Abstract: A glass manufacturing apparatus including a delivery vessel including a body portion with a cylindrical inner surface extending along a central axis of the body portion. In one embodiment, an upper end of the body portion is substantially equal to or lower than an uppermost portion of a travel path in a downstream end of a conduit connected to the delivery vessel. In another embodiment, a central axis of a delivery pipe is offset a distance from the central axis of the body portion of the delivery vessel. In still another embodiment, the delivery vessel includes a conical top including a taper angle from greater than 0° to about 20°. In further embodiments, methods include manufacturing glass with one or any combination of the above-referenced embodiments of glass manufacturing apparatus.

Abstract: A system and method are described herein for controlling an environment around an inlet tube in the glass manufacturing system. More specifically, the system and method control a level of hydrogen within a humid gas mixture that flows over an exterior of the inlet tube to effectively suppress the formation of undesirable gaseous inclusions in molten glass that flows through the inlet tube.

Abstract: The present invention provides a shaft high temperature continuous graphitizing furnace comprising a furnace body comprising a feeding inlet and a discharging outlet, an electrode pair, a cooling system and a discharging device; the furnace body is designed to be a shaft cylindrical structure; the electrode pair is provided within the furnace body and comprise an upper electrode and a lower electrode, the upper electrode is located below the feeding inlet, and an umbrella or cone table shape electric field having a lower cross section area greater than its upper cross section area arises between the upper electrode and eh lower electrode; and the cooling system is located between the lower electrode and the discharging outlet.

Abstract: Methods for producing crucibles for holding molten material that contain a reduced amount of gas pockets are disclosed. The methods may involve use of molten silica that may be outgassed prior to or during formation of the crucible. Crucibles produced from such methods and ingots and wafers that are produced from crucibles with a reduced amount of gas pockets are also disclosed.

Abstract: The present invention provide a fluorophosphate glass comprising 3 to 25 cation % of P5+, more than 30 cation % and 40 cation % or less of Al3+, 0.5 to 20 cation % of Li+ and 65 anion % or more of F? as glass ingredients, and having a liquid phase temperature of 700° C. or less. The fluorophosphate glass of the present invention has ultra low dispersibility and stability, and is preferably used for glass materials for press molding, optical element blanks and optical elements.

Abstract: The present invention significantly modifies “The Overflow Process”. It includes a method and apparatus for measuring glass flow rate and maintaining a constant glass flow rate. It also embodies design features and methods that support and stress the forming apparatus in a manner such that the deformation that results from thermal creep is corrected, thus minimizing the effect of the thermal creep on the thickness variation of the glass sheet. The present invention also embodies design features that change the process from a single step (combined flow distribution and cooling) to a two step process; step one being flow distribution and step two being cooling.

Abstract: An optical glass comprising, by mol %, 0.1 to 40% of SiO2, 10 to 50% of B2O3, 0 to 10% of total of Li2O, Na2O and K2O, 0 to 10% of total of MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO, 0.5 to 22% of ZnO, 5 to 50% of La2O3, 0.1 to 25% of Gd2O3, 0.1 to 20% of Y2O3, 0 to 20% of Yb2O3, 0 to 25% of ZrO2, 0 to 25% of TiO2, 0 to 20% of Nb2O5, 0 to 10% of Ta2O5, over 0.1% but not more than 20% of WO3, 0 to less than 3% of GeO2, 0 to 10% of Bi2O3, and 0 to 10% of Al2O3, the mass ratio of the content of SiO2 to the content of B2O3, SiO2/B2O3, being 1 or less, the optical glass having a refractive index nd of 1.86 to 1.95 and an Abbe's number ?d of (2.36?nd)/0.014 or more but less than 38.

Abstract: The lead-free and arsenic-free optical glasses have a refractive index of 1.83?nd?1.95 and an Abbé number of 24??d?35, good chemical resistance, excellent crystallization stability and a composition, in wt. % based on oxide content, of SiO2, 2-8; B2O3, 15-22; La2O3, 35-42; ZnO, 10-18; TiO2, 9-15; ZrO2, 3-10; Nb2O5, 4-10; and WO3, >0.5-3. Besides containing at most 5 wt. % of each of GeO2, Ag2O and BaO and conventional fining agents, they may also contain at most in total 5 wt. % of Al2O3, MgO, CaO, SrO, P2O5 and up to at most in total 5 wt. % of the components F, Ta2O5. The glasses are preferably free of alkali metal oxides, Bi2O3, Y2O3, Gd2O3 and/or Yb2O3. Optical elements made from the optical glass are also described.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for compensating the varying weight of a glass ribbon the glass ribbon is drawn from a molten glass forming material, and an apparatus therefore. The weight compensating apparatus is configured to apply a force to the glass ribbon that is inversely proportional to the weight of the glass ribbon such that as the glass ribbon weight increases, the force applied to the glass ribbon by the weight compensating device decreases.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus for use in conveying molten glass from a first vessel to a second vessel, wherein at least a portion of the first vessel is nested within the second vessel without contact between the first and second vessels, and a flexible member comprising a gas-tight seal separates an atmosphere enclosed by the sealing apparatus and an ambient atmosphere. The sealing apparatus is useful for flexibly sealing a non-contact joint between conduits for supplying molten glass to a forming body.

Abstract: A lens formed of a high-refractivity low-dispersion glass and free of fogging and scorching on its optical-function surface, which is obtained by precision press-molding of an optical glass having a refractive index (nd) of over 1.83, an Abbe's number (?d) of 40 or more and a glass transition temperature (Tg) of 640° C. or lower and containing no Li2O and has one form of a meniscus form, a biconcave form or a plano-concave form.

Abstract: Provided is a low-dispersion optical glass that is formed of a fluorophosphate glass in which the molar ratio of the content of O2? to the content of P5+, O2?/P5+, is 3.5 or more and that has an Abbe's number (?d) of over 70 or has an F? content of 65 anionic % or more, and the optical glass enables the suppression of the volatilization of a glass component when an optical glass formed of a fluorophosphate glass is produced or when an obtained glass in a molten state is caused to flow out to shape it into a glass shaped material, so that the variation of properties such as a refractive index, etc., involved in the fluctuations of a glass composition and the variation of quality such as the occurrence of striae can be suppressed.

Abstract: An optical glass having a refractive index nd of 1.70 or greater and an Abbé number of 50 or greater. Given as mole percentages, it comprises: B2O3 (20 to 80 percent), SiO2 (0 to 30 percent), Li2O (1 to 25 percent), ZnO (0 to 20 percent), La2O3 (4 to 30 percent), Gd2O3 (1 to 25 percent), Y2O3 (0 to 20 percent), ZrO2 (0 to 5 percent), MgO (0 to 25 percent), CaO (0 to 15 percent), and SrO (0 to 10 percent), with the combined quantity of the above components being 97 percent or greater. The molar ratio of {ZnO/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)} is 0.8 or less and the molar ratio of {(CaO+SrO+BaO)/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)} is 0.8 or less. Ta2O5 may be incorporated as an optional component, with the molar ratio {(ZrO2+Ta2O5)/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)} being 0.4 or less.

Abstract: An optical glass having a refractive index nd of 1.70 or greater and an Abbé number of 50 or greater. Given as mole percentages, it comprises: B2O3 (20 to 80 percent), SiO2 (0 to 30 percent), Li2O (1 to 25 percent), ZnO (0 to 20 percent), La2O3 (4 to 30 percent), Gd2O3 (1 to 25 percent), Y2O3 (0 to 20 percent), ZrO2 (0 to 5 percent), MgO (0 to 25 percent), CaO (0 to 15 percent), and SrO (0 to 10 percent), with the combined quantity of the above components being 97 percent or greater. The molar ratio of {ZnO/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)} is 0.8 or less and the molar ratio of {(CaO+SrO+BaO)/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)} is 0.8 or less. Ta2O5 may be incorporated as an optional component, with the molar ratio {(ZrO2+Ta2O5)/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)} being 0.4 or less.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is an improved sheet glass forming apparatus. In another embodiment, a precise thermal control system redistributes the flow of molten glass at the weirs to counteract the degradation of the sheet forming apparatus which inevitably occurs during manufacturing. In yet another embodiment, the invention introduces a counteracting force to the stresses on the trough in a manner such that the thermal creep which inevitably occurs has a minimum impact on the glass flow characteristics of the forming trough. Another embodiment creates a variable external cross-section which provides hydraulic stresses that are in opposition to the surface tension and body force stresses and thus, reduces the influence of surface tension and body forces.

Abstract: A sealing apparatus for use in conveying molten glass from a first vessel to a second vessel, wherein at least a portion of the first vessel is nested within the second vessel without contact between the first and second vessels, and a flexible member comprising a gas-tight seal separates an atmosphere enclosed by the sealing apparatus and an ambient atmosphere. The sealing apparatus is useful for flexibly sealing a non-contact joint between conduits for supplying molten glass to a forming body.

Abstract: A high-refractivity low-dispersion optical glass that can be stably supplied and has excellent glass stability and that has coloring reduced, comprises, by mass %, 5 to 32% of total of SiO2 and B2O3, 45 to 65% of total of La2O3, Gd2O3 and Y2O3, 0.5 to 10% of ZnO, 1 to 20% of total of TiO2 and Nb2O5, 0 to 15% of ZrO2, 0 to 2% of WO3, 0 to 20% of Yb2O3, 0 to 10% of total of Li2O, Na2O and K2O, 0 to 10% of total of MgO, CaO, SrO and BaO, 0 to 12% of Ta2O5, 0 to 5% of GeO2, 0 to 10% of Bi2O3, and 0 to 10% of Al2O3, wherein the mass ratio of the content of SiO2 to the content of B2O3, (SiO2/B2O3), is from 0.3 to 1.0, and the mass ratio of the total content of Gd2O3 and Y2O3 to the total content of La2O3, Gd2O3 and Y2O3, (Gd2O3+Y2O3)/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3), is from 0.05 to 0.6, the optical glass having a refractive index nd of 1.89 to 2.0 and an Abbe's number ?d of 32 to 38 and having a coloring degree ?70 of 430 nm or less.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing high-quality preforms from glass melt, manufacturing glass elements, such as lenses, by press molding these preforms and, manufacturing optical elements by reheating and press molding these glass gobs. In the method glass gobs are continuously separated from a glass melt flow continuously flowing out of a nozzle and the separated glass gobs are formed with glass forming members that are intermittently or continuously moving. A support member is made to approach the front end of the nozzle, the front end of the glass melt flow is received by the support member, and the support member is dropped more rapidly than the rate of flow of the glass melt flow to separate a glass gob from the glass melt flow. The separated glass gob is transferred from the support member to a stopped or moving glass forming member to mold a glass article.

Abstract: A melter apparatus includes a floor, a ceiling, and a substantially vertical wall connecting the floor and ceiling at a perimeter of the floor and ceiling, a melting zone being defined by the floor, ceiling and wall, the melting zone having a feed inlet and a molten glass outlet positioned at opposing ends of the melting zone. The melting zone includes an expanding zone beginning at the inlet and extending to an intermediate location relative to the opposing ends, and a narrowing zone extending from the intermediate location to the outlet. One or more burners, at least some of which are positioned to direct combustion products into the melting zone under a level of molten glass in the zone, are also provided.

Abstract: A levitation process for producing fire-polished gobs is provided. The process includes feeding a glass slug into a levitation mold and reducing a through-flow of the fluid between the glass slug and the levitation mold. The levitation mold includes a membrane of a porous material.

Abstract: Preforms for precision press molding made of optical glass, optical elements, and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. The preforms are suited to precision press molding having a broad range of dispersion characteristics, a low glass transition temperature, a low sag point, and good resistance to devitrification while containing no PbO. The optical element is obtained by precision press molding the preform. One example of the preform has a refractive index (nd) of greater than or equal to 1.7 and an Abbé number (?d) of less than or equal to 32. The other example of the preform has an Abbé number (?d) exceeding 32.

Abstract: A molten glass dropping nozzle including: a molten glass flow path therein for flowing molten glass; and a plurality of openings of the flow path, the plurality of openings being provided on a front end of the molten glass dropping nozzle, wherein the molten glass flowing out of the plurality of openings is stored in the front end and falls as one molten glass drop.

Abstract: The optical glass of the present invention has a refractive index nd of 1.70 or greater and an Abbé number of 50 or greater. Given as mole percentages, it comprises: B2O3 20 to 80 percent, SiO2 0 to 30 percent, Li2O 1 to 25 percent; ZnO 0 to 20 percent, La2O3 4 to 30 percent, Gd2O3 1 to 25 percent, Y2O3 0 to 20 percent, ZrO2 0 to 5 percent, MgO 0 to 25 percent, CaO 0 to 15 percent, SrO 0 to 10 percent, with the combined quantity of the above components being 97 percent or greater. The molar ratio of {ZnO/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)} is 0.8 or less and the molar ratio of {(CaO +SrO+BaO)/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)} is 0.8 or less. Ta2O5 may be incorporated as an optional component, with the molar ratio {(ZrO2+Ta2O5)/(La2O3+Gd2O3+Y2O3)}being 0.4 or less. The present invention further relates to a preform for precision press molding comprised of this glass, an optical element comprised of this glass, and methods of manufacturing the same.

Abstract: Disclosed are a process for producing a glass shaped material having high quality and high mass accuracy and a process for producing an optical element, which includes the preparation of a glass shaped material having high quality and high mass accuracy, the heating of said glass shaped material and the precision-press-molding thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for producing molten glass, an apparatus for producing glass products and a process for producing glass products, which achieve production of various types of glass products of small lot with high energy efficiency in a short time.

Abstract: Described herein are alkali-free, boroalumino silicate glasses exhibiting desirable physical and chemical properties for use as substrates in flat panel display devices, such as, active matrix liquid crystal displays (AMLCDs). The glass compositions possess numerous properties that are compatible with the downdraw process, particularly fusion drawing.

Abstract: The optical glass comprises equal to or greater than 5 mole percent of P2O5, has an Abbé number of equal to or greater than 58 and a glass transition temperature of equal to or less than 570 degree Celsius, and has an alkalinity resistance defined as a rate of weight reduction of equal to or less than 17 micrograms/(cm2·hour) when the surface of said optical glass which has been optically polished is immersed in 0.01 mole/liter of NaOH aqueous solution at 50 degree Celsius.

Abstract: Methods of making glass include the steps of providing a glass melt in a first melting furnace and flowing the glass melt through a connecting tube from the first melting furnace to a second melting furnace. The methods further include the steps of heating the glass melt within a first area of the connecting tube with a first heating device and heating the glass melt within a second area of the connecting tube with a second heating device. Apparatus for making glass are also provided with a first melting furnace, a second melting furnace, and a connecting tube connecting the first and second melting furnaces. Example apparatus include a first heating device configured to heat the glass melt within the first area of the connecting tube and a second heating device configured to heat the glass melt within the second area of the connecting tube.

Abstract: A globular glass manufacturing apparatus includes: a flow nozzle to flow a molten glass in a form of continuous flow, a collection tank to collect droplet-like glass gobs deformed from the molten glass flowing in a form of continuous flow during fall. Further, the globular glass manufacturing apparatus comprises a gas nozzle to shift one or both of falling trajectories of the glass gobs neighboring above and below by blowing gas to the glass gobs or sucking the glass gobs, wherein the gas nozzle rotates in which the center is on falling trajectory of the glass gobs.

Abstract: A method of mixing a viscous liquid comprising flowing the viscous liquid through an aperture to form a stream that falls through a free space volume by gravity. The viscous liquid may be directed through any combination of apertures. The corresponding streams of viscous liquid may be allowed to undergo fluid buckling as the streams fall, with the streams spreading the inhomogeneities and then recombining with each other, thereby mixing the viscous liquid globally and locally. A jet of gas may be directed against the falling streams to intertwine the streams, thereby mixing the viscous liquid. Alternatively, the streams may be manipulated with an electromagnetic field to create intertwining.

Abstract: In the method molten glass emerges from an outlet opening of a melt feed. The molten glass is drawn over a shaping body so as to form a hollow drawing bulb. According to the invention, the drawing bulb is drawn over a profile forming body positioned downstream of the shaping body so that inner circumferential surfaces of the drawing bulb are deformed while abutting against outer surfaces of the profile forming body to form the predetermined inner profile. The distance between the shaping body and the profile forming body can be changed to vary the wall thickness of the glass tube.

Abstract: An optical glass having a high refractive index and high dispersion characteristics that is suited to application to precision press molding to precisely mold the shape of final products for objectives not requiring grinding or polishing. An optical glass exhibiting a refractive index in the range of from 1.75 to 2.0, an Abbé number in the range of from 20 to 28.5. Optical parts comprised of this glass; press-molding materials comprised of this glass; methods of manufacturing the same; and methods of manufacturing molded glass products employing these materials.

Abstract: Reinforcing glass yarn, the composition of which comprises the following constituents, within the limits defined below, expressed in percentages by weight: SiO2 54.5 to 58% Al2O3 12 to 15.5% SiO2 + Al2O3 70 to 73% CaO 17 to 25% MgO 0 to 5% RO = CaO + MgO 21 to 28% R2O = Na2O + K2O + Li2O up to 2% TiO2 less than 1% Fe2O3 less than 0.5% B2O3 up to 3% F2 less than 1% and such that the ratio R1=Al2O3/CaO is less than 0.7, and when SiO2 is greater than 57% the amount of boron oxide B2O3 is greater than 2%.

Abstract: The subject of the invention is a device for melting batch materials that combines at least two separate melting modules, including a module A(1) which is predominantly fitted with heating means in the form of crown burners and/or submerged electrodes, and a module B(2) which is predominantly fitted with heating means in the form of submerged burners.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for manufacturing a large scale quartz glass slab ingot in a flame hydrolysis reaction in a furnace, including the steps of rotating the furnace, depositing a fused silica on a furnace bed, and extending the deposit outwardly by heating and rotation of the furnace, thereby a quartz glass slab ingot is obtained. A quartz glass burner is installed at the ceiling of the furnace, hydrogen gas supplied to the burner flows down along the tapered wall of the oxygen chamber and is ejected into the outer casing. Part of the hydrogen gas is deflected to the center of the burner and mixed with the oxygen just after the ejection from the oxygen gas nozzles. Thereby, the flame is formed smoothly and the thermal efficiency is improved. The flame becomes wide enough and the silica powder transported by the hydrogen gas is uniformly fused by the flame and heat capacity of the fused silica.

Abstract: A method of forming a glass sheet includes obtaining a preform generated from a glass composition and conveying the preform through a channel having a temperature that decreases along a length of the channel to form a glass sheet having a predetermined width and thickness.

Abstract: The present invention provides devices for glass melt devlivery and methods for using these devices. In these devices, a delivery nozzle comprising at least one platinum group metal material is directly heated by electricty. To facilitate heating, a cylindrical heating ring is mounted in ceramic base. The device's construction ensures a regulatable heating of the nozzle and the melted glass flux.

Abstract: The invention relates to a manufacturing apparatus for simultaneously making different hollow glass products having different gob sizes comprising at least one feed apparatus (12), that has at least one glass reservoir (14), at least one plunger (18a, b), and at least one appurtenant cutting device (24a, b) in the discharge from the reservoir, at least one conveying means (28) to successively transport at least one of the gobs discharged from the feed apparatus (12) into a plurality of shape-imparting units (32a–c) disposed next to each other for variously sized gobs, at least one controller (22) to control the plunger (18a, b) and the cutting device (24a, b) of the feed apparatus (12), the conveying means (28), and the shape-imparting units (32a–c), and said controller (22) controls the activity of the shape-imparting units (32a–c), the feed apparatus (12), and the conveying means (28) in coordination with the gob-size-specific processing time of the products in the shape-imparting units (32a–c) or their cyc

Abstract: A process for the remelting of glass bars, including the steps of introducing a glass bar into an upper end of a receiving shell; providing a molten bath having a surface underneath the receiving-shell; positioning the receiving shell such that a lower edge of the receiving shell is located at the height of the surface or above it; heating a lower end of the glass bar to a temperature above a softening temperature of the glass, resulting in a melt-off process at the lower end of the glass bar to produce a melt stream; controlling the melt-off process such that the melt stream continuously enters the molten bath proximate the surface with avoidance of a constriction; and drawing off melt from the molten bath by means of an arrangement for drop generation.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing glass sheets with manufacturing systems that including platinum-containing components are provided. The method includes providing a barrier coating to reduce the hydrogen permeability of the platinum-containing components which reduces the propensity for blistering of glass sheets made using the components.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the manufacture of synthetic vitreous silica ingots involves the production of a melt of synthetic vitreous silica in a crucible (35) within a refractory furnace (31), and the continuous withdrawal of an ingot (43) through an orifice (40) in the wall of the crucible. The silica may be deposited in the crucible by a synthesis burner (33), which may also serve to maintain the silica above its sintering temperature. The emerging ingot is supported by an arrangement of moveable clamps (44).

Abstract: Provided are optical glass exhibiting a refractive index (nd) in a range of 1.75 to 1.87, an Abbé number (&ngr;d) in a range of 80 to 45, and excellent low-temperature softening properties even when not incorporating Th2O5 as well as permitting a low production cost; a precision press molding preform and an optical element comprised of such glass; a method of manufacturing the preform; and a method of manufacturing the optical element. The optical glass comprises, in a molar percent, 30 to 45 percent of B2O3, 2 to 15 percent of SiO2, 10 to 20 percent of La2O3, 1 to 10 percent of TiO2, 10 to 30 percent of ZnO, 2 to 15 percent of Li2O, higher than 0 percent and 10 percent or less of WO3, 0 to 15 percent of Nb2O5, and 0 to 10 percent of ZrO2, wherein the total amount of the above-mentioned components is higher than 95 percent, the glass exhibits a refractive index (nd) in a range of 1.75 to 1.87, and an Abbé number (&ngr;d) in a range of 80 to 45.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a micro molten glass droplet, has the steps of, colliding a molten glass droplet with a micro through hole formed in a plate-shaped member; and pushing out at least part of the glass droplet to a reverse surface of the micro through hole as a micro droplet, thereby forming a glass droplet with a diameter of not more than 5 mm.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing thin glass panes, especially glass panes with a thickness of below 1 mm, by drawing a thin glass strand vertically downwards. According to the inventive method, a glass melt is fed from a melting bath via a feed to the glass drawing tank that comprises a nozzle system with at least one slotted nozzle. The length and the diameter of the feed as well as the viscosity of the glass melt present in the feed determine the overall throughput. The throughput per length unit in the transverse direction to the glass strand (so-called line throughput) is adjusted via the geometry of the nozzle system and via the viscosity of the glass melt present in the nozzle system. These parameters are adjusted in such a manner that the glass, when leaving the nozzle system, does not wet the bottom of the slotted nozzle in the range of the tearoff edge.

Abstract: An elongated fused quartz member is disclosed having alkali metal impurities being removed therefrom when initially formed. The impurities are removed by an electrolytic procedure accompanying formation of the elongated fused quartz member. Apparatus for carrying out the electrolytic removal procedure is also disclosed.

Abstract: A laminated glass container has an inner layer of amber glass surrounded by an outer layer of flint glass. The container is manufactured by forming a cased glass stream, having an amber glass core and a flint glass casing layer, cutting the stream into individual gobs and molding the gobs into containers, all sufficiently rapidly that the amber glass does not have an opportunity chemically to react with the flint glass.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the production of internally-hardened glass tubes, in which in a tube-drawing process for the production of glass tubes that is known in the art, a coated drawing tool, for example in the process according to Danner a coated mandrel or in the process according to Vello or in A-drawing process a coated needle, is used, whose coating releases coating material upon contact with the inside surface of the tube that is produced and accumulates on the inside glass surface. The chemical resistance is increased by this internal hardening. The invention also relates to devices for implementing this process and uses of the tubes that are produced according to these processes.

Abstract: In a method of producing a glass gob by continuously dropping a molten glass 9 from a nozzle 2 in a dropping direction, a gas flow 20 is caused to continuously flow in the dropping direction along an outer peripheral surface of the nozzle 2 at a predetermined flow rate. The gas flow 20 applies a wind pressure to the molten glass 9 appearing from a nozzle end 2a of the nozzle 2 to drop the molten glass 9.

Abstract: Silica grain of desired properties and size is created in a vacuum chamber. Fine silica powder is injected in the chamber or silica powder is formed in situ by combusting precursors. A plasma is formed centrally in the chamber to soften the silica powders so that they stick together and form larger grains of desired size. The grains are collected, doped, fused and flowed into tubes or rods. A puller pulls the tube or rod through a chamber seal into a lower connected vacuum chamber. The tube or rod is converted to rods and fibers or plates and bars in the connected chamber. Fused silica in a crucible tray is subjected to ultrasound or other oscillations for outgassing. Gases are removed by closely positioned vacuum ports.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a micro molten glass droplet, has the steps of, colliding a molten glass droplet with a micro through hole formed in a plate-shaped member; and pushing out at least part of the glass droplet to a reverse surface of the micro through hole as a micro droplet, thereby forming a glass droplet with a diameter of not more than 5 mm.