Abstract: A hydrolyzing flame technique is used to build up glass soots of at least two different compositions upon a rotating starting member. The process is repeated until the soots define at least one helically-oriented body of soot of one composition completely enveloped by a soot of a second composition. The soot-covered starting member is then subjected to heat to fuse it whereupon the soots are fused into compositions exhibiting different indices of refraction. The member can then be drawn into a elongate structure comprising an optical waveguide extending helically through the body of the structure.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of converting a thin glass body, such as a glass fiber or coating, to a corresponding glass-ceramic body by a heat treatment comprising a plurality of heating-cooling cycles.

Abstract: A multi-section blow molding machine for the manufacture of hollow glassware has in each section a parison mold for each pair of blow molds. The blow molds are disposed below and on opposite sides of the center of oscillation of a neck ring arm carrying rotatable neck rings and arranged so that the mold or molds on one side are open when those on the other side are closed. The molds and neck ring arm are interconnected to oscillate together in opposite directions between lockable positions 180.degree. apart. The parison mold and associated feed and plunger means are movable in and out of operative position below and above the neck ring arm respectively, and operate in timed relation thereto. The open blow molds are spray cooled during the blowing cycle as well as during oscillation of the neck ring arm between its locked positions. In the closed blow molds, the blowing is continued simultaneously with the spray cooling to further cool the molded articles prior to release to a take-out conveyor.

Abstract: Fine-grained, polycrystalline, basalt-type glass-ceramic fibers, having a crystal content of at least 35% and particular application as fiber reinforcement in concrete structures, are disclosed. A method of production comprises treating a vitreous fiber in the temperature range of 900.degree. to 1250.degree. C. for a time not exceeding ten minutes, and preferably less than one minute.

Abstract: Glass-ceramic articles having compositional inhomogeneities are provided with uniformly colored gray stain decorations by heat treating a palladium-containing staining material prior to application onto glass-ceramic articles which have been crystallized by a separate heat treatment, and then subjecting the glass-ceramic articles in contact with the staining material to another heat treatment to produce the stain decorations.

Abstract: Glass containers received on a machine conveyor which passes a plurality of forming machine sections and receives the ware from the sections is coordinated in its relationship to the machine sweepouts, such that a gap is provided periodically in the row of ware carried by the machine conveyor. A bottle-transfer device which transfers the ware from the machine conveyor to a cross-conveyor is operated so that it also will maintain the gap that is provided in the line of ware. The ware on the cross-conveyor moves in line across the open-receiving end of the lehr and is pushed from the cross-conveyor onto the moving lehr mat. By providing a gap in the line of ware, the lehr loader pusher bar may be operated more slowly than in the past and to thereby provide a more stable transfer of ware from the cross-conveyor to the lehr.

Abstract: Blemish quality of fused fiber optics faceplates, tapers, image inverters and other arrays of multifibers is improved by protecting outer fibers of the multifibers from excessive heating and/or contamination during their fabrication. A preform of a multiplicity of optical fibers is covered with a protective layer of removable material while being fused into a building block. The protective layer is removed from each of the building blocks and the blocks are subsequently assembled into a juxtaposition and fused into a fiber optic array. Multifibers so fabricated and used as component building blocks for the arrays uniquely minimize traditional "chicken wire" blemishing.

Abstract: An improved arc tube end seal and the method of forming that seal in a high pressure sodium discharge lamp is disclosed. The method includes precoating the refractory metal end cap with a slurry of metallic silicon and baking the end cap prior to accomplishing the bonding of the end cap to the arc tube with a conventional sealing frit.

Abstract: Glass lenses or lens blanks, containing all the ingredients necessary to produce phototropic or photochromic behavior, are treated in a conventional production furnace to produce a locally variable heat treatment, wherein at least one portion thereof is raised to a temperature exceeding the glass strain point but not the softening point, and other portions are heated to variable temperatures decreasing from the strain point. The treatment causes development of phototropic or photochromic behavior only in those portions of the lenses or lens blanks exposed to the temperature above the strain point.

Abstract: Semiconductor packages are manufactured according to a method which eliminates or greatly reduces the occurrence of short circuited or otherwise badly positioned leads. The method utilizes a leadframe having a bonding tip support connecting the bonding tips of the leads. After the leadframe is affixed to a ceramic element, the connecting element is removed.

Abstract: A single mode optical fiber having a central core region of uniform composition and thickness and core end regions each having a core with a graded composition and increasing thickness. The fiber towards the ends of the fiber maintains a constant normalized frequency with a minimum bending loss. Methods are also provided for forming the fibers from a fiber optic preform.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with the production of sodium and/or potassium hydrosilicate glass bodies. The basis of the invention resides in the hydration of anhydrous sodium and/or potassium silicate glass bodies in aqueous alcohol solutions to impart enhanced mechanical strength and thermoplastic properties thereto. The hydrating process, which permits close control to be maintained over the water content absorbed in the glass, can be carried out in liquid solutions of water and relatively short chain, i.e. up to about five carbon atoms, aliphatic alcohols or in gaseous atmospheres of such solutions. An ion exchange reaction of Li.sup.+ ions or protons with Na.sup.+ and/or K.sup.+ ions can be promoted at temperatures above the transformation range of the hydrated glass, and an exchange of K.sup.+ ions for Na.sup.+ and/or Li.sup.+ ions at temperatures below the transformation range.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process for injection molding hydrosilicate glasses and apparati useful therefor. This invention is also concerned with apparati for mixing hydrosilicate glasses while in the fluid state, i.e., when the hydrosilicate glasses have a viscosity between about 10.sup.2 -10.sup.9 poises. Finally, this invention describes materials demonstrating ready release of hydrosilicate glasses after contact in fluid form.

Abstract: After being baked out to remove absorbed gases, fursed silica cell blanks are cooled from a temperature of around 900.degree. C. to a temperature of around 800.degree. C. over a period of at least two hours. After the blanks are cooled to room temperature, an unsaturated vapor of atoms having an S.sub.o ground state is driven into the cell blanks from a reservoir. The cell blanks and the vapor contained therein are subjected to optical resonance radiation for around four hours at room temperature while the cell blanks are connected to the reservoir. A prescribed vapor density is established in the cell blanks before they are sealed off from the reservoir.

Abstract: Quartz glass element, such as a diffusion tube useful in the production of semiconductor elements, capable of forming an outer layer of uniformly fine crystalline silica such as cristobalite or tridymite when heated to a temperature at which such crystalline silica forms containing crystallization promoting nuclei having a rate of diffusion in quartz glass less than that of sodium at elevated temperatures. Such nuclei are preferably present in the outer half of the element wall. When the quartz glass element is exposed to elevated temperatures, the nuclei promotes the formation of the outer layer of uniformly fine crystalline silica which imparts thermal dimensional stability for extended periods of use at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A crucible of pure transparent silica glass or pure translucent or opaque silica glass for the production of monocrystals used in making semiconductor elements which includes a hollow cylindrical part and a welded-on head. The head end of the hollow cylindrical part is formed from a tube with a head margin portion constricted towards the tube axis which is formed by shaping one end of the tube. A plate is welded into the aperture formed by the constricted head margin portion and has an area equal to at least one-tenth and at most four-fifths of the total head area made up by the head margin portion and the head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for shearing an elongated gob of glass from the end of a vertically flowing stream of molten glass and tilting the severed gob from its vertical orientation toward a horizontal orientation. A pair of shear blades are mounted for horizontal reciprocation between open and closed positions. In the closed position, the blades are overlapped generally in the center of the stream of molten glass and thereby shear a single gob from the stream. The movement of the blades is so controlled that the lower blade moves appreciably beyond the stream centerline. The upper blade has completed its stroke and is returning to its open position while the lower blade continues its over center travel. The difference in travel is caused by a difference in the length of the drive linkages between the upper and lower shear blades. The net result of the total cycle is to cause the severed gob to rotate about 90.degree. in mid-air before entering a forming mold.