Abstract: Melters for glass forming apparatuses and glass forming apparatuses comprising the same are disclosed. According to one embodiment, a melter for melting glass batch materials includes a base portion and a rigid exoskeleton rigidly attached to the base portion and comprising a plurality of upright members interconnected with a plurality of cross members defining an exoskeleton interior volume. Connection nodes formed at intersections of the plurality of cross members with upper ends of the plurality of upright members are constrained from movement relative to the base portion in a longitudinal direction, a transverse direction, and a vertical direction. A tank assembly is positioned on the base portion in the exoskeleton interior volume and coupled to the rigid exoskeleton. In some embodiments, the melter has a dynamic resistance greater than 0.3.

Abstract: Apparatus including a flow channel defined by a floor, roof, and sidewall structure connecting the floor and roof. One or more combustion burners is positioned in either the roof, the sidewall structure, or both, and transfer heat to a molten mass of glass containing bubbles having a bubble atmosphere flowing through the flow channel. The burners contribute to formation of a channel atmosphere above the molten glass. Apparatus includes a device, at least a portion of which is positionable under a level of the molten glass in the flow channel, configured to emit a composition into the molten glass under the level to intimately contact the composition with the molten glass and bubbles therein. The composition diffuses into the bubbles to form modified atmosphere bubbles sufficiently different from the channel atmosphere to increase diffusion of a species in the channel atmosphere into the modified atmosphere bubbles.

Abstract: A neck ring for molding a glass container neck finish that includes at least one closure attachment feature. The neck ring includes two semi-annular bi-metal neck ring halves, each consisting essentially of a neck ring insert of wear-resistant metal construction, and a neck ring body of heat-conductive metal construction different from said wear-resistant metal construction and formed around said neck ring insert so as to embed it in said neck ring body. Each of said neck ring halves has a glass-contacting cavity face that includes a first surface portion formed by said inserts for molding the at least one closure attachment feature on the neck finish, and a second surface portion formed by said bodies for molding portions of the neck finish excluding the at least one closure attachment feature.

Abstract: A sheet wafer furnace has a chamber having an opening, and a crucible, within the chamber, and spaced from the opening. The furnace also has a puller configured to pull a sheet wafer from molten material in the crucible and through the opening in the chamber, and a seal across the opening of the chamber.

Abstract: A neck ring for a glass container forming machine includes two neck ring sections each consisting essentially of a neck ring body and an insert on the body. The inserts have opposed surfaces for forming closure attachment features on a container neck finish molded in the neck ring. Each neck ring body is of die-formed powder metal construction and is set around the associated insert. The inserts preferably form the entire glass-contacting portion of the neck ring. The neck ring bodies preferably are of sintered bronze or steel construction, and the inserts preferably are of nickel, bronze or steel construction. The body and insert preferably are sintered together for a metallurgical bond.

Abstract: The invention relates to methods and to devices for a melting furnace, or for the conveying lines of the product to be melted, having an infinite life (furnace campaign). The same is achieved by means of the continuous/periodic, e.g. cyclic, exchange, in the optimum case, of all of the components surrounding the furnace interior/melting space, or surrounding the conveying lines, in that the components can be arranged/placed next to each other in a modular manner and that said components move in a certain direction while new individual parts are added at one of the free ends of the respective assembly and while worn/used individual parts are removed at the other free end of the respective assembly. For this purpose the individual components are held and/or moved by suitable receptacles, wherein the furnace interior/melting chamber remains stationary.

Abstract: A system for making clipped thermoplastic yarns or filaments, such as chipped glass yarns, including at least a die co-operating with at least a cutting machine located in extension of each other. A mechanism sizes the yarns and/or filaments coming from the die. The system further includes at least one return mechanism and a floor. Further, a mechanism displaces and positions the cutting machine in at least two positions, the first position being beneath the floor and the second position being above the floor. A first opening is provided in the floor through which the cutting machine is moved.

Abstract: A neck ring for molding a glass container neck finish that includes at least one closure attachment feature. The neck ring includes two semi-annular bi-metal neck ring halves, each consisting essentially of a neck ring insert of wear-resistant metal construction, and a neck ring body of heat-conductive metal construction different from said wear-resistant metal construction and formed around said neck ring insert so as to embed it in said neck ring body. Each of said neck ring halves has a glass-contacting cavity face that includes a first surface portion formed by said inserts for molding the at least one closure attachment feature on the neck finish, and a second surface portion formed by said bodies for molding portions of the neck finish excluding the at least one closure attachment feature.

Abstract: A takeout holder including a takeout jaw formed of plastic.

Abstract: A valve block assembly includes a cartridge block and a plurality of modular pilot valve operated poppet valve assemblies. The cartridge block has a plurality of bores therein dimensioned and configured for receiving respective modular pilot valve operated poppet valve assemblies. The cartridge block has a first side and each of the bores extend from the first side into the cartridge block. Each of the modular pilot valve operated poppet valve assemblies having a supply air port, an operating air out port and an exhaust passage and each of the modular pilot valve operated poppet valve assemblies are accessible for installation and removal from the cartridge block from the first side.

Abstract: A cartridge assembly for a blow-and-blow parison-forming machine comprises a cylindrical barrel, an annular lower stop having a central opening for accepting a piston rod and having an upwardly opening tapered recess adjacent the central opening, an annular cylinder cap having a central opening for accepting a thimble and plunger and having a downwardly opening tapered recess adjacent the central opening. The lower stop, cylinder cap, and barrel form a unit. An annular floating piston is arranged to reciprocate within the cylindrical barrel. The floating piston has a lower tapered end for at the lowermost position of the floating piston resting in the upwardly opening tapered recess in the lower stop and an upper tapered end for at the uppermost position of the floating piston resting in the downwardly opening tapered recess in the cylinder cap.

Abstract: A fluid administration system for the operation of a cylinder and piston assembly for actuating mechanisms, mainly glassware forming and handling mechanisms, allowing rapid changing thereof, comprising: a passage network practiced at the cylinder cap, connected to the fluid admission and discharging passages of the centering ring, at the cylinder and at the support frame; and speed controlling valves, at the passage network of the cylinder cap, to control the velocity of discharging of fluid from the cylinder and piston assembly in its ascending and descending runs.

Abstract: A valve block assembly includes a cartridge block and a plurality of modular pilot valve operated poppet valve assemblies. The cartridge block has a plurality of bores therein dimensioned and configured for receiving respective modular pilot valve operated poppet valve assemblies. The cartridge block has a first side and each of the bores extend from the first side into the cartridge block. Each of the modular pilot valve operated poppet valve assemblies having a supply air port, an operating air out port and an exhaust passage and each of the modular pilot valve operated poppet valve assemblies are accessible for installation and removal from the cartridge block from the first side.

Abstract: A method and a machine for the production of hollow glassware articles, by the blow-and-blow, press-and-blow, press-and-blow paste mold and direct-press processes in a glassware forming machine including single or multiple machine sections each having single or multiple-cavity, comprising: forming a parison in an inverted orientation, into a blank mold and a first transferable and open-able neck ring mold held by an inverting apparatus having a first and a second diametrically opposed arms, each arm holding a transferable and open-able neck ring mold; inverting the parison held by the first transferable and open-able neck ring mold, by rotating the first arm 180° to an upright orientation at an intermediate station, while the second arm with a second transferable and open-able neck ring mold is simultaneously placed at the parison forming station; transferring the first transferable and open-able neck ring mold holding the parison in an upright orientation, from the intermediate station, to a blow mold st

Abstract: A plunger assembly for use in a glass bottle forming machine permitting quick exchange and self-aligning of a plunger held on a plunger driving piston comprising a plunger having an annular recess, an adapter having a plurality of stepped radial bores extending from a central bore into an annular groove, a plurality of retaining balls, one in each radial bore, a split ring sized to fit in the annular groove and an annular retaining spring for biasing the split ring and retaining balls in the annular groove in the plunger such that the plunger can be snapped into the adapter and held in place during bottle making.

Abstract: A system and method of cooling glassware molds by directing liquid coolant to the blank or blow mold halves of a glassware forming machine through an enclosed pivotal rotary union-type structure. A coolant manifold is carried by each pivotal mold arm, and communicates with coolant inlet and outlet ports at the lower end of each mold part. The manifold is connected by a floating shaft seal and a rotary union assembly and a crank arm to a coolant source and coolant return in the section box of the associated machine section. Each pivotal connection—i.e., between the section box and the crank arm, between the crank arm and the rotary union assembly, and between the rotary union assembly and the floating shaft seal—comprises a bi-directional rotary union for feeding liquid coolant to the manifold and mold parts, and returning coolant from the manifold and mold parts.

Abstract: A feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting furnace forehearth. The feeder tube assembly has an horizontally extending elongate support arm, and a feeder tube that is carried by the support arm at a location near an end of the support arm. The feeder tube is rotatable about its longitudinal central axis with respect to the support arm, and the support arm carries drive elements for rotating the feeder tube about its longitudinal central axis. The support arm is supported on a vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator, and the elevation of the support arm is adjustable by actuation of the linear actuator, a releasable brake being provided to prevent rotation of the servo motor when it is desired to prevent a change in elevation of the support arm.

Abstract: A feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting furnace forehearth. The feeder tube assembly has an horizontally extending elongate support arm, and a feeder tube that is carried by the support arm at a location near an end of the support arm. The feeder tube is held in place by a clamping ring that engages a flange of the feeder tube at an end of the feeder tube. The clamping ring is releasably held in engagement with the flange of the feeder tube by a plurality of latch mechanisms that are circumferentially spaced apart. Each latch mechanism has a lever with a rounded cam surface and a handle that extends away from the cam surface and is pivotally attached to a support member. The support member, in turn is pivotally attached to a fixed member, and pivoting of the pivoted support member relative to the fixed member is effective to swing the lever out of interfering relationship with the clamping ring to facilitate removal of the clamping ring.

Abstract: A method of repairing a diametral surface of a mold of the type used in manufacturing glass containers by an I.S. machine, after a repair procedure that causes or can cause an out-of-roundness condition in the diametral surface. The method, which is applicable to the frusto-conical baffle match surface of a parison mold and to a compound cylindrical and frusto-conical bottom plate engaging surface of a blow mold, involves positioning a mold set with its separable semi-circular molds in end to end contact and contacting the diametral surface to be repaired, while the mold set is stationary, with a rotating reaming tool the tips of the removable blades of which define a surface that is complemental to the surface to be repaired.

Abstract: An I.S. Machine for making glass bottles, having a plurality of sections, each having a blank station for forming a parison. Each section has a section frame having a top surface, and a plunger mechanism including at least one plunger canister having a lower cylinder and an upper flange. A horizontal mounting plate having a top surface and vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinder of each of the plunger canisters is fixedly secured on the top surface of the section frame. The section frame top surface has vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinders of each of the plunger canisters and the flange of the plunger mechanism is secured to the top surface of the mounting plate.

Abstract: Optical quality glass having a selected refractive index is produced by a two stage drying process. A gel is produced using sol-gel chemistry techniques and first dried by controlled evaporation until the gel volume reaches a pre-selected value. This pre-selected volume determines the density and refractive index of the finally dried gel. The gel is refilled with solvent in a saturated vapor environment, and then dried again by supercritical extraction of the solvent to form a glass. The glass has a refractive index less than the full density of glass, and the range of achievable refractive indices depends on the composition of the glass. Glasses having different refractive indices chosen from an uninterrupted range of values can be produced from a single precursor solution.

Abstract: A surface light shaping diffuser (LSD) is formed from a monolithic glass material by recording light shaping structures on a surface of the material during its formation. A surface LSD is produced by embossing or molding light shaping structures onto a high quality optical glass or by embossing light shaping structures on a glass film layer coated onto a substrate. A rubber submaster carrying the light shaping structures is used as the master in such diffusers control the angular spread of transmitted light while homogenizing otherwise spatially noisy light sources such as LCDs and filamented light sources and while maintaining damage thresholds consistent with any glass optical element. The surface LSD has a transmission efficiency of over 90% from the Ultraviolet wavelengths through the physical spectrum and into the near-infrared.

Abstract: A feeder tube assembly for a feeder bowl of a glass melting furnace forehearth. The feeder tube assembly has an horizontally extending elongate support arm, and a feeder tube that is carried by the support arm at a location near an end of the support arm. The feeder tube is rotatable about its longitudinal central axis with respect to the support arm, and the support arm carries drive elements for rotating the feeder tube about its longitudinal central axis. The support arm is supported on a vertically extending servo motor actuated linear actuator, and the elevation of the support arm is adjustable by actuation of the linear actuator, a releasable brake being provided to prevent rotation of the servo motor when it is desired to prevent a change in elevation of the support arm.

Abstract: Sol-gel process conducted under an inert gas in a solvent at a temperature up to the boiling points of the solvent and by-products by reacting a chalcogen source, a glass network former-intermediate metal in the form of an alkoxide or a non-alkoxide and a catalyst to form a homogeneous product having average particle size of below 100 nm with catalyst, if the catalyst is a catalyst dopant, uniformly dispersed in the particles.

Abstract: A method for producing a high purity synthetic quartz powder, characterized by using a tetramethoxysilane having a trimethoxymethylsilane content of at most 0.3 wt %, and converting it to a synthetic quartz by a sol-gel method.

Abstract: An aqueous dispersion of silica particles is mixed with a dialkyldialkoxysilane monomer, e.g., dimethyldiethoxysilane (DMDES), typically under basic conditions. Optionally, the monomer, or a portion thereof, is partially reacted prior to mixing, such that it is possible for a polydialkylsiloxane oligomer, e.g., polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), to be added either with or instead of the monomer. The addition of the monomer (or oligomer) induces gelation of the silica. The contemplated mechanism is that the silanol groups on the growing polydialkylsiloxane chains are able to condense with silanol groups found on the silica particle surfaces, thereby anchoring the chains to the particles. These chains appear to have the ability to form bridges between particles and/or loops on individual particles. Such bridges appear to initiate formation of a silica particle network, and both the bridges and loops increase the silica particles' hydrophobicity.

Abstract: A process for producing a synthetic quartz powder, which comprises a step of heat-treating a silica gel powder while permitting it to flow in a rotary kiln.

Abstract: A silica glass composition and a method for manufacturing silica glass using the silica glass composition are provided. The silica glass composition includes: pyrogenetic silica having an average particle diameter of 5.times.10.sup.-3 to 1.times.10.sup.-1 .mu.m and a specific surface area of 50 to 400 m.sup.2 /g; and heat-treated silica, as an agglomerate of the pyrogenetic silica, having an average diameter of 2 to 15 .mu.m and a specific surface area less than that of the pyrogenetic silica. A high purity silica glass tube, in which cracking after drying rarely occurs and the shrinking ratio is remarkably decreased, can be obtained by using the silica glass composition according to the present invention. Also, a large silica glass tube can be manufactured by using the composition.

Abstract: A sol-gel process for producing dry porous gel monoliths, e.g., silica glass monoliths, in which the successive process steps of gelling, aging and drying all occur within a mold formed of a porous material, e.g., graphite. The mold is inert to the gel solution and it has sufficient strength to withstand the temperatures and pressures encountered during the process, yet it has sufficient porosity to facilitate the escape of liquid from the gel pores directly through the mold, itself. The mold and gel thereby can remain within a sealed autoclave during these process steps, and mechanical handling of the mold and the gel are minimized. This substantially enhances the process' efficiency. Alternatively, the mold can have a non-porous inner skin.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing synthetic silica glass includes the steps of pressurizing a liquid storage tank including a liquid silicon compound therein, generating bubbles in the liquid silicon compound using a foamer, removing the bubbles using a degasser, displacing the liquid silicon compound into a vaporizer while controlling an amount of the liquid silicon compound displaced by a liquid mass flow meter, mixing the displaced liquid silicon compound with a carrier gas to generate a gaseous silicon compound, injecting the gaseous silicon compound into a synthesis furnace, and forming synthetic silica glass by hydrolyzing the gaseous silicon compound in the synthesis furnace.

Abstract: In a known method, a quartz glass preform is produced by supplying a glass-forming base material in liquid form to an injection nozzle of a multi-nozzle flame deposition burner, vaporizing or gasifying the liquid glass-forming base material in the deposition burner, mixing the vaporized or gasified glass-forming base material with a gas containing oxygen under creation of SiO.sub.2 particles in a chemical reaction, deposition of the SiO.sub.2 particles on a substrate under creation of a porous preform and sintering of the preform. In this method, expensive devices such as pumps and ultrasonic vaporizers are needed for the vaporization of the liquid glass-forming base material; in addition, these devices are subject to mechanical wear and chemical attack and furthermore, they require extensive maintenance and due to their size result in a great height of construction.

Abstract: A synthetic quartz glass powder obtained by sol-gel method, wherein the number of black spot particles is at most 5 particles per 50 g, provides a high quality quartz glass shaped product with low bubble content when fused.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a silica powder using a sol-gel technique, wherein a suspension consisting of synthetic silica soot, having a specific surface area of less than 80 m.sup.2 /g, is made in water to form a concentration of 50% to 75% by weight of silica; the suspension is gelled; the resulting gel is dried without forming a crust and with microwaves and broken up into silica grains having an apparent density of 0.5 g/cm.sup.3 to 0.6 g/cm.sup.3 ; and screening of the dry gel is performed to provide grains having a desired size.

Abstract: The smoothness of refractory dielectric bodies, particularly silica sol-gel bodies, is substantially improved by a relatively straightforward treatment. In particular, the surface of the body is treated with a plasma fireball, such as induced by a plasma torch. The treatment is able to reduce the roughness, as measured by RA, in overcladding tubes formed by a sol-gel process by at least a factor of 2, typically at least a factor of 5. It is also possible to improve the smoothness of silica tubes that are drawn from a billet. Typically, the process reduces the roughness of silica bodies to an RA of about 1 microinch or less.

Abstract: Apparatus (32) and a method for heated mold changing at a forming station (24) in a heated chamber (22) where heated glass sheets are cyclically formed. A switching station (318) is located adjacent the forming station (24). An unloading station (320) and a mold preheating station (322) are each located adjacent the switching station. An unloading cart (324) is initially movable from the loading station (320) to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station (24) to receive one or more heated molds from the forming station and is subsequently moved from the forming station back through the switching station to the unloading station to permit unloading of each heated mold. A loading cart supports a second mold or a pair of molds for heating within the mold preheating station (322) and is movable from the mold preheating station to the switching station (318) and then to the forming station for mold loading.

Abstract: The invention provides a process of obtaining a gradient index type of optical element with profiles of first and second metal component concentrations by the sol-gel method. The process of fabricating a gradient index type of optical element comprises steps of dipping a silicon component-containing wet gel prepared by the sol-gel method in a solution containing an alkoxide of at least one metal component selected from a first group consisting of Ti, Nb, Ta, and Zr or a derivative thereof to thereby impart to the wet gel a concentration gradient with a concentration of the first metal component decreasing from a periphery to a center of the wet gel, allowing at least one metal component selected from a second group consisting of Ba, La, Y, Gd, Sr, Ca, and Zn to be dissolved out of the wet gel to thereby impart to the wet gel a concentration gradient with a concentration of the second metal component increasing from the periphery to the center of the wet gel, and drying, and firing the wet gel.

Abstract: A precursor solution composition is provided for making highly pure, fine barium-containing silicate glass powders and specifically barium aluminoborosilicate (BABS) glass powders. An atomized precursor solution containing colloidal silica, a water soluble source of barium, boric acid, and aluminum nitrate is used to make the powders. After mixing, the liquid precursor solution is formed into fine droplets, classified for size, and pyrolyzed into fine powders. The resulting spherical particles of the BABS glass is in the 0.1 to 10 micrometer size range.

Abstract: A method is provided for the manufacture of SiO.sub.2 granular material. Silicic acid is dispersed in a liquid to form a dispersion. The dispersion is stirred in a stirring tank with formation of a homogeneous liquid phase. The homogeneous liquid phase is maintained by stirring at a substantially constant rate until the granular mass develops, when the solids content of the dispersion is within the range of 65 to 80 weight percent. Moisture is gradually extracted to form a granular mass which is dried and sintered.

Abstract: An invert cylinder mechanism for a glass container forming machine of the I.S. type, the invert cylinder mechanism having a piston that is moveable along a rectilinear path between inner and outer positions within an annular housing to cause a cylinder rod attached to the piston to extend from said annular housing and to then retract back into said annular housing. A shock absorber is positioned within a recess of the annular housing with its longitudinal central axis spaced from and extending parallel to the longitudinal central axis of the rod. The shock absorber is engaged by the piston as the piston reaches its outer position to absorb inertial loads as the piston decelerates to a stop at its outer position. The recess has an opening out of alignment with the longitudinal central axis of the installed shock absorber, and the shock absorber is removable through the opening along its longitudinal central axis after first pivoting the shock absorber with respect to the longitudinal central axis of the rod.

Abstract: A plunger base module for a selected number of vertically extending cylindrical plunger canisters each having a bottom surface and including a set of service conduits including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling, with each of the service conduits in a plunger canister having a selectively located inlet port communicating with the bottom surface of the plunger canister. The plunger base module includes a permanent plunger distribution base having a top surface and a plurality of sets of service conduits, each set including plunger up, plunger down, and counterblow/vacuum or cooling. Each plunger distribution base service conduit has an outlet port communicating with the top surface. A removable transition plate has a bottom surface for engaging the top surface of the plunger distribution base and a top surface.

Abstract: The invention provides an alternative to conventional sol-gel methods that utilize undesirably high amounts of a stabilizing agent such as TMAH and a gelling agent such as methyl formate. The method involves the steps of (a) providing a colloidal silica dispersion containing a stabilizing/gelling agent, where only a portion of the molecules of the agent ionize, and (b) subsequently adding to the silica dispersion a pH-reducing additive. The stabilizing/gelling agent has a dual function. The agent, e.g., an amine, initially acts as a stabilizer in the silica dispersion in that a portion of its molecules ionize, while an appreciable amount of the agent remains non-ionized. The agent later transforms in situ to a gelling agent upon addition of a pH-reducing additive. Specifically, as the pH-reducing additive lowers the pH to values at or around the pK.sub.

Abstract: Solution films of a photosensitive metal arylketone alcoholate are micro-patterned by exposure to ultraviolet radiation under a mask. The resultant patterns are developed in an apolar solvent and annealed to provide thin film metal oxides for use in integrated circuits.

Abstract: A silica glass monolith fabricating method using a sol-gel process. In the method, a first sol is formed by mixing 100 parts by weight of high-density silica containing powder with 100-300 parts by weight of water, and rapidly dried, while the pH of the first sol is being controlled in the range between 9 and 11. The dried first sol is powdered and then thermally treated at or above 600.degree. C., and a second sol is formed by mixing the thermally-treated powdered first sol with 100-200 parts by weight of deionized water and a aqueous organic binder. The second sol is gelled in a mold, dried, thermally treated, and sintered. Thus, a high-purity silica glass monolith is obtained.

Abstract: A mounting structure for use in a glassware forming machine for moving an operative member, such as a funnel, baffle or blowhead, between an out of the way and operative positions. The machine comprises a vertical operating shaft and a parallel support shaft, and the mounting structure comprises a first link adjustably mounted on the operating shaft and a second link slidably mounted on the support shaft. The two links are both pivoted to a head and form a parallel linkage with it. A key and keyway, maintains the first link in a desired angular relationship with the operating shaft. The head is provided with a releasable device by which the operative member may be secured to the head in a desired angular relationship.

Abstract: There are provided tube-shaped glass monolith fabricating apparatus and method using a sol-gel process. In the tube-shaped glass monolith fabricating method using a tube-shaped glass monolith fabricating apparatus which has an upper mold including cylindrical portions of different sizes, a lower mold including a first lower cylindrical portion inclined toward the center thereof by a predetermined degree and a second lower cylindrical portion having a vacuum releasing hole, a cylindrical central mold for forming a tube-shaped glass, and a rod-shaped rod, the lower mold, the central mold, and the rod are assembled and a sol is poured in the central mold. Then, an unmixable liquid is poured on the sol, and the upper mold is assembled to the central mold. The sol is gelled in the central mold, the upper mold is removed, a cap is opened to release vacuum, and the rod is removed.

Abstract: A method for fabricating a silica glass is provided. The method includes the steps of adding silica and a dispersant to a premix solution obtained by dissolving an acrylic resin monomer and a cross-linking agent in distilled water, dispersing the mixed solution and adjusting the pH of the mixture, to form a sol. Air bubbles are removed from the sol, and then the resultant sol is aged. A polymerization initiator and a catalyst are added to the aged sol, and the pH of the reaction mixture is adjusted. The reaction mixture is poured into a mold, and then the mixture is gelated, aged, demolded, dried, and then thermally treated to remove organic substances. Hydroxy groups are eliminated and the gel is sintered. A high purity silica glass tube, substantially free of cracking after drying and having a low shrinking ratio can be obtained. Also, a large silica glass tube can be manufactured by this fabrication method.

Abstract: Cracking in thin sheets of sol-gel-produced material is avoided by use of a support liquid during gelation and drying. Silica glass, as well as other glass and ceramic bodies, is contemplated.

Abstract: There is provided a high-purity silica glass fabricating method using a sol-gel process. In the method, a first sol is formed by mixing 100 parts by weight of fumed silica powder with between 100 to 300 parts by weight of deionized water. The first sol is gelled, dried, powdered, and thermally treated. A second sol is formed by mixing the thermally-treated first sol with between 100 to 200 parts by weight of deionized water and 20 to 50 parts by weight of non-thermally treated original fumed silica powder. The second sol is gelled, dried, and sintered. Thus, a high-purity silica glass is formed.

Abstract: An invert arm assembly for a glass container forming machine of the I.S. type, the invert arm assembly having an opposed pair of invert arm segments that are movable toward and away from one another and define one or more neck ring assembly receiving apertures when the invert arm segments are disposed adjacent to one another. A neck ring assembly is placed in each aperture and is locked in place with respect to the invert arm segments. Each neck ring assembly can be removed from the aperture in which it is located by inserting a portion of a hand tool in a portion of the invert arm segments to unlock the neck ring assembly from the aperture without moving the invert arm segments with respect to one another.

Abstract: An I.S. Machine for making glass bottles, having a plurality of sections, each having a blank station for forming a parison. Each section has a section frame having a top surface, and a plunger mechanism including at least one plunger canister having a lower cylinder and an upper flange. A horizontal mounting plate having a top surface and vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinder of each of the plunger canisters is fixedly secured on the top surface of the section frame. The section frame top surface has vertical openings for receiving the lower cylinders of each of the plunger canisters and the flange of the plunger mechanism is secured to the top surface of the mounting plate.