Abstract: A shatter-, bullet- and/or soundproof laminate is assembled of two or more parallel glass panes and one or more layers of transparent synthetic plastic material, one layer between each pair of neighboring panes. The laminate is assembled while the lowermost pane is supported from below in a horizontal or nearly horizontal plane, and the plastic material is admitted in a liquid state by way of one or more rigid or deformable tubes which extend from the outside into the spaces between neighboring panes. At the same time, one or more additional tubes establish one or more paths for expulsion of air from such spaces. The panes can be pivoted, tilted and/or turned in the course of admission of plastic material. The tubes extend through removable or permanently installed strip- or bead-shaped seals which are disposed between or surround the marginal portions of the panes and seal the spaces between the panes from the surrounding atmosphere.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a fire-screening glazing panel comprising at least one layer of intumescent material 15 sandwiched between two structural plies 13, 14 of the panel comprises forming the layer and securing the plies together.In order to avoid or reduce problems associated with drying the layer 15, an assembly is made in which the structural plies 13, 14 sandwich a layer 15 of intumescent material which is constituted by one or more materials of which at least the greater part by volume is in granular form.In a second aspect, in order to facilitate degassing of the intumescent layer, such layer 15 contains intumescent material of which at least part is in the form of grains, and the intumescent material is subjected to suction at the edges of the assembly (e.g. using a vacuum pump 10 connected to an edge sealing tube 12) in a degassing step and the assembly is subjected to heat (e.g. by heaters 7,8) and/or pressure conditions (e.g.

Abstract: Solar cell array and method for manufacturing same wherein the individual cells of the array are sandwiched and held resiliently captive between and electrically isolated from a transparent protective front cover and a protective rear substrate by an encapsulating transparent silicone elastomer cast in situ in the interstices between the cover, the cells, and the substrate, the elastomer being introduced, while fluid, into the sandwich through the same terminals used for the electrical connection of the array to its electrical load.

Abstract: A glass break apparatus and method includes a pedestal which forms an airtight seal to a syringe and to the glass over the break. The flange on the pedestal enables the gripping and sealing.

Abstract: A method characterized by the steps of positioning a plurality of uniformly dimensioned photovoltaic cells in registered relation with a plurality of openings formed in a planar tool for affording access to the P contact surface of each of the cells, connecting the N contact surface of alternate cells to the P contact surface of the cells interposed therebetween, removing therefrom residue of solder flux, applying to the N contact surfaces of the cells a transparent adhesive, placing a common transparent cover plate in engaged relation with the adhesive, placing a film over the circular openings for hermetically sealing the openings, and establishing a vacuum between the film and the cover plate for thus simultaneously forcing the cells into vacuum bonded relation with the cover plate.

Abstract: Multiply windows are made by assemblying an interlayer of thermoplastic adhesive between plies of the sheet, subjecting the outer surfaces of the plies and the interlayer to vacuum, and subjecting the evacuated assembly to heat and pressure sufficient to bond them together while maintaining the vacuum. Apparatus is provided for this operation which includes an autoclave, means to establish a selected temperature within the autoclave, means to establish a selected pressure within the autoclave, flexible sack means within the autoclave, means to seal the sack means about a multiply sheet, and vacuum means connected to the interior of the sack means.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a laminated, light-transmitting fire-screening panel comprising at least one solid layer of intumescent material sandwiched between two structural plies without the use of a sheet of plastic material to effect the bonding, comprising the steps of forming a stratum from an intumescent material assembling the stratum and a first structural ply to an inorganic face of a pane comprising a second structural ply so that the stratum is in contact with the inorganic face and sandwiched between the structural plies, enveloping at least the edges of the sandwich assembly in such manner as to define a space around the edges in which sub-atmospheric pressure can be created for subjecting the inter-ply space to suction at the edges, and subjecting the sandwich assembly to a treatment in which at least one of the main external faces of the sandwich assembly is exposed to sub-atmospheric environmental pressure while the sandwich assembly is exposed to heat in a treatment chamber and the inter-ply s

Abstract: The present invention relates to simultaneous press polishing and lamination of laminated plastic transparencies such as are used in aircraft as aircraft windshields or aircraft canopies. The present invention is especially useful to minimize deviations from surface smoothness of the all plastic laminates due to the entrapment of air that form air pockets within a flexible evacuating bag within which an assembly to be press polished and laminated is inserted during its fabrication.

Abstract: A panel intended for use as a vacuum enclosure, comprising a pair of spaced sheets defining between them opposite walls of the enclosure, and a spacer assembly located between the sheets and adapted to maintain the sheets at the desired spacing, said spacer assembly comprising a pair of bearing pads positioned on the inside surfaces of the sheets at mutually opposite locations, a spacer element received between the bearing pads which spacer element is formed with substantially spherical bearing surfaces cooperating with the bearing pads, and spring means incorporated within the spacer assembly adapted to allow a limited degree of relative movement of the sheets in a direction substantially at right angles to the plane of the sheets.

Abstract: A security film for shatter-proofing windows comprises a polyurethane stratum interposed between a pair of polyester strata, each of which is self supporting, the film being bonded to the inner face of the window by a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: A stretching frame and vacuum former having an identical geometric shape with the vacuum former being proportionally reduced in peripheral dimensions, permits a stretched molecularly-oriented, light-polarizing, organic film having a uniform direction of polarization to be bonded to a substrate without distorting the direction of polarization. The method is practiced by supporting the molecularly-oriented, light-polarizing, organic film in contact with the edge of the vacuum former with the vacuum former being located substantially equidistant from the stretching frame and then a vacuum is applied to the chamber of the vacuum former to draw the film down onto the optical element. By utilizing a stretching frame and vacuum former having identical geometry, the uniform direction of polarization is not distorted by uneven stretching of the organic film as it is drawn down into contact with the glass element by the reduced pressure.

Abstract: An apparatus for repairing windshields and the method for using the apparatus wherein a liquid, curable resin material is forced into cracks in the windshield, using an apparatus mounted directly to the windshield, and which provides a high injection pressure and subsequently a vacuum so that the crack is completely filled, and air bubbles are removed from the filling resin during the time the resin cures. The apparatus in one form includes a disposable, simple-to-make injector that seals positively around the opening of the crack so that the resin is forced into place, and by reversing the injector, a suitable vacuum can be applied to the injected resin for removal of air bubbles.

Abstract: In forming a laminated glass article a first stage comprises assembling two glass sheets with an interlayer of thermoplastic transparent plastics material and heating the assembly to a first temperature at which some softening of the plastics material occurs. In the second stage the assembly is heated to a second higher temperature and maintained at the second temperature for a period such that full bonding occurs between the glass sheets and the interlayer, and then cooled, the exposed periphery of the interlayer being maintained at a pressure which is a controlled amount below that applied to the faces of the glass sheets for at least part of the period that the assembly is heated to the second temperature.

Abstract: A glazing including a sheet of glass and a sheet of plastic adhesively fastened thereto is manufactured by assembling into a stack the sheet of glass, the sheet of plastic, a thin flexible protective sheet, and a thick cushion sheet. The stack is enclosed in a bag of rubber or similar flexible material which is evacuated to degas the stack.. The bag with the stack therein is then subjected to heat and pressure in an autoclave to bond together the glass and plastic sheets, whereafter the protective and cushion sheets can be readily separated from the remainder of the stack.

Abstract: Laminated safety glass panels comprising sheets of rigid transparent material, such as glass, polycarbonate, acrylic plastic, polyester and the like, alternating with interlayer materials, such as polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane and the like, are prepressed to remove entrapped air at the interfacial surfaces to prepare the assemblies for final lamination. When the relatively rigid plies to be laminated have unsmooth surfaces, such as wavy surfaces, or surfaces having imperfections due to the penetration of the sheet during thermal treatment by tongs or other solid members that engage the rigid transparent sheet during its heat treatment prior to assembly for lamination, the preliminary pressing as performed by the prior art techniques is insufficient to prevent oil from an oil autoclave used in the final laminating step from penetrating into the interfacial surfaces between adjacent rigid and relatively flexible layers of the assembly to be laminated.

Abstract: .[.A solar control film for application to window glass comprises a vapor deposited aluminum coat, which partially transmits light, interposed between a pair of moisture permeable polymeric strata, each of which is self supporting. In one modification, an optional outer coat on one of the polymeric strata is composed of a pressure sensitive adhesive in association with a silicone release sheet. In another modification, an optional outer coat on the other of the polymeric strata is composed of a silicone release agent..]..Iadd.