US3886477A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Closed cycle device
Assignee: RTX Corp
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Filing: 1968-10-29
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1988-10-29
Abstract
Abstract This arrangement includes a gas dynamic laser wherein the lasing fluid is recirculated in a closed loop. The flow can be assumed to start with the lasing gas passing through a cascade of supersonic nozzles. This low pressure, high velocity gas is then passed through a lasing cavity where the lasing action takes place. The energy of the high velocity gas stream is converted back to static pressure in a supersonic diffuser. The diffuser is constructed with (1) variable geometry, and (2) provisions for bleeding off the boundary layer for improved efficiency. Downstream of the supersonic diffuser there is a heat exchanger which partially cools the gas in the loop. This partially cooled gas is then supplied to a compressor where the pressure and temperature are raised back to the level at the start of the flow. The lasing gas is directed from the exit of the compressor to a manifold upstream of the cascade of supersonic nozzles. The compressor only supplies a pressure rise equal to the pressure loss by inefficiencies in the nozzle, the supersonic diffuser and the pressure drop in the heat exchanger and plumbing. To provide for cooling of the compressor, the gas bled from the diffuser is cooled by a second heat exchanger and pumped back to compressor inlet pressure and introduced into the compressor for cooling. In steady state operation, both heat exchangers referred to above, are designed to regulate the nozzle inlet gas temperature by removing the amount of heat energy added by compressing minus the amount of energy extracted in the lasing beam and energy lost to the environment. The compressor and pumping means for cooling the compressor can be driven by any means desired.
Inventors
- 👤 Lowell E Ruby
- 👤 Donald L Witt
- 👤 Charles F Staley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:46
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095; H01S3/0951; H01S3/0953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A gas dynamic laser device having a closed cycle for the flow of a lasing fluid, said closed cycle including a supersonic nozzle means, a lasing region downstream of said nozzle means, reflecting means in said lasing region to form a lasing cavity, a diffuser means downstream of said lasing region, a heat exchanger downstream of said diffuser means for removing heat from a lasing fluid, compressor means for delivering the lasing fluid to said supersonic nozzle and maintaining flow throughout the cycle, and means for cooling said compressor means including means for directing a coolant fluid to said compressor means at a temperature lower than that of the lasing gas in the cycle at the location of said compressor means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
A gas dynamic laser device having a closed cycle for the flow of a lasing fluid, said closed cycle including a supersonic nozzle means, a lasing region downstream of said nozzle means, reflecting means in said lasing region to form a lasing cavity, a diffuser means downstream of said lasing region, a heat exchanger downstream of said diffuser means for removing heat from a lasing fluid, compressor means for delivering the lasing fluid to said supersonic nozzle and maintaining flow throughout the cycle, and means for cooling said compressor means including means for directing a coolant fluid to said compressor means at a temperature lower than that of the lasing gas in the cycle at the location of said compressor means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
A gas dynamic laser device having a closed cycle for the flow of a lasing fluid, said closed cycle including a supersonic nozzle means, a lasing region downstream of said nozzle means, reflecting means in said lasing region to form a lasing cavity, a diffuser means downstream of said lasing region, a heat exchanger downstream of said diffuser means for removing heat from a lasing fluid, and compressor means for delivering the lasing fluid to said supersonic nozzle and maintaining flow throughout the cycle, and means for bleeding lasing gas from the diffuser means to cool the compressor means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
99 words
A gas dynamic laser device having a closed cycle for the flow of a lasing fluid, said closed cycle including a supersonic nozzle means, a lasing region downstream of said nozzle means, reflecting means in said lasing region to form a lasing cavity, a diffuser means downstream of said lasing region, a heat exchanger downstream of said diffuser means for removing heat from a lasing fluid, and compressor means for delivering the lasing fluid to said supersonic nozzle and maintaining flow throughout the cycle, and means for bleeding lasing gas from the diffuser means to cool the compressor means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said compressor means includes an impeller, and said bleeding means directs lasing gas into said impeller.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bleeding means includes means for cooling the lasing gas.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as set forth in claim 2 wherein said bleeding means includes pumping means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
89 words
A gas dynamic laser device having a closed cycle for the flow of a lasing fluid, said closed cycle including a supersonic nozzle means, a lasing region downstream of said nozzle means, reflecting means in said lasing region to form a lasing cavity, a diffuser means downstream of said lasing region, a heat exchanger downstream of said diffuser means for removing heat from a lasing fluid, and compressor means for delivering the lasing fluid to said supersonic nozzle and maintaining flow throughout the cycle, said diffuser means being variable.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
89 words
A gas dynamic laser device having a closed cycle for the flow of a lasing fluid, said closed cycle including a supersonic nozzle means, a lasing region downstream of said nozzle means, reflecting means in said lasing region to form a lasing cavity, a diffuser means downstream of said lasing region, a heat exchanger downstream of said diffuser means for removing heat from a lasing fluid, and compressor means for delivering the lasing fluid to said supersonic nozzle and maintaining flow throughout the cycle, said diffuser means being variable.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as set forth in claim 6 wherein the diffuser means can be varied betwen a large area for starting and a small area for continuous flow at operating conditions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as set forth in claim 4 wherein said cooling means includes a second heat exchanger for removing heat from the gas.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as set forth in claim 8 wherein both heat exchangers are in series and receive a coolant from a common source.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of forming a laser beam comprising the following steps: a. continuously pumping a lasing gas in a closed loop, b. heating the lasing gas, c. expanding the lasing gas to achieve a lasing region, d. extracting power from the lasing region in the form of a laser beam, e. diffusing the lasing gas to recover a portion of the total pressure, f. removing heat from the lasing gas downstream of where the lasing gas is diffused, g. bleeding lasing gas as it is diffused, h. cooling the bled lasing gas, and i. injecting the cooled bled lasing gas back into the loop where it is pumped.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
108 words
A method of forming a laser beam comprising the following steps: a. continuously pumping a lasing gas in a closed loop, b. heating the lasing gas, c. expanding the lasing gas to achieve a lasing region, d. extracting power from the lasing region in the form of a laser beam, e. diffusing the lasing gas to recover a portion of the total pressure, f. removing heat from the lasing gas downstream of where the lasing gas is diffused, g. bleeding lasing gas as it is diffused, h. cooling the bled lasing gas, and i. injecting the cooled bled lasing gas back into the loop where it is pumped.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method as set forth in claim 10 wherein step (e) for diffusing is variable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
145 words
A gas dynamic laser device having a closed cycle for the flow of a lasing fluid, said closed cycle including a supersonic nozzle means, a lasing region downstream of said nozzle means, reflecting means in said lasing region to form a lasing cavity, said reflecting means providing for a laser output beam to be directed therefrom, a diffuser means downstream of said lasing region, a heat exchanger downsTream of said diffuser means for removing heat from a lasing fluid, a compressor means for delivering the lasing fluid to said supersonic nozzle and maintaining flow throughout the cycle, said compressor means including an impeller, means for bleeding lasing gas from the diffuser means, passageway means connecting said bleeding means to said compressor means for directing lasing gas to said compressor means for cooling, pump means located in said passageway means for pumping the lasing gas therein.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
145 words
A gas dynamic laser device having a closed cycle for the flow of a lasing fluid, said closed cycle including a supersonic nozzle means, a lasing region downstream of said nozzle means, reflecting means in said lasing region to form a lasing cavity, said reflecting means providing for a laser output beam to be directed therefrom, a diffuser means downstream of said lasing region, a heat exchanger downsTream of said diffuser means for removing heat from a lasing fluid, a compressor means for delivering the lasing fluid to said supersonic nozzle and maintaining flow throughout the cycle, said compressor means including an impeller, means for bleeding lasing gas from the diffuser means, passageway means connecting said bleeding means to said compressor means for directing lasing gas to said compressor means for cooling, pump means located in said passageway means for pumping the lasing gas therein.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device as set forth in claim 12 wherein said impeller has passages therein, said passageway means directing said lasing gas to said passages, said passages exiting the cooling fluid back into said cycle.
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 |