Method and apparatus for making globular bodies of optical quality from viscous glass
AssigneeSchott AG
InventorsAndreas Langsdorf, Frank Buellesfeld
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The method of making globular or spherical bodies of optical quality includes filling receptacles (2) in a heat-resistant support (3) made of a porous material with glass gobs (1); conducting gas through the heat-resistant support so that a gas flow (4) passes through the support in a direction (14) opposite to a direction in which gravity acts; heating the heat-resistant support (3) to a temperature at which the glass gobs (1) have a viscosity of up to about 106 poise; maintaining the support (3) at this temperature for a predetermined time interval; and then cooling the support (3) to ambient temperature while continuing to provide the gas flow (4) through the support (3).
Claims18
A method of making globular or spherical bodies of optical quality, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) filling receptacles (2) in a heat-resistant support (3) with glass gobs (1), said support (3) comprising a porous material;
- b) conducting gas through the heat-resistant support (3) so that a gas flow (4) passes through the support (3) in a direction (14) opposite to a direction in which gravitational force acts;
- c) heating the heat-resistant support (3) to a temperature at which the glass gobs (1) have a viscosity of up to about 106 poise;
- d) maintaining the support (3) at said temperature for a predetermined time interval;
- and
- e) then cooling the support (3) to ambient temperature while continuing to provide said gas flow (4) through the support (3).
A support employed in a method of making globular or spherical bodies of optical quality, wherein said support (3) comprises a heat-resistant porous material with a plurality of receptacles (2) in a surface (5) of the support, and said receptacles (2) are formed to hold glass gobs (1), and wherein said surface (5) is impermeable to gas except in the vicinity of the receptacles (2).
An apparatus for performing a method of making globular or spherical bodies of optical quality, wherein said apparatus comprises
- a support (3) made of porous material, in which a plurality of receptacles (2) are provided and through which a gas flow (4) passes in a direction (14) opposite to a direction in which gravity acts;
- and
- a heating device (12) for heating the support (3) to and maintaining the support (3) at a temperature, at which glass gobs (1) placed in the receptacles melt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.