Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a tubular glass membrane with wall thicknesses between 5 and 30 microns and reproducible pore sizes between 11 A and 50 A. Alkali borosilicate glass is drawn into discrete hollow tubes and immediately cooled. The tubes are thermally treated to effect a phase separation into a coherent silicon dioxide phase and a boron oxide phase rich in alkali borate. The boron oxide phase is leached out with mineral acid. The tubes can be subsequently treated to give enlarged or reduced pores, asymmetric pores and coated surfaces.

Abstract: A process for the thermal tempering of glass wherein the hot glass is immersed in a vessel in which there are two mutually immiscible liquids. The liquid of lower density is above the liquid of higher density. The glass is precooled for a specific time in the liquid of lower density and then is brought into the liquid of higher density.

Abstract: In a rolling machine for continuously manufacturing rolled plates of glass or glass ceramics, in which the two shaping rolls can be changed during operation without interrupting the flow of glass, the two shaping rolls together with at least one replacement roll are disposed in a respective change-over device rotatable around a shaft which is symmetrical relative to all the rolls. To enable both shaping rolls to be rapidly changed during operation, the change-over device for the top shaping roll has a device for rapidly raising and lowering the change-over device and thus raising or lowering the top shaping rolls.

Abstract: A heater or cooker panel assembly comprises an enameled frame having an upper edge which is capped by a decorative edge trim made of alloy steel. The trim protects the upper edge of the frame against damage in use. The frame has an internal flange which mounts a glass or vitreous ceramic hob plate. A layer of silicone adhesive forms a cohesive unit with the frame and trim so that the hob plate is thermally bonded to the unit. A good bond is obtained between the enameled frame and the adhesive. In an embodiment where the frame is plastic coated or is of anodized aluminum, the trim is dispensed with and a substantially U-shaped profile is engaged over the internal flange of the frame. The U-shaped profile is formed of a material which is capable of being firmly bonded to the adhesive.

Abstract: Electrochromic mirrors hermetically sealed from the ambient environment and comprising at least one electrode, at least one electrochromic layer, a reflector, at least one ion-conducting layer, and at least one ion-supplying layer which simultaneously is an ion-storing layer and is not identical with the reflector, wherein the ion-conducting layer consists essentially of an ion-conducting inorganic solid.

Abstract: A device for diafiltration comprising a housing having an inlet, first and second outlets, a diaphragm disposed in the housing and means for sealing the diaphragm in the housing so that the material entering the inlet and not passing through the diaphragm is removed by the first outlet while the material passing through the diaphragm is removed from the housing through the second outlet characterized by the improvements of the diaphragms being formed by a plurality of capillary diaphragms arranged with the housing to require the least structural volume and each of the capillary diaphragms being an inorganic material, such as porous glass, which is chemically modified in a known manner, such as being treated with molecules including radicals, such as silane derivatives, with the functional groups.

Abstract: An apparatus for a high pressure ultra-filtration of a permeate or filtrate from a crude solution characterized by a module having an inlet for the crude solution, an outlet for the crude solution, a pressure stable capillary diaphragm as the main filtration element, means holding the diaphragm in said module, the filtration element being of a structure most favorable to the flow techniques in which the capillary diaphragms are permeated from the outside toward the inside as the crude solution flows in the axial direction therealong under a flow pressure gradient, an outlet for the permeate passing into the capillary diaphragms and means for creating a flow pressure gradient on crude material being supplied to the module. Preferably, capillary diaphragms are porous glass capillaries which are secured at one end with the other end being closed and free to adjust its position in the module.

Abstract: A glass-ceramic cooking panel unit of the type having a glass-ceramic plate overlying heating elements is provided with threaded spring mounting connections in the frame. The connections permit adjustments to be made during installation of the unit in the vertical position of the cooking plate relative to the surrounding work surface. The frame design also permits a simplified access to the unit after installation when servicing is required.

Abstract: Two pipeline components (5) and (6) are sealed together by a seal comprising a U-section casing (1) and a pair of rings (2) and (3) which are surrounded at their inner diameter and at their outer end surfaces by the casing (1). Adjacent inner end surfaces (9) and (8) the rings (2) and (3) are respectively, externally and internally spherical, the inner end surface (8) being generally conical with a recess therein to receive a P.T.F.E. slider (4). A centering collar (7) is provided on the ring (3). The axes of the components (5) and (6) can be misaligned by an angle .alpha. while the seal is maintained because of relative sliding action which is permitted between the surfaces (8) and (9) and because of permitted deformation of the casing (1) which is formed of an elastic and chemically resistant material.

Abstract: For the manufacture of formed parts made of glass, as for example, grill gratings or grease pans for kitchenstoves, a piece of plate glass that is cut to size is placed on a mold which corresponds to the shape of the desired piece of glass; and is heated. In order to prevent a premature lowering of the softening piece of plate glass, during the softening process, it is supported by a gas cushion.

Abstract: SiO.sub.2 -Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 -alkaline earth oxides glass compositions suitable for glass/molybdenum sealings with high thermal load capability, having coefficients of thermal expansion in the temperature range of 20.degree.-300.degree. C. of 4.6-5.1.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree. C., glass transformation temperatures (Tg) of 775.degree.-810.degree. C., softening temperatures (Ew) greater than 930.degree. C., processing temperatures (V.sub.A) of 1232.degree.-1273.degree. C. and at length of V.sub.A -Ew greater than 300.degree. C. as regards processing technology of these glasses in the mixture, which consist essentially of the following components, computed as percent by oxide weight:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 57.00-64.00 wt % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 12.50-16.50 wt % ZrO.sub.2 1.00-5.50 wt % Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 + ZrO.sub.2 15.00-19.00 wt % CaO 11.50-19.20 wt % BaO 0-6.50 wt % CeO.sub.2 0-8.00 wt % TiO.sub.2 0-4.50 wt % CaO + BaO + CeO.sub.2 + TiO.sub.2 18.60-25.70 wt % and As.sub.2 O.sub.3 0-0.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flat, gas-tight solar energy collector having a novel absorber means consisting of an absorber plate and an edge connecting means attached thereto for connecting the absorber to the edge structure of the collector. No direct thermal contact exists between the edge of the absorber plate and the edge structure means. Thus, heat losses on the sides of the collector are kept to a minimum.

Abstract: Low alkali, high phosphate and high Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 content glasses are described which are highly suitable for optical colored and filter glasses. They exhibit a glass transformation temperature Tg>450.degree. C. and have the following composition, in percent by weight:______________________________________ P.sub.2 O.sub.5 71.0-76.0 SiO.sub.2 0.25-2.5 B.sub.2 O.sub.3 2.4-3.75 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 8.6-11.6 R.sub.2 O (alkali oxide) 1.25-6.5 CaO 0.5-1.65 MgO 2.0-3.5 Refining Agent 0.2-0.6 CeO.sub.2 0.1-0.4 F' 0.2-0.4 and CuO 1.0-10.0.

Abstract: Glass compositions have been found which, with a low linear thermal expansion coefficient of 33.9-53.2.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. at 20-300.degree. C. will pre-stress to a much higher extent under similar prestressing conditions than known glasses of the same thermal expansion, and which consequently result in crumbling under forced fracture. The glasses possess the following properties: the transformation temperatures (Tg) are between 566.degree. and 660.degree. C., the softening temperatures (Ew) are between 821.degree. and 845.degree. C. and working temperatures are between 1211.degree. and 1370.degree. C., the temperature differential Ew-Tg being 232.degree. to 298.degree. C., the ratio .alpha.'/.alpha. of the thermal expansion coefficient above Tg (.alpha.') to expansion below Tg (.alpha.) being between 4.1 and 9.4 and the formation comprising:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 61.60-79.50 percent by weight B.sub.2 O.sub.3 1.00-10.50 Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 2.50-14.00 Na.sub.2 O 1.50-6.

Abstract: Optical glass is disclosed which has an increased resistance to solarization and irradiation as well as little or no undesirable coloring. This glass is designed to exhibit as many properties having optimal values as possible. The silicate glass used is free of alkaline earth metal oxides and incorporates CeO.sub.2 and both zinc and strontium ions in very small concentrations. The latter two materials further improve the solarization and irradiation resistance properties of the glass. Furthermore, as the zinc and strontium ions are effective when used in low concentrations, they serve to minimize any undesirable glass coloring.

Abstract: A vitreous ceramic cooker hob plate with circumferentially surrounding frame permanently elastically adhesively fitted thereto is provided. The circumferentially surrounding frame is adhesively joined to the hob plate in such a way that a narrow gap is left between the bevelled edge of the frame and the hob plate, and the frame flange overlaps the same. The gap is filled in, flush with the frontal side of the bevelled edge, by a permanently elastic adhesive which makes a sealed and mechanically firm joint between the bevelled edge and the hob plate.

Abstract: Inner and outer blow-moulded glass bulbs, each open at one end thereof, are positioned one inside another on an apparatus having a chuck means which holds the bulbs in a spaced apart relation. The apparatus includes pivotally moveable gripping means which engage outer surface edges of the outer bulb along the open end thereof and positively hold such surface edges against an adjacent support surface while deformation heat and force are applied to the outer bulb surfaces above such edges to selectively compress or stretch such outer bulb surfaces toward the adjacent inner bulb surfaces. Thereafter, the surfaces of the inner and outer bulbs which are in contact with one another are fused together and the open ends of the respective bulbs are sealed to one another to define a container mouth.

Abstract: An optical fiber comprising a light-conducting core and a borosilicate glass optical insulation cladding thereon is stabilized against the effects of nuclear radiation by incorporating in the core and the cladding an amount of Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 effective to harden the fiber against nuclear radiation. Amounts of 0.002-6 wt. % Sb.sub.2 O.sub.3 are generally useful.

Abstract: An electrolyte glass for use as the solid electrolyte in high-temperature galvanic batteries, for example a sodium-sulfur battery. The glass electrolyte has relatively low resistivity and high corrosion resistance and is easily worked by glass manufacturing techniques. The composition of the glass electrolyte according to the invention is defined by xNa.sub.2 O.multidot.ySiO.sub.2 .multidot.zAl.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: A device for cutting glass for example separating a drop or portion of a plastic glass skein emerging from a feeder characterized by having two shear arms mounted for rotation in a common frame, each of the shear arms being provided with a knife at its extreme end and a device for periodically moving the arms in a pincher-like closing movement toward one another and away from one another so that the knives can execute a cutting process. The device for periodically moving includes a device for forming a periodic working cycle preferably comprising at least one cam having one segment forming a working stage of a working cycle and a second segment forming an idle stage. By varying the speed of rotation of the cam while the follower is in the second stage, a time delay between the closing of the knives can be adjusted without changing the speed of movement during a cutting stage.