Abstract: The invention relates to a curved glass pane, made of float glass, the area of a main face of which is greater than 1.5 m2 and the product of its two depths of bending is greater than 3000 mm2, and such that its point located on the normal to its surface passing through its center of gravity has a radius of curvature of less than 3 m in any direction, the variation in its thickness in the longitudinal float direction being less than 10 ?m over 500 mm. This pane may be assembled into laminated glazing of the automobile windshield type. Such a windshield has a very small amount of double imaging even when it is fitted into the vehicle so as to be close to the horizontal.

Abstract: A transparent disk that can be electrically heated over a large surface area, comprising: a large-surface-area, electrically conductive, transparent coating, which is applied to a transparent substrate, at least two bus ribbons, which are electrically connected to the electrically conductive transparent coating, at least one locally delimited region free from the coating, wherein at least one heating conductor having two poles is applied inside the free region, and wherein the first pole is electrically connected to the electrically conductive, transparent coating and the second pole is electrically connected to the electrically conductive, transparent coating or a bus ribbon. A method for the production of the disk is also described.

Abstract: A transparent disk that can be electrically heated over a large surface area, comprising: a large-surface-area, electrically conductive, transparent coating, which is applied to a transparent substrate, at least two bus ribbons, which are electrically connected to the electrically conductive transparent coating, at least one locally delimited region free from the coating, wherein at least one heating conductor having two poles is applied inside the free region, and wherein the first pole is electrically connected to the electrically conductive, transparent coating and the second pole is electrically connected to the electrically conductive, transparent coating or a bus ribbon. A method for the production of the disk is also described.

Abstract: The invention relates to a curved glass pane, made of float glass, the area of a main face of which is greater than 1.5 m2 and the product of its two depths of bending is greater than 3000 mm2, and such that its point located on the normal to its surface passing through its center of gravity has a radius of curvature of less than 3 m in any direction, the variation in its thickness in the longitudinal float direction being less than 10 ?m over 500 mm. This pane may be assembled into laminated glazing of the automobile windshield type. Such a windshield has a very small amount of double imaging even when it is fitted into the vehicle so as to be close to the horizontal.

Abstract: In a process and to an apparatus for bending a glass sheet heated to the bending temperature in a horizontal furnace, through which it is passed by a motor roller conveyor, which passes it into a bending cell where it is kept at an ambient temperature substantially identical to the bending temperature, the glass sheet is immobilized in the bending cell in an upper bending mold perpendicular to an annular countermold surrounding an element for supporting the central part of the glass sheet in the bending cell. The annular countermold is raised in order to press the glass sheet against the upper bending mold.

Abstract: A device for supporting and transferring, in a shaping station (2), at least the central part of glass sheets which have been heated to their shaping temperature. The device includes a pressurized box (21) generating an air cushion. The box has a plurality of individual compartments (53), transverse with respect to the axis of travel of the glass sheets (28), each of the compartments (53) having a width measured parallel to said axis which is small by comparison with the "height" of the glass sheets and, being provided with gas having at least two pressure distribution levels.

Abstract: Tubular coverings for conveyor rollers for glass sheets heated to the softening point in a bending and/or heat treatment furnace, which have the special feature of having an outer surface, i.e. the surface that contacts the glass sheets, which is based on metal wires exhibit a reduced risk of marking the glass sheets and also exhibit a high temperature and wear resistance. Such tubular coverings are preferably used for covering the rollers present in the frontal and/or lateral positioning zones of the glass sheets on the conveyor.

Abstract: A process for bending a glass sheet according to which the glass sheet is heated in horizontal position until its bending temperature is reached and is brought into contact with an upper bending form by a force of a pneumatic nature. A fluid barrier is generated at the periphery of the glass sheet, the fluid barrier limiting the entry and exit of air near the upper bending form.

Abstract: A covering made of heat-resistant fibers for tools in contact with glass heated to beyond their softening point, in particular, for bending/tempering tools which are themselves heated in excess of the softening points of the glass sheets, is composed partially of metal fibers and partially of ceramic fibers.

Abstract: In a process and to an apparatus for bending a glass sheet heated to the bending temperature in a horizontal furnace, through which it is passed by a motor roller conveyor, which passes it into a bending cell where it is kept at an ambient temperature substantially identical to the bending temperature, the glass sheet is immobilized in the bending cell in an upper bending mold perpendicular to an annular countermold surrounding an element for supporting the central part of the glass sheet in the bending cell. The annular countermold is raised in order to press the glass sheet against the upper bending mold.

Abstract: A process for bending a glass sheet according to which the glass sheet is heated in horizontal position until its bending temperature is reached and is brought into contact with an upper bending form by a force of a pneumatic nature. A fluid barrier is generated at the periphery of the glass sheet, the fluid barrier limiting the entry and exit of air near the upper bending form.

Abstract: An apparatus for bending/tempering glass sheets raised to their softening point with a view to their bending and tempering includes an upper plate mold and a lower annular mold on which the glass sheets are deformed, and with respect to which the edge of glass sheets move as a result of their deformation, particularly by horizontal pressing between the upper bending mold and the lower mold. The bent sheets are thermally tempered in air on the same annular mold in a tempering station. This annular mold is designed in such a way that its contact surface with the glass sheets at the start of their deformation on the mold, being located on the outer periphery of the mold, is appropriate for the mark-free displacement of the glass on the mold and in particular for pressing, and so that at the end of displacement, and in particular at the end of pressing, the contact surface located on the inner periphery of said mold is appropriate for tempering.

Abstract: A device for bending glass sheets which includes a furnace for heating the glass, a conveyor, a bending station within which there is suspended, notably from a plate, an upper bending mold at least partly disposed inside the skirt of a peripheral suction box, and the lower face of which is covered with a covering in such a way that this covering is supported by an attachment device which can be removed and is not integral with the upper mold.

Abstract: A process for bending a glass sheet according to which the glass sheet is heated in horizontal position until its bending temperature is reached and is brought into contact with an upper bending form by a force of a pneumatic nature. A fluid barrier is generated at the periphery of the glass sheet, the fluid barrier limiting the entry and exit of air near the upper bending form.

Abstract: A process for bending a glass sheet according to which the glass sheet is heated in horizontal position until its bending temperature is reached and is brought into contact with an upper bending form by a force of a pneumatic nature. A fluid barrier is generated at the periphery of the glass sheet, the fluid barrier limiting the entry and exit of air near the upper bending form.

Abstract: A process and device for controlling heating of a furnace by means of electrical resistors using switching devices, particularly thyristors, associated with the electrical resistors, and whose operation is to be controlled. The switching devices are controlled in syncopated mode by an industrial computer, a programmable industrial robot or equivalent which performs a set of functions which make it possible to compute the power to be dissipated in the resistors, and control directly the switching devices so as to dissipate the previously coputed power. The invention applies particularly to controlling industrial furnaces and more particularly of glassmaking furnaces, particularly furnaces for heating of glass for the tempering and/or bending of the glass.