Abstract: A method of manufacturing a low-pressure arc discharge lamp formed by interconnecting two or more parallel glass discharge tubes, each tube being sealed at one end. A hermetically sealed arc-containing channel between the two adjacent tubes is formed by heating opposing sections of the two tubes to soften a first and second site on each of the respective tubes. Then, one of the tubes is pressurized until a glass bubble forms from the softened site; the bubble is blown toward and onto the other tube about the softened site thereof. The pressure in the first tube is then released, and pressure is applied in the second tube to form a second glass bubble which fuses with the first glass bubble and bursts into the first tube thereby forming the sealed arc-containing channel between the two tubes. The technique may be applied to multiple tube assemblies by alternating the end of the tube at which the joint is formed.

Abstract: A process of encapsulating solar cells in which a semiconductor wafer first is processed into an uncut cell. An interconnect strip is secured to the front contact of the cell. A coverglass plate, provided with a suitable coating, is next bonded to the front surface of the cell. Finally, the bonded assembly of cell and coverglass plate is cut to final size as a unit. The interconnect strip preferably is folded onto the back surface of the cell either during or prior to the cutting operation.

Abstract: In the manufacture of sintered silicon nitride articles by hot isostatic pressing, silicon nitride preforms are assembled in a stack with spacers between the preforms. A plurality of such stacks are inserted in a glass tube closed at one end. The glass is melted around each stack to encapsulate each stack in a single sealed capsule.

Abstract: In the manufacture of sintered silicon nitride articles by hot isostatic pressing, silicon nitride preforms are assembled in a stack with spacers between the preforms. The stack is completely enveloped in refractory metal foil and then encapsulated within a single capsule for the pressing operation.

Abstract: A known low loss fused biconical taper fiber optic coupler is fabricating by heating and pulling a plurality of fused optical fibers which may be twisted to provide a minimum biconical taper region. One method of improving this known biconical taper coupler is to simultaneously heat and push the known coupler to form a glass ball in the minimum taper region and then simultaneously heat and pull the ball to provide the improved biconical taper coupler. Another method of improving the known biconical taper coupler is to score and pull the minimum taper region of the known coupler to separate the minimum taper region into two halves and then heat and push the two halves together to provide the improved biconical taper coupler.

Abstract: A glass faceplate having a central area of required useful diameter surrounded by a narrow ring of opaque glass and an outer glass mounting flange. Light entering the flange or ring is prevented from reaching the central area as stray light or glare in the system and spurious reflections at the interface of the ring and central area are minimized by a refractive index match of the two innermost glasses.

Abstract: VAD torches include a plurality of coaxially aligned tubes. A typical outside diameter is about 1 inch. To fabricate smaller torch nozzles, spacers (20, 21, 22) are symmetrically placed between adjacent tubes (11, 12, 13, 14), and the entire tube assembly heated and drawn as a unit to reduce its diameter. The drawn tubes are then cut at a point along the reduced diameter region to produce a torch whose nozzle has the desired (i.e., reduced) diameter.

Abstract: A method for making perforations or forming depressions in a glass work piece is described. Pursuant to the method, a two piece housing for the work piece is provided. The housing when assembled has a cavity conforming in size and shape to the work piece. The lower housing piece has a continuous upper surface and the upper housing piece has a smooth lower surface and openings in the housing piece conforming in size and position to the perforations or depressions desired to be made in the work piece. The work piece is enclosed in the housing and then plugs are inserted in the openings in the upper housing piece. The plugs snugly fit the openings and extend above the upper surface of the upper housing piece. A weight is then disposed on the upper surface of the plugs. The weight may be a flat metal sheet and is of sufficient weight to cause the plugs to exert a pressure of at least about one half pound per square inch on the work piece.

Abstract: Inner and outer blow-moulded glass bulbs, each open at one end thereof, are positioned one inside another on an apparatus having a chuck means which holds the bulbs in a spaced apart relation. The apparatus includes pivotally moveable gripping means which engage outer surface edges of the outer bulb along the open end thereof and positively hold such surface edges against an adjacent support surface while deformation heat and force are applied to the outer bulb surfaces above such edges to selectively compress or stretch such outer bulb surfaces toward the adjacent inner bulb surfaces. Thereafter, the surfaces of the inner and outer bulbs which are in contact with one another are fused together and the open ends of the respective bulbs are sealed to one another to define a container mouth.

Abstract: A method of breaking optical fibers, a fiber being scored over the entire circumference in a plane perpendicular to the fiber axis. By subsequently applying a predetermined axial tensile force to the fiber, fracture is initiated over the entire circumference of the fiber. As a result of this, fibers with a comparatively large diameter can be broken in such a way that a mirror zone is obtained across the entire fracture area. Circumferential scoring also ensures the required accuracy in respect of the perpendicular orientation of the fracture plane relative to the fiber axis.

Abstract: A process with minor variations for producing a configuration of glass and/or any similar material such as plastic or epoxy is disclosed. The configuration is basically a honeycomb of pipes of transparent material attached to a transparent plate, such as window glass. The pipes are closed at one end by the plate. The pipes prevent convection movement of a fluid parallel to the plate near its surface, except for very short distances. The unique inventive feature of the process lies in the fact that the honeycomb of pipes are produced simultaneously by a drawing process, during which either a part of a plate, which part is in the form of a grid, is softened, or a grid of new soft material is added to a plate, and the pipes are always attached to the plate both during formation and upon completion of formation.Also disclosed is a special configuration to render the pipes resistant to breakage under thermal stress.

Abstract: In a method for sealing a glass stem into the neck of an electron tube, the stem, which is supported on a mount pin, is positioned in the neck, which is longer than desired. The neck is then heat sealed, as by fusion, to the stem, and the excess glass or cullet is cut off, whereby the cullet falls on, around and sticks to the mount pin. The novel method includes releasing the cullet from the mount pin without substantially fracturing the cullet. Then, the released cullet is removed from the vicinity of the mount pin, again without substantially fracturing the cullet.

Abstract: A method of breaking glass fibers in which the fiber is locally heated by means of a heating wire and kinked through a predetermined angle. As a result, an impression of the heating wire is formed on the fiber. The fiber is subsequently cooled so as to retain the kinked condition. A slight tensile stress is applied so as to obtain a stress distribution which decreases across the fiber cross-section, and the fiber is broken at the location of the kink.

Abstract: A channel-type electron multiplier made in the shape of a glass wafer having holes through a central portion thereof, and an imperforate glass border fused to the periphery of the wafer, the wafer glass having a thermal coefficient of expansion less than that of the border glass. In manufacture, a brief fast cooling step aids in the production of a strong, permanent bond between wafer and border.

Abstract: A method of making laminated windshields is disclosed. Brackets of glass of oblong shape are cut from a continuous glass ribbon manufactured by a "Float" process in such a manner that the brackets have drawlines associated therewith running across the shorter dimension of the bracket. The brackets are cut, formed into pairs, bent as pairs, and laminated as pairs to produce completed windshields which have the drawlines of the glass aligned vertically, i.e., in the direction from the top to the bottom of the finished windshield. This orientation of the glass reduces the drawline distortion observable when the windshield is in place in the vehicle.

Abstract: A semiconductor boat or carrier fabricated of stress relieved quartz bar having a rectangular cross section. The carrier has parallel elongate side bars and a parallel elongate lower bar, all of which are joined at the ends thereof by transverse lengths of quartz bar also having rectangular cross section. Spaced slots are formed in the inwardly facing edges of the elongate side and bottom bars so that groups of three slots, one in each bar, lie in parallel planes for receiving semiconductor wafers in three point contact in the carrier. End bars attached to and extending between the side bars and central bars extending between each of the side bars and the bottom bar are provided for obtaining rigidity in the carrier. These end and central bars are also rectangular in cross section.

Abstract: Multiple nozzle arrays are formed from an assembly of at least one pair of plates having intersecting channels for receiving orifice elements and sealant. The joined plates, with inserted orifice elements in one channel and sealant in the other channel are then mounted vertically or at an appropriate angle and exposed to a temperature sufficient to cause the sealant alone to melt and to flow by capillary action to seal the orifice elements in a void-and-bubble free manner and to seal the plates to form a plate block. After cooling, the plate block is sliced into multiple nozzle wafers.

Abstract: Precision-lapped pieces of ceramic and ferrite are stacked together with pieces of ceramic-convertible glass. Firing of the stack causes the glass to devitrify and results in a comb-less track array assembly having precise track and track-to-track dimensions. The assembly is then processed to form part of a magnetic record and/or reproduce head.

Abstract: The industrial process hereinafter described begins with molten glass in which is imbedded a mesh for shatter-resistance, and is then extruded, cooled, and scribed in the size and shape of an injector-style razor blade. The scribed extrusion is inspected for quality control, after which is is broken along the scribed lines. The resulting glass razor blades are again inspected for quality control, after which they are packaged in whatever manner the manufacturer desires.