Abstract: A method and appartus for making non-circular mineral fibers, and the fibers produced thereby, comprises flowing a stream from a body of molten mineral material through a non-circular orifice, and quenching the mineral material in the stream to form a mineral fiber having a non-circular cross-section.

Abstract: A process is disclosed for making a preform from which optical fibers may be drawn, comprising forming a tubular glass body having a hollow center and concentric layers, at least one layer being a doped layer, and each layer having different indices of refraction. A partial vacuum is formed within the interior of the tubular glass body, at least part of the glass body is softened by heating, and the softened portions of the tubular glass body are collapsed to form a preform. The pressure of the partial vacuum is selected to effectively eliminate a dip in the index of refraction of any glass fiber drawn from the preform.

Abstract: A non-precious metal drain bushing for use in the start-up of a glass melting furnace. Relatively thin, wide terminal ears extend outwardly and downwardly from the ends of the bushing and are supported against bending stresses by a rigid band or strip which contacts the outer surface of the ears and extends along the bottom wall of the bushing toward the other end for a substantial distance. In addition to the physical reinforcement it provides, the strip also acts to electrically widen the terminal ears.

Abstract: The invention relates to the forming of felts, the fibres of which are disposed in random directions.These felts are obtained by depositing the fibres which are carried by a current of gas on a gas-permeable conveyor, the fibres, prior to being deposited, being coated with a binder composition. The felt constituted on the conveyor is subject to at least a longitudinal compression, the intensity of which is regulated in such a way that no creases form on the surface.The felts obtained are highly resistant to compression, to tearing and to flexion.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the high temperature destruction by pyrolysis and incineration of organic and inorganic gaseous, liquid, and solid toxic and hazardous compounds. The apparatus has a melting chamber and a combustion chamber wherein solid, sludge liquid and gaseous compounds are separately or simultaneously eliminated. In the melting chamber of the apparatus, a molten mass media operates at temperatures between 2200 and 2900 degrees F. Directly above the molten mass a flame impinges upon the molten surface at a temperature of 3000 degrees F. and above. Solid, liquid, and gaseous hazardous wastes are introduced into the melting chamber either on or beneath the surface of the molten mass wherein the waste is destroyed. Due to the operating sequence of the apparatus, the liquid and solid waste compounds may be in the molten mass in excess of eight hours.

Abstract: A coating material is applied to drawn lightguide fibre (36') by an applicator (6) which tilts about x and y axes under the control of a concentricity monitor (7) to maintain the coating of the coated fibre (36) concentric about the fibre.

Abstract: A parison mold portion (20) of an individual glassware molding machine, of the type having a parison mold (22), a split neck ring (28), a neck ring holder (30), an upper receiver cap (40), and a parison plunger (116) , is provided with means for cooling the neck ring (28) and the parison mold (22). The means for cooling the neck ring (28) and the parison mold (22) includes a plurality of first cooling holes (214) in the upper receiver cap (40), a plurality of second cooling holes (216) in the neck ring (28) that communicate with the plurality of first cooling holes (214), and a plurality of third cooling holes (230) in the parison mold (22) that communicate with the plurality of second cooling holes (216).

Abstract: Disclosed is a molding method for producing an optical glass element which comprises the steps of preparing a mold coated with a thin film of a noble metal alloy, and molding optical glass into the form of an optical glass element by using the mold while applying heat and pressure to the optical glass. Further disclosed is such a mold that is coated with a thin film of a noble metal alloy, for producing an optical glass element.

Abstract: An apparatus for fiberizing molten mineral material is disclosed. The apparatus includes a spinner to fiberize the material into fibers, a high velocity blower to attenuate the fibers, an air gap between the spinner and the high velocity blower through which ambient air is drawn and a flow controller over a portion of the air gap to redirect flow of the ambient air.

Abstract: A method of making an orificed discharge wall for supplying a plurality of streams of molten glass to be attenuated into filaments is provided comprising inserting elements in apertures in a member; positioning said elements and member within a thin walled elastomeric sheath adapted to isostatically transmit pressure to said elements and member; applying isostatic pressure to the sheathed elements and member to mechanically seal the elements to the member; and fusing the mechanically sealed elements and member together to prevent the unwanted passage of molten glass between said elements and said member, said elements having an orifice to permit the passage of molten glass therethrough to establish said streams.

Abstract: The apparatus allows the continuous production of optical fibres (15) starting from liquid-phase reactants. They are injected into a pressurized vertical vessel (3), comprising a second coaxial vessel (4), which can be vertically displaced for the variations of the refractive-index profile. The first vessel supplies material for the cladding, the second for the fibre core.Suitable furnaces (6,9,14) help the reaction and allow preform sintering and drawing.

Abstract: A feeder for the production of glass filaments is provided with a mechanical valve means to render the operation dripless or non-dripless, as desired. Preferably, the feeder is rendered non-dripless when the restart of filament formation from idle orifices is desired.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing liposomes is characterized by optically monitoring the light transmission of a liposome precursor solution and controlling the flow rate and/or temperature of the precursor solution and/or a dialysis buffer solution in accordance therewith.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making non-circular mineral fibers, and the fibers produced thereby, comprises flowing a stream from a body of molten mineral material through a non-circular orifice, and quenching the mineral material in the stream to form a mineral fiber having a non-circular cross-section.

Abstract: A method for producing a bare fiber taper at a metallized fiber is disclosed and comprises the steps of softening and drawing in an arc of the fiber metallized by sputtering or vapor deposition. The softened metallized fiber thereby constricts and the metallized fiber becomes free of the metallization and, thus, bare over its entire circumference in the arising constriction as a consequence of the influence of the arc. The bare constriction produced in such fashion is parted and a tapering, bare end section thereby arising at one of the two metallized fiber halves produced by the parting can be employed as the bare fiber taper. A fiber taper with lens can be produced by fusing a lens to the bare end section.

Abstract: A novel process for the production of glass fiber products is provided. By the inventive process glass fibers are combined with a heat curable binder and then consolidated onto a conveyor where a glass fiber mass is placed onto the surface of the consolidated mass of glass fibers and heat curable binder. The resulting product is then subsequently cured and then coated on-line with a suitable coating. Glass fiber products made by the novel inventive process are also disclosed.

Abstract: Glass preforms for optical fibers or the like having refractive index profiles which vary in stepped or graded fashion across the preform, are made from porous glass preforms by introducing a first dopant into the porous preform during manufacture, partially sintering the preform to selectively modify the internal surface area thereof, introducing a second vapor-infusible dopant into the selectively sintered preform to cause selective doping of the porous glass, and then consolidating the resulting doped preform to clear glass.

Abstract: A method for making mineral fibers comprising discharging molten glass as primary molten streams from orifices and joining at least one primary stream to an adjacent primary stream to form a coalesced stream of different cross-sectional shape from that of the orifices, and hardening the coalesced stream into a glass fiber having a cross-sectional shape similar to the shape of the coalesced stream.

Abstract: Integrated optical waveguides, for example planar waveguides with stripes of guiding material formed integrally on a substrate, are manufactured by depositing the doped glass guiding material by plasma chemical vapor deposition. Several substrates can be arranged in a suitably shaped apparatus so that deposition can take place on all of them at once.

Abstract: The initial step of melting glass, converting particulate batch materials to a partially melted, liquefied state, is carried out on a support surface of batch. As liquefied batch is drained from the surface, additional batch is fed onto the surface to maintain the surface substantially constant.The questions raised in reexamination request No. 90/000,701, filed Dec. 31, 1984 have been considered and the results thereof are reflected in this reissue patent which constitutes the reexamination certificate required by 35 U.S.C. 307 as provided in 37 CFR 1.570(e).