Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of forming an optical light transmitting device having a core and a coating around it which acts as a light barrier to prevent the loss of light transmitted through the core, comprising the steps of feeding together in one direction and at a continuous speed an optically clear glass body having one index of refraction and a clear cladding glass around the body having a lower index of refraction, both glasses having the characteristic that they become plastic and begin to flow towards a point at temperatures within about 50 C of each other, circumferentially fusing the cladding glass to the body during this feeding at a temperature at which both glasses begin to plastically flow towards a point but do not run freely and immediately drawing the fused glasses off at a continuous high rate of speed relative to their feed rate to form a product of substantially reduced cross section.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
154 words
A method of forming an optical light transmitting device having a core and a coating around it which acts as a light barrier to prevent the loss of light transmitted through the core, comprising the steps of feeding together in one direction and at a continuous speed an optically clear glass body having one index of refraction and a clear cladding glass around the body having a lower index of refraction, both glasses having the characteristic that they become plastic and begin to flow towards a point at temperatures within about 50 C of each other, circumferentially fusing the cladding glass to the body during this feeding at a temperature at which both glasses begin to plastically flow towards a point but do not run freely and immediately drawing the fused glasses off at a continuous high rate of speed relative to their feed rate to form a product of substantially reduced cross section.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of forming an optical light transmitting device having a core and a coating around it which acts as a light barrier to prevent the loss of light transmitted through the core, comprising the steps of feeding together in one direction at a continuous speed an optically clear glass body having an index of refraction on the order of about 1.6 to 1.8 and a clear cladding glass around the body having a lower index of refraction on the order of about 1.5, both glasses having the characteristic that they become plastic and begin to flow towards a point at temperatures within about 50* C of each other, circumferentially fusing the cladding glass to the body at a temperature at which both glasses begin to plastically flow towards a point but do not run freely and immediately drawing the fused glasses off at a high rate of speed relative to their feed rate to form a product of substantially reduced cross section.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
163 words
A method of forming an optical light transmitting device having a core and a coating around it which acts as a light barrier to prevent the loss of light transmitted through the core, comprising the steps of feeding together in one direction at a continuous speed an optically clear glass body having an index of refraction on the order of about 1.6 to 1.8 and a clear cladding glass around the body having a lower index of refraction on the order of about 1.5, both glasses having the characteristic that they become plastic and begin to flow towards a point at temperatures within about 50* C of each other, circumferentially fusing the cladding glass to the body at a temperature at which both glasses begin to plastically flow towards a point but do not run freely and immediately drawing the fused glasses off at a high rate of speed relative to their feed rate to form a product of substantially reduced cross section.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the fused glasses are drawn off at a tension of not more than about 40 grams.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the fused glasses are drawn off into a fine diameter fiber in one operation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 2 wherein the cladding glass becomes plastic and begins to flow towards a point at a higher temperature than the glass body.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
80 words
A method according to claim 5 wherein the glass body comprises a rod and the cladding glass a tube of optical glass of slightly larger diameter than the rod and the ends of these glasses are fused together into one solid mass by heating them to a temperature at which they become plastic and begin to flow towards a point and glass is then removed from the point and drawn down in one operation to form a fine diameter fiber.