Abstract: An elongated, horizontal tunnel-type furnace for heat treating workpieces carried in succession therethrough. The furnace is of modular construction and comprises a series of contiguous individual modular sections that define a tunnel-type enclosure. Each modular section comprises a stationary lower enclosure section and an assembled vertically retractable upper enclosure section. The upper enclosure sections are supported along opposite sides by a plurality of spaced, free-standing lifting devices. A screw-jack is associated with each lifting device for raising and lowering the upper enclosure sections relative to the lower enclosure sections. The upper enclosure sections may be raised and lowered individually or joined together and moved as a unit.

Abstract: Coated class articles, particularly useful as vehicle or architectural glazings, are prepared by a chemical vapor deposition process in which glass is coated with a first layer of titanium nitride, a second layer of a silicon complex, and optionally, a third layer of a metal oxide.

Abstract: Green-colored, infrared energy and ultraviolet radiation absorbing glass compositions comprise conventional soda-lime-silica float glass ingredients, a high concentration of moderately reduced iron, and ceric oxide. The resultant glass exhibits an Illuminant A visible light transmittance greater than 70%, a total solar energy transmittance less than about 46%, and an ultraviolet radiation transmittance less than about 38%, at glass thicknesses in the range of 3 mm to 5 mm. Optionally, a portion of the ceric oxide can be replaced with a predetermined quantity of titanium oxide.

Abstract: Blue-colored, infrared radiation absorbing glass compositions are prepared by the addition of zinc sulfide and zinc oxide to glass compositions containing iron. The zinc sulfide acts as a reducing agent, to maintain a portion of the iron in the ferrous state, and the zinc oxide prevents amber coloration of the glass which would otherwise occur due to the addition of the zinc sulfide to the glass batch.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for measuring the heat transfer in cooling devices. More particularly, the invention is concerned with the heat transfer pattern caused by blastheads used in the tempering of automotive glass. A thin foil sheet disposed in front of the blasthead is heated according to a predetermined pattern. One side of the foil sheet is then exposed to a cooling blast of air from the nozzles of the blasthead, while the temperature of the opposite side of the foil sheet is monitored using an infrared camera. Then, using information generated by the infrared camera, heat transfer information can be determined.

Abstract: Producing an encapsulated glazing unit having a weather-stable film on an exposed surface of the gasket. There is provided a two-part mold whose sections cooperate to define a mold cavity for receiving the peripheral margins of the transparent glazing unit upon which the gasket is to be formed. A sheet of the weather-stable film is positioned over the mold section having the portion of the cavity which defines the surface to which the film is to be applied. With the mold closed, a flowable gasket forming material is injected into the mold cavity behind the film to deform the film into conformity with the mold surface. As the gasket cures in situ, the film fuses to its surface. The encapsulated unit is removed from the mold and the excess film is trimmed from around the gasket.

Abstract: A distributor beam for depositing coating material on the surface of a sheet of glass includes a plenum for each gas to be mixed. The plenums are surrounded by a cooling fluid duct and heating elements are provided for temperature control. Theremocouples generate signals representing actual temperatures and the heaters are controlled to maintain an optimum temperature for the gases as they flow from the plenums through a mixing chamber to the surface of the glass sheet which is located below an outlet from the mixing chamber. Fastener means apply increased clamping pressure to the beam structure as the temperature increases to increase the rate of heat transfer to the cooling fluid.

Abstract: Molded composites, useful for manufacturing for example entry way doors, furniture components, building decorative or structural components, etc., are produced by a process in which a substrate and surface finishing film are placed in a mold, the mold is closed, and reactive polymeric precursors are injected between the substrate and the surface finishing film. The injection pressure and the autogenous pressure incident to the curing of the reactive polymeric precursors deform the surface finishing film into intimate contact with a surface of the mold cavity, and simultaneously the polymeric precursors chemically bond to the surface finishing film.

Abstract: A window assembly includes two or more glass sheets and a gasket formed by curing a polymeric gasket material in situ on the glass sheets to encapsulate a marginal peripheral edge thereof and form a hinge between the glass sheets. The hinge is formed as a narrow cross sectional area between portions of the gasket adhered to adjacent peripheral edges of the two glass sheets. The hinge permits the glass sheets to be moved relative to one another. Thus, the glass sheets and gasket can be formed in a substantially planar configuration, can be shipped in said planar configuration, and then can be adjusted to fit into openings in a vehicle or building in a desired configuration.

Abstract: A control circuit for a windshield wiper motor is disclosed in which the wiper motor is made automatically responsive to the presence of moisture droplets on the windshield causing the wiper blades to sweep back and forth at a rate dependent upon the level of precipitation encountered. By using a set of sample-and-hold circuits, bandpass filtering and a differential amplifier under microprocessor control, disturbances to the system due to changes in ambient light are linearly rejected and the system becomes immune to such disturbances. The system utilizes an intentional-retrigger algorithm enabling the system to detect water droplets that miss the sensor yet fall within the area of the windshield which is swept by the wiper blades. The system automatically adapts to windshields of differing transmittance and is not falsely set into action by electromagnetic disturbances.

Abstract: A transparent substrate is coated with consecutive layers of chromium, chromium oxides, and a metal oxide, thereby producing a transparent article having low visible light transmittance and low film side reflectance, which is particularly useful as an automotive or architectural solar control glazing.

Abstract: The invention comprises a tunnel-type heating furnace of modular construction for heating glass sheets carried therethrough in succession on a series of aligned rollers. The furnace enclosure includes a lower section of generally rectangular cross-section beneath the rollers and an upper section, which is of generally elliptical configuration in cross-section, above the rollers. The upper enclosure section is vertically retractable by means of a jack mechanism to facilitate maintenance and changing of the rollers. The rollers include shafts at their opposite ends having bearings adapted to be received and supported in upwardly opening recesses in roll support plates extending along either side of the furnace. A toothed gear or sprocket is affixed to the end shaft at one end of each roller. The rollers are driven in groups by timing belts whose upper flights extend over and engage the toothed gears.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a unique method for producing an anti-lacerative glass assembly wherein a plastic composite anti-laceration sheet is to be bonded to a glass substrate sheet. The plastic anti-laceration sheet includes an inner layer of polyvinyl butyral adpated to abut the glass substrate sheet, an intermediate layer of polyester, and an outer layer of abrasion resistant material. A glass cover sheet having substantially the same curvature as the glass substrate sheet is utilized to press the anti-laceration sheet into bonding engagement with the glass substrate sheet. In accordance with the present invention, the bonding operation is accomplished by heating the laminated glass assembly to a predetermined temperature in the range of 285.degree. F. to 305.degree. F. The present invention also concerns the use of a unique vacuum ring construction which is mounted about the periphery of the laminated assembly and it utilized to de-air the assembly.

Abstract: Blue-colored, infrared radiation absorbing glass compositions are prepared by the addition of zinc sulfide and zinc oxide to glass compositions containing iron. The zinc sulfide acts as a reducing agent, to maintain a portion of the iron in the ferrous state, and the zinc oxide prevents amber coloration of the glass which would otherwise occur due to the addition of the zinc sulfide to the glass batch.

Abstract: Fiber reinforced molded plastic articles, without fiber readout surface defects, are prepared in either resin transfer molding or reinforced reaction injection molding processes, by disposing a surface finishing film across the mold cavity prior to the insertion of the fiber preform and the injection of the curable polymeric precursor materials, thereby producing a finished article wherein the surface finishing film is bonded to the surface of the article filling the areas between those fibers near the surface which would otherwise cause fiber readout.

Abstract: The invention comprises press bending apparatus including a continuous uninterrupted peripheral shaping rail mounted for vertical reciprocating movement for lifting a heated glass sheet from a roll conveyor and pressing it against a complementary shaping surface. Conveyor rolls are provided exteriorly of the shaping rail for advancing a sheet into position over the shaping rail, and additional separate rolls are mounted so as to be disposed within the confines of the shaping rail for supporting the sheet interiorly of the shaping rail. An arrangement is provided beneath the shaping rail for supporting and driving the interior rolls so as to permit vertical movement of the shaping rail between the interior and exterior rolls.

Abstract: Coated plastic products are prepared by chemically bonding a protective coating material to at least a portion of the surface of a plastic substrate, by disposing a web of a protective coating material over the cavity of a mold, and thereafter injecting polymeric precursor materials into the mold behind the web thereby conforming the web to the surface of the mold cavity. As the polymeric precursor materials react in situ to form the plastic substrate, they also chemically bond to the protective coating material.

Abstract: An insert which forms the show or finish surface (this surface exposed to the weather) for an elastomeric gasket in an encapsulated window assembly is thermo formed from a sheet of plastic and placed in the lower half of a mold. A sheet of glazing material is also placed in the lower mold half and an upper mold half is utilized to close the mold cavity. Gasket forming material is injected into the mold cavity to form a gasket in situ which adheres to both the peripheral marginal areas of the transparent sheet and the insert. The insert can be formed with a gate portion which extends into the gate area of the mold and prevents the gasket forming material from flowing onto the surface of the insert which is to be exposed in the final glazing. In one embodiment, the insert can be formed in its final configuration with a central opening leaving the transparent sheet exposed.

Abstract: A press bending mold having an improved shaping element comprising a flexible, continuous shaping surface that is readily adjustable and easy to fabricate. The shaping element is mounted on a support plate by a plurality of adjustable connectors, and includes a resilient body having an expanded metal grid encapsulated therein. The resilient body may be covered by one or a plurality of sheets of a fibrous, heat-resistant material which, in turn, is covered by a layer of fiberglass cloth, or the such. One or more of the fibrous sheets may be treated with a rigidizer.

Abstract: The flow of a gas containing entrained particulate matter may be accurately, reliably and continuously measured, utilizing an apparatus comprising a self-cleaning orifice, including counter-rotating continuously scraped cylinders, and thermophoretic pressure taps.