US3598472A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Counterflow gas lenses
Assignee: AT&T Inc
•
Filing: 1969-12-05
•
Granted: 1971-08-10
•
Expires: 1989-12-05
Abstract
Abstract In the optical guiding apparatus disclosed, counterflow gas lenses are provided with improved focusing properties by providing radial exhaust of the hot gases before they cool significantly. Substantial radial symmetry of the exhaust provides stable stagnation regions at the junctures of the counter flows. A relatively long conduit section is employed to develop laminar flow of the inlet gas and to permit relatively high gas velocities that make gravity aberrations negligible. To further reduce gravity aberrations, the exhaust ends of the lens halves may be lifted with respect to the inlet ends of the lens halves.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Kaiser
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 23:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B3/00; G02B3/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for guiding a beam of optical electromagnetic radiation by the formation of a radial thermal gradient across a flowing transparent gas, comprising a conduit of transverse dimensions substantially greater than the wave length of radiation to be guided therein, a plurality of spaced means for introducing said transparent gas for flow through said conduit in opposite directions in adjacent portions thereof, including laminar flow developing regions, means for heating said gas after passage through said regions to produce said radial thermal gradient across said gas through which radiation is to be guided, and a plurality of means for exhausting said heated gas radially and substantially symmetrically at a stagnation region of said gas from adjacent portions of said conduit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for guiding a beam of optical electromagnetic radiation by the formation of a radial thermal gradient across a flowing transparent gas, comprising a conduit of transverse dimensions substantially greater than the wave length of radiation to be guided therein, a plurality of spaced means for introducing said transparent gas for flow through said conduit in opposite directions in adjacent portions thereof, including laminar flow developing regions, means for heating said gas after passage through said regions to produce said radial thermal gradient across said gas through which radiation is to be guided, and a plurality of means for exhausting said heated gas radially and substantially symmetrically at a stagnation region of said gas from adjacent portions of said conduit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
84 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 in which a pair of the heating means are disposed on opposite sides of the gas-exhausting means and form together with the gas a counterflow gas lens, the pair of heating means including respective substantially cylindrical heat-conducting tubing sections, and in which the exhausting means includes an exhaust structure providing a selected separation of said tubing sections, said structure providing a confluence of said gas from said sections and facilitating substantially radially symmetrical flow of the exhaust gases.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A gaseous optical guiding apparatus according to claim 2 in which the exhaust structure includes regions of internal lateral dimensions substantially larger than the internal diameter of the conduit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A gaseous optical guiding apparatus according to claim 3 in which the plurality of spaced means for introducing gas include flow-developing sections integrated into the conduit with the heating means, said flow-developing sections having length suitable for establishing laminar flow of said gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A gaseous optical guiding apparatus according to claim 3 in which the spaced means for introducing gas includes a supply tube having apertures coupled to the conduit and the exhaust structure includes an exhaust tube having apertures coupled to the conduit in the vicinity of the confluences of the gas, the introducing means and the exhaust structure including sections of material surrounding said conduit and spaced to define regions of internal lateral dimensions substantially larger than the internal diameter of said conduit, said supply tube and said exhaust tube being assembled to provide rigidity for said conduit and said sections of material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
57 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the means for heating the gas are shaped and oriented to tilt the flow of gas in the conduit upward toward the stagnation regions from the opposite directions of laminar flow and simultaneously to maintain the substantial radial symmetry of the exhaust of the heated gas at said stagnation rEgions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
75 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the means for heating the gas are disposed in pairs on opposite sides of a stagnation region and include hollow heat-conducting members oriented for gas flow therethrough in directions making angles with respect to a reference line established by neighboring gas-introducing means, said angles being sufficient to substantially counteract gravity-induced aberrations and to maintain substantial radial symmetry of the exhaust of the heated gas at the stagnation regions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for guiding a beam of electromagnetic wave energy by the formation of a radial thermal gradient across a flowing transparent gas, comprising a hollow conduit in which said beam is guided, a spaced plurality of means for admitting said gas, a plurality of means for developing laminar flow of the admitted gas in both directions in said conduit, means for establishing said gradient in laminar flow regions of said gas, and a plurality of means for exhausting said gas radially and substantially radially symmetrically at confluences of said gas, said exhausting means being oriented to permit said flow in the conduit to deviate upward from the alignment of the nearest ones of said admitting means to counteract gravity-induced aberrations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
120 words
Apparatus for guiding a beam of electromagnetic wave energy by the formation of a radial thermal gradient across a flowing transparent gas, comprising a hollow conduit in which said beam is guided, a spaced plurality of means for admitting said gas, a plurality of means for developing laminar flow of the admitted gas in both directions in said conduit, means for establishing said gradient in laminar flow regions of said gas, and a plurality of means for exhausting said gas radially and substantially radially symmetrically at confluences of said gas, said exhausting means being oriented to permit said flow in the conduit to deviate upward from the alignment of the nearest ones of said admitting means to counteract gravity-induced aberrations.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 in which the plurality of means for developing laminar flow of the admitted gas in opposite directions comprise pairs of hollow insulating bodies aligned axially, each of the spaced plurality of admitting means comprising an inlet space between the bodies of each said pair, and the means for establishing the radial thermal gradient in laminar flow regions of the gas comprise a plurality of hollow heat-conducting means and means for heating said members, each adjacent pair of said hollow heat-conducting members having axes deviating upward from the aligned axes of the insulating bodies toward an obtuse angle intersection within the confluence of said gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
58 words
Apparatus according to claim 9 including an exhaust duct coupled to said exhausting means, a supply duct coupled to said admitting means, pumping means for pumping gas from said exhaust duct at spaced intervals along said conduit, and a return duct coupling said pumping means to said supply duct at positions along said conduit intermediate said spaced intervals.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-09 | 1975-02-08 | 1975-08-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-09 | 1979-02-08 | 1979-08-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-09 | 1983-02-08 | 1983-08-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |