US3886481A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power stabilized co' 2 'gas transport laser
Assignee: GTE Sylvania Inc
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Filing: 1973-06-11
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Granted: 1975-05-27
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Expires: 1993-06-11
Abstract
Abstract The output power of a high power (1 KW or more) CO2 gas transport laser is stabilized by flowing the gas mixture over copper plated baffles in the gas channel during operation of the laser. Several other metals may be used instead of copper, for example, nickel, manganese, palladium, platinum, silver and gold. The presence of copper in the laser gas circuit stabilizes output power by what is believed to be a compensation of the chemical changes in the gas due to the cracking action of the electrical discharge which has the effect of diminishing the capacity of the carbon dioxide gas mixture to maintain the rated power output of the laser.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack D Foster
- 👤 Russell F Kirk
- 👤 Frederick E Moreno
- 👤 Samir A Ahmed
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 14:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/036; H01S3/10; H01S3/13; H01S3/131; H01S3/134
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
IN A HIGH POWER GAS TRANSPORT LASER APPARATUS COMPRISING A FLUID CHANNEL, A GAS MIXTURE INCLUDING CARBON DIOXIDE IN SAID CHANNEL, MEANS FOR MOVING AND RECIRCULATING SAID GAS MIXTURE THROUGH SAID CHANNEL, MEANS FOR PRODUCING AN ELECTRIC DISCHARGE IN SAID GAS MIXTURE TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF FLOW, MIRROR MEANS OPTICALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID DISCHARGE FOR DIRECTING A BEAM OF COHERENT LIGHT THERETHROUGH, A HEAT EXCHANGER IN SAIC CHANNEL FOR COOLING SAID GAS MIXTURE, SAID CHANNEL BEING CLOSED AND HAVING END SECTIONS BETWEEN SAID ELECTRIC DISCHARGE AND SAID HEAT EXCHANGER, SAID END SECTIONS HAVING LONGITUDINALLY CURVED WALLS FOR CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF THE GAS MIXTURE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING COPPER ON SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID WALLS OF THE END SECTION LOCATED DOWNSTREAM FROM SAID ELECTRIC DISCHARGE.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
131 words
IN A HIGH POWER GAS TRANSPORT LASER APPARATUS COMPRISING A FLUID CHANNEL, A GAS MIXTURE INCLUDING CARBON DIOXIDE IN SAID CHANNEL, MEANS FOR MOVING AND RECIRCULATING SAID GAS MIXTURE THROUGH SAID CHANNEL, MEANS FOR PRODUCING AN ELECTRIC DISCHARGE IN SAID GAS MIXTURE TRANSVERSELY OF THE DIRECTION OF FLOW, MIRROR MEANS OPTICALLY ALIGNED WITH SAID DISCHARGE FOR DIRECTING A BEAM OF COHERENT LIGHT THERETHROUGH, A HEAT EXCHANGER IN SAIC CHANNEL FOR COOLING SAID GAS MIXTURE, SAID CHANNEL BEING CLOSED AND HAVING END SECTIONS BETWEEN SAID ELECTRIC DISCHARGE AND SAID HEAT EXCHANGER, SAID END SECTIONS HAVING LONGITUDINALLY CURVED WALLS FOR CHANGING THE DIRECTION OF FLOW OF THE GAS MIXTURE, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING COPPER ON SUBSTANTIALLY ALL OF THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID WALLS OF THE END SECTION LOCATED DOWNSTREAM FROM SAID ELECTRIC DISCHARGE.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a high power gas transport laser apparatus comprising a fluid channel, a gas mixture including carbon dioxide in said channel, means for moving and recirculating said gas mixture through said channel, means for producing an electric discharge in said gas mixture transversely of the direction of flow, mirror means optically aligned with said discharge for directing a beam of coherent light therethrough, a heat exchanger in said channel for cooling said gas mixture, said channel being closed and having end sections between said electric discharge and said heat exchanger, said end sections having longitudinally curved walls for changing the direction of flow of the gas mixture, the improvement comprising at least one longitudinally curved gas flow turning vane between and coextensive with said walls of the end section located downstream from said electric discharge, the opposite sides of said vane comprising copper surfaces.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
144 words
In a high power gas transport laser apparatus comprising a fluid channel, a gas mixture including carbon dioxide in said channel, means for moving and recirculating said gas mixture through said channel, means for producing an electric discharge in said gas mixture transversely of the direction of flow, mirror means optically aligned with said discharge for directing a beam of coherent light therethrough, a heat exchanger in said channel for cooling said gas mixture, said channel being closed and having end sections between said electric discharge and said heat exchanger, said end sections having longitudinally curved walls for changing the direction of flow of the gas mixture, the improvement comprising at least one longitudinally curved gas flow turning vane between and coextensive with said walls of the end section located downstream from said electric discharge, the opposite sides of said vane comprising copper surfaces.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3720885A
Cited
US3772610A
Cited
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 |