Abstract: A method for re-establishing or tending to re-establish symmetrical distribution of temperatures between right-hand and left-hand sides of a cross section of a flow of molten glass that has been routed in a feeder including at least one bend area, thermal asymmetry having been induced by flowing round a bend. The feeder includes a flow channel, formed from refractory and insulative material elements and including a horizontal sole plate and two lateral walls, and a vault capping the channel, formed of a refractory roof and lateral parts including burners. In an area of each bend, the flow channel is modified by choosing a corresponding inclined sole plate portion, the inclination being chosen so that the flow channel is deeper in an outside region of the bend than in its inside region, heights of the two lateral walls of the channel being modified accordingly.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a float bath comprising a transport assembly and/or an adaptor for producing glass by a float-forming process.

Abstract: A glass feeder which discharges parallel runners of molten glass which can be sheared into discrete gobs for processing in a glass container forming machine. The spout bowl has a neck portion at the bottom which includes a discharge passage. This passage is circular at the top where it communicates with the bottom surface of the spout bowl and oblong at the bottom where it communicates with a corresponding oblong opening in a bathtub shaped orifice ring. The orifice ring has a closed oblong shaped bottom smaller than the oblong opening and has a plurality of discharge holes defined along a straight line.

Abstract: The present invention is directed at a glass-ceramic having high strength and toughness and containing miserite as a predominant crystal phase. The glass-ceramic has a composition calculated in terms of a weight percent on the oxide basis comprising 40-68% SiO.sub.2, 12-35% CaO, 8-20% CaF.sub.2, 4-10.5% K.sub.2 O, 0-5% Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-5% B.sub.2 O.sub.3, 0-15% P.sub.2 O.sub.5, 0-4% R.sub.2 O.sub.3, wherein R represents Y.sup.3+ and rare earth metals in the lanthanide series, and 0-5% of optional constituents selected from the group consisting of MgO, SrO, BaO, Na.sub.2 O, Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5, ZrO.sub.2, and ZnO, and 0-10% of optional constituents selected from the group consisting of Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 and TiO.sub.2 and 0-2% Li.sub.2 O as an optional constituent. The glass-ceramic may contain secondary phases of cristobalite (SiO.sub.2), fluorite (CaF.sub.2), xonotlite (Ca.sub.6 Si.sub.6 O.sub.17 F.sub.2), and fluorapatite (Ca.sub.5 (PO.sub.4).sub.

Abstract: A transparent class ceramic composition includes an oxide component, a rare earth component, a halide component, and a substantially pure rare earth-halide (e.g., REF.sub.3) crystal component. A method for making a transparent oxyfluoride glass includes preparing an oxyfluoride glass containing rare earth ions by a conventional melting method and subjecting the glass to a heat treatment thereby precipitating fluoride fine crystals containing a large amount of rare earth ions.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a transparent glass-ceramic article which includes a glass matrix and a crystalline phase of apatite crystals in the glass matrix. The present invention further relates to a method of producing the transparent glass-ceramic article.

Abstract: A process for producing a polarizing glass containing shape-anisotropic metallic particles dispersed in an oriented state therein, which comprises drawing a glass preform containing metallic halide particles dispersed therein while its viscosity being held above 2.times.10.sup.6, but below 7.times.10.sup.7 poises; and subjecting the drawn glass to a reducing treatment so that a part or all of the metallic halide particles are reduced to metallic particles, which process enables it to produce a polarizing glass with a high yield from a starting material of a glass containing metallic halide particles, while avoiding glass to breakage or fracture during elongation as well as preventing the elongated metallic halide particles from returning to a spherical shape.

Abstract: A high efficiency wavelength up-conversion transparent glass ceramics composition is provided containing a rare earth ion, which can be applied to short wavelength solid lasers, full color displays, infrared light detecting sensors, etc. The ceramic composition has the following chemical composition, in which fluoride fine crystals containing rare earth ions are preferentially precipitated:______________________________________ SiO.sub.2 10-60 mol % AlO.sub.1.5 0-40 mol % GaO.sub.1.5 0-40 mol % PbF.sub.2 5-60 mol % CdF.sub.2 0-60 mol % GeO.sub.2 0-30 mol % TiO.sub.2 0-10 mol % ZrO.sub.2 0-10 mol % ReF.sub.3 or ReO.sub.1.5 0.05-30 mol % (Re = Er, Tm, Ho, Yb, Pr, etc.

Abstract: Cuprous halide- or a cuprous-cadmium halide-containing glass articles are produced which are essentially completely opaque to ultraviolet radiation and can De essentially completely opaque to radiation within the region of wavelengths of up to 550 nm, but are transparent to visible radiations having a wavelength longer than the radiation within the region of opacity. The method involves exposing the glass articles to a hydrogen gas-containing atmosphere at a temperature between about 375.degree.-500.degree. C. for a period of at least 18 hours to develop an integral reduced layer in at least one surface of the article having a depth effective to prevent the transmission of ultraviolet radiation and radiation having a wavelength up to 550 nm through the article.

Abstract: An artificial nucleus made of a crystallized glass is provided for use in the production of a pearl. The crystallized glass has been produced using a batch having the following composition:SiO.sub.2 . . . 40-65 wt. %MgO . . . 3-16 wt. %MgF.sub.2 . . . 6.5-17 wt. %K.sub.2 O . . . 7.5-18 wt. %ZrO.sub.2 . . . 0.01-15 wt. %CaO . . . 0.1-20 wt. %P.sub.2 O.sub.5 . . . 0.1-20 wt. %BaO and/or SrO . . . 0.1-13 wt. %and has crystalline phases composed primarily of tetrasilicon fluormica and formed in a glass matrix phase.

Abstract: A valve apparatus for the precise regulation of a stream of molten material such as molten rock or slag as it issues from a primary melter or holding device, comprising a frame retaining a valve, the valve comprising a pair of plate-form valve members, one fixed and one movable with respect to the other, each having an aperture or orifice provided therein. Maximum rate of discharge occurs when the apertures are in juxtaposition, and flow cut-off occurs when the apertures are not in juxtaposition. Power operated means is provided for the movable valve member to obtain proper stream regulation or complete cut-off. The apertures are so contoured that, as the valve is moved toward closed position, the cross-sectional shape of the effective opening and the flowing stream of molten material remains substantially uniform and unchanged.

Abstract: A device is described for the production of glass drops from a glass melt ntained in a melting furnace and containing radioactive waste. The device comprises a horizontally extending pipe adapted at one end to be connected to the melting furnace so as to serve as glass melt overflow. The other end of the pipe is formed with a pocket-like extension, in the base of which the drip nozzles are arranged. The overflow tube, together with pocket-like extension, is surrounded by a heating device and by an insulated housing. The pipe is connected to a bore in the wall of the melting furnace, and the device is simple to manufacture and install.

Abstract: A tweel flow control device at the entrance to a flat glass forming chamber is provided with overhead support and elevator means, preferably adapted to convey the tweel from its operative location.

Abstract: A tweel flow control device at the entrance to a flat glass forming chamber is provided with suport means adapted for positioning the tweel in three dimensions.

Abstract: A nozzle system is disclosed for the production of a wide band of flat plate glass in which the glass flows out of a nozzle orifice of a flat nozzle formed by two nozzle bars. One of the nozzle bars has a nozzle forming portion which is selectively elastically deformable. The other nozzle bar is of rigid construction. Deforming members are provided to selectively deform the one nozzle bar so as to reduce distortions occurring in the plate glass bands. The other nozzle bar is connected to an adjusting member for controlling an overall spacing with respect to the first nozzle bar so as to adjust overall glass thickness. A process computer may be employed to compare measuring values obtained from points along the deformable portion of the one nozzle bar with a model of a desired curvature stored in the computer.

Abstract: A delivery system is disclosed for pumping and pressurizing viscous fluid materials, such as molten glass. The pump comprises a rotating rotor which is located in a channel of the viscous fluid, such as in the forehearth of a glass melting furnace. In a glassmaking operation, the rotor uses the viscous drag of the molten glass against it to pump the molten glass from an open channel into a closed and pressurized channel where the pressurized molten glass may be, for example, extruded into glass filaments. The pumping system described also finds utility in pumping other viscous materials such as resins in fluid form.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an optical fiber has a plurality of crucibles piled-up one upon another, each of which has a spinnerette positioned at a bottom portion to permit the molten glass to outflow therethrough and an overflow passage positioned at a side wall. With the apparatus of the construction described which is being heated as a whole, an optical fiber is spun from the spinnerettes while the crucibles are charged with their respective molten glasses in predetermined time intervals in such rates that when the molten glasses in the crucibles exceeds predetermined levels, the excess portion of the molten glasses are permitted to overflow through the overflow passages to associated receptacles, thereby the levels of the molten glasses in the crucibles are maintained constant during the entire spinning operation and the bubbles formed in the molten glasses are caused to outflown with the excess portions to enable an optical fiber of improved quality to be spun.

Abstract: In a glass container making machine using a split face mold, means are provided for controllably diverting the parisons from the mouth of the mold to a waste glass collector when the mold is closed so that at the same time swabbing means lubricate the inner faces of the mold cavity.