Abstract: A method is disclosed for mechanically bonding a metal component to a ceramic material, comprising providing a metal component comprising an anchor material attached to at least a first portion of one surface of the metal component; providing a ceramic material having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the ceramic material defines at least one conduit extending from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the at least one conduit has a first open end defined by the first surface, a second open end defined by the second surface, a continuous sidewall and a cross sectional area; positioning the ceramic material such that at least a portion of the at least one conduit is in overlying registration with at least a portion of the anchor material; and applying a bonding agent into at least a portion of the at least one conduit.

Abstract: A glass sampling apparatus and a method for using the glass sampling apparatus to obtain a glass sample from molten glass within a glass melting vessel are described herein. In one embodiment, the glass sampling apparatus includes: (a) a sampling tube having a first end and a second end, where the second end is used to obtain the glass sample from the molten glass in the glass melting vessel; (b) a first valve; (c) a vacuum device; and (d) a tube network that couples the first end of the sampling tube to both the first valve and the vacuum device.

Abstract: A glass sampling apparatus and a method for using the glass sampling apparatus to obtain a glass sample from molten glass within a glass melting vessel are described herein. In one embodiment, the glass sampling apparatus includes: (a) a sampling tube having a first end and a second end, where the second end is used to obtain the glass sample from the molten glass in the glass melting vessel; (b) a first valve; (c) a vacuum device; and (d) a tube network that couples the first end of the sampling tube to both the first valve and the vacuum device.

Abstract: A fiber-based gasket, a glass manufacturing system, and a method are described herein for reducing thermal cell induced blisters. In one embodiment, the fiber-based gasket is placed in a connection between a first glass manufacturing device (e.g., capsule surrounding a downcomer) and a second glass manufacturing device (e.g., fusion draw machine surrounding an inlet). The fiber-based gasket has a density and compression which results in a gas permeation rate per unit surface area that is less than 22.5 ml/min/cm2 to reduce thermal cell induced blistering within the first glass manufacturing device and the second glass manufacturing device.

Abstract: An electrode holder for use in a furnace for melting a batch material to form molten glass is disclosed comprising a refractory coated nose member presented to and in contact with a molten glass material contained within the furnace. The refractory coating is preferably a flame- or plasma-sprayed ceramic such as alumina or zirconia. That protects the nose member from corrosion from the hot molten glass.

Abstract: In the formation of sheet material from molten glass, molten glass is formed in a melting furnace and transported through a precious metal delivery system to the forming apparatus. Disclosed herein is a method to eliminate carbon-containing contamination of individual components of the precious metal delivery system prior to their installation and use. The method comprises one or more heat treating steps in an oxygen-containing atmosphere prior to and/or during assembly of the component.

Abstract: In the formation of sheet material from molten glass, molten glass is formed in a melting furnace and transported through a precious metal delivery system to the forming apparatus. Disclosed herein is a method to eliminate carbon-containing contamination of individual components of the precious metal delivery system prior to their installation and use. The method comprises one or more heat treating steps in an oxygen-containing atmosphere prior to and/or during assembly of the component.

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: A substantially-isolated/controlled, limited-volume, gas-filled space (e.g., 113b) is formed over at least one free (open) surface of flowing molten glass in a manufacturing line used to produce glass sheets (137), e.g., a manufacturing line employing the fusion process to produce glass sheets suitable for use as substrates for liquid crystal displays. At least a portion of the space comprises a platinum-group metal, e.g., a platinum-rhodium alloy, which can serve as a source of platinum-group condensate defects. The use of the substantially-isolated/controlled, limited-volume, gas-filled space substantially reduces the level of such platinum-group condensate defects in the glass sheets, e.g., by more than 50%.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for mechanically bonding a metal component to a ceramic material, comprising providing a metal component comprising an anchor material attached to at least a first portion of one surface of the metal component; providing a ceramic material having a first surface and a second surface, wherein the ceramic material defines at least one conduit extending from the first surface to the second surface, wherein the at least one conduit has a first open end defined by the first surface, a second open end defined by the second surface, a continuous sidewall and a cross sectional area; positioning the ceramic material such that at least a portion of the at least one conduit is in overlying registration with at least a portion of the anchor material; and applying a bonding agent into at least a portion of the at least one conduit.

Abstract: A system and method are described herein that control the environment (e.g., oxygen, hydrogen, humidity, temperature, gas flow rate, pressure) around one or more vessels in a glass manufacturing system. In the preferred embodiment, the system includes a closed-loop control system and a capsule that are used to control the level of hydrogen around the exterior (non glass contact surface) of the vessel(s) so as to suppress the formation of gaseous inclusions and surface blisters in glass sheets. In addition, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to help cool molten glass while the molten glass travels from one vessel to another vessel in the glass manufacturing system. Moreover, the closed-loop control system and capsule can be used to maintain an atmosphere with minimal oxygen around the vessel(s) so as to reduce the oxidation of precious metals on the vessel(s).

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing glass sheets with manufacturing systems that including platinum-containing components are provided. The method includes providing a barrier coating to reduce the hydrogen permeability of the platinum-containing components which reduces the propensity for blistering of glass sheets made using the components.

Abstract: A system and method for suppressing the formation of gaseous inclusions in glass sheets and the resulting glass sheets are described herein. The system includes a melting, fining, delivery, mixing or forming vessel that has a refractory metal component (e.g., platinum component) which has an inner wall that contacts molten glass and an outer wall coated with an oxygen ion transportable material (e.g., zirconia) which is coated with a conductive electrode. The system also includes a DC power source that supplies DC power across the oxygen ion transportable material which causes oxygen ions to migrate from the refractory metal component to the conductive electrode and enables one to control the partial pressure of oxygen around an exterior of the vessel which helps one to effectively prevent hydrogen permeation from the molten glass in order to suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions and surface blisters within the glass sheet.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing glass sheets with manufacturing systems that including platinum-containing components are provided. The method includes providing a barrier coating to reduce the hydrogen permeability of the platinum-containing components which reduces the propensity for blistering of glass sheets made using the components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature-compensated optical waveguide device. The temperature-compensated optical waveguide device includes a substrate having a first end and a second end. A first mount is coupled to the first end of the substrate. The first mount includes a first surface, the first surface having a first grove and a first recess intersected by the first groove. A second mount is coupled to the second end of the substrate. The second mount includes a second surface having a second grove and a second recess intersected by the second groove. The first groove and the second groove are substantially aligned with one another; and an optical waveguide fiber coupled to the first mount and the second mount. The optical waveguide fiber has a Bragg grating. The substrate has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the first mount has a second coefficient of thermal expansion and the second mount has a third coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a temperature-compensated optical waveguide device. The temperature-compensated optical waveguide device includes a substrate having a first end and a second end. A first mount is coupled to the first end of the substrate. The first mount includes a first surface, the first surface having a first grove and a first recess intersected by the first groove. A second mount is coupled to the second end of the substrate. The second mount includes a second surface having a second grove and a second recess intersected by the second groove. The first groove and the second groove are substantially aligned with one another; and an optical waveguide fiber coupled to the first mount and the second mount. The optical waveguide fiber has a Bragg grating. The substrate has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, the first mount has a second coefficient of thermal expansion and the second mount has a third coefficient of thermal expansion.

Abstract: Solid oxide fuel cell assemblies comprise packets of multi-cell-sheet devices based on compliant solid oxide electrolyte sheets that form a fuel chamber and support anodes interiorly and cathodes exteriorly of the chamber that can be electrically interconnected to provide a compact, high voltage power-generating unit; added frames can support the oxide sheets and incorporate fuel supply and air supply conduits or manifolds permitting stacking of the assemblies into fuel cell stacks of any required size and power-generating capacity.