US3885943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of cutting glass with a laser
Assignee: Ford Motor Co
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Filing: 1974-07-01
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1994-07-01
Abstract
Abstract A method of cutting glass by use of focused laser beam is disclosed. A glass sheet is heated to a temperature in the range from about 1,000*F to about 1,250*F. A threshold power level is developed in a focused laser beam having a wave length above 5 microns. The focal point of the laser beam is positioned at a location spaced from one of the surfaces of the glass sheet to form an optimum laser beam spot size on a surface of the glass sheet. The beam spot size is such that at normal glass cutting speeds glass is vaporized faster than the feeding rate of glass into the space vacated by glass vaporization. The laser beam is moved over the glass to be cut at a rate not exceeding a rate calculated by a special formula.
Inventors
- 👤 Granger K Chui
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:39
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B21/00; C03B21/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T225/00; Y10T225/10; Y10T225/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A METHOD OF CUTTING GLASS BY USE OF A FOCUSED LASER BEAM WHICJ COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: HEATING A GLASS SHEET HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE AND A LOWER SURFACE TO A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 1,000*F TO ABOUT 1,250*F; DEVELOPING AT LEAST A THRESHOLD POWDER LEVEL IN THE FOCUSED BEAM, THE LASER BEAN HAVING A WAVE LENGTH ABOVEE 5 MICRONS; POSITIONING THE FOCAL POINT OF THE FOCUSED LASER BEAM AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM ONE OF THE SURFACE OF THE GLASS SHEET SUCH THAT AN OPTIMUM LASER BEAM SPOT SIZE IS FORMED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE GLASS SHEET, THE BEAM SPOT SIZE BEING SUCH THAT AT NORMAL GLASS CUTTING SPEEDS GLASS VAPORIZATION BY THE LASER BEAM IS AT A RATE FASTER THAN THE FEEDING RATE OF ADJACENT GLASS INTO THE SPACE VACATED BY GLASS VAPORIZATION; AND MOVING THE GLASS TO BE CUT AND ANNEALING LASER BEAM RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER AT A TRAVERSE VELOCITY NOT EXCEEDING THAT CALCULATED BY THE FORMULA V = P/4.88H2, WHERE V IS TRANSVERSE VELOCITY IN IC
Claim 2
Independent Claim
176 words
A METHOD OF CUTTING GLASS BY USE OF A FOCUSED LASER BEAM WHICJ COMPRISES THE STEPS OF: HEATING A GLASS SHEET HAVING AN UPPER SURFACE AND A LOWER SURFACE TO A TEMPERATURE IN THE RANGE OF FROM ABOUT 1,000*F TO ABOUT 1,250*F; DEVELOPING AT LEAST A THRESHOLD POWDER LEVEL IN THE FOCUSED BEAM, THE LASER BEAN HAVING A WAVE LENGTH ABOVEE 5 MICRONS; POSITIONING THE FOCAL POINT OF THE FOCUSED LASER BEAM AT A LOCATION SPACED FROM ONE OF THE SURFACE OF THE GLASS SHEET SUCH THAT AN OPTIMUM LASER BEAM SPOT SIZE IS FORMED ON THE UPPER SURFACE OF THE GLASS SHEET, THE BEAM SPOT SIZE BEING SUCH THAT AT NORMAL GLASS CUTTING SPEEDS GLASS VAPORIZATION BY THE LASER BEAM IS AT A RATE FASTER THAN THE FEEDING RATE OF ADJACENT GLASS INTO THE SPACE VACATED BY GLASS VAPORIZATION; AND MOVING THE GLASS TO BE CUT AND ANNEALING LASER BEAM RELATIVE TO ONE ANOTHER AT A TRAVERSE VELOCITY NOT EXCEEDING THAT CALCULATED BY THE FORMULA V = P/4.88H2, WHERE V IS TRANSVERSE VELOCITY IN IC
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of cutting glass as defined in claim 1 wherein the glass sheet is heated to a temperature of about 1,100*F.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of cutting glass as defined in claim 1 wherein: the laser beam employed is developed from a CO2 laser.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of cutting glass as defined in claim 3 wherein: the CO2 laser beam has a power of 15KW.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of cutting glass as defined in claim 1 wherein: the cutting process takes place between a float glass chamber and a glass annealing lehr.
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) | 1978-05-26 | 1978-11-25 | 1979-05-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-05-26 | 1982-11-25 | 1983-05-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-05-26 | 1986-11-25 | 1987-05-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |