US3876959A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Regenerative laser system
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1974-07-11
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Granted: 1975-04-08
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Expires: 1994-07-11
Abstract
Abstract Regenerative apparatus for exhausting the working medium from the optical cavity of a laser and for supplying preheated diluent to the reaction chamber of a laser is disclosed. In an aftercooler thermal energy is exchanged between the working medium exhausted from the optical cavity and a cryogenic coolant which is subsequently utilized as the motive fluid for an ejector and as a diluent in the production of laser gas. Highly toxic and corrosive gases are condensed out of the working medium as the cryogenic coolant is evaporated and superheated. A preheater transfers additional heat to the diluent before the diluent enters the reaction chamber.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank R Biancardi
- 👤 Abraham Landerman
- 👤 Gorken Melikian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 14:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
In a regenerative laser system, an optical cavity at a first pressure and, leading from the optical cavity, an exhaust duct including an aftercooler for cooling the working medium within the duct and for evaporating a liquid cryogenic coolant and further including an ejector driven by the evaporated coolant for pumping the working medium from the first pressure of the optical cavity to a second pressure, the heat exchanger area of the aftercooler being sufficient to evaporate an amount of fluid which is substantially equal to the amount of motive fluid required by the ejector to maintain the first pressure within the optical cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
104 words
In a regenerative laser system, an optical cavity at a first pressure and, leading from the optical cavity, an exhaust duct including an aftercooler for cooling the working medium within the duct and for evaporating a liquid cryogenic coolant and further including an ejector driven by the evaporated coolant for pumping the working medium from the first pressure of the optical cavity to a second pressure, the heat exchanger area of the aftercooler being sufficient to evaporate an amount of fluid which is substantially equal to the amount of motive fluid required by the ejector to maintain the first pressure within the optical cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention according to claim 1 wherein means for superheating the evaporated cryogenic coolant within the aftercooler is provided.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
145 words
In regenerative apparatus for improving the system efficiency of a flowing gas laser which has an exhaust duct leading from the optical cavity: means for maintaining the static pressure of the working medium in the optical cavity at a first pressure and including, an ejector positioned within the exhaust duct and having a motive fluid nozzle; an aftercooler located upstream of the ejector for transferring thermal energy from the working medium to a cryogenic coolant, the heat exchanger area of the aftercooler being sufficient to evaporate and superheat an amount of cryogenic fluid substantially equal to the amount of fluid required by the ejector nozzle to maintain the static pressure; a cryogenic storage vessel for supplying a flow of coolant through the aftercooler; and conduit means for flowing the cryogenic from the storage vessel to the aftercooler and from the aftercooler to the ejector nozzle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
145 words
In regenerative apparatus for improving the system efficiency of a flowing gas laser which has an exhaust duct leading from the optical cavity: means for maintaining the static pressure of the working medium in the optical cavity at a first pressure and including, an ejector positioned within the exhaust duct and having a motive fluid nozzle; an aftercooler located upstream of the ejector for transferring thermal energy from the working medium to a cryogenic coolant, the heat exchanger area of the aftercooler being sufficient to evaporate and superheat an amount of cryogenic fluid substantially equal to the amount of fluid required by the ejector nozzle to maintain the static pressure; a cryogenic storage vessel for supplying a flow of coolant through the aftercooler; and conduit means for flowing the cryogenic from the storage vessel to the aftercooler and from the aftercooler to the ejector nozzle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
The invention according to claim 3 having a reaction chamber upstream of the optical cavity for production of the laser gas and further including: means for supplying a diluent consisting of evaporated cryogenic to the reaction chamber comprising, a diluent preheater for transferring thermal energy escaping from the reaction chamber to the diluent thereby returning the thermal energy to the chamber; and a conduit means for flowing evaporated cryogenic from the aftercooler to the preheater and from the preheater to the reaction chamber.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for exhausting the working medium from the optical cavity of a laser system which has, leading from the optical cavity, an exhaust duct containing an ejector positioned downstream from an aftercooler, comprising the steps of: evaporating a cryogenic coolant by flowing the cryogenic through the coolant side of the aftercooler; pumping the working medium through the exhaust duct with an ejector utilizing the evaporated cryogenic as the motive fluid; cooling the working medium passing through the exhaust duct to a temperature between 200.degree. and 300.degree. Rankine; and adjusting the flow rate of cryogenic through the coolant side of the aftercooler to cool the working medium to a temperature at which said flow rate maintains a pressure rise of 100 to 750 torr across the ejector.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
127 words
A method for exhausting the working medium from the optical cavity of a laser system which has, leading from the optical cavity, an exhaust duct containing an ejector positioned downstream from an aftercooler, comprising the steps of: evaporating a cryogenic coolant by flowing the cryogenic through the coolant side of the aftercooler; pumping the working medium through the exhaust duct with an ejector utilizing the evaporated cryogenic as the motive fluid; cooling the working medium passing through the exhaust duct to a temperature between 200.degree. and 300.degree. Rankine; and adjusting the flow rate of cryogenic through the coolant side of the aftercooler to cool the working medium to a temperature at which said flow rate maintains a pressure rise of 100 to 750 torr across the ejector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention according to claim 5 including, after the step of evaporating a cryogenic coolant by flowing the cryogenic through the coolant side of the aftercooler, the further step of superheating the coolant by flowing the cryogenic through the coolant side of the aftercooler.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3668549A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |