Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing aseptically processed low acid products in a container having a small opening, such as a glass or plastic bottle or jar, at a high output processing speed.

Abstract: A “safe delivery”SM system for delivering perishable groceries (120/120′), including an inexpensive, corrugated cardboard box (100); a source of cold (or heat as needed) maintaining the temperature inside the box within a desired temperature range for hours, using an all encompassing pouch of packet material (110/10), used individually (FIGS. 2 & 3) or collectively (FIGS. 5 & 6), with each packet (17) containing a super-absorbent polymer (14, FIG. 12) which is hydrated (14′, FIG. 12A) and then either frozen (e.g., in a freezer) or heated (e.g., in a microwave), without producing moisture as the polymer returns to its natural state; a protective cover (130) protecting the box and its contents from heat radiation (e.g., sunlight). Other components (e.g.

Abstract: A multi-wall sack (3) containing a product is disclosed together with a method of forming and sealing such a sack. The sack (3) includes an inner pouch that is filled with product and sealed. The sack (3) also includes an outer bag that encloses the sealed inner pouch and which has a block bottom end (5a) and a block top end (5b).

Abstract: A method and apparatus for high speed traying of mail pieces includes a tray filling head assembly, a tray fill conveyor assembly, and a tray feed assembly. A continuous stream of mail pieces are fed into the tray fill head assembly, which controllably moves the mail pieces one at a time into a postal carrier tray. The postal carrier trays are selectively staged for filling and automatically ejected when filled by the tray fill conveyor assembly. The tray feed assembly feeds the trays to the tray fill conveyor assembly. When a filled tray is being exited and an empty tray is being staged for filling, the tray fill head assembly buffers the mail pieces so that the continuous stream of mail pieces is not interrupted.

Abstract: A plastic canister for storing and shipping drill bits, especially roller cone drill bit, has a pin-holder built into the lid of the canister for ease of field dressing the bit. The lid and body of the container are slip fit to one another and indexed to each other for positive positioning in their relationship. Safety features include the use of a conductive plastic polymer, a non-rolling base, mating protrusions and recesses for stacking, recessed areas for strapping, and welded loop handles.

Abstract: A crimper for forming a finished crimped end on a wrapper for coins or other articles has a cylindrical opening for receiving a projecting end of the wrapper into the body. A crimping structure located in the opening includes a first slide surface for sliding the end of the wrapper in a first linear direction to a second slide surface for sliding the end of the wrapper in a second, transverse linear direction. By sliding the end of the wrapper in the two directions, the end of the wrapper is forced to roll and form a finished crimped end.

Abstract: A cyclical extraction of an empty and closed box from a feeding magazine is performed by an extractor and an opposite contrast device which transfer the box into an opening station. The contrast device rotates of 90°, opening the box and entering it. While the contrast device goes back, the extractor places the box open on underlying double-slope inclined planes, on which the box is finally placed by arc-shaped and oscillating levers. While the contrast device goes back, the open box is transferred to an adjacent parking station which includes an upper contrast device to maintain the box on the support guides. A finger completely opens downwards an external pocket of the transferred box, and a known device introduces into the pocket a customizing insert sheet. The open box then leaves the parking station and reaches is transferred to filling and closing stages.

Abstract: A strapping machine for positioning a strap material around an associated load and tensioning the strap material around the load includes a frame for supporting the load, a chute positioned on the frame for receiving the strap material and orienting the strap material around the load, a strap supply and a strapping head for extracting the strap from the supply, feeding the strap through the chute around the load, passing the strap from the chute around the load, retracting and tensioning the strap. The strapping head includes feed rollers and retraction rollers for feeding and retracting the strap and a winder for tensioning the strap around the load. The winder is positioned between the feed and retraction rollers and the strap supply. The winder includes a rotating head portion having a stationary element and a pivotal element. The stationary and pivotal elements each define an outer surface around which the strap material is wound and a slot therebetween for receiving the strap material.

Abstract: A strapless spur system having a base attached to a boot or other footwear, the spur assembly mating with the base on the footwear. A preferred embodiment includes a base that is threaded and built into the boot, and a knurled annular base to assist in mounting the spur to the base or retainer. The spur assembly may also be attached by a mounting plate and have a telescoping spur.

Abstract: A mobile, self-propelled cotton harvester having a cotton module building or packaging capability, having at least one harvesting unit; a compactor structure including a first surface or floor having a predetermined extent and other surfaces such as side walls and ends defining and substantially enclosing an interior space or module building chamber for receiving the harvested cotton; and apparatus for distributing and compacting the cotton evenly within the interior space or chamber, including a compacting element or frame located therein, the compacting element supporting at least one member for movement relative thereto for distributing the cotton substantially evenly between the compacting element and the first surface, and at least one driver supporting the compacting element spaced from the first surface operable for moving it between positions spaced different distances from the first surface and for forceably moving it toward the first surface from the positions, respectively, and against cotton distr

Abstract: A moistening pad for a cotton picker spindle has a rearward end including a hole, and is positioned by the pad holder in a predetermined position over the rearward end of the moistening location for contacting the mounting end of the spindle for applying the moistening liquid. A pad holder includes a mounting element for mounting to a support element of the harvesting unit and a pad support element for holding the pad with the rearward end in the predetermined position over the rearward end of the moistening location when the holder is mounted to the support element.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling a machine for false twist texturing a plurality of synthetic filament yarns and which includes a plurality of side by side processing stations. The plurality of processing stations are divided into a plurality of sections, with each section comprising a plurality of processing stations. The processing stations of each of the sections are monitored and controlled independently of the processing stations of adjacent sections, so that the processing of the yarns in each section is independent of the processing of the yarns in adjacent sections.

Abstract: A composite textured helically wrapped multi-filament yarn, made up of two or more continuous filament textured yarns, each of which is of different color or dyeability from the other, each yarn being pigmented in a melt-spinning process, pre-dyed, or undyed with different dye affinities which are subsequently dyed, by wrapping the colored textured yarns into a composite yarn having repeated color change alternating cycles along its length, and the alternating cycles having between them a lengthwise color difference of about 15-97% or more on the circumferential surface of the yarn in either the red, green or blue primary colors, as measured by spectral analysis, between immediately adjacent lengths thereof, and each adjacent color length being between about 4 inches to 144 inches.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a combustor/turbine successive dual cooling arrangement in which the combustor has a one-piece hot combustor wall and front and rear cold combustor walls, and cooling air is forced under pressure through perforations in the cold combustor walls and impinges on the annular front and rear sections of the hot combustor wall for the backside cooling of the hot combustor wall. The exhaust combustor backside cooling air is directed to gain access to the hot end of the engine, that is, the turbine section, to cool the turbine components. The combustor/turbine successive dual cooling arrangement according to the present invention enables all the air typically used to cool the hot end of the engine downstream of the combustor, to be used as combustor backside cooling as well, to significantly reduce the amount of air needed for combustor and turbine cooling.

Abstract: A jet engine comprises a housing having an inlet. An air net device is located adjacent to the inlet cowl so as to create an air net configured by compressed air streams for adequately blowing foreign objects from entering the inlet.

Abstract: A boiler installation supporting frame structure supported by a supporting structural body and a gas turbine frame base are constituted integrally, and a gas turbine device is disposed at upper portion of the integrated type frame structure and at the lower portion thereof a boiler installation is disposed in a three dimensional structure. Thereby, through the three dimensional arrangement of the gas turbine device and the boiler installation, the power generation installation can be disposed in a limited space.

Abstract: A burner configuration includes a combustion chamber. A multiplicity of burners are disposed in the combustion chamber. Each of the burners has an outlet opening into the combustion chamber. Flow-guidance elements each at least partly form a respective one of the outlets of at least some of the burners. The flow-guidance elements project into the combustion chamber for guiding a fuel-gas flow discharging from the burners into the combustion chamber. As a result, combustion oscillations are suppressed.

Abstract: Provided is turbine plant using methanol as fuel in which working fluid is compressed by compressor 1 and led into combustor 2. A mixture of H2 and CO2 as fuel added with O2 is burned to generate high temperature gas, which works at high temperature turbine 3, flows through heat exchangers 4, 5 and returns partly to the compressor 1 and enters partly low pressure turbine 7 of bottoming system to work. Condensed water from condenser 9 of the bottoming system is pressurized by pressure pump 10 and flows through the heat exchangers 4, 5 to become high temperature steam and to work at high pressure turbine 6. Exhaust gas thereof is mixed into the combustor 2. A mixture of methanol and water is supplied into reformer 13 to absorb heat from the heat exchanger 4 to be reformed into H2 and CO2, which is supplied into the combustor 2.

Abstract: A gas turbine engine includes a compressor rotor assembly including a first rotor, a combustor configured to operate with a fuel/air mixture equivalence ratio less than one, and a water injection assembly. The water injection assembly includes a water delivery system including a first plurality of spray nozzles to supply water upstream from the first rotor. The water being supplied to the first rotor is atomized with the first plurality of spray nozzles prior to being supplied to the engine to lower the emissions generated by the combustor.

Abstract: An auxiliary power system for providing electrical power and heat to an indoor area includes an external combustion engine, such as a Stirling cycle engine, for generating mechanical energy and thermal energy. The external combustion engine burns a fuel with substantially complete combustion such that exhaust emissions from the external combustion engine are below a predetermined exhaust level. A generator is coupled to the external combustion engine and converts the mechanical energy produced by the external combustion engine to electrical power. A first power output is used to provide the electrical power produced by the generator. The external combustion engine and generator are disposed within a housing such that the external combustion engine, generator and housing combination is a portable size. The thermal energy generated by the external combustion engine may be used to heat the atmosphere surrounding the housing.

Abstract: Device for supplying fuel for a rocket propulsion unit has a first and at least a second fuel circuit for respective different fuels. Each fuel is brought to an increased energy level by a pump and is supplied for combustion by way of injection elements. The first fuel is heated in cooling channels extending in a propulsion chamber wall before the fuel is supplied for combustion, and the first fuel is subsequently fed to at least the turbines assigned to the pumps. A heat exchanger is provided in which the fuel coming from the turbines is in a heat exchange with a fuel coming from a pump. A heat exchanger especially usable in the device for supplying fuel is provided.

Abstract: An exhaust gas heating system and method of a direct injection compression ignition internal combustion engine which has a plurality of combustion chambers, an exhaust passage, and one or more direct fuel injection devices, each operable to inject fuel directly into a corresponding one of the combustion chambers. The system also includes a fuel injection controller which is operable to provide to at least one of the direct fuel injection devices, a post fuel injection signal during a corresponding cylinder cycle of the corresponding one of the plurality of combustion chambers. The post fuel injection signal is timed so as to provide exhaust gas heating from a resultant post fuel injection, and the fuel injection controller dynamically determines the particular one or more of the plurality of direct fuel injection devices to which the post fuel injection signal will be applied based on a temperature related engine operating parameter such as a desired amount of exhaust gas heating.

Abstract: An exhaust gas purification apparatus for an internal combustion engine capable of lean operation has an Ir-containing selectively reducing catalyst and an NOx adsorptive catalyst. The Ir-containing selectively reducing catalyst in which iridium is an active species thereof and NOx is selectively reduced in a lean atmosphere by HC as a reducer is disposed in an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine. The Ir-containing selectively reducing catalyst is disposed on an upstream side of the exhaust system. The NOx adsorptive catalyst adsorbs NOx in the lean atmosphere and reduce the adsorbed NOx at a theoretical air-fuel ratio or at a rich air-fuel ratio. The NOx adsorptive catalyst is disposed on a downstream side of the exhaust system.

Abstract: Gases produced by a combustion engine (1), e.g. crankcase gases, are conducted through a separation chamber formed and surrounded by a centrifugal rotor (R), by means of which the gases are caused to rotate, so that particles suspended in the gases are separated by means of centrifugal force. The centrifugal rotor (R) is caused to rotate by means of a pressure fluid that is generated by means of the combustion engine (1).

Abstract: An operation mechanism for a variable displacement hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump is disposed in a housing filled with first fluid. A capacity regulating member is provided on the hydraulic pump in the housing for changing the discharge amount of the hydraulic pump. An operation member is operationally connected to the capacity regulating member. The operation member is to be manipulated outside the housing. A resistive device is interposed between the operation member and the capacity regulating member for making the motion of the capacity regulating member slow. The resistive device is an assembly unit comprising a casing, a piston slidably disposed in the casing, and second fluid sealed in the casing. The second fluid is different from the first fluid. The casing is fitted into the hole provided in the housing. The retaining member retains the casing in the hole.

Abstract: A micromachined fluid handling device having improved properties. The valve is made of reinforced parylene. A heater heats a fluid to expand the fluid. The heater is formed on unsupported silicon nitride to reduce the power. The device can be used to form a valve or a pump. Another embodiment forms a composite silicone/parylene membrane. Another feature uses a valve seat that has concentric grooves for better sealing operation.

Abstract: In an exhaust gas turbocharger for an internal combustion engine, in which a compressor is disposed in the intake duct and a turbine is disposed in the exhaust duct, and wherein the turbine has a turbine wheel in a turbine housing with at least one inlet flow passage for the introduction of exhaust gas which flow passage is provided with a variable turbine geometry for the variable setting of the effective turbine inlet flow passage cross-section, the variable turbine geometry being adjustable between a shut-off position that minimizes the turbine inlet flow cross-section and an open position that maximizes the turbine inlet flow cross-section, a gas-collecting chamber is provided which is in communication with the inlet flow passage in the turbine housing, the total volume of flow passage and the gas-collecting chamber being adjustable by an actuator movably disposed in the turbine housing as a function of the operating state of the internal combustion engine.

Abstract: A method for optimally operating co-generation of electricity and heat in which the district heating power range is divided to a lower range and a higher range is characterized in that base load electricity and regulation electricity are produced with a steam turbine operating like a condensing turbine; the lower heating power range (B) is produced mainly by heat pumps using the energy of the exhaust steam of the turbine as an energy source; peak-load power and wintertime regulation electricity are produced with a peak-load engine; and the higher heating power range (A3, A4) is produced partially by heat pumps using said energy as the energy source and partially by the exhaust gas heat of said peak-load engine. Both the electricity and the heat are produced with a remarkably higher fuel utilization rate and significantly more electricity in relation to heat is produced than with conventional district heating power plants.

Abstract: A combustor for a gas turbine engine including a pilot fuel injection assembly that includes a replaceable heat shield is described. The pilot fuel injection assembly also includes a fuel stem and a mixer divider. The fuel stem includes a first end, a second end, and a body extending therebetween. An alignment slot is defined within a portion of the interface between the fuel stem body and the second end. The mixer divider is attached to the fuel stem second end and the heat shield is removably coupled to the mixer divider with a plurality of transfer tubes.

Abstract: Devices and methods for liquid fuel reverse purge on shutdown of turbines are provided. The device and method may utilize a liquid fuel reverse purge control system that includes an induction motor associated with a pump, together with fuel system solenoid valves, an electronic control unit and associated software logic. The device and method may alternative utilize a liquid fuel valve manifold including an assembly for mechanical reverse purging of liquid fuel from the atomizer fuel manifold and supply lines thereto, optionally together with an assembly for controlling the flow of the reverse-purged fuel through a re-circulation circuit used to preheat fuel prior to system start-up under cold conditions.

Abstract: A superconducting device includes a winding including superconductor material, which can be rotated about a rotation axis. For indirect cooling of the winding, a regenerative cryocooler having a co-rotating cold head and including a compressor unit is provided, as well as, in between, a transfer unit including a gas coupling for conveying a working gas between the stationary and rotating parts. The working gas is delivered to the cold head directly after the gas coupling.

Abstract: An apparatus for quick freezing tissue specimens has the advantage of precise predictable embedding orientation. The apparatus includes embedding wells, chucks and over-chuck cooling blocks. Additional components include a cooled cutting board, freezing plate griddle and elevated freezing block. Tools created to use with the system include a dislodging bar, a spatula/pry tool, a dispensing slide and a flattening tool. The combination of these elements function at −25 to −30 degrees C. to precisely prepare tissue specimens for frozen sectioning. The apparatus can be cooled and adapted by several methods: (1) as a stand-alone bench top cryoembedding station refrigerated by compressor and Peltier devices: (2) as modular portable units cooled in a separate refrigeration device such as a cryostat or freezer; and (3) built into cryostat work chambers as part of the internal embedding center.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for substantially continuously producing a stream of ice particulates P for use in performing ice blasting work on a work object W. The present invention includes an extruder assembly, a blast nozzle, and an ice-receiving line. The extruder assembly includes a pressure vessel within which the ice particulates are formed under elevated pressure. The extruder assembly further includes an ice discharge opening. The ice-receiving line has a first end adapted to receive a fluidizing gas from the pressurized air supply source and a second end connected to the blast nozzle. The ice-receiving line is in communication with the extruder assembly ice discharge opening. The pressurized ice particulates P are passed from the pressure vessel discharge opening to the pressurized ice-receiving line. The fluidized ice particulates move via pressure flow towards a blast nozzle to be expelled from the nozzle towards a work object.

Abstract: In combination with a residential air conditioning system and a water fixture with a water recirculation loop, such as a swimming pool, a refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger having a tank with water inlet and outlet connections to said water recirculation loop, and a condenser coil with refrigerant inlet and outlets for connection respectively to the compressor and the condenser of the air conditioning system. Whenever the air conditioning system comes on, a control circuit turns on the pump independent of the usual timer and connects the refrigerant-to-water heat exchanger inlet to the compressor of the air conditioning system.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit having a return air inlet and a supply air outlet upon the roof of a vehicle that includes a mounting frame located within an opening in the roof of a vehicle with the frame extending into the comfort region of said vehicle, with said comfort region having a front and rear section. The air conditioning unit is supported upon the top of the frame so that the return air inlet and supply air outlet are in fluid flow communication with the interior of said frame, which is enclosed at the bottom by a floor panel. A partition extends across the width of the frame dividing the frame into a return air compartment that communicates with the return air inlet of the air conditioning unit and a supply air compartment that communicates with the supply air outlet of the air conditioning unit. Longitudinal supply ducts are mounted in the opposed end walls of said frame and are in direct fluid flow communication with the frame supply air compartment.

Abstract: A collar assembly including cooling coils is provided to increase the top surface cooling of food being served from food pans which are mounted to extend down into a food service cabinet or counter. The collar is preferably lower in the front toward the server for easy access and higher at the back away from the server and on the sides for increased cooling. A principal cooling unit may be mounted in the cabinet to direct cold air onto the food pans; and the collar cooling coils and the principal cooling unit may be coupled to a single compressor and heat exchanger.

Abstract: A frozen beverage machine includes a process control block having a plurality of inlets for receiving ingredients and a plurality of outlets. A mixing block has a plurality of inlets connected to the process control block outlets such that ingredients flowing through the mixing block are mixed together therein. At least one freezing chamber is connected to the mixing block outlet to receive the mixed ingredients therefrom, and a refrigeration system is arranged to refrigerate the freezing chamber. A dispensing valve and a drain valve are connected to the freezing chamber. A controller is connected to the process control block to control operation of the frozen beverage machine. The beverage machine includes an automated sanitizing system operated by the controller, in which the beverage mixture is drained from the freezing chamber via the drain valve, and a cleaning solution is pumped into a cleaning solution inlet of the mixing block and into the freezing chamber to sanitize the machine.

Abstract: A refrigerant circuit (20) in a casing (11) is charged with a slightly flammable R3 refrigerant whose specific gravity is greater than that of air. The inside of the casing (11) is zoned into a utilization side air passageway (35) and a heat source side air passageway (31). An evaporator (24) and a condenser (22) are disposed in the utilization side air passageway (35) and in the heat source side air passageway (31), respectively. The utilization side air passageway (35) communicates with the inside of a room through ducts (17, 18). Formed in a lower potion of the casing (11) is a slit-like opening portion (40). The opening portion (40) opens to a lower portion of the utilization side air passageway (35). Leaking refrigerant from the refrigerant circuit (20) travels downwardly by gravity and is automatically discharged, through the opening portion (40), to outside the casing (11).

Abstract: An equalizing tank is disclosed comprising a housing, a pressure dissipation orifice, and a return flow line configured to provide fluid communication within the housing without fluid entering the pressure dissipation orifice. Also disclosed is a method of making the equalizing tank and an automotive air-conditioning system including the equalizing tank.

Abstract: A direct cooling type refrigerator includes an outer case, an inner case, a metal plate, an evaporator, an insulator, a first bonding means, and a second bonding means. The inner case is positioned inside the outer case, and the metal plate is positioned on the inner case. The first bonding means is used to attach the metal plate on the inner case. The second bonding means is used to join the evaporator with the metal plate. The insulator is interposed between the cabinet and the inner liner.

Abstract: A dry-compartment cooler has a dry compartment (1) with compartment walls (3) that are connected water-tightly to a compartment floor (4). The compartment walls are articulated to extend upwardly from proximate a riser framework (6) on a cooler floor (7) to proximate a bottom side of a cooler lid (8) of a predetermined cooler. One or more ice compartments (10, 11, 12, 13, 14) separate ice and water from inside surfaces of the compartment walls and from space inside of the dry compartment. The ice compartments are in fluid communication intermediate proximate the bottom side of the cooler lid and riser-framework space (9) where the riser framework is positioned under the compartment floor. The compartment walls can have heat-conveyance members (27) for conveying coldness and for deterring moisture formation on food and other items being cooled.

Abstract: A steam type absorption refrigerator which circulates absorption fluid from an absorber (1), through a low-temperature heat exchanger (3), a low-temperature regenerator (4), a high-temperature heat exchanger (6), a steam heating type high-temperature regenerator (7), the high-temperature heat exchanger (6) and the low-temperature heat exchanger (3) in order, back to the absorber (1) comprising, a fluid concentrating boiler (10) which is disposed between the high-temperature regenerator (7) and the high-temperature heat exchanger (6) concentrating the absorption fluid under heat, and a pump (13) which extracts a part or all of the concentrated absorption fluid from the high-temperature regenerator (7) and feeds it to the fluid concentrating boiler (10), wherein the fluid concentrating boiler is connected to the high-temperature heat exchanger (6) so that the absorption fluid concentrated under heat is returned to the heating side of the high-temperature heat exchanger (6) and is also connected to the high-temp

Abstract: An accumulator-dehydrator assembly for use in an air conditioning system including an evaporator and a compressor. The accumulator-dehydrator assembly also includes a canister with an upper portion, an inlet, an outlet and a delivery tube with a first tube end positioned in the upper portion of the canister and a second tube end connected to the outlet. A baffle is disposed within the canister that includes a first end connected to the canister and a second end positioned to define a partition between the first tube end of the delivery tube and the inlet. The purpose of the baffle is to reduce pulsations that result from pressure fluctuations in the air-conditioning system.

Abstract: A multiple circuit shell and tube heat exchanger exchanges heat between a heat transfer fluid and refrigerant. The first portion of the heat transfer fluid flow enters a first refrigerant circuit and exchanges heat with refrigerant in the first circuit. The second portion of the heat transfer fluid flow then enters a second refrigerant circuit and exchanges heat with refrigerant in the second circuit. By employing a single heat transfer fluid pass, the average leaving temperature difference from each circuit can be reduced, reducing entropy generation and making the system more thermodynamically efficient.

Abstract: In a plant for separating air which does not comprise an argon column, an intermediate-pressure column (102) has a bottom reboiler (24) which is heated by a gas (233) coming from the low-pressure column (103). The intermediate-pressure column is fed from the high-pressure column (101). This makes it possible to reduce the energy consumption while improving the efficiency of the process.

Abstract: A mixture containing oxygen is introduced into a distillation column (1); an intermediate stream, substantially free from impurities heavier than oxygen, is withdrawn (at 17) at a level of the column located above the point (4) of introduction of the air, the point (22) of withdrawal being separated from this point (4) of introduction by a distillation section (6), particularly with packing; the stream withdrawn (at 17) is sent to an oxygen purification column (2), and a reflux liquid is distributed over the section (6) by a distributor (9). A predetermined non-uniformity of the distribution of the reflux liquid over the upper surface (8) of the section (6) is effected in at least one localized region (23) of this surface.

Abstract: A three column cryogenic rectification system for producing at least one of oxygen and nitrogen employing a medium pressure column which is operating at a pressure between the operating pressures of the higher and lower pressure columns, and which receives an air feed which is at a lower pressure than the air feed to the higher pressure column. The medium pressure column processes oxygen-enriched liquid from the higher pressure column and is reboiled by a fluid taken from below the top of the higher pressure column.

Abstract: Ring has a removable portion. The removable portion may be a flat object, such as a tablet. The tablet may have a design on it. The tablet may be placed underneath a bezel, which may be clear, and which may be clear and colorless.

Abstract: A method of producing a polarizing glass article that exhibits a broad band of high contrast polarizing properties in the infrared region of the radiation spectrum. The polarizing glass is phase-separated or exhibits photochromic properties based on silver, copper, or copper-cadmium halide crystals or a combination thereof, which are precipitated in the glass and having a size in the range of 200-5000 Å. The glass has a surface layer containing elongated silver, copper, or copper cadmium metal particles, or a mixture thereof. The method comprises subjecting the glass article to a time-temperature cycle in which the temperature is at least about 76° C. or greater above the glass softening point, in a step to thermally form and precipitate large halide crystals, and elongated metallic particles under a stress of not over about 3000 psi, preferably not over about 2675 psi.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a laser annealing system which reduces damages and contamination to a chamber window by adding a buffer window between the chamber window and a silicon film being annealed by a laser beam. The laser annealing system includes a chamber window for passing a laser beam therethrough, a chamber wall constituting an outer frame of the chamber, wherein the chamber wall and the chamber window form a sealed inner space, a process chamber in which a laser annealing takes place by annealing the substrate with a laser, and a buffer layer formed between the chamber window and the substrate to reduce any contaminants from the annealing process from being deposited directly on the chamber window. The buffer layer may be equipped with a predetermined pattern to selectively block the laser beam in accordance with the pattern in order to selectively anneal the silicon film formed on the substrate.