Patent ID: 6318128
Filing Date: 2001-11-20
Classification: C03B,Y02P

Abstract:
An apparatus for producing glass elements having an axial property gradient from a bar of glass having a rectangular cross-section, having two opposed, longitudinal sides, and having a compositional gradient perpendicular to those sides, the apparatus comprising,a. a support that moves in a looped, travel path and presents a flat portion,b. at least two reservoirs, each reservoir being a source of a glass of different composition,c. the reservoirs being arranged in spaced relationship above the flat portion of the support,d. each reservoir having an opening to successively deliver a continuous sheet of molten glass by gravity flow onto the movable support,e. thereby producing a stack of at least two glass sheets atop one another on the support,f. a cutter to transversely cut the glass bar into bar elements,g. a heater to ensure the development of the process of interdiffusion of the portions of sheets of each element until the desired gradient of composition is established in a said element and wherein the heater has capability to establish a gradient of indices which varies progressively over the entire cross section of the bar, andh. a loader to load the elements into the heater.