US3863176A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable chemical laser
Assignee: Northrop Grumman Space and Mission Systems Corp
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Filing: 1973-08-13
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Granted: 1975-01-28
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Expires: 1993-08-13
Abstract
Abstract A portable self-contained chemical laser is provided. Fuel components for the laser are stored in relatively small cartridges which, when perforated, provide the laser with sufficient feed reactants to produce a short effective lasing output. Hot effluent gases from the laser cavity are collected in a chemical pump capsule and neutralized; excess heat of the effluent gases is also accumulated by the chemical pump cartridge. After firing, the fuel and chemical pump cartridges are both ejected from the system to remove both effluent gases and excess heat from the laser and the pump.
Inventors
- 👤 John S Martinez
- 👤 John R Ogren
- 👤 Eugene V Rutkowski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 03:40
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A chemical laser comprising: a combustion chamber; a laser gain region; an effluent section; a removable feed cartridge for separately supplying reactants and diluent to the combustion chamber and laser gain region for creating a laser medium with a population inversion therein; a removable pump cartridge for absorbing heat and neutralizing effluent gases from the laser gain region at sufficient speed to sustain a CW lasing reaction; means for sealing the feed and pump cartridges to the combustion chamber and effluent sections respectively during operation of the laser; and means to seal the combustion chamber and effluent sections upon termination of the lasing action and removal of the feed and pump cartridges from the laser to thereby maintain operating pressures within the laser.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A chemical laser comprising: a combustion chamber; a laser gain region; an effluent section; a removable feed cartridge for separately supplying reactants and diluent to the combustion chamber and laser gain region for creating a laser medium with a population inversion therein; a removable pump cartridge for absorbing heat and neutralizing effluent gases from the laser gain region at sufficient speed to sustain a CW lasing reaction; means for sealing the feed and pump cartridges to the combustion chamber and effluent sections respectively during operation of the laser; and means to seal the combustion chamber and effluent sections upon termination of the lasing action and removal of the feed and pump cartridges from the laser to thereby maintain operating pressures within the laser.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The chemical laser of claim 1 in which the effluent section comprises a diffuser and an exhaust passage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The chemical laser of claim 1 which includes a mixing chamber connected to the combustion chamber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The chemical laser of claim 1 in which a major amount of free halide is generated in the combustion chamber.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The chemical laser of claim 1 in which one of the reactants is selected from the class consisting of: H2, D2, CS2, C2N2, C2H2 and C6H6, and the other reactant is selected from a compound capable of forming free halogen.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The chemical laser of claim 5 in which the free halogen is atomic fluorine.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for operating a chemical laser comprising: feeding reactants to the laser from a removable, gas-tight feed cartridge to produce a CW lasing reaction; collecting and neutralizing effluent gases and heat from the laser with a removable, gas-tight pump cartridge at a speed sufficient to sustain the reaction; and maintaining an operating pressure within the laser upon termination of the reaction following removal of the feed and pump cartridges.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
70 words
A process for operating a chemical laser comprising: feeding reactants to the laser from a removable, gas-tight feed cartridge to produce a CW lasing reaction; collecting and neutralizing effluent gases and heat from the laser with a removable, gas-tight pump cartridge at a speed sufficient to sustain the reaction; and maintaining an operating pressure within the laser upon termination of the reaction following removal of the feed and pump cartridges.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 7 in which the chemical laser includes a combustion chamber and the reactants are fed and burned in said chamber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The process of claim 7 in which the reactants are premixed prior to being fed to the combustion chamber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 7 in which one of the reactants is selected from the class consisting: H2, D2, CS2, C2N2, C6H6 and C2H2, and the other reactant is selected from a compound capable of forming free halogen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The process of claim 10 in which the free halogen is atomic fluorine.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3720885A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-27 | 1978-07-29 | 1979-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-27 | 1982-07-29 | 1983-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-27 | 1986-07-29 | 1987-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |