Abstract: A method of producing a joint between a beta-alumina electrolyte tube and alpha-alumina flange with a glass bonding agent in a solid annular bead form devoid of additives such as a coupling agent or the like capable of being heated when subjected to microwave energy which comprises utilizing in the heating step a source of microwave energy rather than a gas flame or electrical resistance heat source so as to heat the beta-alumina tube by microwave energy for a time period sufficient to enable the heat generated in the beta-alumina tube to be conducted to glass bead and the alpha-alumina flange and heat the glass bead to a temperature above the glass deformation point, and allowing the tube to cool to solidify the glass bead in intimately penetrating relation to the surfaces of the beta-alumina tube and alpha-alumina flange engaged thereby so that the glass forms a bond between the beta-alumina tube and the alpha-alumina flange characterized by a fusion of the glass within the engaged beta-alumina and alpha-al

Abstract: Improved bonding in a cathode ray tube (CRT) between its glass funnel and glass faceplate is achieved by applying a thin base layer of a priming agent to an aft portion of the faceplate adjacent to the periphery thereof as well as to the forward edge of the funnel prior to positioning of the CRT components in contact. An intermediate layer of sealing glass frit is then deposited upon either of the aforementioned layers of the priming agent and adheres to the two priming agent layers without forming a re-entrant geometry. By "priming" the two abutting glass surfaces over an area which extends beyond the area of high loading with the priming agent prior to joining these surfaces, bond integrity is ensured and high stress concentration in the seal is avoided. The sealing glass frit may be comprised of a conventional glass cement paste and is also used as the priming agent in a preferred embodiment.

Abstract: Method for bonding the edges of all-glass multiple panes, particularly all-glass double panes, whereby the individual panes moving through an elongated tunnel furnace or the like are cut to size, may potentially be washed, are subjected to an at least partial edge smoothing, are aligned with one another and, after being pre-heated to a pre-heating temperature lying below the deformation temperature of the glass, are bonded to one another at the horizontal and vertical pane edges, being bonded while standing upright, characterized in that individual panes cut to size and potentially washed are individually pre-heated lying on their surface facing away from the pane interspace of the all-glass multiple pane to be manufactured, and in that the individual panes are subsequently placed upright and are placed together to form groups of individual panes in accord with an all-glass multiple pane to be manufactured, whereupon the edge bonding ensues; further, apparatus for the implementation thereof.

Abstract: An automatic machine for welding optical fibers end-to-end comprises a first plate (1) for supporting a first or "reference" fiber (2) and a second plate (5) for supporting a second or "moving" fiber (6). The second plate can be translated along Ox and Oy axes in a plane perpendicular to the axes of the fibers. The ends of the fibers are illuminated by light sources (30, 31), optical systems make images thereof, and optical pick-ups (12, 13, 18, 19) located at the image points provide optical signals representative of the positions of the optical fibers relative to each of said Ox and Oy axes. These signals are converted into electrical signals and are compared by electronic comparators (15, 21) which deliver corresponding error signals to control means (17, 23, 24) for moving the second plate until the moving fiber is in alignment with the reference fiber.

Abstract: A device for splicing light waveguides, such as optical fibers, having an internal sheath and an outer sheath, characterized by an arrangement for clamping each of the waveguides by engaging their sheaths and lowering the unsheathed end portion into a centering groove where the ends are heated and fused together by an alternating current discharge path. The required convergence and alignment of the light waveguide ends during the welding step are automatically controlled by an advanced arrangement which is sequentially controlled with the welding step. Subsequent to the gearing of the ends, the clamping element releases the waveguides adjacent to the fused joint and are moved by a restoring arrangement to stretch the joint into a straight line position.

Abstract: A high density peg which can support a large load and exhibits excellent thermal resistance produced by a method wherein the peg is made in compliance with specified conditions of time, temperature and pressure.

Abstract: This invention concerns a device to spread out flat the fibres of an optical cable, which has first been stripped, so that the fibres can be cut across precisely aligned cross-sections, thereby allowing them to be butt-jointed individually with the fibres of another cable, in a splicing operation.This device comprises hand-operated mechanical means of inserting blades, positioned on a diametrical plane of the cable, to separate the fibres into two groups. One blade acts as a stop, while the first group of fibres is being gathered into the notches of one comb, while the other blade performs the same function for a second comb. The combs and blades are then made to rotate in opposite directions, flattening out the group of fibres on a horizontal plane.This device can be applied to optical fibres used for telecommunications.

Abstract: For continuous manufacture of optical fibers, bars of homogeneous silica-base material are welded in end to end relation. A silica cladding containing a proportion of index varying dopant which varies as the diameter of the cladding increases is progressively applied on a bar at a time to form successive preforms and the welded preforms are drawn out into fibers.

Abstract: A method for fusion-splicing aligned optical fibers using heat generated by gas discharge produced between electrodes which are energized by an AC voltage. At first, a high trigger voltage is applied across the electrodes to generate the discharge, after which an AC voltage lower than the trigger voltage is applied across the electrodes to produce steady-state discharge. The AC voltage is selected to satisfy the relation, 10t.sub.O .gtoreq.(t.sub.f +t.sub.d +t.sub.r), where t.sub.O is the time necessary for ions created by the discharge to flow from one of the electrodes to the other and t.sub.f, t.sub.d and t.sub.r are the fall time, the quiescent time and the rise time of the AC voltage. Alternatively, a sine-wave AC voltage is used having a frequency higher than 500 Hz.

Abstract: A process for fusion joining the ends of optical fibers includes aligning the ends of the two fiber cores to be joined facing each other such that at least one of the ends is free to be displaced laterally and there is no axial force between the two ends. The ends of the fibers are heated by producing a heat field with a predetermined distribution, for a predetermined period until attenuation of light transmitted through the fused joint increases, so as to cause partial fusion of the cores while maintaining sheathing of the fibers intact. A device for fusion splicing the two ends includes two opposed fiber supports for maintaining the end portions of the optical fibers to be fusion spliced in an approximately aligned position, the supports being slidable along the axes of the fibers being mounted on said supports such that their ends are free to move laterally.

Abstract: Optical fibers are welded together by positioning the end parts in vacuum chucks 10 and 11. Piezo-electric elements 8 force the chucks towards one another. The piezo-electric elements are put into operation by the power supply of a welding arc operating between the chucks. The heated fiber end parts are thus moved together to ensure a good welded joint.

Abstract: A device and method for automatically fusing optical fibers by melting portions of the fibers by discharge heating. Two optical fibers to be joined are each held by a fiber supporting stand and fiber holding stand one said of which is movable along the axial direction of the fibers. The movable fiber holding stand is spring biased. Its various positions are determined by plural stops which may be retracted to allow the movable fiber holding stand to move under force of the spring. A micrometer head driven by an electric motor moves the movable fiber holding stand in the forward direction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for electrostatic bonding of a layered structure having at least one glass stratum by heating the layered structure to a temperature above the annealing point of the glass stratum, by applying a predetermined pressure and voltage potential across the layered structure while the layered structure is maintained at an elevated temperature. Application of pressure across the heated layered structure permits electrostatic bonding of non-complemental surfaces to form a laminated structure.

Abstract: Glass fibres to be joined are accurately positioned in axial alignment, pressure is applied to keep the end faces of the fibres in contact with each other and ultrasonic vibration of the two ends is used to generate heat to weld together the fibres. Also glass frit is used to weld into a precision probe by ultrasonic vibration of the glass frit causing it to melt.

Abstract: A welding device for joining optical fibres together with a low loss joint. It comprises a microplasma blow torch with central and tubular electrodes and central and peripheral nozzles supplied with pure and hydrogenated argon. The torch is used in conjunction with a clamping frame for aligning the fibres and holding them in position during welding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for permanently splicing glass optical fibers. The fibers are aligned colinearly, and their endfaces are brought into contact. An electrical arc discharge is generated at the junction between the fibers and is moved along the junction to ensure complete fusing of the fiber endfaces. Best results are obtained by first applying only enough heat to the fiber junction to cause the fibers to adhere to each other without forming a good optical connection, and thereafter, increasing the arc current to a value sufficient to cause complete fusion of the fiber endfaces.

Abstract: Disclosed is a ceramic structural material, which is particularly useful in combination with an assembly or matrix of integrally fused tubes forming a series of longitudinal parallel passageways. Also disclosed is a method for making such ceramic structural material from rods and frit that are thermally crystallizable into a glass-ceramic. One embodiment of the method involves bundling the rods into a desired configuration, with the frit interposed in the interstices between the rods, and heating the combined rod-frit bundle to sinter or fuse the rods and frit together in a heat treatment schedule that also nucleates and thermally crystallizes the fused rod-frit structure to the final ceramic product. A gas turbine regenerator comprising a combination of the ceramic structural material and a matrix is also disclosed along with the method of making same.

Abstract: Apparatus for making fused bundles of glass fibers including a rectangular support for receiving the fibers to be fused, quadrangularly related plungers, one movable toward and away from each of the sides of said rectangular die, a number of high pressure cylinders arranged to force said plungers simultaneously toward and against the die and a heating furnace enclosing the die and adjacent portions of the plungers. The plungers and furnace are supported independently of each other upon a common base of the apparatus whereby the furnace is unaffected by forces applied to the plungers and die.

Abstract: The novel embodiments disclosed herein also illustrate a novel method for making a recuperator structure. First and second pluralities of layers of elongated tubes are provided which are formed of a glass that is thermally crystallizable to a low expansion glass-ceramic. Each of the tubes is filled with a fluid medium that is expansible in response to the application of heat and the tubes have sealed ends to retain the expansible fluid medium entrapped therein. Each of the tubes has an essentially straight central portion and header connector portions continuing from each end of the central tube portions to the sealed end of the tube. The header connector tube portions of the first plurality of layers diverge away from the header connector tube portions of the second plurality of layers at the ends of the central tube portions when the first and second layers are placed on top of each other.

Abstract: A process for heat-bonding optical fibers comprising aligning a number of optical fibers in a mould with at least one of whose end surfaces is open and with end members slidable towards the inside of the mould from positions at which the end surfaces are open whereby a gas present among the optical fibers can be discharged, heating the optical fibers and evacuating the gas in the mould, closing the open end surfaces and applying pressure to the optical fibers through a press member and the end members, thereby heat-bonding the optical fibers; and an apparatus for heat-bonding optical fibers, comprising a mould with at least one of whose end surfaces is open, and including a press member as a wall of the mould, at least one end member provided for the end surfaces of the mould, and being capable of sliding inwardly along inclined surfaces of the press member upon application of a presssure on the press member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described for permanently splicing glass optical fibers. The fibers are aligned colinearly, and their ends are brought into contact. Electric and magnetic fields are generated in the vicinity of the fiber end portions. The electric field creates an arc which moves along the fiber junction under the influence of the magnetic field, thereby ensuring complete fusing of the fiber endfaces.

Abstract: In the manufacture of miniature incandescent lamps having a pinched glass cap, an inert cooling gas is blown through the exhaust tube during the pinching operation so as to keep the exhaust tube open.