US3569660A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser cutting apparatus
Assignee: NAT RES DEV
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Filing: 1968-07-29
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Granted: 1971-03-09
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Expires: 1988-07-29
Abstract
Abstract A workpiece is cut or gouged by moving a concentrated laser beam along its surface and directing on to the moving region of the workpiece, at which the laser beam is concentrated, a jet of gas; a material which is different from the material of the workpiece is also introduced in this region. The additional material assists the cutting or gouging in that it has a fluxing action with the material of the workpiece and/or an exothermic reaction with the gas.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter T Houldcroft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:49
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/14; B23K26/1462; B23K26/1464; B23K26/1476; B23K26/142; B23K26/1435; B23K26/1438; B23K26/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of cutting or gouging in which a laser beam is concentrated at a point on a workpiece and the beam and workpiece are moved relatively to one another so that the said point moves along the workpiece and in which a jet of gas is directed at the point on the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated, and a material which is different from, and has a fluxing action with, the material of the workpiece and which reacts exothermically with the gas is introduced into the gas jet at the said point on the workpiece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
99 words
A method of cutting or gouging in which a laser beam is concentrated at a point on a workpiece and the beam and workpiece are moved relatively to one another so that the said point moves along the workpiece and in which a jet of gas is directed at the point on the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated, and a material which is different from, and has a fluxing action with, the material of the workpiece and which reacts exothermically with the gas is introduced into the gas jet at the said point on the workpiece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the said material is iron and the workpiece is of such composition as to be fluxed by said iron.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, in which the said material is iron wire or strip which is fed forwards continuously towards the point on the workpiece at which the laser beam strikes the workpiece.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the workpiece is aluminum.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of cutting or gouging in which a laser beam is concentrated at a point on a workpiece and the beam and workpiece are moved relatively to one another so that the said point moves along the workpiece, and in which a jet of gas is directed at the point on the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated and in which a material which has a fluxing action with the material of the workpiece is so guided that it first meets the beam and workpiece at the said point on the workpiece at which the beam is concentrated.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of cutting or gouging in which a laser beam is concentrated at a point on a workpiece and the beam and workpiece are moved relatively to one another so that the said point moves along the workpiece, and in which a jet of gas is directed at the point on the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated and in which a material which has a fluxing action with the material of the workpiece is so guided that it first meets the beam and workpiece at the said point on the workpiece at which the beam is concentrated.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, in which the fluxing material is sodium chloride and the gas is an inert gas.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, in which the fluxing material is of gaseous form.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method in accordance with claim 5, in which the fluxing material is sodium chloride and the gas is air.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for cutting or gouging a workpiece, comprising: a laser; means for concentrating the beam of the laser onto the surface of a workpiece; a source of gas; a nozzle connected to the gas source for directing a jet of gas toward the point on the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated; and means for directing at the said point of concentration a material wHich has a fluxing action with the material of the workpiece.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
77 words
Apparatus for cutting or gouging a workpiece, comprising: a laser; means for concentrating the beam of the laser onto the surface of a workpiece; a source of gas; a nozzle connected to the gas source for directing a jet of gas toward the point on the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated; and means for directing at the said point of concentration a material wHich has a fluxing action with the material of the workpiece.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
52 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, in which the nozzle for directing the gas jet towards the said point is coaxial with the axis of the laser beam and the means for directing the said material towards the said point is a second nozzle making an angle with the said first nozzle.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus in accordance with claim 9, in which the nozzle for directing the gas towards the point on the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated makes an angle with the direction of the laser beam and in which the same nozzle serves for the passage of the said material towards the point of concentration of the laser beam.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-03-08 | 1974-09-07 | 1975-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-03-08 | 1978-09-07 | 1979-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-03-08 | 1982-09-07 | 1983-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |