Abstract: Bent and/or toughened silver coated glass having light transmission is produced by depositing layers of additional metal over, or both under and over, the silver layer. When the additional metal is used over the silver layer, it is selected from aluminium, titanium, zinc and tantalum. When the additional metal is used both under and over the silver, it is selected from aluminium, titanium, zinc, tantalum and zirconium. The additional metal is used in an amount such that the light transmission of the coated glass increases on bending and/or toughening. The bent and/or toughened coated glass is useful for architectural glazing and as vehicle windows.

Abstract: A direct casting process for manufacturing a shaped synthetic plastic article, such as an ophthalmic lens, which has photochromic properties, the process comprising incorporating a photochromic spiro-oxazine compound into a mixture comprising a highly reactive polyfunctional monomer and a low amount of a polymerization catalyst, and curing the composition in a mould to form the shaped synthetic plastic article.

Abstract: A lightweight impact-resistant window panel, for example for adhesive glazing to the airframe of an unpressurized aircraft, has outer and inner glass plies which are laminated with an intermediate impact-resistant plastics ply. An inner ply of impact-resistant plastics is bonded to the rearward face of the inner glass ply. The aggregate thickness of the impact-resistant plies is in the range from about 1 mm to about 7.5 mm.

Abstract: An impact-resistant laminate has a front glass sheet which receives an impact such as a bullet, and a rear polycarbonate sheet. A thin polycarbonate sheet up to about 1 mm thick is adhered to the rear polycarbonate sheet, and carries a self-healing polyurethane coating.

Abstract: A television face plate resistant to browning is formed by melting and refining molten glass which contains cerium oxide as an anti-browning agent, the process being carried out in the presence of a sulphur containing compound such that the cerium oxide is converted substantially into the cerous state during melting and refining thereby increasing resistance to browning.

Abstract: A method of producing heat strengthened glass in which the glass is heated to a temperature above its strain point and is then cooled while horizontally supported. Discontinuous support is provided for the glass as it is cooled by intermittent regional contact with the lower surface of the glass, whereby any pattern of iridescence resulting from heat transfer between the lower glass surface and the support is free of prominent continuous features. A glass treatment furnace for producing heat strengthened glass, has horizontal glass-supporting rollers and cooling-flow supply means in the vicinity of those rollers, the bearing surface of each roller comprising discontinuous bearing elements which provide intermittent regional support contact with the lower surface of the glass.

Abstract: Curved glass is maufactured by supporting glass on a sag bending mould which is passed through a furnace. During initial heating of the glass on the mould, hot air is directed around the mould beneath the glass to minimize the temperature difference between the mould and the glass.

Abstract: Infra red reflecting fluorine-containing tin oxide coatings are applied to glass using a solid chlorine-containing volatile inorganic tin (IV) compound optionally containing fluorine. The inorganic tin (IV) compound is suspended in carrier gas. When that compound is fluorine free, the suspension is directed on to the hot glass surface in the presence of a separate source of fluorine which may be an organic tin compound. When the inorganic tin (IV) compound contains fluorine, the suspension is directed on to the hot glass surface in the presence of an organic tin compound which may contain fluorine. Examples of the inorganic tin (IV) compounds which may be used are ammonium hexahalostannates of the formula (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SnHal.sub.6 wherein Hal represents halogen, being either chlorine, or a minor atomic proportion of fluorine and the balance chlorine.

Abstract: A sealed double glazing unit has outer and inner panes (2, 3) and a perimeter seal (4, 5). The unit is fixed to a supporting structure at fixing positions within the perimeter seal. At each fixing position there is a fixing assembly (8, 12, 16) which is sealed into the unit and is attached to one pane only so that flexing of the unit under wind load is permitted. Preferably each fixing assembly is fixed to a hole (13) in one pane and passes through a hole (20) in the other pane with sufficient clearance to facilitate the flexing of the unit when it is installed as part of a glass wall assembly.

Abstract: Gripper apparatus for stacking a batch of sheets, for example glass sheets, comprises a gripper head having a sheet support for movement to grip the batch of sheets. A roller stop at the bottom of the sheet support engages behind one side of the batch and at least one clamp is movable to grip the batch against the support between that clamp and the stop. Tilting members at the bottom of the support are operable, when the support is in a substantially vertical position, to lift the batch over the roller stop as it is stacked.

Abstract: A process for treating trees and bushes having a xylem structure through which sap passes so as to provide trace elements or micro-nutrients selected from calcium, zinc, magnesium, iron, manganese, copper, molybdenum, nickel and boron to the tree or bush, comprising inserting into the xylem structure a solid glass article comprising a phosphate base glass containing the trace elements or micro-nutrients in oxide form, the formulation of the phosphate base glass being selected so that the solubility of the phosphate glass in the sap of the tree or shrub being treated is sufficient to provide a transfer of the said trace elements or micro-nutrients from the glass into the sap by dissolution of the glass.

Abstract: A window panel for an unpressurized aircraft has an outer glass sheet and an inner sheet of plastics material. A peripheral adhesive band is adhered to the exposed face of the inner sheet and has an adhesive face of a thermoplastic material for adhesion to a window frame. An electrical heater is embedded in the peripheral band close to its adhesive face.

Abstract: A laminated window for a vehicle, for example a windshield, has electrical conductors carried between the plastics interlayer and one of the glass sheets. An obscuration band is fired on to the margin of the inner surface of the outer glass sheet, which obscures from external view conductive strips near the edges of the window.

Abstract: Apparatus for coating glass by pyrolysis of a powder at the glass surface to form a coating on that surface, and in which a flow of a suspension of a powder in a carrier gas is applied to a moving hot glass surface across the width of that surface, comprising means for supporting and advancing hot glass beneath an applicator comprising a chamber terminating in a slot extending across the supporting means close to the path of the glass surface to be coated, which chamber diverges downwardly from a central inlet for the downward flow of the suspension of the powder.

Abstract: The method and apparatus of the invention are for collecting particulate material which falls off the underside of the lower return run of a belt conveyor, and returning that material to the carrying run of the conveyor. An elevator is mounted around the conveyor at the position of a support roller for the lower run, where there is vibration and material is dislodged. The dislodged material is conveyed to a chute over the upper rim of the conveyor without any scraping contact with the underside of the lower run.

Abstract: A mixer for mixing glass fibres into a thick aqueous cement slurry comprises means for feeding glass fibres on to the surface of a batch of the slurry in an upright cylindrical chamber, an agitator mounted on a coaxial vertical shaft and carrying at its lower end both a plurality of short impeller blades and a long horizontal member with tip blades of opposite sense to the impeller blades, so as to cause vertical as well as horizontal circulation of the slurry, and stationary baffles on the wall of the chamber angled to cause production of standing waves on the surface of the slurry.

Abstract: Compact and versatile apparatus for deposition of multi-layer coatings on substrates at reduced pressure comprises at least 3 and preferably at least 4 evacuable deposition chambers, means for evacuating each of said deposition chambers and coating means in each of said deposition chambers for depositing a coating layer on a substrate; an evacuable transfer chamber with closable ports between said transfer chamber and each of said coating chambers for transfer of a substrate to be coated between said deposition chambers; means for evacuating said transfer chamber; and transfer means for transferring a substrate between said deposition chambers via the transfer chamber. The apparatus is especially useful for the production of photovoltaic cells in which the active layers are formed of amorphous silicon deposited from a glow discharge.

Abstract: Solid tin (IV) compounds, free from carbon-tin bonds, and containing both chlorine and fluorine are used to apply infra red reflecting fluorine containing tin oxide coatings to glass. Examples of the tin compounds that may be used are ammonium hexahalostannates of the formula (NH.sub.4).sub.2 SnHal.sub.6 wherein Hal represents halogen, and a minor atomic proportion of the halogen present is fluorine and the balance is chlorine. The tin compounds are dispersed in finely divided form in a carrier gas, and the suspension of the tin compound in the carrier gas is directed on to a hot glass surface to be coated.

Abstract: A glass assembly for forming a wall or roof-light, comprises a planar array of sealed multiple glazing units which are secured to supporting members by mechanical fixings which pass through the outer glass sheets of the units outside the seals of the units. The outer glass sheets are sealed edge-to-edge.

Abstract: A sheet handling device has lower support arms and upper support arms. The lower support arms are provided with extension members which provide further support for the back sheet of the batch which is being moved. The main use of the sheet handling device is to separate a batch of sheets from a stack or add a batch to a stack of sheets, both speedily and safely thereby making it more practical for larger stacks of sheets to be stored and transported.