Abstract: An optical fiber forming apparatus comprises: a draw furnace comprising: (i) a muffle with an inner surface, (ii) an axial opening below the muffle, the inner surface of the muffle defining a passageway extending through the axial opening, and (iii) an upper inlet into the passageway; and a tube that extends into the passageway of the draw furnace above the axial opening, the tube having (i) an outer surface and the inner surface of the muffle surrounds the outer surface of the tube with a space separating the outer surface of the tube from the inner surface of the muffle, (ii) an inner surface that defines a second passageway extending through the tube, (iii) an inlet into the second passageway of the tube, (iii) an outlet out of the second passageway of the tube.

Abstract: An optical fiber draw system and method of operating thereof. The method includes positioning a downfeed handle for supporting an optical fiber preform within a furnace such that the downfeed handle is movable within the furnace. The method further includes operating one or more heating elements to thermally heat at least a portion of an upper muffle extension disposed within the furnace, the one or more heating elements being moveable with the downfeed handle.

Abstract: An optical fiber forming apparatus comprises: a draw furnace; a tube that extends into the passageway of the draw furnace; and a cooling device at an outlet of the tube, the cooling device comprising: one or more bodies having a top surface and an opposing bottom surface, an opening within the body extending from the top surface through the body to the bottom surface, wherein the opening is configured to pass an optical fiber through the body, and one or more gas outlets within the body configured to direct gas to contact the optical fiber as it passes through the opening.

Abstract: An optical fiber draw system and method of operating thereof. The method includes positioning a downfeed handle for supporting an optical fiber preform within a furnace such that the downfeed handle is movable within the furnace. The method further includes operating one or more heating elements to thermally heat at least a portion of an upper muffle extension disposed within the furnace, the one or more heating elements being moveable with the downfeed handle.

Abstract: A furnace system includes a muffle defining a furnace cavity. A lower heater is coupled to the muffle and is configured to create a hot zone within the furnace cavity having a temperature of about 1900° C. or greater. An upper muffle extension is positioned above the muffle and defines a handle cavity. A downfeed handle is positioned within the handle cavity such that a gap is defined between an outer surface of the downfeed handle and an inner surface of the upper muffle extension. An upper heater is thermally coupled to the upper muffle extension and configured to heat the gap. A gas screen is positioned in the upper muffle extension and is configured to inject a process gas into the handle cavity.

Abstract: An optical fiber draw system and method of operating thereof. The method includes positioning a downfeed handle for supporting an optical fiber preform within a furnace such that the downfeed handle is movable within the furnace. The method further includes operating one or more heating elements to thermally heat at least a portion of an upper muffle extension disposed within the furnace, the one or more heating elements being moveable with the downfeed handle.

Abstract: An optical fiber draw furnace system including a muffle, a downfeed handle, and a downfeed handle extension portion. The downfeed handle is moveably disposed within an inner cavity of the muffle. The downfeed handle extension portion is connected to the downfeed handle and moveably disposed within the inner cavity of the muffle. Furthermore, the downfeed handle extension portion forms a first gap between an outer surface of the downfeed handle extension portion and an inner surface of the muffle, the first gap having a length in a range of about 0.001 m to about 0.2 m.

Abstract: A furnace system includes a muffle defining a furnace cavity. A lower heater is coupled to the muffle and is configured to create a hot zone within the furnace cavity having a temperature of about 1900° C. or greater. An upper muffle extension is positioned above the muffle and defines a handle cavity. A downfeed handle is positioned within the handle cavity such that a gap is defined between an outer surface of the downfeed handle and an inner surface of the upper muffle extension. An upper heater is thermally coupled to the upper muffle extension and configured to heat the gap. A gas screen is positioned in the upper muffle extension and is configured to inject a process gas into the handle cavity.

Abstract: An optical fiber forming apparatus comprises: a draw furnace comprising: (i) a muffle with an inner surface, (ii) an axial opening below the muffle, the inner surface of the muffle defining a passageway extending through the axial opening, and (iii) an upper inlet into the passageway; and a tube that extends into the passageway of the draw furnace above the axial opening, the tube having (i) an outer surface and the inner surface of the muffle surrounds the outer surface of the tube with a space separating the outer surface of the tube from the inner surface of the muffle, (ii) an inner surface that defines a second passageway extending through the tube, (iii) an inlet into the second passageway of the tube, (iii) an outlet out of the second passageway of the tube.

Abstract: An optical fiber draw system and method of operating thereof. The method includes positioning a downfeed handle for supporting an optical fiber preform within a furnace such that the downfeed handle is movable within the furnace. The method further includes operating one or more heating elements to thermally heat at least a portion of an upper muffle extension disposed within the furnace, the one or more heating elements being moveable with the downfeed handle.

Abstract: Various systems and methods of a layered tile insulation system of a space vehicle, configured to withstand vibration, high temperatures, and extreme thermal gradients, are disclosed. The layered tile insulation system can include at least one layered tile, each of the at least one layered tile including an outer layer having a first interlocking surface with a first set of interlocking features and an inner layer having a second interlocking surface with a second set of interlocking features, such that the outer layer is configured to be couple to the inner layer thereby forming a mechanical joint via the interlocking of the first interlocking surface with the second interlocking surface.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising a profiled section A made of plastic material with a base plate (2) whereof the reverse side is equipped with means for adhesive fixing (3) against a wall and the face is provided with elastically deformable wings defining in pairs longitudinal troughs (5) with C-shaped cross-section, arranged projecting and transversely spaced apart from one another, at least one of the wings of each trough being integral with the base plate and made of the same semirigid material. The base plate (2) is divided into sections by cleavable or precut transverse lines, coincident with transverse grooves (21) provided in the trough (5), to form in the profiled section independent laying supports. A finish profiled section made of plastic material B provided with snap-on fixing means on the trough (5), is longitudinally cleavable to cover one or several laying supports and the associated pipes (6).

Abstract: Control device for the heating sources of a cooking apparatus, in particular of a cooking surface, possessing a set of neighboring heating sources and a smooth sheet of vitroceramic glass, of uniform thickness, inparticular covering the entire surface, having a plurality of sensitive keys actuated by the approach of a user's finger into contact or into immediate proximity with the surface of the sheet.

Abstract: A cooking oven having both conventional heating as well as microwave heating. The oven muffle includes a metal distribution sheet along a back wall, forming a cavity with the back wall. A bladed turbine fan is included within the cavity, driven by an electric motor. Microwave energy is introduced into the cavity through a waveguide having an exit iris in the cavity. Microwave energy entering the cavity exits through openings in the metallic distribution sheet, as well as past the rotating turbine blade through additional holes in the distribution sheet. The microwave energy exiting the distribution plate provides for a better cooking energy distribution throughout the oven.