Abstract: A forehearth for transport of molten glass, characterized in that cooling surfaces of a material having a high heat conductivity, particularly a metallic material, are disposed in the roof of the forehearth. The metallic material may be an iron-chromium-aluminum alloy having fifteen to thirty percent by weight of chromium, three to twelve percent by weight of aluminum, and a balance of essentially iron.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for moving a glass mass, such as a glass sheet in horizontal attitude through a bending section of a heating oven. The glass sheet at a deformation temperature is imparted movement along the conveyor system including a plurality of rollers, and a gaseous flow at high temperature, having a flow speed which varies continuously across the width of the glass sheet, impinges on its lower surface to at least partially balance the weight of the glass sheet in regions requiring good optical quality.

Abstract: In a device for producing mold glass bodies, a molding cavity is defined by two mold halves and by two mouth ring halves. One single nozzle head is used for spraying a lubricant on both the inner faces of the mold halves and the connection faces of the mouth ring halves which are to contact the mold halves.

Abstract: This invention relates to a glassware forming machine of the type comprising a pair of carriers each pivoted on a first generally vertical axis for swinging movement toward and away from each other between an open position and a closed position, and a set of at least three mold members carried by each carrier, each mold member on each carrier being related to a mold member on the other carrier so that, with the carriers in their closed position, each mold member on one carrier mates with a mold member on the other carrier to define a mold cavity for molding an item of glass. The improvement involves a holding assembly on each carrier for holding a respective set of mold members.

Abstract: The invention provides an improved apparatus for use in processing wet scrap textile glass fiber into a dry flowable powder. The apparatus includes a unique inlet and outlet structure to prevent clogging during operation. The apparatus also includes a unique discharge unit for ground dry glass fines composed of a pair of rod gratings place proximate the outlet of the apparatus.

Abstract: A gas static bearing unit for carrying rollers which is suitable as a heat-resistant bearing inside a horizontal furnace for glass sheets. The bearing unit consists of a bearing 1 which automatically adapts to the orientation of the section of roller 27 mounted in the bearing 1 and which rests on two pins 8, 9 each having a spherical head 16, 17 as a support surface. The first spherical head 17 is mounted stationarily and oscillatingly, and the second spherical head 16 is mounted on a planar base 23 to allow pivoting and sliding around the stationary pin 9. A system of bores 30, 31, 32, 33 makes it possible to supply the rotating clearance with compressed air.

Abstract: In a method for ceramising glass plates, in which the plates to be ceramised are hung vertically, a plurality of plates are hung transversely of the transport direction so that they form a plate package. This plate package is passed through a plurality of chambers of an oven in which it is subjected to a direct succession of different temperatures.

Abstract: A glass-made lid for a cooking pot, pan, and the like and a method of manufacture thereof are disclosed, wherein the glass-made lid includes a peripheral edge of a particular shape formed from a roundly-cut sheet glass by rotating either the sheet glass or a thermally-resistant forming roller to the other and the method provides such a glass-made lid having the features described above. For the purpose of the invention, the forming roller is provided adjacent to the sheet glass and includes a peripheral recess on the side facing the sheet glass so that the peripheral edge in its softened state can be formed to conform to the particular shape of the peripheral recess under the pressure of the forming roller when it is brought closer to the sheet glass. An additional thermally-resistant nipping roller includes two rolls for engaging the formed peripheral edge therebetween and reforming it to a particular shape.

Abstract: A process for treating a halide, e.g. fluoride, glass composition, characterized by contacting a melt of the composition (3) with dry oxygen (6). Oxygen, simply on contact with a fluoride glass melt, converts transition metals, e.g. from Fe(II) to Fe(III), from one stable state to another and thereby reduces loss at transmission wavelengths in optical fibre, e.g. the loss at 2.6 .mu.m attributabel to Fe(II).

Abstract: A silicone-based composite coating system for a glass optical fiber, the system comprising a silicone polymer undercoating component and a silicone-polyimide block copolymer overcoating component, is provided. The coating system can be applied entirely on-line, improves the handling characteristics of the fibers over conventional silicone-coated fibers, offers an excellent combination of optical and elastic properties, and does not compromise the high-temperature operating characteristics of silicone-based coating systems.

Abstract: New fiber optic elements and a new microchannel plate for proximity focus image intensifier tubes and a method for making them are provided. Higher resolution is provided at the center of the field of view by the use of graded fiber and channel sizes and by the use of convex and concave surfaces in proximity focus.

Abstract: In a process for refining molten glass or the like by vacuum, the collapse of foam is accelerated by periodically applying a surge of pressure that disrupts foam stability. Preferably, the surge is a short pulse of lower pressure.

Abstract: A method for producing reflectors in a continuous length of optical fiber is disclosed. The present process includes the steps of preparing the ends of two or more optical fibers, placing one or more of these fibers in a vacuum system and applying a metallic or dielectric coating to the fiber ends, and then fusing the prepared, coated ends of the fibers together until the reflectivity of the region reaches a desired value.

Abstract: A moisture sensor consistsof an array of spaced apart, highly abrasion-resistant electrodes disposed on the outside surface of the windshield of a vehicle. When moisture moisture is present, the spaces between the electrodes are bridged by the water and the output impedance of the sensor significantly decreases. This signals the presence of moisture. The electrodes have particles of a conductive metal oxide, e.g., ruthenium oxide, dispersed within a glass matrix which is fused to the windshield glass. The electrodes are formulated as an ink including particles of the metal oxide, a glass frit, and an organic binder. The ink is silk screened onto the windshield in the desired electrode pattern. After drying of the ink, the glass frit is fused to the windshield during normal heating of the windshield to shape it in a known windshield shaping (sagging) process. Novel two layer sensor arrangements, providing even greater resistance to abrasion, are also described.

Abstract: The refractive index distribution in refractive index distribution lenses may be adjusted to better approach an ideal by heating the refractive index distribution lens. When the refractive index distribution lens was created by diffusion of refractive index changing ions into a body, further heating in an environment in which no additional ions can diffuse into the body causes further migration of ions within the body so that its refractive index distribution approaches an ideal.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of manufacturing a curved automobile glass pane. The glass sheet heated in a continuous roller conveyor furnace to bending temperature, is picked up by a traveling suction device and transported to a curving station adjoining the furnace. In the curving station the glass sheet is deposited onto a curving device which is comprised of a curving-form frame and a curving form which form occupies the interior space of the frame. The suction device is withdrawn, and a hot gas stream is applied from above, which stream impinges on the glass sheet, whereby said sheet is forced against the curving device comprised of the curving-form frame and interior curving form. Then the glass sheet is lifted from the interior curving from by means of the curving-form frame which frame now serves as a support ring, and sheet is transported to the neighboring cooling station.

Abstract: A method of vitrifying a porous cylindrical article made out of glass soot, especially for manufacturing a preliminary blank for optical fibers. The article is heat-treated in a furnace in a vacuum or in an atmosphere that contains helium. The porous article is placed in a horizontal graphite tube in the furnace, is sintered therein for 20 to 40 minutes in a vacuum or in a helium atmosphere with reduced pressure at 1250.degree. to 1400.degree. C., and is subsequently vitrified by heat-treating the sintered article at first in the sintering atmosphere, while slowly rotating it in the hot graphite tube for 20 to 40 minutes at approximately 1450.degree. to 1600.degree. C. and then while rotating it in the graphite tube more rapidly than in the first stage for 10 to 30 minutes at approximately 1650.degree. to 1750.degree. C.

Abstract: A cooling system for a glassware forming machine in which air is delivered to each of two plenums for upward flow of air through vertical passages in mold members on the plenums from an air outlet on the base of the machine via an air duct having a horizontal section, an inlet section extending down from one end of the horizontal section into a hole in an oscillable disk closing the outlet and an outlet section extending up from the other end of the horizontal section into a hole in the plenum.

Abstract: A base material excellent in heat resistance and high-temperature strength is processed into a desired configuration. The processed base material is coated with a heat-resistant film having excellent strength at high temperatures and low reactivity with a glass material to be molded. A resist is applied on the heat resistant film and a desired pattern is drawn thereon by means of electron beam, ion beam, hologram exposure, or ordinary photolithography. Or if a mold having deep unevenness of the pressing surface is required, the resist is applied after an intermediate layer which permits selective etching is formed on the heat resistant film, and the required pattern is drawn thereon by means of electron beam, ion beam, hologram exposure, or ordinary photolithography. The intermediate layer is removed by wet etching or dry etching to emphasize unevenness of the mask.

Abstract: An improved method of making carbon dioxide and chlorine free fluoride-based glass wherein the atmosphere in the furnace enclosure is sulphur hexafluoride gas at a positive over pressure.