Abstract: The disclosed invention includes an amplifier fiber and methods of making the amplifier fiber. One embodiment of the inventive fiber includes a glass core and a glass cladding layer surrounding the glass core. The cladding glass layer has a refractive index which is less than a refractive index of the glass core. The fiber also includes a glass overclad layer surrounding the cladding layer. The overclad layer has a refractive index which is greater than the refractive index of the cladding layer. In another embodiment of the inventive fiber, the overclad layer is doped with an absorber. The absorber strips a mode of light propagating in the cladding from the cladding layer.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method for forming glass articles containing enclosed channels. The method comprises the following steps: a) delivering and depositing a first length of a molten glass ribbon (18) to a surface of a mold (20) having a mold cavity (22) possessing at least one channel-forming groove (22) and a peripheral surface, wherein the first length (18) overlies the mold cavity (22) and the peripheral surface; b) allowing the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18) to substantially conform to the contour of the mold cavity (22) resulting in the formation of at least one channel in the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18); c) delivering and depositing a second length of the molten glass ribbon (26) to the exposed surface of the first length of the molten glass ribbon (18).

Abstract: The disclosed invention is a rotationally symmetrical resistance furnace heating element. The heating element has at least two ends. A respective cooling element is disposed in communication with each end. The heating element includes at least first and second high current density sections. The high current density sections are axially separated by at least one low current density section. The high current density sections have a smaller diameter than the low current density section. The invention also includes a multiple crucible method of drawing an optical fiber from the draw furnace described above. The method includes the step of heating an entire body of raw materials in a hot zone in the furnace.

Abstract: A glass envelope for a light-emitting device, a device embodying the envelope, and the method of making the glass envelope by laminating two sheets of glass, one sheet having a continuous channel formed therein, and the other sheet having one or more optical elements formed therein.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a lightweight, sealant-free, thin glass envelope having a front surface and back surface laminated and integrated together, i e. specifically, a unitary envelope body having at least one discharge or ionizable gas channel. The glass envelope exhibits a weight to area ratio of .ltoreq.1.0 g/cm.sup.2. Lightweight, internally channeled light-emitting devices can be formed from these thin glass envelopes by etching electrodes to the envelope, at opposite ends of, and in communication with, the gas channel which contains a discharge or ionizable gas.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting a mass of material which includes an elongate wire, a first drive for moving the cutting wire along its length through a cutting location, a rotating mass holder for holding and rotating a longitudinally-extending mass of material about its longitudinal axis, and a second drive. The second drive advances the mass holder and/or the wire toward one another to orient the longitudinal axis of the mass of material at the cutting location in a position perpendicular to the wire to cut the mass of material. Other aspects of the invention include a method of cutting, the mass holder per se.

Abstract: A plunger/ring apparatus for press-forming articles of glass, or other formable materials within a mold is disclosed. The disclosed plunger/ring apparatus is provided with a plurality of spring loaded segments which extend outwardly from the plunger to coact with engineered passageways located upon the inner wear surface of the ring to form a seal in the plunger/ring interface area in which air, but not the material to be press-formed, may pass to and from ambient upon press-forming the formable material. An alternative embodiment is also disclosed in which the engineered passageways are located upon the wear surfaces of the segments and with optional additional passages located upon the upper periphery of the plunger.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method for molding near net-shape glass articles. In general, the inventive method comprises two basic steps; (1) heating the receiving and opposing molding surfaces of a mold apparatus to different predetermined temperatures; and, (2) bringing the receiving and opposing molding surfaces of the mold into essential contact with each other and pressing a delivered molten glass charge for a time sufficient to remove enough heat from the charge such that the temperatures of the molding surfaces and the glass charge are all nearly at equilibrium below the glass charge's softening point. The press time and the differential mold heating combine to achieve symmetric heat removal, i.e. causing all temperatures to reach equilibrium at nearly the same time.

Abstract: This invention contemplates a near net-shape method of making thin glass-ceramic articles possessing substantially uniform thickness and parallel opposing surfaces comprising the steps of: (a) heating the receiving and opposing molding surfaces of a mold to predetermined different temperatures; (b) bringing the receiving and opposing molding surfaces of the mold into close proximity to each other to press a delivered charge of molten glass to fill said mold, while thermally providing and maintaining a substantially parallel fit between the receiving and opposing surfaces of the mold, to achieve substantially uniform thickness in the pressed charge, (c) pressing the glass charge for a time sufficient to remove enough heat from the glass charge that the temperatures of the molding surfaces and the glass article surfaces are all nearly at equilibrium, wherein the press time and mold temperature differential combine to result in symmetric heat removal thereby causing all the aforementioned temperatures to reach e

Abstract: In a mold apparatus, the receiving molding surface and the opposing molding surface are each mounted coaxially and in sliding fashion within an alignment means. Both of these alignment means have an equal number of spaced apart alignment pads which are positioned such that opposing pads will be in cooperable engagement with each other during pressing.Utilizing the disclosed apparatus, a method for molding precisely shaped articles, such as magnetic memory disc substrates which require precisely parallel, opposite molded surfaces, is described. Simply stated, the method utilizes the alignment pads' thermal expansion characteristics to induce a controlled level of thermal distortion to obtain pad lengths which result in parallel opposing molding surfaces.

Abstract: A liquid cooling method and apparatus for rapid cooling of a hot glass fiber. In FIG. 1, an open ended liquid coolant container (12) is provided at its lower end with an inverted funnel surface (34). A vertically running, hot glass fiber (42) of indefinite length is continuously drawn through the container, as the container continuously receives a coolant liquid at its upper open end (30). The liquid continuously drains from the container lower open end (32) by flowing along flow surface (36) of the inverted funnel (34), downwardly and away from the glass fiber (42). The temperature of the fiber relative to the temperature of the coolant liquid is such that a vapor barrier surrounding the hot fiber is formed due to boiling of the liquid in a zone surrounding the fiber. This vapor zone facilitates diversion of the liquid (change in direction of flow) from the vertical to an angle thereto, along the inverted funnel surface.

Abstract: Method and apparatus is set forth for cooling glass molding equipment such that the thermal considerations of the equipment design and the mechanical considerations thereof are uncoupled. The uncoupling of the thermal and mechanical considerations facilitates the utilization of the forming member at varying production speeds, since different cooling inserts, having the desired thermal characteristics for the particular production speed utilized, may be provided within the forming member. In order to effect good heat transfer between the forming member and the cooling insert, a gap is provided which is substantially filled with a low melting metal alloy.

Abstract: An improved seal column design for use in counterflow heat exchanger systems having a centrally supported rotary heat exchanger or heat recovery wheel having an integral strengthened central hub. According to the invention, the edges formed between the end wall of each seal column juxtaposed an annular face of the wheel and the side walls of the column exposed to and separating the fluid flows are straight and parallel to one another and evenly spaced, at their point of closest approach, between one-half inch (1.27 cm) and one and one-half inches (3.81 cm) and preferably one inch (2.54 cm) beyond the outer circumference of the hub. Also, the side walls of the columns are straight and parallel to one another in the vicinity of the end wall.