Abstract: A method of pyrolytically forming a silicon oxide coating on a hot glass substrate as it travels past a coating chamber includes contacting the substrate with silane-containing coating precursor material in the presence of oxygen. The silane-containing coating precursor material is in the vapor phase and it and gaseous oxygen are intimately mixed before they enter the coating chamber to contact the substrate. Silane as coating precursor material may be conveyed towards the coating chamber in vapor phase in a substantially inert carrier gas stream and oxygen introduced into the silane-containing carrier gas stream before it enters the coating chamber. The coating operation may take place within a coating chamber within a float chamber in which the glass is formed into ribbon.

Abstract: The invention relates to a fluid film bearing and to a process for its production.The invention relates to a hydrodynamic fluid film bearing formed between a plurality of sheets (3) fixed to a casing (5) and a shaft (6) in rotation with respect to said casing. The invention has as an object to completely dissociate the control of the radial rigidity of the bearing in the startup phase and that in the rotational phase at working speed.A low rigidity, negligible or zero of the sheets (3) permits limiting the application forces of the sheets against the shaft and thus to reduce the wear upon startup of the bearing. After startup, the rotation of the shaft (6) at the interior of the sheet (3) causes a displacement of the sheets (3) which separate from the shaft (6) by the interposition of a hydrodynamic film of air. The new position occupied by the sheets (3) causes a return of the force of the sheets (3) by the restraining elements (4), as for example of leaf springs (40, 41, 42 or 43).

Abstract: A differential comparator, working with microwaves and using only one clock, is disclosed. This comparator has a differential amplifier and a divergence circuit in which are included two voltage level translators. The coupling between the amplifier and the divergence circuit is made at the gates of the load transistors of the divergence circuit. Two insulation transistors, working in either saturated mode or resistive mode, are used to provide the amplifier with an automatic control loop which stabilizes all the rest voltages. The clock signal, applied to two transistors which short circuit the two feedback transistors of the divergence circuit, controls the passage from the measuring phase to the divergence phase.

Abstract: A light transmitting glazing pane includes a first coating on an exposed face of a glass sheet which reduces the emissivity of that face in respect of infra-red radiation having wavelengths in excess of 3 .mu.m, and on the or another face of the pane a solar radiation screening coating which is adapted to screen short wavelength infra-red radiation, the thickness of each coating being selected so that the pane has a visible light transmissivity of at least 70% and a total solar radiant energy transmissivity of at most 75%. Such panes are useful for limiting solar energy gain while allowing good through visibility, and they may therefore be used to form vehicle windows.

Abstract: Apparatus for pyrolytically forming a metal compound coating on an upper face of a hot glass substrate 1 comprises conveyor means 2 for conveying the substrate 1 in a downstream direction 3. A coating chamber 6 opening downwardly onto the path 1 and means 7 for spraying coating precursor downwardly towards the substrate.The spraying means 7 is located to spray the coating precursor solution from a height above the substrate path 1 of at least 75 cm. Heating means are provided for supplying heat to the spraying zone 9. Means such as aspirator boxes 39 is provided for generating aspirating forces on atmospheric material within the passageway 13 to encourage such material to flow along the substrate path to the downstream end (27) of the passageway and to enter exhaust ducting leading such material away from the substrate path.

Abstract: Light transmitting glass having at least one surface area which is matted by surface pits, including an etched surface area having a population of merging or contiguous surface pits of polyhedral form, each pit having a small area so that at least 30% of visible light normally incident on the at least one surface is diffusely transmitted through the surface and the at least one surface having a total luminous transmittance of normally incident visible light of not less than TT-10 where TT is the total luminous transmittance through the same surface prior to etching expressed as a percentage of the total incident visible light.

Abstract: Flat glass is disclosed, bearing a tin oxide coating layer which is at least 200 nm in thickness. In order to promote a uniform visual appearance across the coated area, the expected grain area of a representative sample of the tin oxide coating crystals measured in units of 10.sup.-4 .mu.m.sup.2 is numerically equal to a value of at least 0.4 times the layer thickness measured in nanometers.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in pyrolytically forming a metal oxide coating on an upper face of a hot glass substrate 1 in sheet or ribbon form comprises conveyor means 2 for conveying the substrate 1 in a downstream direction 3 along a path also indicated at 1 and a roof structure 5 defining a coating chamber 6 opening downwardly onto the path and comprising a passageway 11 along which coating precursor vapor and oxidizing gas can be conducted downstream in contact with the upper substrate face during the conveyance of the substrate. The roof structure 5 defines, in or adjacent the upstream end of the passageway 11, a mixing zone 7 which opens downwardly onto the substrate path 1. Means such as spray nozzle 35 is provided for injecting coating precursor material into the mixing zone 7 from a height of at least 50 cm above the level of the substate path 1.

Abstract: Apparatus for pyrolytically forming a metal compound coating on an upper face of a hot glass substrate 1 in sheet or ribbon form comprises conveyor means 2 for conveying a the substrate along a path also indicated at 1 in a downstream direction 3, a roof structure 5 defining a coating chamber 6 opening downwardly onto the path 1 and means 7 for discharging coating precursor material into the chamber 6. Upstream of the coating chamber 6 there is an antechamber 25 which communicates with the coating chamber 6 via an entry slot 24 which is defined in part by the path of the substrate 1, and via which gas can be caused to flow into the coating chamber 6 so as to form (when the apparatus is in use) a blanket layer which covers the upper face of the substrate 1 along a first part of the length of the chamber 6. Means 26 is provided for controllably preheating the gas forming the blanket layer.