Abstract: A process for effectively bonding arbitrary size or shape substrates. The process incorporates vacuum pull down techniques to ensure uniform surface contact during the bonding process. The essence of the process for bonding substrates, such as glass, plastic, or alloys, etc., which have a moderate melting point with a gradual softening point curve, involves the application of an active vacuum source to evacuate interstices between the substrates while at the same time providing a positive force to hold the parts to be bonded in contact. This enables increasing the temperature of the bonding process to ensure that the softening point has been reached and small void areas are filled and come in contact with the opposing substrate. The process is most effective where at least one of the two plates or substrates contain channels or grooves that can be used to apply vacuum between the plates or substrates during the thermal bonding cycle.

Abstract: A method of patterning a plurality of optical rods includes bonding a plurality of optical rods into an array wherein each of the optical rods is aligned so that an exposed end face of each of the optical rods is oriented in a common direction. The exposed end faces of the optical rods are patterned so that each of the exposed end faces has a three-dimensional pattern formed thereon. These patterned optical rods can then be separated and used in the fabrication of optical systems.

Abstract: The present invention furnishes a device for fiberizing molten mineral materials in order to produce mineral fiber products by means of a spinner (2) having a multiplicity of orifices (6; 8) provided in the peripheral wall (4) thereof, for centrifuging molten mineral materials (10; 12) supplied to the spinner (2), with the spinner (2) comprising on the inside (14) of the peripheral wall (4) compartments (18; 20) arranged in sections and delimited by baffles (16) for separately feeding and separately receiving a respective molten material (10; 12) to at least one associated orifice (6; 8), with the orifices (6; 8) extending at least approximately in a radial direction through the peripheral wall (4). In the present invention a method for producing this device is moreover proposed.

Abstract: A parallel shear apparatus (20) for simultaneously shearing a plurality of streams of molten glass (A, B, C) into gobs comprising opposed carriages (22, 24) which are repetitively moved along rectilinear opposed paths toward and away from one another by a unidirectionally acting servo motor/gear reducer (44) acting through an oscillating bell crank (30). Each of the carriages carries a plurality of shear blades (40a, 40b, 40c/42a, 42b, 42c) which cooperate with one another to shear the glass streams into gobs when the carriages are positioned close to one another. The shear blades carried by each of the carriages have internal flow passages (66) to permit the blades to be internally liquid cooled by liquid entering the carriages from inlet lines (52, 56), and the blades carried by one of the carriages (22) are biased by compression springs (82) into contact with the blades carried by the other carriage (24) to prevent excessive contact loads between the blades in their shearing positions.

Abstract: This apparatus uses laser beams in place of existing standard glass chopper units affixed to resin mix heads. Conventional glass choppers use steel blades that eventually wear out or break, adding to maintenance costs. The laser device operates in a manner that allows one to set the pulse rate for the specific purpose of varying the fiber length. During the injection operation, intensity of the laser may be adjusted to accommodate cutting or different sizes and kinds of fibers. The laser apparatus preferably produces long fiber reinforced urethane substrates such as interior door panels for automobile doors.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for manufacturing an optical component that have increased transmittance in the ultraviolet region of the spectrum. The method includes the steps of cutting out a part from a block material; polishing optical sides of the part; subjecting the part to heat treatment at a temperature of between 100 and 900.degree. C.; and subjecting the part to acid treatment.

Abstract: Method for the application of colored or uncolored decorations of transparent, opaque or opal glass or crystal glass to objects of preferably blown, press-casted, injection molded or centrifugally casted glass or crystal, according to which the object after an initial forming step is placed in a substantially tight fitting form (3), along the form surface of which decorational glass is pressed into created spaces (4) and fills the same. The invention also related to an arrangement for carrying out the method.

Abstract: A process of manufacturing a silica glass article comprising the steps of: (1) irradiating a silica glass article with electromagnetic waves to generate defects therein; and (2) immersing the thus irradiated silica glass article in an atmosphere comprising a hydrogen gas, thereby providing the resulting silica glass article with a characteristic that is effective for preventing it substantially from increasing its absorption within an ultraviolet region due to ultraviolet ray irradiation. Also disclosed are a silica glass article or a glass fiber produced according to the manufacturing process.

Abstract: The invention refers to a ventilated filter cigarette comprising a tobacco rod, a wrapper for the tobacco rod and a filter ventilated through ventilation openings, including a coaxial filter element, comprising a filter core, a wrapper for the filter core, a filter jacket and a wrapper for the filter jacket, in which the material specifications of the tobacco rod and the filter and the dimensions of their individual components are designed to allow the smoke to flow mainly through the filter core (upon open ventilation zone) and when covering the ventilation openings, the smoke of the cigarette flows to a major degree through the filter jacket of the coaxial filter element.

Abstract: A method is provided for the manufacture of SiO.sub.2 granular material. Silicic acid is dispersed in a liquid to form a dispersion. The dispersion is stirred in a stirring tank with formation of a homogeneous liquid phase. The homogeneous liquid phase is maintained by stirring at a substantially constant rate until the granular mass develops, when the solids content of the dispersion is within the range of 65 to 80 weight percent. Moisture is gradually extracted to form a granular mass which is dried and sintered.

Abstract: For a method for bending and tempering glass which has an opening, the glass is bent in the horizontal position using a bending frame (9) and is tempered on the bending frame (9). The bending frame in respect of its contour and of its geometric shape corresponds to the desired shape of the bent glass. During the bending operation and during the tempering operation the glass is supported, in the region around the edge of the opening, by an additional internal bending frame (12).

Abstract: A tobacco smoke filter consisting essentially of a porous substrate having dry water and microcapsules dispersed therein. The microcapsules comprise at least one substance selected from the group consisting of chlorophyllin, methylcellulose, sodium pyroglutamate and a vegetable oil.

Abstract: In the process of drawing optical fibers, a protective plastic coating is applied to the fiber by applying a curable liquid coating material thereto and the subsequently curing the liquid coating to a protective plastic layer. At high fiber draw speeds, air entrained with the fiber enters the liquid coating material and causes bubbles in the cured coating. The incidence of bubbles in the coating is reduced by replacing air adjacent the fiber surface with helium.

Abstract: A glass ceramic or glass-ceramic sheet is formed by progressively reducing the thickness of the sheet by passing the sheet between successive pairs of counter-rotating rollers. The average viscosity of the sheet is maintained between 5.times.10.sup.4 and 10.sup.9 P during the sheet forming operation.

Abstract: A method of producing, by flame hydrolysis, a fused silica glass containing titania which comprises delivering a mixture of a silica precursor and a titania precursor in vapor form to a flame, passing the vapor mixture through the flame to form SiO.sub.2 --TiO.sub.2 particles, and depositing the particles within a furnace where they melt to form a solid glass body.

Abstract: A valved stem apparatus for use on a water pipe used for smoking. The valved stem is formed as an elongated hollow stem provided with a first open end, sized for mechanically interfacing with a pipe bowl assembly component of the water pipe, and with a second open end for being disposed within a liquid container member of the water pipe. The second open end is provided with a retaining structure that extends from the stem structure that delineates an opening at the second open end. A valve member, such as a ball valve, is disposed within the retaining structure such that it can freely travel within the retaining structure towards the opening portion of the second open end upon being submerged in a liquid. The opening portion is formed with a smooth beveled rim surface that conforms to the shape of the outer surface of the buoyant body to effect closure of the opening in a water-tight manner when not being forced open by a person drawing smoke from the mouthpiece.

Abstract: High-strength sinterable lithium disilicate glass ceramics are described which can be further processed in particular by pressing in the viscous state to shaped dental products.

Abstract: The invention relates to a single phase vitreous material and to its production from a melt of a glass-forming multi-component feed mix. The process includes the preparation of a single phase melt in which there are mobile cations from a glass forming feed mix. The melt in passed in contacting relationship with and sequentially between devices made of low electrical resistance material from device to device. These devices are in and complete with the melt and a direct current voltage source an electric circuit. A voltage is regulated in the electrical circuit so that a direct electrical current is created in it and the concentration of the mobile cations in the melt is lowered thereby with reduction on the cathode of the metals of the same kind as the mobile cations. The melt, lowered concentration of the mobile cations, is cooled to produce the material as a structural article. In another embodiment, the anode is separated from the melt by a medium which is substantially inert with respect to the melt.

Abstract: A process for making an abrasive composition. In the first step of this process, from about 50 to about 85 weight percent electric arc furnace dust is mixed with at least about 10 weight percent of silica to prepare a thermally crystallizable mixture; the electric arc furnace dust has a particle size distribution such that at least about 70 weight percent of its particles are smaller than about 20 microns, and it contains from about 35 to about 65 weight percent of at least an iron material selected from iron, iron oxide, and mixtures thereof. Thereafter the mixture is melted by subjecting it to a temperature of from about 2,300 to about 2,900 degrees Fahrenheit to form a glass melt, the glass melt is quenched by reducing its temperature at least 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit in less than about 5 seconds to form a quenched glass, and the quenched glass is crushed by subjecting it to a pressure of at least 1.0 MegaPascal.

Abstract: A novel die holder member for use in co-extrusion cross-head die apparatus for applying two coating materials in inner and outer layers to an electrical wire, or the like. A body member has a through, axial bore in which a tip and die members, with respective tip and die holders, are positioned. A pair of radial bores, with which sources of two flowable coating materials communicate, extend from the exterior of the body member to the axial bore. The first coating material flows forwardly of the apparatus through a first flow passage, the second coating material flows rearwardly through a second flow passage, and the two materials flow forwardly, in superposed relation, through a third flow passage from a confluence of the first and second passages to an orifice in the die member where they are deposited in uniform, inner and outer layers, on the wire. The die holder member of the invention has frustoconical external and internal surfaces with a first, annular groove extending to and 360.degree.