Method of making a laser tube seal

Claim 1

A method for mounting flat resonator mirrors to flat ends of gas laser tubes comprising the steps of placing a unitary seal ring constructed of a malleable, homogeneous, solid, low vapor pressure material adjacent an end face of the laser tube, contacting the seal ring with the vacuum tube and the reflective surface of the resonator mirror so that the seal ring spaces the mirror and the adjacent flat end of the gas laser tube apart, applying a sufficient force to the mirror and the tube to partially and permanently deform the seal ring while maintaining a spacing between the mirror and the adjacent flat end of the gas laser tube and to hermetically seal the laser tube interior from the exterior, and subsequently evacuating the interior of the laser tube to a pressure so that atmospheric pressure biases the resonator mirror towards the tube into firm engagement with the seal ring without further deforming the seal ring to thereby secure the resonator mirror to the laser tube.

Claim 2

A method for mounting flat resonator mirrors to flat ends of gas laser tubes comprising the steps of placing a unitary seal ring constructed of a malleable, homogeneous, solid, low vapor pressure material adjacent an end face of the laser tube, contacting the seal ring with the vacuum tube and the reflective surface of the resonator mirror so that the seal ring spaces the mirror and the adjacent flat end of the gas laser tube apart, applying a sufficient force to the mirror and the tube to partially and permanently deform the seal ring while maintaining a spacing between the mirror and the adjacent flat end of the gas laser tube and to hermetically seal the laser tube interior from the exterior, and subsequently evacuating the interior of the laser tube to a pressure so that atmospheric pressure biases the resonator mirror towards the tube into firm engagement with the seal ring without further deforming the seal ring to thereby secure the resonator mirror to the laser tube.

Claim 5

A method for hermetically sealing resonator mirrors to ends of laser tubes comprising the steps of sealing the resonator mirror to an end of an elongate, tubular, yieldable sleeve, sealing the other end of the sleeve to an end portion of the laser tube, evacuating the interior of the laser tube, then optically aligning the resonator mirror with the axis of the laser tube, wherein the sleeve is constructed of a flexible material, the resonator mirror is disposed on the interior of the sleeve, and the other end of the sleeve slips over the end portion of the laser tube, wherein the steps of mechanically interconnecting comprises the step of applying a curable agent to the exterior of the sleeve between the portion of the sleeve disposed over the periphery of the resonator mirror and the portion of the sleeve slipped over the end portion of the laser tube.

Claim 6

A method for hermetically sealing resonator mirrors to ends of laser tubes comprising the steps of sealing the resonator mirror to an end of an elongate, tubular, yieldable sleeve, sealing the other end of the sleeve to an end portion of the laser tube, evacuating the interior of the laser tube, then optically aligning the resonator mirror with the axis of the laser tube, wherein the sleeve is constructed of a flexible material, the resonator mirror is disposed on the interior of the sleeve, and the other end of the sleeve slips over the end portion of the laser tube, wherein the steps of mechanically interconnecting comprises the step of applying a curable agent to the exterior of the sleeve between the portion of the sleeve disposed over the periphery of the resonator mirror and the portion of the sleeve slipped over the end portion of the laser tube.

Claim 7

A method for hermetically sealing flat ends of a vacuum tube with a flat plate member requiring substantially exact positioning of the member with respect to the axis of the tube, the method compriSing the steps of forming an annular yieldable connection and seal between the plate member and a flat end surface of the tube which spaces and supports the member a substantial distance from the surface, forming a vacuum on the interior of the tube to thereby retain the member to the surface, placing the tube on its permanent support structure, optically aligning the plate member with the axis of the tube by deforming the yieldable connection between the plate member and the end portion of the tube unequally over its circumference while maintaining all parts of the member spaced from the surface, wherein the step of forming the annular yieldable connection and seal comprises the steps of placing a flexible, tubular sleeve over the exterior of an end portion of the tube, the sleeve projecting past the end of the tube, placing the plate member on the interior of the sleeve in spaced relation to the surface, and sealing the member with the sleeve, and securing and sealing the sleeve with the end portion of the tube while maintaining the plate member in a spaced relation to the surface of the tube.

Claim 8

A method for hermetically sealing flat ends of a vacuum tube with a flat plate member requiring substantially exact positioning of the member with respect to the axis of the tube, the method compriSing the steps of forming an annular yieldable connection and seal between the plate member and a flat end surface of the tube which spaces and supports the member a substantial distance from the surface, forming a vacuum on the interior of the tube to thereby retain the member to the surface, placing the tube on its permanent support structure, optically aligning the plate member with the axis of the tube by deforming the yieldable connection between the plate member and the end portion of the tube unequally over its circumference while maintaining all parts of the member spaced from the surface, wherein the step of forming the annular yieldable connection and seal comprises the steps of placing a flexible, tubular sleeve over the exterior of an end portion of the tube, the sleeve projecting past the end of the tube, placing the plate member on the interior of the sleeve in spaced relation to the surface, and sealing the member with the sleeve, and securing and sealing the sleeve with the end portion of the tube while maintaining the plate member in a spaced relation to the surface of the tube.