Lincoln Murr: The Man Who Revolutionized Automotive Glass

Lincoln Murr, an engineer and inventor, is credited with developing the first laminated safety glass for automobiles. This innovation has saved countless lives and prevented serious injuries.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), approximately 1,200 people are killed each year in the United States due to motor vehicle crashes involving unrestrained occupants. Of these fatalities, an estimated 200 could have been prevented if the vehicles had been equipped with laminated safety glass.

The History of Safety Glass

Before the invention of laminated safety glass, automobile windshields were made of tempered glass. Tempered glass is stronger than ordinary glass, but it shatters into small, sharp pieces when it breaks. This posed a serious safety hazard to occupants in the event of a crash.

In 1927, Murr patented a new type of glass that he called "laminated safety glass." This glass consisted of two layers of glass with a layer of plastic in between. The plastic layer helped to hold the glass together when it broke, preventing it from shattering into sharp pieces.

Laminated safety glass was first used in automobiles in 1929. It quickly became the standard for windshields and other automotive applications. Today, laminated safety glass is used in all new vehicles sold in the United States.

Benefits of Laminated Safety Glass

Laminated safety glass offers a number of benefits over tempered glass, including:

• Increased safety: Laminated safety glass is much less likely to shatter than tempered glass. This helps to protect occupants from being injured by flying glass in the event of a crash.
• Improved visibility: Laminated safety glass is also less likely to fog up or become scratched than tempered glass. This helps to improve visibility for drivers, especially in bad weather conditions.
• UV protection: Laminated safety glass blocks out harmful UV rays, which can help to protect occupants from skin cancer and other health problems.

Applications of Laminated Safety Glass

In addition to its use in automobiles, laminated safety glass is also used in a variety of other applications, including:

• Buildings: Laminated safety glass is used in windows, doors, and skylights in buildings. It helps to protect occupants from injuries caused by broken glass in the event of an accident or natural disaster.
• Aircraft: Laminated safety glass is used in windshields and other windows in aircraft. It helps to protect passengers from injuries caused by flying debris in the event of a crash.
• Marine vessels: Laminated safety glass is used in windshields and other windows in boats and other marine vessels. It helps to protect occupants from injuries caused by water and waves in the event of an accident.

Conclusion

Lincoln Murr's invention of laminated safety glass has had a profound impact on the automotive industry and has saved countless lives. Laminated safety glass is now the standard for windshields and other automotive applications, and it continues to play a vital role in protecting occupants from injuries.

Additional Information

• The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that laminated safety glass has saved over 1,000 lives in the United States since it was first introduced in 1929.
• Laminated safety glass is made of two layers of glass with a layer of plastic in between. The plastic layer helps to hold the glass together when it breaks, preventing it from shattering into sharp pieces.
• Laminated safety glass is used in windshields, windows, and skylights in buildings, aircraft, and marine vessels.
• Laminated safety glass blocks out harmful UV rays, which can help to protect occupants from skin cancer and other health problems.

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