US3775700A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gas laser
Assignee: C W RADIATION Inc
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Filing: 1971-04-06
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Granted: 1973-11-27
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Expires: 1991-04-06
Abstract
Abstract A capillary gas discharge confining tube having Brewster angle windows sealed across opposite ends thereof is hermetically sealed coaxially within a gas tight cylindrical envelope via a pair of annular end walls disposed proximate the ends of the capillary. A similar annular wall is hermetically sealed between the capillary and the outer envelope intermediate the length of the capillary for providing a center support for the capillary and for dividing the envelope into an anode chamber and a cathode chamber. The side walls of the capillary are expanded and thinned to form bellows inside the end walls of the envelope at opposite ends of the capillary to allow expansion and contraction of the capillary in use. The capillary has openings for gas communication between the respective cathode and anode chambers and the capillary. Adjustable mirrors of the optical resonator are affixed over the ends of the cylindrical envelope. Adjustment screws are provided for adjusting the parallelism of the mirrors.
Inventors
- 👤 L Garman
- 👤 P Kluytmans
- 👤 W Vanbragt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 06:41
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/032; H01S3/0323; H01S3/034; H01S3/05; H01S3/08; H01S3/086
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
In a gas laser, means defining a tubular envelope, discharge tube means coaxially disposed within said envelope for containing a gaseous gain medium, centrally apertured wall means for hermetically sealing said tubular envelope to said discharge tube proximate the ends of said discharge tube for rigidly supporting said discharge tube within said envelope and for defining gas tight end walls of said envelope, at least one window hermetically sealed over one end of said discharge tube, means for establishing an electrical discharge in said gaseous gain medium within said discharge tube for inverting the population densities of energy levels of said gain medium, optical resonator means having a pair of spaced vertical reflectors axially aligned with said discharge tube for reflecting light back and forth between said reflectors and through said gas filled discharge tube for sustaining stimulated coherent emission of optical radiation from said gaseous gain medium, said discharge tube including at least one bulbous side wall portion of substantially thinner wall thickness than the adjacent portions of said discharge tube, said bulbous portion being disposed intermediate said gas tight end walls of said envelope for allowing axial expansion and contraction of the central portion of said discharge tube without affecting movement of the end portion of said discharge tube which is rigidly supported from said envelope by said end wall means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
In a gas laser, means defining a tubular envelope, discharge tube means coaxially disposed within said envelope for containing a gaseous gain medium, centrally apertured wall means for hermetically sealing said tubular envelope to said discharge tube proximate the ends of said discharge tube for rigidly supporting said discharge tube within said envelope and for defining gas tight end walls of said envelope, at least one window hermetically sealed over one end of said discharge tube, means for establishing an electrical discharge in said gaseous gain medium within said discharge tube for inverting the population densities of energy levels of said gain medium, optical resonator means having a pair of spaced vertical reflectors axially aligned with said discharge tube for reflecting light back and forth between said reflectors and through said gas filled discharge tube for sustaining stimulated coherent emission of optical radiation from said gaseous gain medium, said discharge tube including at least one bulbous side wall portion of substantially thinner wall thickness than the adjacent portions of said discharge tube, said bulbous portion being disposed intermediate said gas tight end walls of said envelope for allowing axial expansion and contraction of the central portion of said discharge tube without affecting movement of the end portion of said discharge tube which is rigidly supported from said envelope by said end wall means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
108 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said discharge tube is a capillary tube having an axial bore of a diameter less than the wall thickness of said discharge tube, annular partitioning wall means sealed between said tubular envelope and said capillary tube intermediate said end walls for supporting said discharge tube within said envelope and for partitioning said gas filled envelope into axially spaced cathode and anode chambers, said capillary discharge tube having gas communication passageways communicating with respective anode and cathode chambers proximate opposite ends thereof for providing gas communication between the interior of said discharge tube and the respective cathode and anode chambers of said envelope.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
73 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including, cathode and anode electrodes disposed in said respective cathode and anode chambers of said envelope for establishing an electrical discharge through said capillary tube. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said tubular envelope, said discharge tube, and said end walls are all made of glass, and wherein fused glass seals are provided at the junctures of said envelope, discharge tube, and end walls with each other.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
215 words
In a gas laser, means defining a tubular envelope, discharge tube means coaxially disposed within said envelope for containing a gaseous gain medium, centrally apertured wall means for hermetically sealing said tubular envelope to said discharge tube proximate the ends of said discharge tube for rigidly supporting said discharge tube within said envelope and for defining gas tight end walls of said envelope, at least one window hermetically sealed over one end of said discharge tube, means for establishing an electrical discharge in said gaseous gain medium within said discharge tube for inverting the population densities of energy levels of said gain medium, optical resonator means having a pair of spaced optical reflectors axially aligned with said discharge tube for reflecting light back and forth between said reflectors and through said gas filled discharge tube for sustaining stimulated coherent emission of optical radiation from said gaseous gain medium, said optical resonator means including at least one adjustable optical reflector support means integrally carried from and affixed across an end of said tubular envelope and disposed externally of said envelope in axially spaced relation from said window for positioning said supported optical reflector of said optical resonator in axial alignment with said discharge tube, and means for adjusting the positioning of said optical reflector support means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
215 words
In a gas laser, means defining a tubular envelope, discharge tube means coaxially disposed within said envelope for containing a gaseous gain medium, centrally apertured wall means for hermetically sealing said tubular envelope to said discharge tube proximate the ends of said discharge tube for rigidly supporting said discharge tube within said envelope and for defining gas tight end walls of said envelope, at least one window hermetically sealed over one end of said discharge tube, means for establishing an electrical discharge in said gaseous gain medium within said discharge tube for inverting the population densities of energy levels of said gain medium, optical resonator means having a pair of spaced optical reflectors axially aligned with said discharge tube for reflecting light back and forth between said reflectors and through said gas filled discharge tube for sustaining stimulated coherent emission of optical radiation from said gaseous gain medium, said optical resonator means including at least one adjustable optical reflector support means integrally carried from and affixed across an end of said tubular envelope and disposed externally of said envelope in axially spaced relation from said window for positioning said supported optical reflector of said optical resonator in axial alignment with said discharge tube, and means for adjusting the positioning of said optical reflector support means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said optical reflector support means includes; a centrally apertured mounting plate having said optical reflector affixed thereto over said central aperture, a mounting flange member fixedly secured to said tubular envelope adjacent said mounting plate, a compressible resilient member captured between said mounting flange and said mounting plate, and a plurality of adjusting screws securing said mounting plate to said mounting flange for adjusting the deformation of said compressible resilient member to adjust the angle of reflection of said optical reflector which is affixed to said mounting plate.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said compressible resilient member is a ring of elastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus of claim 6, including solidified adhesive material disposed between said mounting plate and said mounting flange for cementing and holding said mounting plate in a selected rigid position relative to said envelope.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a pair of said bulbous portions of said discharge tube are provided intermediate of and proximate said end walls of said envelope.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3566302A
Cited
US3588737A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-11-26 | 1977-05-28 | 1977-11-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-11-26 | 1981-05-28 | 1981-11-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-11-26 | 1985-05-28 | 1985-11-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |