Method for making globular bodies

1. A method of making globular or spherical bodies of optical quality, said method comprising the steps of:

a) filling receptacles ( 2 ) in a heat-resistant support ( 3 ) with glass gobs ( 1 ), said support ( 3 ) comprising a porous material;

b) conducting gas through the heat-resistant support ( 3 ) so that a gas flow ( 4 ) passes through the support ( 3 ) in a direction ( 14 ) opposite to a direction in which gravitational force acts;

c) heating the heat-resistant support ( 3 ) to a temperature at which the glass gobs ( 1 ) have a viscosity of up to about 10 6 poise;

d) maintaining the support ( 3 ) at said temperature for a predetermined time interval; and

e) then cooling the support ( 3 ) to ambient temperature while continuing to provide said gas flow ( 4 ) through the support ( 3 ).

2. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said heat-resistant support ( 3 ) comprises porous graphite.

3. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said heat-resistant support ( 3 ) made of said porous material has a porosity of between 10% and 40%.

4. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said heat-resistant support ( 3 ) made of said porous material has pores with a pore size of up to about 20 μm.

5. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said receptacles ( 2 ) have a shape adjusted to, corresponding to or fitting a shape of said globular or spherical bodies to be made.

6. The method as defined in claim 1 , wherein said receptacles ( 2 ) are blind holes or cavities in a surface ( 5 ) of said support ( 3 ).

7. The method as defined in claim 6 , further comprising providing said heat-resistant support ( 3 ) with said receptacles ( 2 ) and selecting a size of each of said receptacles so that each of said receptacles holds no more than one of said glass gobs.

8. The method as defined in claim 7 , further comprising scattering said glass gobs on said heat-resistant support and distributing said glass gobs on said support with a tool so that each of said receptacles holds said one of said glass gobs.

9. A method of making globular or spherical bodies of optical quality, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a heat-resistant porous support ( 3 ) with receptacles ( 2 ), each of said receptacles being of a size such that no more than one of a plurality of glass gobs, from which said globular or spherical bodies are made, can be held therein;

b) filling said receptacles ( 2 ) in said heat-resistant support ( 3 ) with said glass gobs ( 1 );

c) conducting gas through the heat-resistant porous support ( 3 ) so that a gas flow ( 4 ) passes through the heat-resistant porous support ( 3 ) in a direction ( 14 ) opposite to a direction in which gravitational force acts;

d) after the conducting of the gas through the heat-resistant porous support and after filling said receptacles with said glass gobs, heating the heat-resistant porous support ( 3 ) to a temperature at which the glass gobs ( 1 ) have a viscosity in the vicinity of up to about 10 6 poise and until the glass gobs ( 1 ) have said viscosity;

e) maintaining the porous support ( 3 ) and the glass gobs at said temperature for a predetermined time interval; and

f) then cooling the porous support ( 3 ) to ambient temperature while continuing to provide said gas flow ( 4 ) through the porous support ( 3 ).

10. The method as defined in claim 9 , wherein said receptacles ( 2 ) are blind holes or cavities in a surface ( 5 ) of said heat-resistant support ( 3 ).