Nozzle for energy beam system

Claim 1

In an apparatus for generating an energy beam, said apparatus including a sine wave generator having a tank coil formed of a first hollow electrically conductive tube and a second hollow electrically conductive tube positioned interiorly of said first hollow tube, and a system for supplying gas through each of said tubes, the improvement of a nozzle adapted to be attached at one end of said tubes comprising: a first hollow cylindrical sleeve having first and second ends and an integral interior radial plate intermediate said first and second ends, said plate having at least two axial passages therethrough; a second hollow cylindrical sleeve; a hollow electrode; means for mounting said hollow electrode radially interiorly of said first sleeve and in communication with said first axial passage for defining a first continuous flow path through said nozzle from said second tube, through a first axial passage in said plate and through said electrode; and means for mounting said second sleeve radially intermediate said electrode and said first sleeve and in communication with said second axial passage for defining a second continuous flow path through said nozzle from said first tube, through said second axial passage in said plate, and through said second sleeve radially exteriorly of said electrode; whereby, upon the application of gas through each of said tubes, a laminar gas flow is produced by said nozzle including an inner column of gas emanating from said hollow electrode and conducting said energy beam and an outer column of gas emanating between said electrode and said second sleeve and surrounding and sheathing said energy beam.