Abstract: An improved method is provided for the lubrication of molds and delivery equipment which are employed in the production of glass articles wherein the viscous glass which is employed in the production of such articles is at least partially coated with a suitable lubricant prior to contact with the delivery equipment and/or prior to entry of the glass into the mold.

Abstract: The take-out mechanism comprises a tong carrier (2) movable in an arcuate path between a position at which tongs (4) carried by the carrier can grip an article and a second position at which the tongs release the article on to a dead plate of the machine. A piston and cylinder assembly (58, 60) provides cushioning means operable to oppose the movement of the carrier (2) as it approaches its second position to thereby reduce any impact between the articles and the dead plate.

Abstract: A process for producing a glass product having .DELTA.n, the difference between the central and peripheral portions of the glass, greater than 0.04. This process utilizes a porous glass body which is produced via a phase separation technique. A dopant selected from the group consisting of (1) TlNO.sub.3, (2) TlNO.sub.3 and an alkali metal compound and (3) TlNO.sub.3, Pb(NO.sub.3).sub.2 and an alkali metal compound is then permeated into the micropores of the porous glass product. A concentration gradient of the dopant is then formed by leaching out a portion of the dopant from the micropores. After the dopant is solidified in the micropores, the porous glass product is dried. A heat-treatment step then serves to collapse the micropores. A glass product having a gradient of refractive indices is thereby obtained.

Abstract: An improved method for melting silica material in a crucible and drawing off a fused silica tube therefrom having reduced air lines or striations. Bubble formation in the silica melt in the crucible is considerably reduced by supplying the exterior of the crucible with an atmosphere of hydrogen in a carrier gas of argon or certain other noble gases. The fused silica melt is discharged from the crucible around a hollow mandrel and a gas mixture of hydrogen in argon is fed within the hollow mandrel to the interior of the issuing silica tubing while the above atmosphere of hydrogen in argon is passed over the exterior of such silica tubing to form a silica tube product with markedly reduced striations.

Abstract: A glassware forming machine having a blank station (A) at which a parison is formed, an intermediate station (B) at which the parison is allowed to reheat, and a blow station (C) at which the parison is formed into an article of glassware as a patter plate (12) at the intermediate station (B). The patter plate (12) is movable between an operative position in which it screens the underside of the parison from updraughts of air and an inoperative position in which the patter plate (12) is not beneath the parison. The machine also comprises moving means (17) operable to move the patter plate (12) between its operative and inoperative position at appropriate times in the cycle of operation of the machine.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing silica-based optical fiber, and for manufacturing optical fiber preforms, the method comprising deuterium/hydrogen exchange in the silica-based material carried out subsequent to formation of the silica.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical waveguide fiber coating system having means for cooling the hot fiber prior to the time that the fiber enters the coating apparatus. The cooling means comprises an elongated coolant tube through which the fiber passes. Cool dry helium is flowed into that end of the coolant tube into which the fiber enters. In a preferred embodiment, the coolant tube is surrounding by a chamber containing a liquified gas. The helium is cooled by flowing through a coil submerged in the liquified gas prior to being flowed into the tube. An iris diaphragm located at the fiber input end of the coolant tube prevents the entry of moist, warm air into that tube.

Abstract: A blowhead apparatus including a blowhead arm and a blowhead body having at least one blowhead therein. The blowhead body is removably connected to the blowhead arm. The blowhead includes a retaining member, a seating member mounted on a sealed bearing, and a sealing ring having a seating surface mating with a seating surface on the seating member. A fluid system for supplying high and low pressure air includes a sealed pilot operated shuttle valve for controlling the high and low pressure air, a pilot valve for controlling the shuttle valve, and an on-off valve for the low pressure air.

Abstract: Various CVD processes are known whereby glass particles are flowed toward or over a substrate on which they are to be deposited. Because the substrate is cooler than the stream in which the particles are flowing, the thermophoretic force directs the particles toward the substrate. In accordance with the invention a beam of laser light is propagated over the surface in the vicinity of the stream of particles. The particles and/or a component within the stream absorbs the laser energy to induce within the stream of particles a temperature gradient whereby temperature increases with increased distance from the substrate surface.

Abstract: A new delivery system for use with glassware forming machines of the rotating table type having a plurality of continuously rotating spaced forming units spaced about the periphery thereof. The delivery system includes a plurality of gob guiding units each having a scoop, trough and deflector secured to a corresponding oscillating frame. A vertical pivot shaft supports each scoop and is operatively connected with an actuating means to move the corresponding scoop laterally between a delivery position and a reject position. The actuating means is responsive to a plurality of gob reject actuators in order to enable selective delivery or rejection of individual gobs of selected forming units.

Abstract: A drive system for arcuately oscillating the gob guiding units of the delivery system of a rotating table type glassware forming machine. The drive means includes a drive shaft having a crank and associated crank roller at one end, the roller being operatively situated within a crank box on one of the gob guiding units. Rotating of the drive shaft causes oscillatory motion of the gob guiding unit. A connecting link is provided to transfer this motion to other gob guiding units.

Abstract: A method of cooling a mould in a glassware forming machine wherein an intermediate support (26) supports a mould portion (10) and defines a space (36) which serves to insulate a movable support (14) of mould opening and closing mechanism of the machine from the mould portion (10). The mould portion (10) is cooled by blowing air into the space (36). The air blown into the space (36) increases the insulating effect of the space (36) and also can be blown through an aperture (40) in the intermediate support (26) on to the mould portion (10) so as to cool that portion of the mould portion (10).

Abstract: A preform for fabrication of a glass fiber optical transmission line is prepared by chemical reaction of vapor ingredients within a glass tube. Reaction, which may be between chlorides or hydrides of, for example, silicon and germanium with oxygen, occurs preferentially within a constantly traversing hot zone. Flow rates and temperature are sufficient to result in glass formation in the form of particulate matter on the inner surface of the tube. This particulate matter deposits on the tube and is fused with each passage of the hot zone. Continuous rotation of the tube during processing permits attainment of higher temperatures within the heated zone without distortion of the tube.

Abstract: A re-work method for removing extraneous plated metal layer areas from the surface of a ceramic substrate containing refractory metal areas wherein the substrate is heated at a temperature for a time sufficient to strengthen the bond between the plated metal layer and the refractory metal areas while simultaneously reducing the strength of the bond between the extraneous plated metal layer overlying the ceramic and the ceramic, immersing the substrate in a liquid, and applying localized ultrasonic energy in close proximity to the extraneous metal areas to be removed.

Abstract: An increased reaction velocity is achieved when gasifying a raw carboniferous material with H.sub.2 O. The raw material is suspended or emulsified in a liquid aqueous solution of a catalytically active salt, and the amount of the catalytically active salt and the pressure are such that the aqueous solution is maintained in the liquid phase.

Abstract: An improvement in a method for producing a glass article is disclosed. The method includes the steps of lubricating the walls of a mold cavity by igniting a gas therein, introducing a gob into the mold cavity, and pressing the gob to a desired shape. The improvement involves the use, as the gas ignited in the mold cavity, of a mixture of a methyl acetylene/propadiene gas and a hydrocarbon gas having an acetylenic triple bond. The proportion of the hydrocarbon having an acetylenic triple bond is controlled to one at which the flame which results from igniting the gas mixture is capable of penetrating an air lock in a deep mold cavity. Usually, the hydrocarbon gas having an acetylenic triple bond has from two to six carbon atoms and constitutes from 1 percent by volume to 10 percent by volume of the gas mixture.

Abstract: Optical fibres are manufactured by etching the inner wall of a tube. The tube wall is etched by passing a hydrogen-free fluorine compound through the tube while reciprocating a nonisothermal plasma through the tube. After etching, core glass is chemically deposited on the etched surface. The core glass is deposited from the gaseous phase while using a nonisothermal plasma for initiating the reaction. The inner-coated tube is then collapsed and drawn to form an optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fiber-optical coupling element by fusion of two monomode fibers. The fiber cores are made of a core glass, the American softening temperature of which is at least 80.degree. C. higher than that of the cladding glass. The fibers are heated to a temperature between 520.degree. and 560.degree. C. By the method, fibers can be fused to form a coupling element without undesirable deformation of the fiber cores.

Abstract: A glass sheet is press bent between a pair of bending molds of complementary shape provided with covers using burning gas source means that supplies heat by directing burning gas flames toward the bottom edge of a glass sheet. The burning gas source means is constructed and arranged to be directed toward the path taken by the glass sheet when the latter moves into a shaping position with the press bending molds retracted and to pivot away from the mold covers when the press bending molds engage the glass sheet including its bottom edge during the shaping of the sheet. Preferably, the burning gas source means has a shape that conforms with the shape of the bottom edge of the glass sheet undergoing press bending and has an upwardly directed downstream portion to provide clearance as the glass sheet moves into said shaping position in a direction such that a recessed lower edge portion thereof is the leading edge of the glass sheet during its path of movement into the shaping station.

Abstract: Porous glass optical fiber preforms are conventionally formed by depositing many layers of glass soot on a mandrel, removing the mandrel, and heating the porous preform to form a consolidated glass article. To prevent the formation of a devitrified layer at the aperture-forming surface during the consolidation step, the rate of soot deposition is initially reduced so that a stratum of fine soot is initially deposited on the mandrel. The stratum is initially discontinuous, but after a plurality passes of the soot-producing burner, it becomes continuous. Thereafter, the formation of the remainder of the soot preform continues in a conventional manner.