Method of molding glass elements and element made

Claim 1

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on vitreous material in an non-oxidizing atmosphere which comprises pressing heat-softened vitreous material against a specular molding surface formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride with sufficient force to conform the vitreous material to the molding surface.

Claim 2

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on vitreous material in an non-oxidizing atmosphere which comprises pressing heat-softened vitreous material against a specular molding surface formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride with sufficient force to conform the vitreous material to the molding surface.

Claim 4

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere which comprises pressing heat-softened glass against a molding surface formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride with sufficient force to conform the glass to the molding surface, the selected material being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the selected material and the selected material having been finished to provide a molding surface which is specular and which has a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy.

Claim 5

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere which comprises pressing heat-softened glass against a molding surface formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride with sufficient force to conform the glass to the molding surface, the selected material being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the selected material and the selected material having been finished to provide a molding surface which is specular and which has a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy.

Claim 6

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a surface formed from a material consisting essentially of silicon carbide, the surface having been finished to provide a molding surface which has a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy; and pressing a heat-softened glass against the molding surface with sufficient force to conform the glass to the molding surface.

Claim 7

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a surface formed from a material consisting essentially of silicon carbide, the surface having been finished to provide a molding surface which has a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy; and pressing a heat-softened glass against the molding surface with sufficient force to conform the glass to the molding surface.

Claim 8

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a molding surface formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride, the selected material being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the selected material; heating the glass and molding surface; pressing the glass against the molding surface with sufficient force that the glass conforms to the configuration of the molding surface; cooling the glass and molding surface; and removing the molded glass.

Claim 9

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a molding surface formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride, the selected material being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the selected material; heating the glass and molding surface; pressing the glass against the molding surface with sufficient force that the glass conforms to the configuration of the molding surface; cooling the glass and molding surface; and removing the molded glass.

Claim 10

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a surface formed from a material consisting essentially of silicon carbide, the surface having been finished to be specular and to have a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy and the selected material being of sufficient thickness such that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the selected material; heating the glass and molding surface; pressing the glass against the molding surface with sufficient force that the glass conforms to the configuration of the molding surface; cooling the glass and molding surface; and removing the molded glass.

Claim 11

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a surface formed from a material consisting essentially of silicon carbide, the surface having been finished to be specular and to have a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy and the selected material being of sufficient thickness such that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the selected material; heating the glass and molding surface; pressing the glass against the molding surface with sufficient force that the glass conforms to the configuration of the molding surface; cooling the glass and molding surface; and removing the molded glass.

Claim 12

A method of molding glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between an open and a closed position, the mold members including surfaces formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride, the surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces and the selected material being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are exclusively attributable to the selected material, with the molding surfaces defining a mold cavity when the mold members are in the closed position; urging the mold members toward the closed position; pressing a heat-softened glass against the molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; and moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass from the mold.

Claim 13

A method of molding glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between an open and a closed position, the mold members including surfaces formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride, the surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces and the selected material being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are exclusively attributable to the selected material, with the molding surfaces defining a mold cavity when the mold members are in the closed position; urging the mold members toward the closed position; pressing a heat-softened glass against the molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; and moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass from the mold.

Claim 15

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between an open position and a closed position, the mold members including surfaces formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride, the surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces which are specular and which have a high surface quality and high surface accuracy; moving the mold members toward the closed positions; pressing a heat-softened glass against the molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; and moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass from the mold.

Claim 16

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between an open position and a closed position, the mold members including surfaces formed from a material selected from the group consisting of silicon carbide and silicon nitride, the surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces which are specular and which have a high surface quality and high surface accuracy; moving the mold members toward the closed positions; pressing a heat-softened glass against the molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; and moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass from the mold.

Claim 18

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces formed of a material consisting essentially of silicon carbide or silicon nitride, the surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces that define a mold cavity when the mold members are in the closed position; establishing a controlled non-oxidizing atmosphere around the mold members and glass; heating the glass and mold members; urging the mold members toward the closed position; pressing the heat-softened glass against the molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 19

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces formed of a material consisting essentially of silicon carbide or silicon nitride, the surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces that define a mold cavity when the mold members are in the closed position; establishing a controlled non-oxidizing atmosphere around the mold members and glass; heating the glass and mold members; urging the mold members toward the closed position; pressing the heat-softened glass against the molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 20

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere which comprises pressing a heat-softened glass against a molding surface formed from silicon carbide, the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are directly attributable to the silicon carbide.

Claim 21

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere which comprises pressing a heat-softened glass against a molding surface formed from silicon carbide, the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are directly attributable to the silicon carbide.

Claim 22

A method of molding glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere which comprises pressing a heat-softened glass against a molding surface formed of silicon carbide.

Claim 23

A method of molding glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere which comprises pressing a heat-softened glass against a molding surface formed of silicon carbide.

Claim 24

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces formed from silicon carbide, the silicon carbide surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces and the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are directly attributable to the silicon carbide, with the molding surfaces defining a mold cavity when the mold members are in the closed positions; pressing a heat-softened glass against the silicon carbide molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; and moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 25

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces formed from silicon carbide, the silicon carbide surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces and the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are directly attributable to the silicon carbide, with the molding surfaces defining a mold cavity when the mold members are in the closed positions; pressing a heat-softened glass against the silicon carbide molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; and moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 26

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a molding surface formed from silicon carbide of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the silicon carbide; heating the glass and molding surface; pressing the heat-softened glass against the molding surface with sufficient force that the glass conforms to the configuration of the molding surface; cooling the glass and molding surface; and removing the molded glass.

Claim 27

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a molding surface formed from silicon carbide of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the silicon carbide; heating the glass and molding surface; pressing the heat-softened glass against the molding surface with sufficient force that the glass conforms to the configuration of the molding surface; cooling the glass and molding surface; and removing the molded glass.

Claim 28

A method of molding a finished optical surface on a glass element in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces formed from silicon carbide, the silicon carbide surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces that define mold cavities when the mold members are in the closed position and the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are exclusively attributable to the silicon carbide; heating the glass and mold members; urging the mold members toward the closed position; pressing the heat-softened glass against the silicon carbide molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 29

A method of molding a finished optical surface on a glass element in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces formed from silicon carbide, the silicon carbide surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces that define mold cavities when the mold members are in the closed position and the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are exclusively attributable to the silicon carbide; heating the glass and mold members; urging the mold members toward the closed position; pressing the heat-softened glass against the silicon carbide molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 30

A method of molding finished glass elements comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces formed of silicon carbide, the silicon carbide surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces that are specular and that have a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy, the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are exclusively attributable to the silicon carbide; establishing a controlled non-oxidizing atmosphere around the glass and mold members; heating the glass and mold members; urging the mold members toward the closed positions; pressing the heat-softened glass against the silicon carbide molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 31

A method of molding finished glass elements comprising the steps of: providing a mold having a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces formed of silicon carbide, the silicon carbide surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces that are specular and that have a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy, the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are exclusively attributable to the silicon carbide; establishing a controlled non-oxidizing atmosphere around the glass and mold members; heating the glass and mold members; urging the mold members toward the closed positions; pressing the heat-softened glass against the silicon carbide molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 38

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: forming a molding surface from a material consisting essentially of silicon carbide or silicon nitride, the selected material being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the selected material; and pressing a heat-softened glass against the molding surface with sufficient force to shape the glass to the configuration of the molding surface.

Claim 39

A method of molding a finished optical surface having high surface quality and accuracy on glass in a non-oxidizing atmosphere comprising the steps of: forming a molding surface from a material consisting essentially of silicon carbide or silicon nitride, the selected material being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surface are exclusively attributable to the selected material; and pressing a heat-softened glass against the molding surface with sufficient force to shape the glass to the configuration of the molding surface.

Claim 40

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass comprising the steps of: forming a mold with a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces consisting essentially of silicon carbide, the surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces which are specular and which have a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy, the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are directly attributable to the silicon carbide and the molding surfaces defining a mold cavity when the mold members are in the closed positions; establishing a controlled non-oxidizing atmosphere around the glass and mold members; heating the glass and mold members; urging the mold members toward the closed positions; pressing the heat-softened glass against the molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; and moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.

Claim 41

A method of molding a finished optical surface on glass comprising the steps of: forming a mold with a plurality of mold members relatively movable between open and closed positions, the mold members including surfaces consisting essentially of silicon carbide, the surfaces having been finished to provide molding surfaces which are specular and which have a high surface quality and a high surface accuracy, the silicon carbide being of sufficient thickness that the molding characteristics of the molding surfaces are directly attributable to the silicon carbide and the molding surfaces defining a mold cavity when the mold members are in the closed positions; establishing a controlled non-oxidizing atmosphere around the glass and mold members; heating the glass and mold members; urging the mold members toward the closed positions; pressing the heat-softened glass against the molding surfaces with sufficient force to form the glass into the configuration of the mold cavity; cooling the glass and mold members to a temperature below the transformation temperature of the glass; and moving the mold members to the open position to permit removal of the molded glass.