Abstract: The invention relates to a process for bending glass sheets. This process involves bending the glass sheet or sheets in at least two stages. The first stage employing the action of gravity leading to a shaped blank which is used in the formation of the final shape. The last stage which leads to the final shape, involves the simultaneous or nonsimultaneous, combined actions of gravity and at least one additional mechanical force. The invention also includes a bending apparatus providing at least one section having two separately useable parts with one of the parts being movable with respect to the other to permit the section to be arranged in one of two positions. In addition, the invention includes bent glazing having at least one docking angle exceeding 50.degree. and a radius of curvature below 200 mm.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for preparing a sheet of plastic coated with a hard varnish on at least part of at least one of its sides, including:1) preparing a sheet of plastic by injection molding,2) applying the varnish to the said sheet, and3) heating the combination at a temperature at least equal to the softening point of the plastic of which the sheet is made, the varnish of at least a central part of the said combination being free of any mechanical contact other than that with the said sheet; the flat or curved transparent sheet thus obtained; its application as a motor-vehicle component containing a transparent part forming glazing and as motor-vehicle glazing.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for bending glass sheets. This process includes bending the glass sheet or sheets in at least two stages. The first stage employing the action of gravity leading to a shaped blank which is used in the formation of the final shape. The last stage which leads to the final shape, includes the simultaneous or nonsimultaneous, combined actions of gravity and at least one additional mechanical force. The invention also includes a bending apparatus providing at least one section including two separately useable parts with one of the parts being movable with respect to the other to permit the section to be arranged in one of two positions. In addition, the invention includes bent glazing having at least one docking angle exceeding 50.degree. and a radius of curvature below 200 mm.

Abstract: Laminated plate glass including at least one rigid sheet of glass (1, 2), at least one layer of plastic material (3), and a sensor (4) for the presence of foreign bodies on the outside of the plate glass. Its sensing side is held in close contact with the internal side of the external plate of glass (1). The sensor (4) is located in a space formed within the sheets (2) or layers (3) of the window other than the said external plate of glass (1). The said space is closed in a detachable manner by means of a cover (5) and/or lid (6) which exerts the desired force on the sensor (4); process for fabrication of this plate glass; convex laminated plate glass equipped with a sensor; sensor that can be used for making this plate glass.

Abstract: A method and device for the bending, on a frame, at least one glass sheet by gravity includes two bending steps. The glass sheets are first supported at their periphery along a first peripheral line by a rough bending device during the first step and along a second peripheral line by a definitive bending device during the second step. Transfer of the glass sheets from the first peripheral line to the second peripheral line is performed by positively and continuously regulating a position of at least one of the rough and definitive bending devices in reaction to forces generated on the at least one of the rough and definitive bending devices by contact with the glass sheet.

Abstract: A process and a device for making asymmetric laminated panes composed of a support and at least one sheet of plastic material by calendaring. A blank sheet of plastic material (15) is brought into contact with the support (11) to be covered by an endless conveyor belt (16). The blank sheet is released progressively so as to bring it into contact with the support (11) just before the pressing passage (3), as the laminated assembly passes into and through the pressing passage.

Abstract: A process and a device for making asymmetric laminated panes composed of a support and at least one sheet of plastic material by calendaring. A blank sheet of plastic material is brought into contact with the support to be covered by an endless conveyor belt. The blank sheet is released progressively so as to bring it into contact with the support just before the pressing passage, as the laminated assembly passes into and through the pressing passage.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of glass sheets with a view to laminating them consists of curving the glass sheets by causing them to pass one after another along a curved trajectory, then cooling them by passage between blowing chests, and of dispatching them by batches to the assembling station, and a laminated pane, the sheets of which have, in the central zone, a core compressive stress of from 1 to 50 MPa.

Abstract: A method for the preparation of glass sheets with a view to laminating them consists of curving the glass sheets by causing them to pass one after another along a curved trajectory, then cooling them by passage between blowing chests, and of dispatching them by batches to the assembling station, and a laminated pane, the sheets of which have, in the central zone, a core compressive stress of from 1 to 50 MPa.

Abstract: A method and a device for monitoring the transparency of at least a portion of a preassembled laminated pane by analysis of the luminous intensity of the image of a test pattern viewed through the portion of the pane. The luminous intensity, picked up by a detector, of each point of the test pattern viewed through the pane is digitized to produce a number. The numbers obtained for the points of one same image are then averaged, the average obtained being compared with a previously determined theoretical value.

Abstract: A curving furnace has at least one curving station, of which the walls are equipped with resistors. The series of upper resistors are subdivided into one or more axial zones in which the resistors are oriented parallel to the height of the glass sheets, and into one or more transverse zones in which the resistors are oriented perpendicularly. The heating power of a given zone is regulated independently of the heating powers associated with the other zones.