Abstract: A lens for protective gear has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer therebetween. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers and encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers with the glass layer in compression. The lens may have a coating that provides the lens with (i) less than about 5 percent transmittance for light having wavelengths of less than 400 nm and greater than about 700 nm for an entire horizontal field of view of the lens, (ii) greater than 75 percent transmittance of light having wavelengths of between about 400 nm and about 700 nm for the entire horizontal field of view of the lens with less than about 5 percent transmittance of light having wavelength between about 530 nm and about 580 nm for a horizontal field of view of the lens of not greater than 60 degrees.

Abstract: A lens for protective gear has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer therebetween. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers and encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers with the glass layer in compression. The lens may have a coating that provides the lens with (i) less than about 5 percent transmittance for light having wavelengths of less than 400 nm and greater than about 700 nm for an entire horizontal field of view of the lens, (ii) greater than 75 percent transmittance of light having wavelengths of between about 400 nm and about 700 nm for the entire horizontal field of view of the lens with less than about 5 percent transmittance of light having wavelength between about 530 nm and about 580 nm for a horizontal field of view of the lens of not greater than 60 degrees.

Abstract: A lens for protective gear has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer therebetween. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers and encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers with the glass layer in compression. The lens may have a coating that provides the lens with (i) less than about 5 percent transmittance for light having wavelengths of less than 400 nm and greater than about 700 nm for an entire horizontal field of view of the lens, (ii) greater than 75 percent transmittance of light having wavelengths of between about 400 nm and about 700 nm for the entire horizontal field of view of the lens with less than about 5 percent transmittance of light having wavelength between about 530 nm and about 580 nm for a horizontal field of view of the lens of not greater than 60 degrees.

Abstract: A laminate structure has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer between the first and second polymer layers. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers. The glass layer is encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers, and the glass layer is in compression.

Abstract: A lens for protective gear has first and second polymer layers with a glass layer therebetween. The glass layer is fused to the first and second polymer layers and encapsulated by the first and second polymer layers with the glass layer in compression. The lens may have a coating that provides the lens with (i) less than about 5 percent transmittance for light having wavelengths of less than 400 nm and greater than about 700 nm for an entire horizontal field of view of the lens, (ii) greater than 75 percent transmittance of light having wavelengths of between about 400 nm and about 700 nm for the entire horizontal field of view of the lens with less than about 5 percent transmittance of light having wavelength between about 530 nm and about 580 nm for a horizontal field of view of the lens of not greater than 60 degrees.

Abstract: A frac plug is configured to seal a pipe of a downhole well. The frac plug includes a cylindrical plug member comprising a glass body made of a tempered or high-compression glass. The plug member has axial opposite ends with a tapered outer diameter surface extending along its length between the ends. The frac plug further includes a seal of compressible material extending substantially around the plug member outer diameter. The seal has opposite axial ends corresponding to the axial ends of the plug member. The seal is movable axially relative to, and compressible against, the plug member outer diameter surface, thus allowing the seal expand radially outward to engage the bore of the pipe. The frac plug is anchored in the pipe bore with clamping portions on axially opposite ends of the plug member. The clamping portion may include bore engagement portions that are arcuate or radially expanding fingers.

Abstract: A sensor has an insert configured to be arranged in a bore of a tubular section. The insert has a float with a magnetic material. The float may pivot within the insert in accordance with whether a fluid is present in bore of the tubular section. An outer ring is configured to be arranged around the tubular section. The outer ring has a portion including a switch moveable between open and closed positions. A spring is configured to maintain the switch in one of the open and closed positions. A magnetic portion is operatively connected to the switch. The magnetic portion of the switch cooperates with the magnetic material in the float in a manner to move the switch between the open and the closed positions against pressure of a biasing member based upon a position of the magnetic material relative the magnetic portion of the switch.

Abstract: A vacuum insulating glass (VIG) panel comprises first and second panels of glass spaced from another with a separation space therebetween. The VIG panel further comprises spacers disposed between the first and second glass panels to define the separation space. The spacers are generally arranged in a matrix between the first and the second glass panels. The spacers are coated with a coating material comprising particles having an average size of less than about 1 micron. The coating material may be polytetrafluoroethylene particles having an average particle size in a range of about 200 nanometers to about 700 nanometers.

Abstract: A frac plug is configured to seal a bore of a pipe of a downhole well. The frac plug comprises a generally cylindrical plug member comprising a glass body. The glass body may be tempered or high-compression glass. The plug member has axial opposite ends and a length extending between the axial ends. The plug member has an outer diameter surface extending along the length. The outer diameter surface is tapered. The frac plug further comprises a seal of compressible material extending substantially around the plug member outer diameter. The seal has opposite axial ends generally corresponding to the axial ends of the plug member. The seal is movable axially relative to the plug member outer diameter surface. The seal is compressible against the plug member outer diameter surface and expandable radially outward to engage the bore of the pipe.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed electrodless lamp envelope includes: (1) forming an envelope blank; (2) depositing a gas and light generating expedient material in an interior of the envelope blank; (3) arranging a window on an open end of the envelope blank; and (4) using an ultra-short pulse laser system to locally heat the axial end of the envelope blank and the window to seal the window on the envelope blank without degrading the contents deposited in an interior of the envelope or damaging or cracking the envelope blank and/or window.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) panel includes a first glass panel and a second glass panel spaced from the first glass panels. A spacer is disposed between the first and second glass panels. The spacer includes first and second generally opposed faces, and a plurality of sides extending therebetween. The spacer is processed using tumbling and polishing operations to preferably round all corners of the spacer and form a circular contact footprint on opposed side faces of the spacer. The spacer surface break conditions are measured during tumbling and/or polishing operations using optical flat measuring equipment. Following the polishing operation the spacer is thermally processed to strengthen the spacer.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed electrodless lamp envelope includes: (1) forming an envelope blank; (2) depositing a gas and light generating expedient material in an interior of the envelope blank; (3) arranging a window on an open end of the envelope blank; and (4) using an ultra-short pulse laser system to locally heat the axial end of the envelope blank and the window to seal the window on the envelope blank without degrading the contents deposited in an interior of the envelope or damaging or cracking the envelope blank and/or window.

Abstract: A frac plug is configured to seal a bore of a pipe of a downhole well. The frac plug comprises a generally cylindrical plug member comprising a glass body. The glass body may be tempered or high-compression glass. The plug member has axial opposite ends and a length extending between the axial ends. The plug member has an outer diameter surface extending along the length. The outer diameter surface is tapered. The frac plug further comprises a seal of compressible material extending substantially around the plug member outer diameter. The seal has opposite axial ends generally corresponding to the axial ends of the plug member. The seal is movable axially relative to the plug member outer diameter surface. The seal is compressible against the plug member outer diameter surface and expandable radially outward to engage the bore of the pipe.

Abstract: A frac plug is configured to seal a pipe of a downhole well. The frac plug includes a cylindrical plug member comprising a glass body made of a tempered or high-compression glass. The plug member has axial opposite ends with a tapered outer diameter surface extending along its length between the ends. The frac plug further includes a seal of compressible material extending substantially around the plug member outer diameter. The seal has opposite axial ends corresponding to the axial ends of the plug member. The seal is movable axially relative to, and compressible against, the plug member outer diameter surface, thus allowing the seal expand radially outward to engage the bore of the pipe. The frac plug is anchored in the pipe bore with clamping portions on axially opposite ends of the plug member. The clamping portion may include bore engagement portions that are arcuate or radially expanding fingers.

Abstract: A vacuum insulated glass (VIG) panel includes a first glass panel and a second glass panel spaced from the first glass panels. A spacer is disposed between the first and second glass panels. The spacer includes first and second generally opposed faces, and a plurality of sides extending therebetween. The spacer is processed using tumbling and polishing operations to preferably round all corners of the spacer and form a circular contact footprint on opposed side faces of the spacer. The spacer surface break conditions are measured during tumbling and/or polishing operations using optical flat measuring equipment. Following the polishing operation the spacer is thermally processed to strengthen the spacer.

Abstract: A vacuum insulating glass (VIG) panel comprises first and second panels of glass spaced from another with a separation space therebetween. The VIG panel further comprises spacers disposed between the first and second glass panels to define the separation space. The spacers are generally arranged in a matrix between the first and the second glass panels. The spacers are coated with a coating material comprising particles having an average size of less than about 1 micron.

Abstract: By measuring ultralow moisture permeation through a barrier material sample at a temperature substantially above ambient, definitive values are produced on an accelerated basis that can be used to accurately predict long term daily performance of that barrier material. The sample is heated to a desired test temperature where there is controlled access to both its upstream and downstream surfaces, and HTO vapor is then supplied at predetermined relative humidity to the upstream surface by fracturing a glass ampoule containing not more than 10 millicuries of specific radioactivity for each test. Radioactive gas permeating from the downstream surface is collected by circulating a very slow flow of dry carrier gas past the downstream surface, which stream flows to an ionization chamber containing a beta-particle radiation monitor.

Abstract: By measuring ultralow moisture permeation through a barrier material sample at a temperature substantially above ambient, definitive values are produced on an accelerated basis that can be used to accurately predict long term daily performance of that barrier material. The sample is heated to a desired test temperature where there is controlled access to both its upstream and downstream surfaces, and HTO vapor is then supplied at predetermined relative humidity to the upstream surface by fracturing a glass ampoule containing not more than 10 millicuries of specific radioactivity for each test. Radioactive gas permeating from the downstream surface is collected by circulating a very slow flow of dry carrier gas past the downstream surface, which stream flows to an ionization chamber containing a beta-particle radiation monitor.

Abstract: An electric light emitting ultraviolet and/or blue light is covered with material substantially opaque to light emitted in the blue and/or ultraviolet spectral regions and substantially transparent in other visible spectral regions. A standard tubular fluorescent light can be wrapped with polyimide film, or a standard incandescent light bulb can be coated with polyimide resin, so as to emit light that is UV- and/or blue-free. The intensity of light emitted in remaining, un-blocked, wavelengths is sufficient to illuminate, by way of example, a workroom where industrial processes best shielded from UV and/or blue light can transpire.

Abstract: A process for joining ceramic superconductor fibers with a channel to fabricate a superconductor wire includes concertedly drawing the fibers and the channel together to feed the fibers into the channel. A flowable solder paste is continuously dispensed into the channel over the fibers. The combination of channel, fibers and solder paste is then subjected to a rapid rise in temperature which melts the solder. The molten solder is then frozen to encase the fibers in the solder and attach the solder to the channel to create a superconductor wire.