating material containing alkali-alkali earth silie for yielding alkali silicate or alkali carbonate solutions and materials having a large specific surface is characterized in that a material containing silicate is crushed and subsequently is treated in an autoclave at a temperature in excess of 100.degree. C, preferably in excess of 130.degree. C, with a solution containing alkali carbonate.

Abstract: Process for recovery of glass from municipal waste, comprising shredding the waste, subjecting the shredded waste containing the glass to treatment in an air classifier, recovering the overhead including glass from the air classifier, the latter being operated under conditions such that the major portion of the glass particles contained in such overhead are of a fineness smaller than about 6 mesh, and usually of a size such that a substantial portion of such glass particles are less than about 20 mesh, screening such overhead fraction and recovering an enriched glass fraction of the aforementioned fineness, subjecting the screened glass-enriched material to treatment on an air table, and recovering a fine glass product of substantially reduced organic content, and having a particle size less than about 6 mesh, with a substantial portion less than about 20 mesh.

Abstract: Method for reducing the likelihood of cathode ray tube glass bulb and bulb component fracture which are caused by temperature cycling in the cathode ray tube manufacturing process and which are associated with defects in the glass. Temperature gradients between glass exterior surfaces and glass interior, arising during cooling, are locally reduced. In a preferred embodiment, a thermal insulator is applied prior to or during cooling, over a defect and its vicinity in order to locally reduce the rate of surface cooling and thus locally reduce the cooling-induced surface tensile forces. An improved component-in-process is depicted which has a reduced susceptibility to thermally induced fracture.

Abstract: This disclosure depicts, for use in salvaging parts from a color television cathode ray tube of the type having a glass bulb comprising an approximately rectangular, flangeless, curved faceplate and a funnel having a convex seal land, a novel method for separating the funnel and the faceplate. The funnel seal land mates with a concave rear surface of the faceplate to define a contoured sealing interface. The faceplate is sealed to the funnel with a frit material located at the sealing interface.

Abstract: Method for reducing the likelihood of cathode ray tube glass bulb and bulb component fracture caused by temperature cycling during tube salvage. The depicted salvage method includes heating and then cooling the exterior surfaces of a glass front panel and glass funnel to be separated, thus producing a temperature gradient between the front panel extreme border and more remote inner portions of the front panel extreme border. This temperature gradient causes circumferential tension at the front panel extreme border. The circumferential tension is reduced to thus lessen, the likelihood of front panel fracture by applying, prior to or during, said cooling, a thermal insulator over the front panel extreme border and vicinity so as to locally reduce the rate of glass surface cooling.

Abstract: The invention provides for repairing a crack in a pane of plate glass caused by the impact of a hard object without removing the glass from its location by cutting out a section from the glass surrounding the crack and replacing it with a disc of a similar sheet of glass.

Abstract: A sensor laterally scans a glass ribbon, while it is advanced on a molten metal confined by a bath, by laser beam to detect an unmelted extraneous substance floating on the glass ribbon generating an electrical signal representative of the presence of the extraneous substance. Heating means, which is positioned in the vicinity of the exit of the bath, is automatically energized in response to the signal to prevent cracking of the glass ribbon due to the extraneous substance when it is picked up from the bath to roller conveyors of a lehr.

Abstract: Continuous inorganic fibers such as glass fibers are made by drawing molten material from orifices in the bottom of a refractory bushing. Occasionally during operation one or more tips will become clogged by unmelted particles in the molten material. These clogged tips will no longer produce a continuous fiber, but instead drip causing defects and breakouts which must be corrected. In the past, several methods have been tried to plug off these clogged tips, but none have been successful. The present invention involves a method of plugging a clogged tip while the bushing is at an elevated temperature using a small refractory plug. The present invention permits the bushing to be operated for its normal life thus producing a significant improvement in operating costs.

Abstract: Scrap glass is crushed and mixed with selected quantities of ball clay and wollastonite, the resulting raw-mix is press-molded into a green compact, and the latter is fired in air at a temperature above the softening point of the glass particles to provide a ceramic article that has a dense impervious structure and is electrically non-conductive. Selective amounts of bentonite and an inorganic pigment can also be included in the raw-mix formulation and talc, petalite or potter's flint can be substituted for the wollastonite. By properly correlating the molding pressure and firing schedule with the raw-mix formulation, the ceramic articles can be rapidly and economically mass-produced in various shapes and sizes.