Abstract: An apparatus having a horizontally disposed manually rockable frame for supporting and tilting a shipping container from its normal upright transporting attitude through an angle of less than 90.degree. to an attitude included from the horizontal for packing glass sheets therein. The glass sheets are manually placed in the shipping container when it is supported in the inclined packing attitude with sheets of separating material interleaved therebetween and, when packed, the container is returned to its upright transporting attitude.

Abstract: An articulated press member having pivotal end sections for imparting complex shapes to glass sheets. The end sections are pivoted in unison by a single fluid cylinder operatively connected to a rack and pinion assembly in turn connected to both end sections for effecting concurrent and equal pivotal movement thereof. A series of adjusting screws are associated with the rack and pinion assembly for angularly adjusting the positions of the end sections in various operative positions of the press member.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for fabricating a solar collector panel including providing a thermal conductive, heat absorbing plate having a plurality of grooves therein, feeding discrete lengths of solder strips having transverse curvatures into said grooves, respectively, placing a tube assembly having a plurality of conduits into said grooves of said plate is superimposed relation on said solder strips, holding said loose assembly together, and heating the loose assembly to melt the solder and effect a thermal conductive bond between said tube assembly and said plate.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for press bending sheets into complex shapes including at least one press member of outline or ring-type construction having a plurality of shaping pads mounted within the outline of the shaping ring in combination with configurated conveyor rolls for preliminarily bending a heat-softened glass sheet prior to final bending into the ultimately desired configuration.

Abstract: A glass spandrel coated on the inwardly glazed glass surface with a transparent heat reflective film and a black, opaque coating firmly adhered to and covering the exposed surface of the film. The opaque coating includes a light absorbing component to limit the visible light reflection from materials attached to or located behind the inwardly glazed coated surface below a critical value.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for directing and regulating the flow of combustion air to opposite ends of the regenerators of a regenerative tank-type glass melting furnace so as to minimize localized overheating and more uniformly heat the checkerworks of the regenerators, thereby improving the operating efficiency and prolonging the useful life thereof. To accomplish these ends, a substantial portion of the combustion air supplied to the regenerators is delivered to their downstream ends while a lesser portion is supplied to their upstream ends by ducts which include valves for cycling and a damper for apportioning the amount of combustion air flowing to opposite ends of the regenerators.

Abstract: An alignment system having a light source for projecting a reference light beam extending longitudinally with and parallel to the centerline of a roller conveyor for establishing a common reference plane containing the axes of a plurality of transversely extending conveyor rolls. Preferably, the light beam is spaced within a specified distance from the ends of the conveyor rolls. The system includes a laser having a beam expander for reducing the divergence of the light beam over long distances, a penta prism for bending the incident light beam at right angles from its projected path and directing the bent light beam against a mirror attached to an end of one of the conveyor rolls. The mirror reflects the beam back to the penta prism which, in turn, directs the reflected beam against a target located at the light source whereat the reflection of the light beam on the target is used for accurately determining the alignment relationship of that particular conveyor roll to the incident light beam.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for scoring block size glass sheets into shapes for further fabricating into automotive windshields, side lights and the like. The apparatus includes a continuously operating conveyor for advancing the block size glass sheets to and from a scoring station, including a sheet capturing mechanism whereat a sheet is captured and held in a predetermined position on an operating roll conveyor beneath a positionable scoring unit which produces at least one score line on the glass sheet along a predetermined path. Thus the scored sheet, when released, is quickly conveyed away from the scoring station.

Abstract: An apparatus for serially counting the fragments of a fractured tempered glass article including a probe assembly for touching and producing an electrical signal each time a fragment is touched, the probe assembly also marking each touched fragment. The apparatus also includes a numerical counter electrically connected to the probe assembly for cumulatively adding the number of fragments touched in a given area of the article and displaying a running tally of the counted fragments.

Abstract: An apparatus having a flat pivotal member for carrying and rotating a shipping container from its normal upright transporting attitude through an angle of less than 90.degree. to an attitude inclined from the horizontal for packing glass sheets therein. The glass sheets are placed in the shipping container when it is in the inclined packing attitude with sheets of paper interleaved therebetween and, when packed, the container is rotated to its upright transporting attitude.

Abstract: A flexible solar energy collector of unitary, one-piece, self-supporting construction provided with substantially true-round manifolds and secondary manifolds interposed between the primary manifolds and a multiplicity of fluid flow passages extending transversely therebetween. The opposite end portions of the primary manifolds are provided with inserts for reinforcing the same. Means are provided for coupling adjacent collectors together to form an array of such collectors in a solar heat collecting system.

Abstract: A valve device having a tubular body adapted to be connected in a fluid conduit system. A self-closing valve member is pivotally mounted in the passage of the tubular body, the pivotal valve member being in a position closing the passage when the device is in a disconnected state and in an open, interlocked position when the device is in a connected state. The valve member is adapted to be pivoted from a closed position to an open position and when in the open position, moved axially with respect to the passage of the tubular body to a position whereat it is supported on a retaining lip provided in the tubular body.

Abstract: A composite package for shipping and storing a stack of individual sheets of glass or the like and particularly curved automotive glass articles. The package includes a rigid outer male member and a removable female closure member, each fabricated from a resilient, shock-absorbing material. The sheets of glass are supported on edge by a pair of spaced apart rigid members projecting from the male member into the female closure member and are immobilized therewithin by resiliently contacting pairs of inner braces integrally formed on each of the members. The glass sheets are secured within the package by banding straps threaded through the male and female members and around the glass sheets. The male and female closure members are provided with mating and interfitting joining devices and may be secured together with bandings such as, for example, heat-shrinkable strech wraps, banding straps or the like. The shipping packages are stackable when assembled.

Abstract: An electrically heated laminated aircraft glazing including at least two sheets of glass and an interposed non-brittle thermoplastic interlayer. A bus bar and an electrically conducting film are located on the inwardly disposed surface of one of the sheets and the bus bar covered with a thin layer of polyisobutylene resin. Additional layers of polyisobutylene resin are provided between the interlayer material and selected glass areas to prevent delamination and cold chipping of the glazing with subsequent moisture ingress and bus bar failure.

Abstract: A system including at least a pair of mounting spars supported in a spaced-apart parallel relationship by modular sections constructed of standardized hardware for mounting one or more solar collector panels in predetermined positions on stationary surfaces. The system includes provisions for accommodating expansion and contraction of the collector panels and insulating the manifold pipes employed in a solar installation for preventing radiation heat losses.

Abstract: A screen support in the form of a segmental collar for use in a screen stenciling operation. The collar segments are movable into engagement with at least the transverse marginal edges of a glass substrate for accurately locating the same relative to an overlying screen and for providing support for the screen, and especially the perforated pattern formed therein, to maintain the same in a flat, horizontal plane during the stenciling operation.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for stretching and shaping generally rectangular, refrigerated, thermoplastic sheets for ultimate use as interlayers in curved laminated glass units. The apparatus includes a frame assembly having spaced apart clamping assemblies for supporting the transverse edges of the sheets and means for urging the clamping assemblies apart during the heat-softening of the sheets to laterally stretch and distort the sheets into their final desired shapes.

Abstract: A resilient sealing member for use about the marginal edge of a glazing panel mounted in a solar energy collector. The sealing member is cup-shaped for receiving the marginal edge portion of the panel and is formed with a sealing lip bearing against the outboard surface of the glazing panel to provide a fluid tight, pressure seal adjacent the entire periphery thereof. The sealing member is advantageously used in combination with a retainer assembly having a retainer cap that exerts pressure on the sealing member to urge the lip into uniform, pressure sealing contact with such outboard surface.

Abstract: Support mechanism is affixed to the external structure of a float glass producing facility for mounting heat exchangers above the ribbon of glass as it is formed on the bath of molten metal. The support mechanism includes spaced pairs of rollers between which the heat exchanger is directed for rolling, cantilevered insertion into the enclosed chamber over the glass ribbon. The frame of the mechanism may be pivotally secured to the structure so that when not in use it may be easily removed or swung to an out-of-the-way storage position.

Abstract: An inspection system for detecting the flatness of planar glass sheets or other materials having reflective surfaces by observing areas of preselected size on the surfaces. The system includes a collimated beam of light directed toward the surface of the sheet material wherein the collimated beam is split into two pairs of beams superimposed one upon the other at right angles for indicating contour in two directions along perpendicularly oriented axes of the observed area. The indication of flatness is obtained by presetting the spacing between the beams of each pair of beams directed against sheet material and noting any change in the spacing occurring between the reflected beams of each pair of beams. A light beam detector, positioned in the path of each of the pair of reflected beams so as to intercept the reflected beams, detects any change in spacing occurring between the beams of each pair of reflected beams and generates a series of signals in response thereto.