Abstract: This specification is directed to a UV-base ceramic paint composition and a method of forming a glass sheet with a UV-base ceramic paint thereon. The method has the following steps. A UV-base ceramic paint is applied to the glass sheet. The UV-base ceramic paint includes selected ceramic paint components along with, as a new component thereof, finely divided zinc metal powder. The glass sheet is subjected to UV radiation and then heated to a temperature which softens the glass sheet sufficiently so that the glass sheet can be formed. The glass sheet and the ceramic paint thereon are engaged with a fiberglass covered forming die to form the heated glass sheet to a desired shape. The forming die is removed from engagement with the glass sheet. The finely divided zinc metal powder addition to the ceramic paint is credited with being effective to prevent sticking of any of the ceramic paint to the forming die. The glass sheet is cooled to obtain a formed glass sheet with a ceramic paint thereon.

Abstract: A method of selectively sensing the quantity of methane gas in an oxygen containing gas stream, which method, as taught in one of its preferred embodiment, includes the step of providing a platinum catalyst (12) and a palladium catalyst (14). The platinum and the palladium catalysts are electrically interconnected (16--16) so as to obtain an electrical output reading (24) therefrom. The electrically interconnected catalysts are heated to a temperature in a range of 350.degree.-450.degree. C. whereby a reference electrical output reading is obtained therefrom. A gas stream containing suspected methane is passed over the electrically interconnected catalysts. Methane gas contained in the gas stream is oxidized only by the palladium catalyst while all other oxidizable components of the gas stream are oxidized by both catalysts.

Abstract: This specification is directed to a UV-base ceramic paint composition and a method of forming a glass sheet with a UV-base ceramic paint thereon. The method has the following steps. A UV-base ceramic paint is applied to the glass sheet. The UV-base ceramic paint includes selected ceramic paint components along with, as a new component thereof, finely divided zinc metal powder. The glass sheet is subjected to UV radiation and then heated to a temperature which softens the glass sheet sufficiently so that the glass sheet can be formed. The glass sheet and the ceramic paint thereon are engaged with a fiberglass covered forming die to form the heated glass sheet to a desired shape. The forming die is removed from engagement with the glass sheet. The finely divided zinc metal powder addition to the ceramic paint is credited with being effective to prevent sticking of any of the ceramic paint to the forming die. The glass sheet is cooled to obtain a formed glass sheet with a ceramic paint thereon.

Abstract: This specification is directed to a process for making part of an electrically heated windshield assembly. The process includes the steps of selecting a glass sheet 10. The glass sheet is formed into a windshield configuration. At least a pair of electrically conductive bus bars (14, 16) are formed on the glass sheet. One bus bar (14) extends along a lower edge of the glass sheet. A second of the bus bars (16) extends along at least a short portion (20) of the lower edge of the glass sheet in a location spaced away from the bus bar (14) and near the lower edge of the glass sheet, up a side edge of the lower edge of the glass sheet as an edge portion (22), and along an upper edge of the glass sheet as an upper portion (24). A snap-on protective member (30) is placed on the glass sheet which engages both front and back surfaces of that glass sheet. The snap-on protective member covers over lower portions and side edge portions of the second bus bar (16).

Abstract: This specification is directed to electrochromic optical shutter (10) in which an electrochromic material (12), an ion conductor (14), and a counter electrode (16), in that order, are sandwiched between visibly transparent electrodes (18-18). The shutter is improved by forming the counter electrode from a nickel oxide applied to, as a base therefor, either the ion conductor or one of the transparent electrodes. The material is applied by a pyrolytic spray process in which a solution containing nickel as a pyrolyzable organic salt dissolved in an organic medium is sprayed on the base. The base has been previously heated to a temperature sufficient to pyrolyze the sprayed material and form a nickel oxide counter electrode layer.

Abstract: This specification is directed to a method for improving emmissivity value of a pyrolytically applied doped tin oxide film on a surface of a glass substrate, such as a sheet of glass. The method includes the steps of heating the surface of the glass substrate to an initial temperature in a range from 560.degree.-650.degree. C. and thereafter applying to the surface of the glass substrate a doped tin oxide film by a pyrolytic decomposition process. The pyrolytic decomposition process is one which cools the surface of the glass substrate. The surface of the glass substrate is reheated to a temperature equal to or greater than the initial temperature but not in excess of 675.degree. C. Thereafter, a doped tin oxide film is applied to the previously coated surface of the glass substrate. The reheating and application steps may be repeated as many times as desired to produce a coated glass substrate having the desired coating thickness and emmissivity characteristics.

Abstract: A method of forming a glass sheet with ceramic paint thereon is disclosed. The method has the following general steps. A first ceramic paint (12) is applied to and dried on a glass sheet (10). The first ceramic paint includes a low temperature melting glass frit as a component thereof. A second ceramic paint (16) is applied over at least a portion of the dried first ceramic paint. The second ceramic paint includes as a component thereof a high temperature melting glass frit. The high temperature melting glass frit melts at a temperature higher than that temperature at which the low temperature melting glass frit melts at. The glass sheet is heated to a temperature which softens the glass sheet sufficiently so that the glass sheet can be formed. The heated glass sheet is engaged by a fiberglass covered forming die to form the glass sheet into a desired shape.

Abstract: Methods of making electrically heated windows (10, 100) and products produced thereby. In an embodiment of the method of our invention for producing a product of laminated construction (10), a pair of glass sheets (12, 20) are laminated together by an interposed laminated interlayer (18). This lamination is carried out in a manner that a first (12) of the pair of glass sheets defines both a first glass surface forming the outer surface of the window and a second glass surfaces in juxtaposition with the laminating interlayer, and a second (20) of the pair of glass sheets defines both a third glass surface in juxtaposition with the laminating interlayer and a fourth glass surface forming the inside surface of the window. An electrically conductive coating (16) is formed in association with one of the glass surfaces in juxtaposition with the laminating interlayer.

Abstract: This specification discloses a method of bonding an oil-based ceramic paint to a surface of a glass sheet. The method is initiated by washing the glass sheet with hot water to both clean and heat the glass sheet. Any excess water is removed from the washed glass sheet. An oil-based ceramic paint is applied to a surface of the washed glass sheet. Thereafter, the heat placed in the glass sheet by the washing operation is utilized to take part in the bonding of the ceramic paint to the surface of the glass sheet as the oil vehicle of the ceramic paint is evaporated.

Abstract: A method of making a windshield is disclosed. A first glass template (10) is cut. An opaque material is bonded to a surface of the glass template. A conductive material is bonded to portions of the opaque and portions of the surface of the glass template to form electrically conductive terminals. A slippage inducing material is placed on portions of the opaque area not having electrically conductive terminal material thereon. A second glass template (24) is cut. The first and second glass templates are placed in a glass bending device (26). The glass templates are bent with the electrically conductive terminal areas and slippage inducing material permitting relative movement between the templates during the bending thereof without the production of glass chips. The first and second glass templates are separated and an electrically conductive coating is applied between terminal areas of opposite polarity on the first glass template.

Abstract: This specification teaches an electrically heated, glass vision unit having a complex curved configuration. The unit is made by cutting a glass substrate (10) from a flat glass bracket (12). The glass substrate (10) has first and second surfaces separated by a uniform distance. A pair of electrically conductive bus bars (16--16) are applied to one of the surfaces of the glass substrate (10). The bus bars (16--16) are so positioned on the flat glass substrate (10) that when the substrate (10) is bent to form the glass vision unit of complex curved configuration, inboard edges (16a--16a) of the pair of electrically conductive bus bars (16--16) are equally distant from one another throughout their entire extent. The flat glass substrate (10) is bent to form the glass vision unit of complex curved configuration. A conductive coating (20) is applied to the one surface of the glass substrate (10) and extends between the pair of bus bars (16--16) throughout their entire extent.

Abstract: This disclosure teaches a new article of manufacture. The article includes a glass substrate and an adherent coating on the glass substrate of a gray color. The coating on the glass substrate has a composition selected from the group of glass coating compositions consisting essentially of oxides of cobalt, manganese, and copper, wherein the metal content of the metal oxide composition contains 45-60% by weight of cobalt, 26-39% by weight of manganese, and 12-20% by weight of copper. The actual weight percent of each metal is adjusted so that all metals are within their stated ranges when providing a total of 100% by weight metal. The coated glass substrate can be made into a product which has particular utility as a tinted architectural or a tinted automotive glass product.

Abstract: An improved electrically heated vision unit in which heat can be concentrated in a selected zone or zones thereof includes at least one sheet of a relatively rigid transparent material (12) having a ceramic enamel (14) extending along at least two opposite edges on one surface thereof. A bus bar is associated with each ceramic enamel on each edge of the sheet and has at least one narrow portion (18) overlying and bonded to an associated one of the ceramic enamel, and at least one wide portion (20) in part overlying and bonded to an associated one of said ceramic enamel and in part overlying and bonded to said one surface of the transparent material. The narrow portions and the wide portions of the pair of bus bars are in register with like portions on an opposed one of the bus bars.

Abstract: This specification is directed to a method of improving the conductivity and lowering the emissivity of a doped tin oxide film on the surface of a soda lime silica glass sheet. The method includes the steps of heating the glass sheet to a temperature in a range from 1000.degree. F. to 1250.degree. F. Thereafter, a fluorine-containing compound is applied to a surface of the heated glass sheet to react therewith to form a film in which divalent oxygen atoms and hydroxyl ions on the surface of the glass sheet are replaced with monovalent fluorine atoms. In this manner, the surface of the glass sheet is brought closer to a state of electro-neutrality and the monovalent fluorine atoms form a more stable bond with soda and silica atoms of the surface of the glass sheet. Thereafter, a doped tin oxide film is applied to the film formed on the heated glass sheet to a thickness required to give the doped tin oxide film the desired conductivity and emissivity characteristics.

Abstract: This specification teaches a method of manufacturing a curved windshield with an electrically conductive film thereon. The method includes the steps of placing an electrically conductive film, an oxidizable metal layer, and an oxidized metal layer in layered relationship on a flat glass sheet. A glass templet is cut from the coated sheet and electric bus bars are applied and dried on the electrically conductive film on the coated glass templet. A glass templet is cut from an uncoated glass sheet and the two so-formed templets are united with the coating of the one sheet exposed to the ambient. The glass sheets are heated and bent into curved configuration. Thereafter, a laminating interlayer is placed between the glass templets and the glass templets are laminated together.

Abstract: This specification is directed to a method of forming a glass sheet with a UV-base ceramic paint thereon, the method having the following steps. A UV-base ceramic paint is applied to the glass sheet. The UV-base ceramic paint includes normal ceramic paint components along with, as a new component thereof, finely divided zinc metal powder and finely divided stannous oxide powder. The glass sheet is subjected to UV radiation and then heated to a temperature which softens the glass sheet sufficiently so that the glass sheet can be formed. The glass sheet and the ceramic paint thereon are engaged with a fiberglass covered forming die to form the heated glass sheet to a desired shape. The forming die is removed from engagement with the glass sheet. The finely divided zinc metal powder and finely divided stannous oxide powder addition to the ceramic paint is credited with being effective to prevent sticking of any of the ceramic paint to the forming die.

Abstract: This specification is directed to a method of forming a glass sheet with an oil-base ceramic paint thereon, the method having the following steps. An oil-base ceramic paint is applied to the glass sheet. The oil-base ceramic paint includes normal ceramic paint components along with, as a new component thereof, finely divided zinc metal powder. The glass sheet is heated to a temperature which softens the glass sheet sufficiently so that the glass sheet can be formed. The glass sheet and the ceramic paint thereon are engaged with a fiberglass covered forming die to form the heated glass sheet to a desired shape. The forming die is removed from engagement with the glass sheet. The finely divided zinc metal powder addition to the ceramic paint is credited with being effective to prevent sticking of any of the ceramic paint to the forming die. The glass sheet is cooled to obtain a formed glass sheet with a ceramic paint thereon.

Abstract: This specification teaches a method of making an electrically heated, glass vision unit having a complex curved configuration. The method is initiated by cutting a glass substrate (10) from a flat glass bracket (12). The glass substrate (10) has first and second surfaces separated by a uniform distance. A pair of electrically conductive bus bars (16--16) are applied to one of the surfaces of the glass substrate (10). The bus bars (16--16) are so positioned on the flat glass substrate (10) that when the substrate (10) is bent to form the glass vision unit of complex curved configuration, the pair of electrically conductive bus bars (16--16) are equally distant from one another throughout their entire extent. The flat glass substrate (10) is bent to form the glass vision unit of complex curved configuration. A conductive coating (20) is applied to the one surface of the glass substrate (10) and extends between the pair of bus bars (16--16) throughout their entire extent.

Abstract: This specification teaches a method for making an electrically heatable windshield of laminated construction. In the method, a pair of glass templets are cut (10) and they include a long glass templet and a short glass templet. The templets are separated (20) from one another. An opaque ceramic paint is applied (30) to an edge portion of a coatable surface of a selected glass templet and is dried (40) thereon. Bus bars are also applied (50) to and dried (60) on the coatable surface of the long glass templet. The glass templets are united (70) and subjected to a bending operation (80) to form a shaped windshield pair. The long glass templet and short glass templet are separated (90). A transparent electrically conductive coating is applied (100) between the bus bars located on the selected glass templet.

Abstract: This specification is directed to a method of making a current collector (14) for a sodium/sulfur battery (10). The current collector so-made is electronically conductive and resistant to corrosive attack by sulfur/polysulfide melts. The method includes the step of forming the current collector for the sodium/sulfur battery from a composite material (16) formed of aluminum filled with electronically conductive fibers selected from the group of fibers consisting essentially of graphite fibers having a diameter up to 10 microns and silicon carbide fibers having a diameter in a range of 500-1000 angstroms.