Abstract: A roller construction is described for use in glass bending apparatus employing an array of curved rods. A tubular sheath is rotatably mounted on a curved rod. The sheath comprises a tubular metal winding that is coaxial with the rod and a coaxial metal meshing adjacent either the inner or outer surface of the winding. Such a sheath provides both good torsional resistance and flexibility in the axial direction. When an array of such curved rods is used to define a cylindrical surface in glass bending apparatus, heated glass sheets may be bent on such array to conform their curvature to the surface defined by the rods.

Abstract: A roll (4) for conveying sheets of glass at a heat-tempering temperature horizontally through a heat-tempering furnace enclosure includes a core (10) of refractory metal and a shell (20). The shell (20) is formed of a refractory material composed of a calcium silicate base agglomerate having a specific mass of from 200 to 800 kg/m.sup.3.

Abstract: A cutting head for a glass cutting machine includes a cylinder, a piston movable in the cylinder in one direction to a cutting plane under control of compressed air from a source communicated to the cylinder to act on an upper face and move the piston in opposition to a bias force, a rod attached to and movable with the piston and a cutting wheel carried at the end of the rod for cutting a glass sheet from a glass blank. A port is formed through the wall of the cylinder and means connected to the port responsive to a rapid rise in pressure function rapidly to isolate the cylinder from the source of compressed air and to vent the cylinder. During a cutting operation, the piston seals the port. If the cutting wheel should move beyond the extremes of the glass blank or for any reason move further in the one direction, following movement of the piston shall open the port and the cutting wheel will rapidly retract to and beyond the cutting plane without damage to the cutting wheel.

Abstract: An electrically heated window for a vehicle includes a transparent sheet, a plurality of electrical resistance strips disposed on the sheet, and at least two closely spaced electrodes disposed on a surface of the sheet for detection of humidity on the surface of the sheet between them. The electrodes extend along the maximum slope of the window, and may extend downwardly unequal distances.

Abstract: The sheet to be curved, such as glass at a softening temperature, is advanced on a fixed curved bed formed by a series of curved rods having different angles of inclination to form an ascending convex bed with an increasing curvature profile. The sheet is thus gradually raised and simultaneously curved by sagging of the edges. The curved rods have aligned end sections mounted in the same horizontal plane and the inclinations progressively increase. The bed is followed by a bed of constant curvature profile formed by curved rods having the same inclination. Means are provided for independently adjusting the inclination of each rod. Particular ranges of spacing and rate of advance are given.

Abstract: An electrically heated window for a vehicle includes a smooth surfaced transparent sheet having a plurality of spaced electric resistance heating conductors on the surface thereof. A humidity detector is provided on the inside surface of the sheet and includes two sets of conductors standing in relief above the surface of the sheet and each having substantially the shape of a comb with the teeth of the two combs interdigitated and extending substantially in the direction of maximum slope of the sheet. The back of the upper comb defines a gutter for the diversion of water droplets from the area occupied by the teeth of the combs.