Appeal No. 1998-1974
Application 07/415,923
and 20 have been indicated to contain allowable subject
matter.
The disclosed invention pertains to an apparatus for
drawing a fluoride glass fiber from a fluoride glass rod
preform. More particularly, the invention is directed to the
control of a heating zone within a chamber so that the fiber
can be drawn from the preform without appreciable
crystallization. A reactive gas is also introduced into the
chamber to remove contaminants from the fiber by chemical
reaction.
Representative claim 1 is reproduced as follows:
1. An apparatus for drawing a fluoride glass fiber from
a fluoride glassrod preform having a longitudinal axis which
comprises:
an insulated vessel having a top wall, a bottom wall,
side walls connected to define a chamber therein for heating
said preform, an entrance opening in said top wall through
which said preform enters and an exit opening in said bottom
wall through which said glass fiber exits;
means within said chamber for heating a zone therein to a
uniform temperature of such magnitude that said preform
softens and flows when in said zone, said zone being so narrow
that said fiber can be drawn from said preform without
appreciable crystallization;
2
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