Abstract: This invention pertains to improvements in the manufacture of soda-lime glass from pelletized glass batch material in which a major portion of the alkali metal oxide flux material (e.g. Na.sub.2 O) in the final glass is derived from an alkali metal hydroxide (e.g. NaOH) and in which the alkali metal hydroxide is reacted with alkaline earth metal oxide source material during the preparation of the pelletized glass batch material. The improvements are obtained by reacting aqueous, concentrated, alkali metal hydroxide with at least a portion of the alkaline earth metal oxide source material (e.g. limestone) to form an aqueous slurry which contains the reaction products, then mixing with the slurry the remaining glass batch materials under conditions to assure thorough mixing and then pelletizing and heating the batch material at a temperature of at least about 145.degree. C to assure substantially complete drying of the pellets and substantially complete reaction of the alkali metal hydroxide.

Abstract: A microchannel plate for secondary electron emission intensification, having channel walls which are rounded so as to increase the interception of secondary electrons formed due to the incidence of primary electrons on the ends of the said channel walls.According to the invention, the method of manufacturing such a channel plate consists of softening the channel wall material and by bombardment of the glass of the input surface by means of an energy-carrying beam of high power for a very short period of time. The glass of the walls at the input surface side then assumes a rounded shape under the influence of gravity and the surface stress of the glass.

Abstract: An improved process is described for producing glass in which a glass batch is mixed with a binder, aged, compacted, and compressed into briquettes, which are heated to partially react the contents of the batch in a prereaction stage. Prereacted briquettes are then placed in a fuel-fired furnace and heated at a temperature not above 2,600.degree. F (1,430.degree. C) to refine them into glass.

Abstract: A particular range of glass compositions in the soda-boro-silicate glass system has been found to be particularly suitable for ultra-low loss dielectric optical waveguides. The composition range is indicated in FIG. 1 of the specification. By preparing such glasses in a reducing atmosphere (0-2% CO in CO.sub.2) and adding about 1% As.sub.2 O.sub.3 to the melt attenuation coefficients due to copper and iron can be minimized. The water content of the glass can be reduced by bubbling dry CO in CO.sub.2 through the molten glass. Glasses containing less than 30% Na.sub.2 O by weight have the lowest losses. Using glasses of this type dielectric optical waveguides having an insertion loss of less than 14 dBKm.sup.-.sup.1 have been made.

Abstract: In the cooling of newly formed glass containers, the containers are moved from blow molds and placed on what is termed a cooling "dead plate". The dead plate is supplied with air under pressure which is fed into the casting forming the dead plate. The ware sits on a generally flat, perforate member which is the cover for the dead plate casting. The air supply is found beneath the conveyor belt in the housing for supporting the conveyor for carrying the ware away from the forming machine. A plurality of openings, adjacent each ware forming position, are provided through the bottom of the conveyor housing and air within the housing will enter the underlying, horizontal leg of the dead plate casting whose upper surface has complementary openings to those in the conveyor housing and exit through the perforations in the dead plate to cool the ware sitting thereon.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ceramic structural material, which is particularly useful in combination with an assembly or matrix of integrally fused tubes forming a series of longitudinal parallel passageways. Also disclosed is a method for making such ceramic structural material from rods and frit that are thermally crystallizable into a glass-ceramic. One embodiment of the method involves bundling the rods into a desired configuration, with the frit interposed in the interstices between the rods, and heating the combined rod-frit bundle to sinter or fuse the rods and frit together in a heat treatment schedule that also nucleates and thermally crystallizes the fused rod-frit structure to the final ceramic product. A gas turbine regenerator comprising a combination of the ceramic structural material and a matrix is also disclosed along with the method of making same.

Abstract: A method for providing broad-band antireflective surface layers on a chemically durable borosilicate glass which comprises phase-separating the glass by heat treatment at 630.degree.-660.degree. C., removing a siliceous surface layer from the glass, and treating the glass in an aqueous solution containing both H.sup.+ ions and F.sup.- ions for a time sufficient to produce the antireflective surface layer, is described. Antireflective surface layers exhibiting reflectances as low as 0.5% throughout the wavelength range from about 0.4-2.0 microns have been produced.

Abstract: A method of making a glass die for moulding progressive concave-convex ophthalmic lenses of organic glass, i.e. of synthetic polymeric material, which have their convex surface of aspheric shape, wherein a glass blank for the die is formed with its convex surface of aspheric shape and is then supported on a support member having a concave spherical support surface while being heated to a temperature at which the glass deforms without flowing, so that the convex surface sags to conform with the spherical support surface and the aspheric character is transferred to the concave surface.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to the production of opal glasses through the solid state vitrification of certain bentonite-type clays. The process involves five general steps: (1) the clay is ion exchanged at low temperatures in aqueous solutions; (2) the ion exchanged clay is thoroughly washed with water; (3) the ion exchanged clay is preferably heated at moderate temperatures to expedite removal of the water; (4) the dehydrated clay is shaped into a body of a desired configuration; and (5) the shaped body is fired to vitrification utilizing a defined sintering schedule. The resulting body is a white or off-white opal glass containing minor amounts of crystal phases. Uniformly colored glasses can be prepared employing such conventional glass coloring agents as chromium, cobalt, copper, nickel, vanadium, etc. The process possesses the practical advantages of inexpensive batch materials, the elimination of the need for glass melting facilities, and low energy consumption in forming glass articles.

Abstract: Multifocal photochromic opthalmic lenses are produced by nucleating potentially photochromic major lens blanks through heat treatment, combining the nucleated blanks with compatible button or segment glasses, and fusing the combined glasses at temperatures suitable for achieving both fusion and the simultaneous development of full photochromic properties in the previously nucleated major lens blanks.

Abstract: A two-stage orifice outlet is provided for an electric furnace. The structure defining the inner orifice adjacent the interior of the furnace through which molten material passes in its initial stages of withdrawal from the furnace is made of a refractory metal to withstand the high temperatures present within the furnace and this refractory metal must be protected from the oxidizing effects of air. The outer structure defining the outer orifice is made from a more oxidation resistant material and acts as a shield to prevent the oxidation of the refractory metal inner orifice. The outer orifice is maintained below a temperature at which it will undergo rapid deterioration by the use of cooling means. The outlet described above is operated without injecting neutral or reducing gases into the area surrounding the furnace outlet as was required by prior art furnaces of this type.

Abstract: Making perforate optical sections (lenses) of pseudophakoi with avoidance of drilling operations and adversities thereof. Lens material is cast over wires corresponding in diametral size and relative juxtaposition to the size and spaced locations of holes needed in a lens and the wires are etched away prior to or following final edging and surface finishing of the lens. The casting of multiple lens preforms is contemplated.

Abstract: The invention provides a linkage for transmitting axial reciprocating movement from one shaft to a parallel shaft and comprising a bar pivotally mounted at a fixed but adjustable position relative to the shafts, the bar being pivotally mounted at a fixed position on the bar, a pivotal connection fixed on one axial shaft and slidably mounted on the bar to one side of its fixed mounting, and a pivotal connection fixed on the other axial shaft and slidably mounted on the bar to the other side of its fixed mounting. The linkage may especially be used in the drive of the plunger of gob forming apparatus for use in the production of glassware whereby by adjustment of the linkage the plunger stroke and height may be varied.

Abstract: An improved method is disclosed for forming glass bottles by the blow and blow process. A parison mold having a one-piece annular blank mold section and split neck and shoulder mold sections is charged fully with molten glass. Air is subsequently blown through a manifold covering the upper end of the parison mold to force the molten glass into an annular space defined by a cavity in the neck mold section and a neck pin projected into the neck mold cavity. The neck pin is then reciprocated from the neck mold cavity, and air is blown through the molded neck to cause the molten glass to chill its surface by pressure contact with the inside of an upright truncated pyramidal-shaped cavity formed in the blank mold section. The glass which comes into contact with the cavity walls in the blank mold section develops a very uniform enamel due to the uniform cooling achieved with the solid annular blank mold section.

Abstract: A glass blade is produced from a preform of insoluble glass having a sharp edge encased in soluble glass. The encased preform is heated and drawn to the reduced cross-sectional size desired of the glass blade, cut transversely to length and leached for removal of the soluble glass and exposure of its sharp edge.

Abstract: Conoid surfaces can be generated by rotation of a material at different angles and under differing constraints. An axis of 45.degree. can produce hyperboloids; with perpendicular axes, concentric spheres can be produced; magnetic fields can be used to shape the lenses; and multielement lenses can be produced with special chambers.

Abstract: An individual section of a multiple section glassware forming machine is shown wherein each such section preferably includes three stations performing separate and sequential operations in forming articles of glassware. Each such section may be adapted for "single gob" or "multiple gob" use whereby each station in the section performs its operation in forming either a single article of glassware or multiple articles at the same time. The section shown is adapted for "double gob" operation. Its first station is utilized in forming (by overhead pressing plungers) two parisons in upright parison molds. Its second station is utilized to further form the parisons either in intermediate blow molds or by suspending the parisons for a re-heat. Its third station is utilized to blow the parisons into the final shape of the glassware article being made.

Abstract: Tubes of transparent, translucent or opaque fused silica are made by heating a hollow cylindrical blank in a drawing zone, drawing the blank from the zone while maintaining its interior under pressure and rotating same about its longitudinal axis, and calibrating the still-plastic tube immediately upon leaving the drawing zone in a calibration zone defined by two graphite plates. Apparatus for carrying out the method includes means for heating the blank to a drawing temperature in a drawing zone, means for drawing the blank from the zone, means for maintaining the interior of the blank under pressure and means for rotating the blank as it is drawn, and calibrating means for calibrating the still-plastic tube immediately upon leaving the drawing zone including two graphite plate means disposed on metal plates through which a coolant can flow.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of producing hard glass-ceramics from a melt of basalt enriched with one or more of CaO, MgO and SiO.sub.2 to achieve defined ratios of certain oxides in the batch, cooling the melt to a glass and thermally in situ crystallizing the glass to a highly crystalline glass-ceramic product containing a diopside solid solution as the principal phase.

Abstract: An individual section of a Hartford I. S. type glassware forming machine is modified to provide for in-line, or parallel motion, of the split mold halves at both the blank and blow stations. Vertically extending rock shafts move the blank and blow mold holder structures on fixed ways, through toggle links similar to those in a conventional I. S. machine, but the space formerly occupied by the hinge pin at the blow side is made available for the mold structure because the ways are oriented parallel to and slightly below the neck ring hub mechanism. This design provides for an increased mold closing force at the blank side and simplifies the mold holder structure itself whereby the molds can be continually cooled from an internal chamber in the mold holder which is supplied with cooling air through a vertical interface between the movable mold holder structure and the fixed machine frame.