Abstract: A pair of V-shaped slot blocks mounted movably on a base in both the X and Y directions and a microscope for observing the opposed state of optical fibers contained on the blocks, are provided in an apparatus for fusion splicing optical fibers. The microscope is mounted movably in the X and Y directions under a base, thereby observing the opposed states of the optical fibers from below.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in pyrolytically forming a metal oxide coating on an upper face of a hot glass substrate 1 in sheet or ribbon form comprises conveyor means 2 for conveying the substrate 1 in a downstream direction 3 along a path also indicated at 1 and a roof structure 5 defining a coating chamber 6 opening downwardly onto the path and comprising a passageway 11 along which coating precursor vapor and oxidizing gas can be conducted downstream in contact with the upper substrate face during the conveyance of the substrate. The roof structure 5 defines, in or adjacent the upstream end of the passageway 11, a mixing zone 7 which opens downwardly onto the substrate path 1. Means such as spray nozzle 35 is provided for injecting coating precursor material into the mixing zone 7 from a height of at least 50 cm above the level of the substate path 1.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing glass comprises forming glass from molten mineral material, continuously discharging an auxiliary stream of molten mineral material, continuously measuring the temperature and the mass flow rate by laser means of the auxiliary stream, calculating the viscosity of the material using the measured mass flow rate and modifying a process parameter in response to the measured temperature and calculated viscosity of the auxiliary stream. The laser means is also disclosed.

Abstract: A blow box for the thermal tempering of panes of glass. To temper different sizes of glass, the air supply to selected blow tubes or blow tube groups in a blow box having a blow nozzle field disposed to handle relatively large panes of glass is blocked in the edge areas of the blow box, and in this manner the blow nozzle field supplied with forced air is adapted to the shape and size of the glass pane to be tempered. The adaptation of the blow nozzle field to the shape and size of the glass panes takes place, for example, with the aid of a template-like slide block having an opening corresponding to the glass pane, which slide block is arranged inside the air distributing box immediately in front of the front plate provided with the nozzle pipelets and which can be exchanged for a different slide block.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a press bending apparatus incorporated in a mobile carriage mounted upon retractable wheels adapted to be carried upon rails extending transversely of the production line whereby it can be readily moved into and out of operative position in the line. Mechanism is included for vertically moving the carriage between a raised transport position and a lowered operating position. Centering and levelling means are provided for assuring proper alignment of the press members and associated conveyor rolls with the adjacent heating and tempering sections as the apparatus is moved into operating position.

Abstract: A bottom tap of a glass melting furnace comprises a tap brick with a tap hole in which glass is frozen when the tap is not in operation and seals the tap. A tap gate of refractory and non-oxidizing metal is urged against the tap brick underneath the tap hole which is connected as an electrode to a counter-electrode situated in a glass bath. A tap chamber is situated underneath the tap gate, and a removable insulation is provided for the tap chamber.

Abstract: Compression stresses are formed on the periphery of a glass sheet by blowing cooling air on the periphery of the heated glass sheet. The cooling air is blown by using a pyramidal deflector to deflect air flow radially outward toward the edges of the glass sheet. By adjusting the spacing between the deflector and the glass sheet, the size of a central, relatively quiescent, zone can be adjusted. The air flow is provided by a duct which can include a pyramidal skirt which surrounds the deflector to form a gas flow path whose size controls the cooling rate. Pyramidal flaps within the gas flow path can be used for adjusting cooling gas pressures.

Abstract: The micropipette puller of this invention includes a pair of gripping jaws that pull a length of glass tubing in opposite directions. The source of heat is a laser and a beam is directed into a beam directing means, such as a lens or mirror, to refract or reflect the beam against the glass tubing between the gripping jaws. The mirror or lens may be oscillated at various rates and through selected angles in each direction to move the reflected beam a selected amount and at selected rates along a greater length of the glass tubing.

Abstract: A straight line shear mechanism has rack driven shears which are operated by a pneumatic cylinder. Opposite ends of the operating rod of the pneumatic cylinder are connected via nail head couplings which permit rotation of the rod about its axis and which automatically accommodates slight misalignments to minimize distortion of the rod.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the rapid on-line coating of optical fibers with two-package polymer coating systems utilizing conventional liquid fiber coaters is described. The A and B parts of the two-package coating system are continuously combined and mixed together to form a polymerizable coating liquid as the fiber is drawn. This polymerizable coating liquid is continuously delivered to the liquid coater at a rate corresponding to the rate at which it is applied to the fiber, suitable control of the delivery rate being achieved via the use of a feedback signal to the coating liquid delivery system from, e.g., the fiber coater.

Abstract: A sectional curved article e.g. an automotive window is made by cutting a piece of glass, shaping the piece of glass, cutting the shaped piece to provide inner and outer segments. The edges of the segments are seamed, and the segments chemically tempered to provide a sectional curved automotive window having an opening in the outer segment to receive the inner segment.

Abstract: A glass sheet bending apparatus which includes a transferring mechanism for transferring to the heating furnace a glass sheet heated to a temperature capable of processing while keeping a horizontal posture, a mold having a curved surface with which the glass sheet is to be bend-shaped, the mold being arranged at a position corresponding to the processing stage, a provisional shaping mechanism for provisionally shaping the glass sheet by closely contacting it on a generally curved surface in the mold excluding a deep-bending surface which corresponds to a deep-bent portion in the glass sheet, and a blow-bending device for blowing compressed air to the deep-bending surface of the mold to bend part of the glass sheet so as to correspond to the deep-bending surface.

Abstract: Lubrication of the parison moulds of a hollow glassware moulding machine is carried out utilizing a spray device in which the discharge of pressurized air from a narrow opening is arranged to entrain surrounding atmospheric air. Liquid lubricant is discharged through a respective opening into this entrained air. Such spray devices have been found to be effective in spraying lubricant down into relatively deep moulds.

Abstract: A straight line shear mechanism has rack driven shears which are operated by a pneumatic cylinder. The shear slides provide a barrier to infrared energy directed at the pneumatic cylinder. To cool the cylinder, a perforated cooling tube is connected to ambient air when the mechanism is operating and is connected to water when the mechanism is not operating.

Abstract: An apparatus for manufacturing a glass stem for an electron tube comprises a first (upper) stem mold assembly and an improved second (lower) stem mold assembly. The improved second stem mold assembly includes a universal second (lower) stem mold having a plurality of lead-in conductor receiving openings formed therethrough. At least one removable stem mold plug is disposed and retained within one of the openings.

Abstract: A method and installations for curving sheets of glass. The sheets of glass (9) are heated to the curving temperature in a horizontal position in a continuous furnace (1) and are pressed in a curving station (4) which is adjacent to the continuous furnace (1) by means of an annular frame against a solid surface curving form (40). During the pressing between the annular frame and the solid surface curving form (40), the sheets of glass (9) are pressed against said solid surface curving form (40), in the area located inside the annular frame, by the static pressure of a hot gas under pressure, with the static pressure of the gas being produced in a chamber (32) whose upper surface (33) is defined by the annular frame and is closed by the sheet of glass (9) applied in a sealed manner against said annular frame.

Abstract: Method for the manufacture of a toughened and/or bent glass pane of soda-lime-silica glass with reduced transmission for solar radiation, in which to at least one side of the transparent glass carrier is applied a metal layer of platinum, iridium or optionally rhodium, alloys of these metals or metal alloys with a majority content of at least one of these metals in a thickness such that the light transmittance of the laminate formed from the glass carrier and the metal layer is between 10 and 90%, particularly between 30 and 90% of that of the glass carrier alone and a toughening and/or bending process is performed in air at a temperature of 580.degree. to 680.degree. C., preferably 600.degree. to 650.degree. C.

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: There is disclosed herein a method of making a glass substrate coated with an adherent, doped, tin oxide coating and article produced thereby. The glass substrate is heated to a spraying temperature which is sufficiently hot so that a heat decomposable, tin-containing material coming into the vicinity of the glass substrate will be heat decomposed permitting the tin contained in the tin-containing material to be oxidized and deposited as a doped tin oxide. The tin-containing material is applied in an oxygen ambient and is a material which contains both dibutyltin dibutoxide and trifluoroacetic acid. The preferred heating and application steps are undertaken under conditions that the spraying temperature and the ratio of milliliters of dibutyltin dibutoxide to milliliters of trifluoroacetic acid contained in the tin-containing material fall at some point located on or within the island area designated by the letter A in the map of these variables as set forth in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

Abstract: Porous bodies of a material comprising SiO.sub.2 as the main constituent are heated by passing a zone of high temperature through the body. This high temperature zone is obtained by irradiation with light of a wavelength which is obsorbed by the porous part of the body, but which is not absorbed by the densified part of the body. The device preferaby comprises a rotatable radiation source surrounding the body to be densified.