Abstract: A method and apparatus for coating optical transmission glass fibers with a resinous composition. A vessel is provided through which a glass fiber is drawn. While it is being drawn through the vessel, the fiber is spun, and a resin coating is applied. In order to maintain the air pressure within the vessel fairly constant, an exhaust vent is provided through which excess particles of the resinous composition may escape. Turbulence is thus substantially reduced preventing the fiber from swinging and allowing the particles to be sprayed smoothly. Further, the particles may be electrically charged so that they are both attracted to the optical fiber and repel one another during flight. The invention employs both of these features to produce a uniform coat on an optical transmission glass fiber.

Abstract: An enclosure for sealing components is sealed by a tubulation member having narrowed cross-sectional width in one dimension. The narrowed dimension serves to minimize stresses at the tubulation interface when the enclosure is sealed by pinching the tubulation member. This allows a large tubulation member to be used and pinched-off closer than possible with a rounded tube.

Abstract: A hot melt optical fiber coating comprising a thermoplastic rubber block copolymer reduces microbending losses over a wide service temperature range, typically down to at least -40 degrees Celsius, while obtaining an upper temperature limit of at least 90 degrees Celsius. The processing properties, including shelf life, cure rate, and toughness, are superior to typical prior art materials, such as silicones. The inventive coating can be used as the inner coating of a dual-layer coated fiber or as a single coating layer.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical fiber is described, wherein a fiber that has been drawn from a glass preform is coaed with a resin composition curable with heat, ultraviolet rays, or electron beams, and then cured, wherein before the drawn fiber contacts another solid object, the fiber is cooled by being passed through a cooling means filled with a non-reactive liquid material which is the same as said resin composition except that it is free from any compound that catalyzes curing of the resin, selected from among a curing agent, a cross-linking agent, curing catalyst, curing accelerator, sensitizing agent and a reactive diluent, and then the fiber is coated and with said resin composition and cured.

Abstract: Hollow shell laser fusion targets, such as glass microballoons, are filled with gases of the type which do not permeate through the wall of the balloon. A hole is laser-drilled in the balloon, a plug is placed over the hole and gas is introduced into the balloon through the loosely plugged hole. Thereafter the plug is melted to form a seal over the hole, entrapping the gas within the target. The plug is, for example, a polymer such as highly crystalline polystyrene, or glass.

Abstract: Glass substrates are provided, for example, glass fibers, with a substantially solvent insoluble coating of asphalt.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated container is constituted by a double-walled receptacle wherein the space between the walls is substantially evacuated to provide vacuum insulation. The outer wall is provided with an opening therein which is used during manufacture to provide access to the space between the walls so that the space may be evacuated. A stopper- or plug-like portion fills the opening after the container has been evacuated and is permanently joined or bonded to the surfaces of the opening thereby providing a sealing to maintain the vacuum in the space between the walls.

Abstract: Vacuum insulated containers are disclosed in which the usual metallic coating applied to the vacuum filler is omitted. In its place an electrically nonconducting, nonadsorbent granular material, such as finely divided silica, is employed in the annular, evacuated space to reduce infrared radiation loss. The construction is safe for use in microwave ovens and has a relatively high insulating efficiency as compared with vacuum fillers without infra barriers and nonvacuum insulated containers.

Abstract: After being baked out to remove absorbed gases, fursed silica cell blanks are cooled from a temperature of around 900.degree. C. to a temperature of around 800.degree. C. over a period of at least two hours. After the blanks are cooled to room temperature, an unsaturated vapor of atoms having an S.sub.o ground state is driven into the cell blanks from a reservoir. The cell blanks and the vapor contained therein are subjected to optical resonance radiation for around four hours at room temperature while the cell blanks are connected to the reservoir. A prescribed vapor density is established in the cell blanks before they are sealed off from the reservoir.

Abstract: A sealing member not adhesive before melting is applied to a portion of a vacuum article to be sealed while maintaining a communication passage between the inside and outside of the article. After mounting the article in an evacuation tank, the tank is evacuated to evacuate the article through the communication passage. Then the sealing member is heated and melted to seal the article airtightly.

Abstract: A glass balloon that floats in air. An assembly of glass balloons that form a slab of foam that floats in air. A process for making glass balloons employing: two nested furnaces, pre-heated helium, a moving furnace, and a refrigerated seal-off chamber.

Abstract: Use of press-molded flanged glass envelope members each including a central hollow cylindrical portion enables fabrication of high output cold cathode gas laser tubes of reduced axial length with materially reduced cost of production. The cylindrical portion of one of the envelope members surrounds one end region of the capillary tube thereby to prevent discharge concentration on the adjacent end region of the cylindrical cold cathode while that of the other envelope member serves to support the capillary tube at about the middle of its axial length, eliminating the need for a "flaring operation" requiring highly skilled labor.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a percussion flashlamp in which a metal tube which is closed at one end is sealed to a piece of cylindrical tube glass, during which sealing operation the metal tube is supported by a pin which projects through the tube glass into the metal tube and which holds the closed end of the metal tube above the tube glass.

Abstract: In the manufacture of miniature incandescent lamps having a pinched glass cap, an inert cooling gas is blown through the exhaust tube during the pinching operation so as to keep the exhaust tube open.