Patent ID: 9027365
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: C03B

Abstract:
1. A method of forming fused quartz glass, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a starting body made of fused quartz glass, the starting body having a generally tubular shape and an interior cavity; (b) positioning the starting body on a base plate; (c) inserting a first insert device into the interior cavity of the starting body to form an assembled structure, the first insert device comprising a horizontal upper support plate, a horizontal lower support plate, and one or more vertically oriented spacers disposed between the upper and lower support plates, wherein opposing lateral sides of each of the plates contacts an interior surface of the starting body at different positions along a circumference thereof; (d) heating the assembled structure to a predetermined temperature at which the fused quartz glass has a viscosity in a range of 10 (e) deforming the fused quartz glass of the starting body at the predetermined temperature or in the viscosity range of 10