With Positive Cooling Of Product Or Molten Glass At Forming Area Patents (Class 65/83)
  • Patent number: 11894610
    Abstract: A system designs a thin and relatively flat microwave focusing lens that can produce multiple simultaneous beams, using readily-available isotropic dielectric materials, and having a gradient-index (GRIN) profile. The design optimizes the lens to achieve beam scanning and/or multiple beams over a wide field of regard (FOR) with broad bandwidth and a very short focal length compared with conventional lenses. The lens can be used individually or as an element in a more complex antenna having multiple lenses in various orientations that are independently switched, selected and/or excited simultaneously as elements in a phased array. The antenna terminal incorporates such lens into an array of lenses along with one or more feeds to produce single or multiple beams covering a broad field of regard for such applications as satellite communications on-the-move, cellular, broadband point-point or point-multipoint and other terrestrial or satellite communications systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: All.Space Networks Limited
    Inventors: Jeremiah P. Turpin, Clinton P. Scarborough, Daniel F. DiFonzo, John Finney
  • Patent number: 11851357
    Abstract: A sheet of glass can be formed in a batch process by introducing molten glass onto a layer of molten tin within a tank. The tank may be outfitted with infrared emitters to control the amount of heat delivered to the tank while the sheet of glass is formed. A lower surface of the tank can have a three-dimensional shape, and the molten tin may be removed from the tank while the sheet of glass is ductile so that the sheet of glass is molded by the three-dimensional shape, thereby producing a shaped sheet of glass. The delivery of infrared energy to the tank may be facilitated by one or more ceramic glass surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2023
    Inventor: James William Masten, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9663872
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for purifying materials using a rapid directional solidification. Devices and methods shown provide control over a temperature gradient and cooling rate during directional solidification, which results in a material of higher purity. The apparatus and methods of the present invention can be used to make silicon material for use in solar applications such as solar cells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: Silicor Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Abdallah Nouri, Alain Turenne
  • Patent number: 9359242
    Abstract: A glass-plate manufacturing method employing a down-draw process includes: a forming step of forming a sheet glass by making a molten glass flow downward along opposite side surfaces of a forming member and merge at a lower section of the forming member; and a cooling step of cooling the sheet glass while drawing the sheet glass downward with rollers. In the cooling step, an above-glass-strain-point temperature control step is performed which is a step of performing a temperature control in the width direction of the sheet glass in a temperature region ranging from the lower section of the forming member to where the temperature of the sheet glass falls below a temperature region near the glass strain point, and includes: first, second and third temperature control steps as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: AvanStrate Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kariya
  • Patent number: 9108873
    Abstract: A glass-substrate manufacturing method according to an aspect of the invention is a method for manufacturing glass substrates by employing a down-draw process. In down-draw processing, a molten glass is made to overflow from a forming member and formed into a sheet glass and the sheet glass is then cooled while being drawn in a downward-flow direction. In this glass-substrate manufacturing method, after the sheet glass has separated from the forming member and when the temperature of the sheet glass is within a temperature region ranging from a temperature higher than the softening point to a temperature near the annealing point, the sheet glass is cooled by maintaining the viscosity of side sections of the sheet glass within a range of 109.0-1014.5 poise while applying a tension toward the side sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: AvanStrate Inc.
    Inventors: Nobuhiro Maeda, Hiroyuki Kariya
  • Publication number: 20150147497
    Abstract: A method of making soda-lime glass using 100 wt % cullet as the glass forming materials is disclosed. Also disclosed is a soda-lime glass container made according to this method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Brouwer
  • Patent number: 9038416
    Abstract: A glass-substrate manufacturing method which includes a forming step and a cooling step. In the forming step, a molten glass is formed into a sheet glass by a down-draw process. In the cooling step, the sheet glass is cooled. The cooling step includes first, second and third coating steps as defined herein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: AvanStrate Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Kariya
  • Publication number: 20140193643
    Abstract: A method of bonding a first substrate to a second substrate includes providing a glass, applying the glass in a layer between the first and second substrates to form an assembly, and heating the assembly to a bonding temperature above a glass transition temperature of the devitrifying glass, selected to cause the glass to bond the first substrate to the second substrate. The devitrifying glass has constituents that include various amounts of group A in a molar concentration of 70-95%, group B in a molar concentration of 5-20%, group C in a molar concentration of 1-20%, group D in a molar concentration of 0-6%; and group E in a molar concentration of 0-10%. The group A, B, C, D and E groups are disclosed herein.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 4, 2014
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: LILLIPUTIAN SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Mohammad Masyood Akhtar, Samuel B. Schaevitz, Michael C. Bradford, Zachary Byars, Joseph C. Tucker
  • Publication number: 20140178286
    Abstract: A device for taking up a silicon melt comprises at least one block of a refractory with a capillary structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Applicant: SOLARWORLD INDUSTRIES AMERICA INC.
    Inventor: Nathan STODDARD
  • Patent number: 8715785
    Abstract: The invention relates to: 1) a process for the mass production of hollow glass articles which, when positioned beside one another with the same orientation in one and the same plane, are liable to come into mutual contact along a surface of revolution, characterized in that after they have left the annealing lehr, they are rotated through one turn at least along the axis of said surface of revolution, this surface then being coated, by a process without any solid contact, with an additional layer which reduces the coefficient of friction; 2) a hollow glass article as obtained by this process; and 3) a packaging assembly of such articles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Emballage
    Inventors: Eric Martin, Jean-Michel Munos, Frederic Mertz
  • Publication number: 20140033767
    Abstract: A method for producing a solar concentrator, the method comprising providing an upper mold, adapted for molding a light exit face, providing a bottom mold, adapted for molding a light entry face, and blank molding the transparent material between the upper mold and the bottom mold to form a solar concentrator comprising a light entry face and a light exit face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 26, 2012
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Wolfram Wintzer, Lars Arnold, Hagen Goldammer
  • Patent number: 8596093
    Abstract: Provided is an optical element manufacturing method by which optical elements, such as a beam shaping element having a molded side surface, are highly efficiently and accurately manufactured by pressure-molding a molten glass drop. After supplying a lower molding die with the molten glass drop of a prescribed volume at a temperature higher than that of the molding die, the molten glass drop is pressure-molded by the molding die, and a free surface solidified without being in contact with the molding die is formed between a molded upper surface and the molded side surface. The volume of the molten glass drop to be supplied is 0.8 times or more but not more than 0.97 times the volume of a space configured by an extended molded upper surface, an extended molded side surface and the molded lower surface when the molded upper surface and the molded side surface are extended.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ogura, Yoshihiro Kamada
  • Publication number: 20130291595
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for manufacturing high purity polysilicon. The apparatus includes a vacuum chamber maintaining a vacuum atmosphere; first and second electron guns disposed at an upper side of the vacuum chamber to irradiate electron beams into the vacuum chamber; a silicon melting unit placed on a first electron beam-irradiating region corresponding to the first electron gun and in which powdery raw silicon is placed and melted by the first electron beam; and a unidirectional solidification unit placed on a second electron beam-irradiating region corresponding to the second electron gun and connected to the silicon melting unit via a runner. The unidirectional solidification unit is formed at a lower part thereof with a cooling channel and is provided therein with a start block driven in a downward direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2012
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Applicant: KOREA INSTITUTE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
    Inventors: Bo Yun Jang, Jin Seok Lee, Joon Soo Kim, Young Soo Ahn
  • Publication number: 20130186142
    Abstract: A conduit structure for molten glass, in which molten glass is flown through a double-pipe structure, with little stress loading even for a long time operation. A supporting rib connecting an inner pipe and an outer pipe is employed in the double pipe structure having the inner pipe and outer pipe in the conduit structure for molten glass, wherein excessive stress concentration hardly occurs in an inner pipe-joint portion, an outer pipe-joint portion and the rib when the rib is applied with a stress load due to the weight of the inner pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2013
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: ASAHI GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
  • Publication number: 20130180288
    Abstract: To provide a glass-substrate manufacturing method with which it is possible to increase the production amount of glass substrates when manufacturing glass substrates by employing down-draw processing, as well as manufacture ideal glass substrates. A glass-substrate manufacturing method according to an aspect of the invention includes a forming step and a cooling step. In the forming step, a molten glass is formed into a sheet glass by a down-draw process. In the cooling step, the sheet glass is cooled. The cooling step includes a first cooling step, a second cooling step, and a third cooling step. In the first cooling step, the sheet glass is cooled at a first average cooling rate until the temperature of a central region of the sheet glass drops to the annealing point. In the second cooling step, the sheet glass is cooled at a second average cooling rate until the temperature of the central region drops from the annealing point to 50° C. below the strain point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Publication date: July 18, 2013
    Inventor: Hiroyuki KARIYA
  • Publication number: 20130052414
    Abstract: Glass substrates and methods for forming glass substrates are disclosed. The glass substrates include a planar A-side surface having a surface roughness Ra1 of less than 0.5 nm and a planar B-side having a surface roughness Ra2 wherein the ratio Ra2:Ra1 is greater than or equal to about 1.5. A plurality of texturing features are formed in the B-side surface. The plurality of texturing features have a peak-to-valley height H such that 0.05 ?m?H?3.75 ?m. The texturing features are distributed in the B-side surface such that a center-to-center pitch P between adjacent texturing features is at least 1.5 mm in at least one direction. The plurality of texturing features are formed in the B-side surface while the glass substrate is at a temperature T1, wherein 600° C.?T1?1200 ° C. and a viscosity of the glass substrate is from greater than 150,000 Poise and less than 1013 Poise.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Michael Sean Dobbins, James Robert Lim, Hung Cheng (Henry) Lu, Wanda Janina Walczak, Liming Wang, Ruchirej Yongsunthon
  • Publication number: 20130047671
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of reducing the compaction of glass formed by a down draw process. The glass may be a glass sheet or a glass ribbon. Once the glass is formed, it is thermally treated on a molten metal bath for a time and at a temperature effective to reduce the fictive temperature of the glass below a predetermined level. In one embodiment, a glass ribbon is formed in a fusion process and the glass ribbon redirected onto a molten metal bath where the ribbon is thermally treated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Jeffrey T. Kohli
  • Publication number: 20130038940
    Abstract: A soda-lime-silica glass for solar collector cover plates and solar mirrors has less than 0.010 weight percent total iron as Fe2O3, a redox ratio of less than 0.350, less than 0.0025 weight percent CeO2, and spectral properties that include a visible transmission, and a total solar infrared transmittance, of greater than 90% at a thickness of 5.5 millimeters, and reduced solarization. In one non-limiting embodiment of invention, the glass is made by heating a pool of molten soda-lime-silica with a mixture of combustion air and fuel gas having an air firing ratio of greater than 11, or an oxygen firing ratio of greater than 2.31. In another non-limiting embodiment of the invention, streams of oxygen bubbles are moved through a pool of molten glass. In both embodiments, the oxygen oxidizes ferrous iron to ferric iron to reduce the redox ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: PPG INDUSTRIES OHIO, INC.
    Inventor: PPG INDUSTRIES OHIO, INC.
  • Publication number: 20130017366
    Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a method for producing a glass substrate with a thickness of not more than 200 ?m, which is satisfied with the quality required for a substrate on which a thin-film electric circuit is formed, and a sheet glass substrate obtained according to this method. The present invention is concerned with a method for producing a glass substrate having a sheet thickness of from 10 to 200 ?m, including a forming step of forming a molten glass into a ribbon shape in accordance with a down draw method, an annealing step of annealing the glass ribbon, and a cutting step of cutting the glass ribbon to give a glass substrate, wherein an average cooling rate in a temperature range of from the (annealing point+200° C.) to the (annealing point+50° C.) is controlled to the range of from 300 to 2,500° C./min.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Applicant: Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Kawaguchi, Katsutoshi Fujiwara, Yoshinari Kato, Hisatoshi Aiba
  • Publication number: 20120318020
    Abstract: Apparatus for producing glass ribbon comprises a plurality of cooling coils positioned along a cooling axis of the apparatus extending transverse to a draw direction. The cooling coils are configured to control a transverse temperature profile of the glass ribbon along a cooling axis. Each cooling coil can be fabricated from at least one tube and configured to circulate fluid to remove heat from the cooling coil. In further examples, methods of producing a glass ribbon include the step of controlling a transverse temperature profile of the glass ribbon along a width of the glass ribbon. The step of controlling the temperature profile includes selectively removing heat from at least one of a plurality of cooling coils positioned along the cooling axis.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 17, 2011
    Publication date: December 20, 2012
    Inventors: Robert Delia, Ahdi El Kahlout
  • Publication number: 20120302063
    Abstract: A non-polished glass wafer, a thinning system, and a method for using the non-polished glass wafer to thin a semiconductor wafer are described herein. In one embodiment, the glass wafer has a body (e.g., circular body) including a non-polished first surface and a non-polished second surface substantially parallel to each other. In addition, the circular body has a wafer quality index which is equal to a total thickness variation in micrometers plus one-tenth of a warp in micrometers that is less than 6.0.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Shawn Rachelle Markham, Windsor Pipes Thomas, III
  • Publication number: 20120297832
    Abstract: A device provided with a furnace vessel 100, a water-cooled copper crucible 200 provided inside the furnace vessel 100, and a support rod 300 supporting a silicon electrode S is used. After disposing the silicon electrode S in the water-cooled cooled crucible 200 at predetermined intervals, the furnace vessel 100 is put into a vacuum state, and by applying voltage to the silicon electrode S and the water-cooled copper crucible 200, a current passes through and melts the silicon electrode S. While maintaining the top of the melted silicon S? in a melted state, the melted silicon S? is solidified sequentially from the bottom in the cooled water-cooled copper crucible 200.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Kyojiro KANEKO
  • Publication number: 20120302424
    Abstract: An optical glass comprising, by mass %, 12 to 30% of total of B2O3 and SiO2, 55 to 80% of total of La2O3, Gd2O3, Y2O3, Yb2O3, ZrO2, Nb2O5 and WO3, 2 to 10% of ZrO2, 0 to 15% of Nb2O5, 0 to 15% of ZnO and 0% or more but less than 13% of Ta2O5, wherein the ratio of the content of Ta2O5 to the total content of La2O3, Gd2O3, Y2O3, Yb2O3, ZrO2, Nb2O5 and WO3 is 0.23 or less, the ratio of the total content of La2O3, Gd2O3, Y2O3 and Yb2O3 to the total content of B2O3 and SiO2 is from 2 to 4, the optical glass having a refractive index nd of 1.86 or more and an Abbe's number ?d of 38 or more, and a rod-shaped glass shaped material and an optical element formed of the above optical glass each.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Applicant: HOYA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yuta KOBAYASHI, Yoichi Hachitani, Yunoshin Kanayama
  • Publication number: 20120216572
    Abstract: The present invention relates to the polysilicon purification technology field with physical metallurgy technology, especially to a method for removing P and B impurities in the polysilicon using electron beam melting technology. In this method, two electron guns are used for irradiating electron beam to melt polysilicon, meanwhile, P and B are removed in a dual process. P will firstly be removed, and then B will be further removed through further melting for evaporation. At last the low-B and low-P polysilicon evaporated on the deposit board is collected. In the equipment used, the vacuum cover and vacuum circular cylinder constitutes the shell of the device; the inner part of vacuum circular cylinder is the vacuum chamber, which is formed by the left and right part and divided by the separation plate. This method effectively improves the purity of the polysilicon and achieves the requirements for solar grade silicon with perfect purification effect, stable technology, and high efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2010
    Publication date: August 30, 2012
    Applicant: Dalian University of Technology
    Inventors: Yi Tan, Wei Dong, Guobin Li, Dachuan Jiang
  • Publication number: 20120180527
    Abstract: A method of fabricating an optical material includes providing input materials having a material softening temperature, melting the input materials, and flowing the melted input materials into a laser inclusion mitigation system. The melted input materials comprise one or more inclusions. The method also includes irradiating the input materials using a laser beam, fragmenting the one or more inclusions in response to the irradiating, and reducing a temperature of the input materials to less than the material softening temperature. The method further includes forming an optical material and annealing the optical material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Publication date: July 19, 2012
    Applicant: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventors: John Allyn Caird, Kathleen Irene Schaffers
  • Patent number: 8127569
    Abstract: An I.S. machine has a blow station where a parison is blown into a bottle. The parison is blown with a blow head at the “on” position on the blow mold and following the blowing of the parison, the blow head is lifted away from the blow mold. The spacing between the blow head and the mold is defined by a Pressure Profile which is responsive to the sensed pressure within the mold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Emhart Glass S.A.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Anheyer
  • Publication number: 20110135938
    Abstract: The object of the invention is a continuous method for obtaining glass, comprising steps consisting of: charging raw materials upstream of a furnace, along which a plurality of burners is disposed, obtaining a mass of molten glass, and then leading said mass of molten glass to a zone of the furnace situated further downstream, at least one burner disposed in the region of this zone being fed with an over-stoichiometric quantity of oxidant, and then, forming a glass sheet, said glass sheet having a chemical composition that comprises the following constituents in an amount varying within the weight limits defined below: SiO2 60-75%? Al2O3 0-10% B2O3 0-5%, preferably 0? CaO 5-15% MgO 0-10% Na2O 5-20% K2O 0-10% BaO 0-5%, preferably 0, SO3 0.1-0.4%? Fe2O3 (total iron) 0 to 0.015%,?? Redox 0.1-0.3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Byoung-Ouk Kim, Kidong Moon, Junbo Choi, Pedro Silva
  • Patent number: 7900474
    Abstract: Hollow glass microspheres are made using selenium oxide as the blowing agent. The use of selenium oxide provides two unique advantages: lower density and smaller hollow microspheres are obtained because loss of selenium oxide gas out of the liquid glass bubble during formation is slow, and the hollow microspheres will contain a vacuum due to the condensation of selenium oxide gas blowing agent upon cooling of the spheres below 315 deg. C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Inventor: Warren R. Beck
  • Publication number: 20110023546
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lower molding die for receiving a molten glass droplet which is dripped. A cover layer is formed on a substrate with an intermediate layer therebetween, and a roughening process is performed on the surface of the cover layer in order to increase arithmetic average roughness Ra. The surface of the cover layer subjected to the roughening process has an arithmetic average roughness Ra of 0.01 ?m or more, and an average length RSm of a roughness curvilinear element of 0.5 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 24, 2009
    Publication date: February 3, 2011
    Applicant: Konica Minolta Opto, Inc,
    Inventors: Shunichi Hayamizu, Naoyuki Fukumoto, Kento Hasegawa
  • Publication number: 20100071418
    Abstract: Methods for molding glass and glass composites, including providing a first structure having a first surface, providing a second structure having a second surface, the second surface being patterned and porous, and disposing between the first and second surfaces an amount of a composition comprising a glass, then heating together the first and second structures and the first amount of the composition sufficiently to soften the first amount of the composition such that the first and second structures, under gravity or an otherwise applied force, move toward each other, such that the pattern of the second surface is formed into the first amount of the composition, then cooling the composition sufficiently to stabilize it, the second structure comprising porous carbon having an open porosity of at least 5% and wherein the amount of the composition is removable from the second surface, without damage to the amount of the composition or to the second surface, such that the second surface is in condition for re-use
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2008
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Inventors: Thierry Luc Alain Dannoux, Paulo Gaspar Jorge Marques, Robert Michael Morena, Cameron Wayne Tanner
  • Publication number: 20090100871
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a silica glass block is provided in which, by markedly reducing the bubbles within the silica glass block, the quality of a silica glass block can be improved, contamination of the silica glass block can be prevented, and the yield of the silica glass block can be improved. The method comprises preparing a natural or synthetic silica raw material powder, packing the silica raw material powder into a glass fusing furnace, preheat treating the silica raw material powder packed into the fusing furnace, heating and fusing the heat preheat-treated silica raw material powder, and cooling a silica glass melt fused in the fusing furnace. The silica raw material powder packed into the fusing furnace is closely packed in the packing step, and an evacuation and a rare gas or H2 gas introduction treatment is performed in the preheat treating step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Publication date: April 23, 2009
    Applicants: HERAEUS QUARZGLAS GMBH & CO. KG, SHIN-ETSU QUARTZ PRODUCTS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jiro Sawazaki, Choji Sanada
  • Publication number: 20070234760
    Abstract: A glass forming apparatus and a glass forming method of high economical merit and high production efficiency are provided. More specifically, the glass forming apparatus has dies, in which at least one die is divided into a heat exchange unit and a press unit, and in the glass forming apparatus and glass forming method, the plane precision is improved in the contact dividing surfaces of the heat exchange unit and the press unit. A glass forming apparatus includes a die having a press surface for pressing a glass material, in which the die has a plurality of dies, and at least one die is divided into a heat exchange unit and a press unit. Preferably, the surface precision of at least one part of each dividing surface in contact with the heat exchange unit and the press unit has a flatness (PV) of 500 ?m or less, and the plane precision of at least one part of the dividing surface has a surface roughness (Ra) of 100 ?m or less.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2007
    Publication date: October 11, 2007
    Inventor: Moriji Nozaki
  • Patent number: 7171827
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for the automated casting of infrared glass optical components is provided. The system includes a mold for casting infrared glass into lenses, a mold chamber operable to heat the mold to a temperature above the melting temperature of the infrared glass, and a casting chamber operable to fill the mold with molten infrared glass. The method includes heating a mold in a mold chamber to a temperature above the melting temperature of infrared glass, casting molten infrared glass into the mold in a casting chamber; and cooling the mold to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the infrared glass.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: Umicore SA
    Inventors: William David Autery, Gregory Stewart Tyber, Donald Bryan Christian, Allan Leroy Buehler, Athanasios John Syllaios
  • Patent number: 6823694
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass optical element having at least one concave surface, including: softening a glass molding material by heating, molding the softened material with a first mold having a first molding surface and a second mold having a second molding surface by applying a pressure, the first molding surface including a first concave forming surface, the second molding surface including a convex forming surface, a planar forming surface or a second concave forming surface, the second concave forming surface having a curvature radius greater than that of the first concave forming surface, whereby the applying of the pressure starts when the first mold and the second mold are at temperatures above a glass transition temperature of said glass molding material, the glass material is cooled so that a temperature of the glass material reaches a temperature equal to or lower than a glass transition temperature (Tg) of the glass material, and the cooled glass material is removed from either of the firs
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2004
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Sawada, Yoshitaka Goto, Yuka Miyashita
  • Publication number: 20040231364
    Abstract: A bottom mold for molding a glass panel for a cathode ray tube includes a hollow portion defined by a rectangular bottom wall 2 and a side wall 3 provided on four sides of the bottom wall. A refrigerant is supplied to a central portion of the bottom wall 2 from under the bottom wall to cool a glass panel for a cathode ray tube 5 to be filled in the hollow portion. The bottom wall 2 has a hollow layer 4 provided at the central portion to enhance cooling of a peripheral portion of the bottom mold by preventing the central portion from being excessively cooled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2004
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Applicant: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Kentaro Tatsukoshi, Tetsuro Tominaga
  • Publication number: 20040206121
    Abstract: A system and method for forming infrared glass optical components are provided. The system includes first and second mold halves having first and second respective faces. The first and second mold halves are configured to be removably coupled such that the first face and the second face form an interface that defines a lens-shaped cavity. A tapered surface of the first face cooperates with a tapered surface of the second face to enhance centering of the first face with respect to the second face.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: William David Autery, Gregory Stewart Tyber, Donald Bryan Christian, Marissa Marie Barnard
  • Publication number: 20040206122
    Abstract: In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for the automated casting of infrared glass optical components is provided. The system includes a mold for casting infrared glass into lenses, a mold chamber operable to heat the mold to a temperature above the melting temperature of the infrared glass, and a casting chamber operable to fill the mold with molten infrared glass. The method includes heating a mold in a mold chamber to a temperature above the melting temperature of infrared glass, casting molten infrared glass into the mold in a casting chamber; and cooling the mold to a temperature below the glass transition temperature of the infrared glass.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2003
    Publication date: October 21, 2004
    Applicant: RAYTHEON COMPANY
    Inventors: William David Autery, Gregory Stewart Tyber, Donald Bryan Christian, Allan Leroy Buehler, Athanasios John Syllaios
  • Publication number: 20040134232
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a glass substrate for a storage medium by pressing a glass material between an upper and a lower dies. The method includes a heating step of heating the glass material arranged between the upper and lower dies, a pressing step of pressing the heated glass material via the upper and lower dies, and a cooling step of having, after the pressing step, a cooling member contact the upper and lower dies to cool them together with the molded glass material arranged between the upper and lower dies. During the heating step and the pressing step, a vacuum atmosphere is maintained in a space containing the dies and the glass material. When the pressing step has completed, an inert gas is filled in the space to set a pressure in the space equal to an ambient pressure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2003
    Publication date: July 15, 2004
    Applicants: Fuji Electric Device Technology Co., Ltd., MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kengo Kainuma, Tatsumi Kawata, Kunio Hibino, Tomokazu Tokunaga
  • Publication number: 20030192350
    Abstract: Systems and methods for large scale synthesis of germanium selenide glass and germanium selenide glass compounds are provided. Up to about 750 grams of a germanium selenide glass or a glass compound can be synthesized at a time in about eight hours or less. Stoichiometrically proportional amounts of germanium and selenium are placed in an ampoule. A variable may also be placed in the ampoule. The ampoule is heated to above the softening temperature of the glass or glass compound being synthesized. The ampoule is then rocked for a period of time while the temperature is held constant. The temperature of the ampoule is then brought down to above the softening temperature of the glass or glass compound being synthesized and then quenched.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2002
    Publication date: October 16, 2003
    Inventor: Stefan Uhlenbrock
  • Patent number: 6626010
    Abstract: A method of floating glass gobs by means of a gas flow. A method of manufacturing glass gobs by floating a molten glass gob and simultaneously cooling it. A method of manufacturing glass spheres by floating a softened glass gob and simultaneously rendering it spherical. These methods employ a device having a depression for floating and holding a glass gob or the like, with a gas flow being supplied along all or part of the inner surface of the depression from the opening side of the depression toward the bottom. A manufacturing method comprising the steps of adjusting a glass gob to a temperature suited to press molding while floating said glass gob by means of a gas flow injected along part or all of the depression-shaped forming surface of a lower mold from the opening side of the lower mold toward the bottom of the lower mold; and a step of press forming the glass gob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Hoya Corporation
    Inventor: Masahiro Yoshida
  • Publication number: 20030094015
    Abstract: Apparatus to amalgamate a paste of vitreous material in the molten state with an additive material in the form of granules, scales, slivers or filaments, made of metal, of other types of glass or other material in order to obtain a vitreous compound. The apparatus comprises containing means (11) to contain the paste of vitreous material, mixing means (15) to convey the vitreous compound downwards, in its molten state, towards rolling means (12) to produce manufactured articles. The mixing means (15) comprise at least a first pair of mixing cylinders (19a, 19b) having the respective axes of rotation (20a, 20b) arranged substantially horizontal, parallel to each other and substantially parallel, or slightly inclined, with respect to the direction in which a rolling force is applied by said rolling means (12).
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2002
    Publication date: May 22, 2003
    Applicant: BISAZZA SpA.
    Inventor: Giancarlo Bisazza
  • Patent number: 6442976
    Abstract: A system and method of cooling glassware molds by directing liquid coolant to the blank or blow mold halves of a glassware forming machine through an enclosed pivotal rotary union-type structure. A coolant manifold is carried by each pivotal mold arm, and communicates with coolant inlet and outlet ports at the lower end of each mold part. The manifold is connected by a floating shaft seal and a rotary union assembly and a crank arm to a coolant source and coolant return in the section box of the associated machine section. Each pivotal connection—i.e., between the section box and the crank arm, between the crank arm and the rotary union assembly, and between the rotary union assembly and the floating shaft seal—comprises a bi-directional rotary union for feeding liquid coolant to the manifold and mold parts, and returning coolant from the manifold and mold parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Robin L. Flynn
  • Patent number: 6401491
    Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring application of air through a dual-stage blowhead to blow mold a container includes a first solenoid valve for applying final blow air through the blowhead to a container in a mold and a second solenoid valve for applying finish cooling air through the blowhead around the finish of the container in the mold. Electronic circuitry is coupled to the first and second solenoid valves for detecting timing of application of first and second electrical valve control signals to the valves. Air pressure sensors are operatively coupled to the first and second solenoid valves for generating associated electrical signals indicative of timing of application of air by the first and second solenoid valves to the blowhead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2002
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventor: Robert S. Wacke
  • Patent number: 6295404
    Abstract: An optical fiber array includes a V-groove substrate for housing an uncovered glass fiber section formed at an end portion of an optical fiber contained therein. A lower covered section housing portion houses a covered section of the optical fiber and is formed to be deeper than the V-groove forming portion. An optical fiber is disposed so that the uncovered glass fiber section is housed in the V groove and the covered section is housed in the lower covered section housing portion. A lid substrate is composed of a glass fiber protective portion covering an upper surface of the uncovered glass fiber section and an upper covered section housing portion houses a covered section of the optical fiber. The upper covered section housing portion is formed to be deeper than the glass fiber protective portion and is disposed on the V-groove substrate. A resin is filled in the gaps among the V-groove substrate, the optical fiber, and the lid substrate and cured to give a unitary optical fiber array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takenori Ichigi, Jungo Kondo, Yoshizumi Nakasuji, Eiji Kitakami
  • Patent number: 6124038
    Abstract: The invention relates to a strong UV absorbing glass consisting essentially of, expressed in cation percent, 15-30% SiO.sub.2, 50-60% B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 2-5% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-6% Li.sub.2 O, 0-3.0% Na.sub.2 O, 14-20% K.sub.2 O, 0.5-1.0% CuO, 0.4-0.7% SnO.sub.2, 0.5-1.5% Cl, and 0.7-1.5% Br. An essentially haze-free version of the glass is disclosed. A UV absorbing coating material made by suspending ground particles of the inventive glass in a suitable matrix is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventor: Roger J. Araujo
  • Patent number: 5994248
    Abstract: The invention relates to lenses such as aspherical lenses and to a process for their manufacture. According to the invention, the lens is composed of a glass matrix including the constituents below in the following weight proportions:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 65-85% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-10% B.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-20% Li.sub.2 O + Na.sub.2 O + K.sub.2 O 3-20% CaO + MgO + BaO 1-15% FeO + Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-0.1%, ______________________________________wherein the K.sub.2 O content is equal to or less than 1% and the BaO content is equal to or less than 1%.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Vitrage
    Inventors: Jose Francisco Gandarillas-Lastra, Benoit Trouille
  • Patent number: 5904746
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for producing vitreous optical elements by injection molding, which essentially includes the stages of: melting down a glass material into a molten state in a viscosity at or lower than a working point of the glass material; injecting molten glass under pressure into a mold cavity defined between transfer surfaces of relatively movable mold members of a mold assembly unit in communication with a sprue connecting the mold cavity with an injection port on the outer side of the mold assembly unit; and applying a predetermined pressure on the glass material in the mold cavity while cooling the mold assembly unit down to a temperature in the vicinity of yielding point of the glass material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Fuji Photo Optical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shin-ya Okada
  • Patent number: 5900035
    Abstract: A hollow parison (P) of a glass container is formed from a gob of molten glass, the parison having a body portion (B) with a closed end and an open end. The body portion of the parison is formed in an annular blank mold (14). The parison also has a finish portion (F) at the open end of the body portion of the parison, the finish portion being formed by an annular neck mold (16) which is positioned against an end of the blank mold during the forming of the parison. An annular cage (26) surrounds a substantial axially extending portion of the blank mold. The annular cage receives cooling air and directs cooling air against cooling fins (24) on the exterior of the blank mold to cool the body portion of the parison while it is in the blank mold. Spent cooling fluid from the annular cage flows therefrom through an opening aligned with the open end of the body portion of the parison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignee: Owens-Brockway Glass Container Inc.
    Inventors: Russell D. Hoenig, John E. Rummel, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5837026
    Abstract: Air is blowed before an annealing step to corner portions in an inner face portion of a glass panel which has been press-formed in a mold to cool that portions to be stronger than the other portion whereby a temperature difference between the corner portions and the other portion is reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 17, 1998
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
    Inventors: Tsunehiko Sugawara, Toshikazu Ikezawa, Naoya Shimizu, Hiroshi Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 5743928
    Abstract: An apparatus (10) for extruding glass tubing (12) which comprises a furnace (14). A component (16) within the furnace (14) is for holding molten glass (18). A duplex mandrel (20) on one end of the furnace (14) is connected into the holding component (16). A facility (22) is for forcing the molten glass (18) in the holding component (16) out through the duplex mandrel (20), so as to form the glass tubing (12) having an upper support segment (24) and a lower structural segment (26). An assembly (28) is for quick cooling the upper support segment (24) of the glass tubing (12) upon exiting the duplex mandrel (20), so that the lower structural segment (26) will maintain its desired shape while slow cooling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1998
    Inventor: Larry Pfleiderer