Abstract: A radially expandable endcap adapted for mounting upon a mandrel of a collet of a forming package winder. Other aspects of this invention include a collet and winder including the above endcap and method for winding strand using the same. Another aspect of the present invention is a collet having an expandable mandrel on at least a portion of a first end of the collet proximate an operator and distal to a second, opposite end of the collet mounted upon a support. Other aspects of this invention are a winder including the above collet and a method for using the same.

Abstract: The present invention provides a glass antenna system with improved reception, a connector of the glass antenna system and a method of producing the glass antenna system. The glass antenna system includes a glass substrate, at least one electroconductive antenna element positioned along a major surface of the substrate, wherein the antenna element provides an impedance which varies over a given frequency band, an impedance matching network secured to the glass substrate in a position such that the impedance matching network is electrically coupled to a portion of the antenna element, and means to electrically interconnect the network to a feedline of an electromagnetic energy transmitting and/or receiving unit. The impedance matching network is used to transform the impedance of the antenna element to a desired impedance. In one particular embodiment of the invention the impedance matching network is part of a connector and is formed along a first major surface of a printed circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention provides for the use of electroconductive ceramic thermoplastic, thermoset and ultraviolet radiation curable paints as antenna elements and/or connector elements in a transparent antenna system. Antenna elements are formed on a major surface of a rigid transparent ply, preferably glass, and connected to a connector that permits transfer of signals generated by the antenna element to an electromagnetic energy transmitting and/or receiving device. The connector may be in direct electrical contact with or capacitively coupled to the antenna element. If desired, additional rigid transparent plies may be secured to the first ply to form a laminate, wherein the antenna element or the antenna element and the connector are laminated between the rigid plies.

Abstract: A bushing including a tip plate having an orifice region including orifices to permit flow of a molten fiberizable material therethrough; a reservoir for supplying molten fiberizable material to the orifices; and a substantially planar perforated plate positioned within the reservoir generally parallel to and substantially coextensive with the orifice region of the tip plate, the perforated plate including a central region and a peripheral region surrounding the central region, each of the central region and the peripheral region of the perforated plate having a plurality of openings to permit flow of molten fiberizable material therethrough, wherein average head loss of molten material flowing through the central region of the perforated plate is greater than average head loss of molten material flowing through the peripheral region of the perforated plate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a needled mat adapted to reinforce a thermosetting matrix material to form a composite, composites formed therefrom, and methods related thereto. The needled mat includes a primary layer of a plurality of unidirectional continuous glass fiber strands coated with a composition which is compatible with the thermosetting matrix material and a secondary layer positioned thereon of a plurality of randomly oriented, generally continuous and/or chopped glass fiber strands coated with a composition which is compatible with the thermosetting matrix material. The mat has a total surface weight ranging from about 1300 to about 11,500 grams per square meter.

Abstract: The present method includes an apparatus for filling and sealing an opening in a laminate and in particular sealing the cut-out notch area of a vehicle windshield. A mold fixture includes a mold, a backing plate, a sealant inlet and a vent. The mold has resilient sealant contacting surfaces that provide a smooth surface for forming the surface of the sealant filling the opening. The mold fixture is clamped to the laminate such that selected portions of the mold overlay the opening and remaining portions of the mold overlay selected portions of the laminate immediately adjacent the opening. Sealant is injected into a cavity formed by the laminate and the mold fixture to seal the opening. The sealant is allowed to cure to achieve a desired hardness and the mold fixture is then removed from the laminate.

Abstract: A method of controlling NO.sub.x emissions from a glass melting process in which combustion fuel produces exhaust gas in a melting furnace including NO.sub.x compounds is disclosed. Furnace exhaust gas passes from the melting furnace through a regenerator to a zone downstream from the regenerator. Ammonia is injected into the furnace exhaust gas at the downstream zone while the furnace exhaust gas is within a desired temperature range to reduce the amount of NO.sub.x compounds. Additional gas is introduced into the furnace exhaust gas as it moves from the regenerator to the downstream zone whenever the furnace exhaust gas has a temperature which is outside the desired temperature range at the downstream zone so as to modify the furnace exhaust gas temperature such that the furnace exhaust gas is within the desired temperature range when furnace exhaust gas reaches to the downstream zone.

Abstract: An apparatus for shaping heat softened glass sheets includes a shaping station to receive a heat softened glass sheet to be shaped, first and second transfer stations positioned along opposing sides of the shaping station, and first and second cooling stations positioned adjacent a corresponding transfer station. An upper vacuum mold having first and second downwardly facing, shaped sheet engaging surfaces moves between the transfer stations and within the shaping station. The sheet engaging surfaces of the vacuum mold each have a shaped configuration generally corresponding to a final desired shaped of a glass sheet to be shaped. Heat softened glass sheets are positioned within the shaping station and moved into engagement with one of the sheet engaging surfaces to shape the sheet. Vacuum is drawn along the sheet engaging surface to hold the shaped sheet thereagainst.

Abstract: The instant invention provides a method of controlling the accumulation of sodium sulfate in the checker packing of a regenerator of a cross-fired regenerative-type glass melting furnace. Typically, glass batch materials are melted within the furnace by combustion of fuel. This combustion produces exhaust gas that is drawn through the regenerator and heats the checker packing. During the melting operation, sodium sulfate gas is formed by the melted glass and is carried with the exhaust gas through the regenerator. The sodium sulfate gas may condense on a portion of the checker packing. As the sodium sulfate condensate accumulates on the checker packing, it may restrict the flow of exhaust gas and/or combustion air through the regenerator.

Abstract: The present invention provides an arrangement for shaping multiple sheets of heat softenable material which includes a shaping station and a conveying system to deliver a plurality of heat softened sheets into the shaping station. The shaping station includes an upper vacuum mold having a plurality of downwardly facing sheet shaping surfaces each generally conforming to a desired shape of a sheet to be shaped and a plurality of stops positioned below the upper mold such that each of the sheets is aligned below a corresponding one of the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces when the sheet contacts selected stops. Lower molds are positioned below the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to lift and press the aligned sheets against the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to shape the sheets. A vacuum is drawn along the upper mold sheet shaping surfaces to secure the sheets to the upper mold and shape the sheets.

Abstract: The present invention provides a green colored glass using a standard soda-lime-silica glass base composition and additionally iron, cerium, chromium and, optionally, titanium as infrared and ultraviolet radiation absorbing materials and colorants. It is preferred that the glass have a green color characterized by a dominant wavelength in the range of about 500 to 565 nanometers with an excitation purity of no higher than about 5% and include about 0.50 to 1.0 wt. % total iron, about 0.26 to 0.65 wt. % Fe.sub.2 O.sub.3, about 0.05 to 3 wt. % CeO.sub.2, 0 to about 2 wt. % TiO.sub.2, and about 20 to 650 PPM Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3. The redox ratio for the glass is maintained between about 0.20 to 0.55.

Abstract: A windshield for a head-up display system has a pair of opposing major surfaces that are nonparallel to one another in selected areas. Light rays directed toward the nonparallel area of the windshield are reflected from the outer and inner major surfaces of the windshield and directed toward the eye of the observer as parallel or superimposed light rays to eliminate ghost images when viewing images projected by the head-up display system through the windshield. The interlayer blank utilized to make the windshield has a non-uniform thickness profile with a tapered thickness positioned in the selected areas of the windshield.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for reducing the occurrences of solid defects in float glass due to corrosion of refractory in a glass melting and refining furnace. In making flat glass by the float process, batch materials are fed into a melting and refining furnace and heated to form molten glass. The molten glass passes through the melting section and into a refining section of the furnace where the glass is gradually cooled and conditioned prior to delivering the glass to a forming chamber where the molten glass is floated upon molten metal and formed into a continuous sheet of glass. During the melting operation, alkali vapors from the molten glass accumulate within a downstream portion of the melting section. These vapors attack and corrode those portions of the melting section of the furnace which are constructed from silica refractory. The products of the corrosion are deposited in the molten glass resulting in solid defects.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for shaping glass sheets to deeply sagged configurations using a lower outline mold and an upper shaping mold while minimizing marking of the sheets by shaping molds. The outline mold includes a support rail which generally corresponds to the desired curvature of a peripheral portion of the sheets to be shaped and supports the glass sheets as they are heated and sagged by gravity to a preliminary shape. The outline mold and the upper mold are then moved relative to each other to position the molds either in close proximity to each other or to press the upper mold against the glass sheets. Pressurized gas is then directed from the mold to at least the unsupported central portions of the preliminarily shaped sheets, to urge these unsupported portions downward and shape the sheets to a desired configuration.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a glass antenna and connection arrangement. The antenna includes a first glass sheet having a notch area cut out along a portion of an edge of the first sheet, a second glass sheet secured in overlaying relation to the first sheet, and at least one electroconductive antenna element supported on the second sheet between the first and second sheets. The antenna element includes a portion that extends into the notch area. A connector is positioned within the notch area and filler material fills the notch area to secure the connector within the notch area and seal the notch area. The connector includes a first section which overlays the portion of the electroconductive antenna element extending within the notch area, a second section with selected portions which extend along and are secured to an outer major surface of the first sheet, and a third section which interconnects the first and second sections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of forming a desired pattern with a coating on a substrate. The method includes the steps of applying a water soluble resist material in a predetermined pattern to a surface of a substrate, drying the resist material, depositing a coating on the surface of the substrate to form a coated substrate, wherein a portion of the coating overlays the resist material, and dissolving the resist material on the coated substrate with water to remove the resist material and corresponding overlaying coating and form a desired coating pattern on the substrate surface. The dissolving step preferably includes the step of directing high temperature and high pressure water sprays at the surface of the coated substrate to wash off the resist and corresponding overlaying coating. The removal of the resist material may include a prewash operation wherein the surface of the substrate is wetted with water and coating is allowed to soak.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of reducing marking of a heat softened glass sheet which results when portions of the sheet are contacted by glass sheet handling equipment. The portions of the sheet susceptible to marking are sprayed with an inert material having a melting point and decomposition temperature of at least 1200.degree. F. to form a layer that protects the sheet portion against marking from the equipment. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the lower major surface of a glass sheet is sprayed with an aqueous solution of sodium sulfate to form a layer of sodium sulfate along the glass surface which protect against marking of the glass by conveyor rolls.

Abstract: A plastic ply having at least one thermoplastic layer is positioned on a major surface of a glass ply to form a preliminary assembly, with the thermoplastic layer contacting selected portions of the major surface of the glass ply. A rigid press plate is placed on the plastic ply with the plate contacting a substantial portion of the plastic ply. Air is then removed from between the plastic and glass plies. After de-airing, the press plate is removed from the preliminary assembly and the preliminary assembly is subjected to elevated temperatures and pressures sufficient to intimately secure the plastic ply to the glass ply and form a laminate. If desired, the preliminary assembly and press plate may be heated to a temperature sufficient to soften the thermoplastic layer of the plastic ply while removing air from between the plastic and glass plies.

Abstract: A flexible ring mold for shaping heat softened glass sheets lifts a heat softened glass sheet and presses it against the shaping surface of an upper mold. Prior to the peripheral portions of the glass sheet contacting the upper mold, the flexible ring deforms to preliminarily shape the glass sheet.

Abstract: The present invention provides a blue colored glass using a standard soda-lime-silica glass base composition and additionally iron and cobalt as solar radiation absorbing materials and colorants. In particular, the blue colored glass includes about 0.53 to 1.1 wt. % total iron, preferably about 0.6 to 0.85 wt. % and about 5 to 40 PPM CoO, preferably about 15 to 30 PPM and a luminous transmittance of at least 55%. If desired, the composition may include up to about 100 PPM Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3. The redox ratio for the glass of the present invention is maintained between about 0.25 to 0.35, preferably between about 0.28 to 0.33. The glass color is characterized by a dominant wavelength (DW) of about 485 to 491 nanometers and an excitation purity (Pe) of about 3 to 18 percent. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the color of the glass is characterized by a dominant wavelength in the range of about 487 to 489 nanometers and an excitation purity of about 3 to 8 percent at a thickness of about 0.084 to 0.