Abstract: A stretched acrylic sheet which is to be formed into a vision panel at an elevated temperature has its major surfaces reheated to an elevated temperature to intentionally generate a class of surface formations thereon for subsequent removal by polishing prior to the formation of the final vision panel. Such surface deformations are otherwise undesirably generated during vision panel formation and detract from the optical quality of the final product.

Abstract: An electroconductive laminated window having an electroconductive coating applied to one interior substrate surface with a pair of bus bars electrically connecting a source of electrical potential thereto. The bus bars include an electroconductive layer having volume resistivity less than about 10.sup.-2 ohm-cm interposed between and conformable to the surface configurations of the electroconductive coating and a flexible metallic current carrying member. The metallic current carrying member is preferably a mesh of thin copper foil which is substantially bendable in its own plane, and the electroconductive layer is preferably a metallic layer substantially free of non-metallic components, consisting of a mixture of finely divided electroconductive particles and finely divided metal alloy particles having a fusion temperature between about 70.degree. C. and about 150.degree. C.

Abstract: Apparatus for selectively heating marginal edge portions of a stream of molten glass includes at least two independent heating elements presenting a substantially planar heating face toward the marginal edge of a stream of molten glass flowing in close proximity thereunder. A first set of the heating elements overlies a portion of the marginal edge adjacent a containing sidewall and the second set is positioned inboard of the first set relative to the central portion of the stream. Generated heat is directed primarily downward, e.g., greater than about fifty percent, and preferably greater than seventy-five percent toward first and second distinct areas of the marginal edge by a thermal insulating barrier positioned over the heating elements, to provide first and second localized zones of heating. The heating elements may be cantilevered through the sidewall in close proximity to the stream of molten glass.

Abstract: A peripheral edge-containing member is provided to reduce the length of the projectile path of fragmented particles expelled outwardly from the peripheral edge of a frangible pressing plate which is broken during the press-stretching or press-polishing of acrylic sheets. The acrylic sheets are fabricated for use in light weight transparencies.

Abstract: A sheet supporting rack has (1) a base including a pair of spaced elongated runners detachably secured on flatbed of a trailer; (2) a back support including a strut mounted on each of the runners; and (3) a front restraint including an upright slidably mounted on each of the runners. The sheets are mounted in a generally vertical position with an edge of the sheet supported on the base, and a major surface of the sheets supported by the back support. The uprights of the front restraint are slid and angled with respect to the runners to urge the sheets against the back support and to secure the uprights in position on the runners to prevent movement of the sheets during shipment thereof.

Abstract: A hole through each of opposed walls of a combustion chamber of a glass melting apparatus and piping interconnect the chamber atmosphere to an oxygen analyzer. A sample of the chamber atmosphere is continuously moved through each of the holes and piping to the analyzer by the biasing action of the positive pressure differential between the chamber atmosphere and the ambient atmosphere.

Abstract: This invention relates to heat treating glass sheets, and particularly relates to shaping and tempering a glass sheet comprising a step of supporting the sheet while heat softened with its upper surface against a glass sheet holder. In order to minimize surface distortion resulting from the heat-softened glass sheet replicating any surface deficiencies in the holder such as surface blemishes if the sheet is forced against a continuous surface by an upward flow of gas pressure, or those resulting from perforations through the bottom wall of the holder if the holder is of the vacuum type that holds the glass sheet thereagainst by suction, the present invention interposes a soft, fluffy, porous cover of fiber glass fabric, perferably knit fabric composed of texturized yarns between the upper surface of the glass sheet and the glass sheet holder.

Abstract: A container for shipping automotive windshields in a generally vertical position has a pair of spaced logs mounted on the base. Each of the logs has an elongated member having an adhesive strip on a longitudinally extending sheet edge supporting surface and a row of recesses on each side of the strip. The windshields are urged toward the adhesive strip and held in continuous contact therewith by a spacer assembly and strap to prevent longitudinal and lateral motion of the windshields during shipment of the loaded container. The spacer assembly includes a plurality of spacers each having a recess for receiving upper edge portions of the loaded windshield and a tab portion or second recess for aligning each of the spacers by an elongated member. The windshields are secured in the container and continuously biased against the adhesive strip by the strap.

Abstract: A spacing conveyor section includes a plurality of shafts each having a spring mounted thereon and a plurality of spaced donut rolls mounted on the spring. Glass sections having their leading edges transverse to the sheet movement path and generally aligned with one another are advanced onto the spacing rolls. Thereafter the springs are stretched to increase the distance between sides of adjacent sections. The sections are then advanced along the spacing conveyor section into downstream work positions.

Abstract: A glass edge multiple glazed unit having fillets of substantially uniform thickness is produced by the application of heat to marginal edge portions of adjacent sheets, followed by a delay sufficient to establish a substantially uniform, greater than fusing temperature condition in the body of fillet-forming glass. The fused sheets are thereafter drawn apart a preselected distance to a spaced-apart face-to-face relation to form a glass-edge multiple glazed unit.

Abstract: A carriage for moving urethane rings along a shaft is driven by an air motor powering a rack and pinion arrangement.

Abstract: An adhesion-promoting primer, e.g., an emulsion polymer, is employed to bond organic elastomers to silicone elastomer adhesives. A multiple glazed unit having an organic elastomer sealant about its periphery is mounted into a curtainwall system by first coating the exposed organic elastomer sealant with a suitable primer before bonding the multiple glazed unit to the curtainwall system with silicone elastomer adhesive.

Abstract: A method of vertically positioning ribbon engaging devices in a glass forming chamber includes suspending a contact member within the chamber a known vertical distance relative to the device, moving the contact member toward the surface of a pool of molten metal contained within the glass forming chamber while moving the device to maintain the known vertical distance; and generating a signal when the contact member engages the pool of molten metal to indicate that the device is vertically positioned said known vertical distance from the surface of the pool of molten metal.

Abstract: A device for continually sensing the temperature of an advancing glass ribbon has a thermocouple temperature sensing junction mounted within the area circumscribed by a pair of rotating wheels and spaced from the periphery of the wheels. The wheels engage the ribbon and are rotated thereby as the temperature sensing junction remains in a fixed position in a plane containing the rotating axis of the wheels and normal to the glass surface to continually sense the temperature of the advancing ribbon.

Abstract: The marginal edge portions of an accelerating ribbon of float glass are engaged by a plurality of opposed pairs of attenuating devices, each pair exerting substantially equal forces. The pairs of attenuating devices are positioned longitudinally adjacent one another such that the ratio of the ribbon width intermediate adjacent pairs to the average of the ribbon widths at each pair is greater than 0.95. The attenuating devices may be edge rolls each rotating with a peripheral velocity a predetermined amount greater than the linear velocity of the ribbon immediately upstream.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for attenuating a ribbon of float glass in a temperature region below 1500.degree. F. (815.degree. C.) to diminish undesirable longitudinally oriented optical distortions. A cylindrical ribbon engaging device is rotated about an axis of rotation substantially parallel to the ribbon surface and the direction of ribbon flow to positively exert a plurality of outwardly directed lateral forces to an elongated substantial continuum of the marginal edge portion of the ribbon. Ribbon engaging elements are disposed about the circumferential surface of the cylindrical device in elongated helical paths, and the cylindrical device is rotated at an angular velocity such that the product of the angular velocity and the pitch of the helical paths equals the longitudinal velocity of the ribbon flow while the device acts upon the ribbon surface.

Abstract: An automotive window is manufactured by silk screening a pattern of a ceramic paste on a piece of glass having peripheral dimensions greater than the peripheral dimensions of the window. During the silk screening, portions of the screen extending beyond the pattern are supported by glass portions extending beyond the window to prevent bending of the screen near the pattern. The piece is scored through the pattern to define the window or a window blank within the piece and thereafter the glass around the window is removed. The window is then tempered at which time the ceramic paste fuses to the window.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for measuring gases dissolved in molten metal. Also disclosed are method and apparatus for dissolving gases in molten metal and a method of forming a gas permeable but molten metal impervious ceramic tube. A ceramic member is leached by an invention process so as to be selectively gas permeable. The member is inserted into molten metal to submerge the permeable portion. Then a vacuum is applied to the member and dissolved gases are measured by the change in pressure caused by gases entering from the molten metal. In another embodiment gas is applied to the submerged member to cause it to dissolve in the molten metal.

Abstract: A device for sensing the oxygen content in exhaust gases in a regenerative furnace for evaluating combustion efficiency includes an oxygen probe and conduit cast in a ceramic block. Water moved through the conduit provides structural stability to the ceramic block and protects the probe against thermal damage.

Abstract: A pair of glass ribbon edge detectors each have a power source connected to a carbon probe suspended over the molten metal bath of a glass forming chamber and to the molten metal bath to form a pair of capacitors. The voltage output of each capacitor has a first value when the probe is over the molten metal bath, a second value when the probe is over the glass ribbon and a third value when the probe is over a portion of the molten metal bath and a portion of the glass ribbon edge. Displacement and direction of displacement of each probe is used to determine glass ribbon width.A tweel for metering glass onto the molten metal bath has linear displacement gauges mounted at each side thereof and directly connected to the tweel so as to monitor displacement of the tweel to determine the flow of molten glass into the forming chamber. Movement of the tweel in response to the capacitors' output controls the flow of molten glass to control the ribbon width.