Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
In a flowing gas laser of the kind normally operating in the glow discharge mode and having a glow discharge region through which the gas flows while the glow discharge occurs, the improvement comprising a flow smoothing screen disposed in the gas flow path upstream of the glow discharge region, the flow smoothing screen being spaced from the beginning of that region by a distance not less than ten times the distance between the centers of adjacent holes of the screen.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
81 words
In a flowing gas laser of the kind normally operating in the glow discharge mode and having a glow discharge region through which the gas flows while the glow discharge occurs, the improvement comprising a flow smoothing screen disposed in the gas flow path upstream of the glow discharge region, the flow smoothing screen being spaced from the beginning of that region by a distance not less than ten times the distance between the centers of adjacent holes of the screen.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
38 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the screen is disposed in the flow path at a location where the screening produces a Reynold's number that is below the critical value at which a turbulent wake is shed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The improvement according to claim 2, wherein the solidity factor of the screen is below the value at which jets emanating from the holes in the screen coalescence downstream of the screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a flowing gas laser of the kind normally operating in the glow discharge mode and having a glow discharge region through which the gas flows while the glow discharge occurs, the improvement comprising an array of flow smoothing screens disposed in tandem in the gas flow path upstream of the glow discharge region, each screen being spaced from the next succeeding downstream screen in the array by an interval that is not less than ten times the space between the centers of adjacent holes of the upstream screen.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
In a flowing gas laser of the kind normally operating in the glow discharge mode and having a glow discharge region through which the gas flows while the glow discharge occurs, the improvement comprising an array of flow smoothing screens disposed in tandem in the gas flow path upstream of the glow discharge region, each screen being spaced from the next succeeding downstream screen in the array by an interval that is not less than ten times the space between the centers of adjacent holes of the upstream screen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement according to claim 4, wherein each screen is situated in the flow path at a location that produces a Reynold's number for the screen that is below the critical value at which a turbulent wake is shed by the screen.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement according to claim 5, wherein the solidity factor of each screen of the array is below the value at which jets emanating from the holes in the stream cooperate to produce downstream turbulence.