Abstract: Method and apparatus for attenuating and collecting glass filaments are provided comprising a rotatable collet adapted to wind said strands thereon; a traversing means adapted to move the strands along the length of said collet, said traversing means having an axis of movement; guide means located adjacent said traversing means, said guide means having a plurality of spaced apart strand accommodating notches wherein at least two of the notches are contained in a reference plane that is obliquely oriented with respect to the axis of movement of said traversing means or axis of rotation said collet to facilitate the maintenance of the individuality of each of the strands being wound into said package.

Abstract: Hot pressing of fluoride glasses is provided. These glasses are synthesized from ZrF.sub.4 -BaF.sub.2 and HfF.sub.4 -BaF.sub.2 systems. Hot pressing rough blanks in a closed die made of hard, polished, optically-figured material, such as cobalt-bonded tungsten carbide, is done by pressing the glasses at a temperature between that of the softening point of the glass and its crystallization temperature and at a pressure sufficient to cause flow of the glass at the pressing temperature. As a consequence, mechanical polishing steps on all glass surfaces is eliminated, thereby minimizing surface contamination.

Abstract: The invention relates to astronomical mirrors or aspherical gratings which are obtained from a blank which is composed, in one piece, of a thin disc having a reflecting surface and of a cylindrical ring coaxial with the disc which is connected thereto by a semi-fixing. The ring is applied on a rigid support with which it defines a cavity in which a pressure pi is applied while the reflecting face is surfaced along a plane or spherical surface. The pressure pi is then varied, this causing a flexion of the disc.

Abstract: A threading member secured to an end of a cot roll of a strand chopping apparatus and having a cam surface for laterally moving a strand to the periphery of the cot roll as the cot roll is rotated at normal speed and the strand is held in engagement with the cam surface.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for molding a block of a fused quartz glass by the plastic deformation of a starting block with smaller dimensions at a high temperature. The molding procedure is carried out in a graphite mold under compression at a temperature of 1700.degree. C. or higher in an atmosphere of helium at a pressure in the range, preferably, from 50 to 500 Torr. The cooling schedule as specified is also of importance in order that the molded quartz glass block is freed from any strain or cracks.

Abstract: A bushing is described which permits the formation of filaments of different diameters simultaneously from a single molten glass source by controlling the differential in orifice sizes used in the bushing to minimize process interruptions.

Abstract: Apparatus for drawing newly-spun and dressed glass filaments from a bushing comprises, in combination, a rotary cutter constituted by a blade roll with radially directed blades projecting from its surface and a second, back-up roll having a resilient surface, said rolls being mounted with their axes substantially parallel and with at least the tips of the blades in contact with said resilient surface to define a cutting zone for the cutter, together with an auxiliary, independently driven start-up roll, variable speed drive means for accelerating said auxiliary roll to a surface speed at least equal to the surface speed of the back-up roll under production conditions, and guide means operable to divert a bundle of filaments being wound on said auxiliary roll to the surface of the back-up roll and thereafter into the cutting zone of the cutter, whereby the filaments are cut into staple fibres. A method of manufacturing staple fibres based on the use of above apparatus is also disclosed.

Abstract: In order to provide an end face of an optical fiber with a spherical curvature of predetermined radius, designed to optimize the transfer of luminous intensity from an adjoining light source such as a light-emitting diode, a flat fiber is heated to a temperature near its melting point while its profile is optically enlarged. When that profile is found to have reached a predetermined shape criterion, as determined by visual observation or by electronic scanning, heating is terminated.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for gathering strand material from a plurality of sources of strand material comprising a rotatable roll means for pulling the strand material from the sources, primary drive means for rotating the roll means, ring means mounted for rotation coaxially with the roll means and adapted to pull strand material from one or more of the sources, secondary drive means for rotating the ring means at rates independent of the rotation of the roll means, and means for axially moving the ring means into and out of communication with the roll means.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for reworking hollow workpieces, illustratively glass lamp bulbs, to a desired dimensional accuracy and optical finish. In the method, a workpiece is placed within a mold having a cavity which defines the desired dimensions. Molten metal, preferably tin, of temperature sufficient to soften the workpiece is introduced into the hollow interior of the workpiece. The static pressure of the molten metal forces the softened workpiece into contact with the interior surface of the mold thereby imparting to the workpiece the desired dimensions. Molten metal of lower temperature is then introduced into the workpiece from a lower interior portion thereof, displacing the molten metal of high temperature out of the workpiece. The newly introduced molten metal cools the workpiece so that it may be handled without deforming. The molten metal is then removed from the interior of the workpiece and the workpiece is removed from the mold.

Abstract: A process with minor variations for producing a configuration of glass and/or any similar material such as plastic or epoxy is disclosed. The configuration is basically a honeycomb of pipes of transparent material attached to a transparent plate, such as window glass. The pipes are closed at one end by the plate. The pipes prevent convection movement of a fluid parallel to the plate near its surface, except for very short distances. The unique inventive feature of the process lies in the fact that the honeycomb of pipes are produced simultaneously by a drawing process, during which either a part of a plate, which part is in the form of a grid, is softened, or a grid of new soft material is added to a plate, and the pipes are always attached to the plate both during formation and upon completion of formation.Also disclosed is a special configuration to render the pipes resistant to breakage under thermal stress.

Abstract: An output/input coupler for multi-mode glass fibers characterized by a substrate and a main line having a square cross section disposed on the substrate and having at least one branch line extending on said substrate therefrom with the branch line having a rectangular cross section smaller than the cross section of the main line and having one surface coplanar with the surface of the main line. The branch line may have the same thickness as the main line with a reduced width or may have both a reduced thickness and width. In one embodiment, the branch line extends as an arc and may terminate in an end line which has a square cross section equal to the cross section of the main line and extends at an angle to the main line. In another embodiment, the branch line extends rectilinearly and may terminate in an end line which extends parallel to the main line and has a square cross section equal to the square cross section of the main line.

Abstract: Optical sections (lenses) of pseudophakoi having tangential holes are produced without drilling operations. A preform of lens material is drawn with embedded acid soluble rods and/or openings corresponding in diametral size and relative juxtaposition to the size, shape and locations of holes needed in a lens, a lens blank is cut from the drawn preform and portions of rods remaining therein are etched away prior to or following final edging and surface finishing of the lens blank.

Abstract: An apparatus for making cathode ray tube screens with contoured fixtures comprises an automatic press having a rotary table with moulds radially fixed thereto, as well as a mechanism for moulding the fixtures. This mechanism has a vertically and horizontally displaceable frame carrying heaters and male dies. In operation, the frame is introduced into the mould with a screen blank and then is placed, in turn, in two locked positions in which the screen boards heating and fixture moulding, respectively, are effected.

Abstract: In the sealing of two glass surfaces together in the formation of a hermetically sealed hollow article, it is important that the opposed seal edges be uniformly complementary along their sealing extent, and a method of sagging the seal edge to a desired surface contour is disclosed.

Abstract: A suspended mass is shaped by melting all or a selected portion of the mass and applying acoustic energy in varying amounts to different portions of the mass. In one technique for forming an optical waveguide slug, a mass of oval section is suspended and only a portion along the middle of the cross-section is heated to a largely fluid consistency. Acoustic energy is applied to opposite edges of the oval mass to press the unheated opposite edge portions together so as to form bulges at the middle of the mass. In another technique for forming a ribbon of silicon for constructing solar cells, a cylindrical thread of silicon is drawn from a molten mass of silicon, and acoustic energy is applied to opposite sides of the molten thread to flatten it into a ribbon.

Abstract: An optical glass article having a desired surface figure and demonstrating maximum theoretical light transmission can be prepared by forming a base anhydrous glass of defined compositional ranges, hydrating the glass, partially dehydrating the glass at a temperature above the softening point and, using an inert gas, at a pressure above the vapor pressure of water contained therein, and then molding a preformed blank of the glass against a die having a desired optical quality surface figure, the molding being under conditions sufficient to transfer the surface figure of the die to the glass. The base glass comprises, in mole percent, about 70 to 82% SiO.sub.2, 10 to 17% Na.sub.2 O and/or K.sub.2 O, and 5 to 15% of an oxide or oxides selected from ZnO and PbO. The water content of the partially dehydrated glass ranges from about 3 to 8 wt. percent and the molded glass has a substantially uniform refractive index throughout its bulk.

Abstract: A material is selected which is capable of propagating light energy and is lso highly absorptive of light energy within a determinable wavelength region. A laser beam which includes such wavelength region in its output energy is focused on the surface of the selected material in a sufficent concentration to cause partial evaporation of its surface and relative linear movement is given effect between the laser beam focal point and the selected material in a focal plane of the laser beam. The rate of such relative linear movement is controlled to produce grooves in the surface of the selector material by absorption of laser energy, thereby defining optical waveguide guiding paths immediately beneath the grooves due to localized change of index of refraction.

Abstract: A U-shaped carrier member formed out of a bent silicon starting rod which is uniformly heatable by means of electric current and which is substantially neither elongated nor contracted relative to the starting rod. A process for the preparation of such carrier member is provided.