Patent US4011522A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4011522A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Radial flow laser
Assignee: Calspan Corp
•
Filing: 1974-02-06
•
Granted: 1977-03-08
•
Expires: 1994-02-06
Abstract
Abstract A laser having a radial flow configuration which may be utilized to achieve lasing in both chemically and electrically excited gas lasers.
Inventors
- 👤 Theodore John Falk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 18:28
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095; H01S3/0951; H01S3/0953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for producing a population inversion in a laser device by the reacting of first and second reactants including the steps of: supplying the first and second reactants to supply means located in the interior of the laser device; radially delivering the first reactant from the supply means; radially expanding the first reactant to a desired Mach number; reacting the second reactant with the expanded first reactant whereby a population inversion is achieved.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method for producing a population inversion in a laser device by the reacting of first and second reactants including the steps of: supplying the first and second reactants to supply means located in the interior of the laser device; radially delivering the first reactant from the supply means; radially expanding the first reactant to a desired Mach number; reacting the second reactant with the expanded first reactant whereby a population inversion is achieved.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a third reactant is added to said first reactant to thereby cause dissociation of a portion of said first reactant prior to the reacting of said first and second reactants.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of radially expanding the first reactant to a desired Mach number includes accelerating the first reactant to supersonic speeds in a flow free of nozzle walls.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 3 wherein a third reactant is added to said first reactant to thereby cause dissociation of a portion of said first reactant prior to the reacting of said first and second reactants.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of radially expanding the first reactant to a desired Mach number includes increasing the flow crosssectional area with radius to provide an effective increase in nozzle area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 5 wherein a third reactant is added to said first reactant to thereby cause dissociation of a portion of said first reactant prior to the reacting of said first and second reactants.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 further including the step of passing the expanded first reactant through supersonic nozzle means prior to the step of reacting the second reactant with the expanded first reactant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 7 wherein a third reactant is added to said first reactant to thereby cause dissociation of a portion of said first reactant prior to the reacting of said first and second reactants.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the step of radially delivering the first reactant from the supply means includes passing the first reactant through radially extending sonic orifices.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9 wherein a third reactant is added to said first reactant to thereby cause dissociation of a portion of said first reactant prior to the reacting of said first and second reactants.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for producing a population inversion in a laser device by the reacting of first and second gases to vibrationally excite a third gas including the steps of: supplying the first, second and third gases to supply means located in the interior of the laser device; radially delivering the first gas from the supply means; radially delivering the third gas from the supply means; mixing and radially expanding the first and third gas to a desired Mach number; reacting the second gas with the expanded first gas in an exothermic reaction whereby the third gas is vibrationally excited to produce a population inversion.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
104 words
A method for producing a population inversion in a laser device by the reacting of first and second gases to vibrationally excite a third gas including the steps of: supplying the first, second and third gases to supply means located in the interior of the laser device; radially delivering the first gas from the supply means; radially delivering the third gas from the supply means; mixing and radially expanding the first and third gas to a desired Mach number; reacting the second gas with the expanded first gas in an exothermic reaction whereby the third gas is vibrationally excited to produce a population inversion.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the exothermic reaction is initiated by an electric discharge.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for producing a population inversion in a laser device by electrically exciting a gas including the steps of: supplying the gas to supply means located in the interior of the laser device; passing an electrical discharge through the gas to excite the gas; and passing the excited gas through radially disposed sonic orifices.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
55 words
A method for producing a population inversion in a laser device by electrically exciting a gas including the steps of: supplying the gas to supply means located in the interior of the laser device; passing an electrical discharge through the gas to excite the gas; and passing the excited gas through radially disposed sonic orifices.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a laser device: first supply means for radially delivering and expanding a first reactant; second supply means for introducing a second reactant into the radially expanded first reactant whereby said first and second reactants react to produce a population inversion.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a laser device: first supply means for radially delivering and expanding a first reactant; second supply means for introducing a second reactant into the radially expanded first reactant whereby said first and second reactants react to produce a population inversion.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device of claim 14 wherein the first supply means includes a plurality of radially disposed supersonic nozzles.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
38 words
The device of claim 15 wherein the first and second supply means are surrounded by a shell which defines a generally annular cavity in which said first reactant expands and in which said first and second reactants react.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 16 wherein the second supply means includes a plurality of radially extending nozzles which extend radially outward of said plurality of radially disposed supersonic nozzles and into the generally annular cavity.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The device of claim 17 further including diffuser blades located in the generally annular cavity radially outward of said plurality of radially extending nozzles.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The device of claim 17 wherein said plurality of radially extending nozzles are provided with fairings.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
35 words
The device of claim 17 further including a laser oscillator having a generally annular output beam which is aligned with said generally annular cavity which defines a gain region and which acts as an amplifier.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 15 further including a pair of annular mirrors axially and radially spaced from said first and second supply means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The device of claim 14 further including means for dissociating the first reactant prior to the introducing of the second reactant into the radially expanded first reactant by the second supply means.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
22 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said first and second supply means include a plurality of alternating interspaced circumferentially extending supersonic nozzles.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
60 words
The device of claim 22 wherein said second supply means includes a plurality of axially separated members located radially outward of said first supply means and coacting to define a plurality of restrictions through which the expanded first reactant must pass prior to the introducing of the second reactant into the radially expanded first reactant by said second supply means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a laser device: first supply means for radially delivering and expanding a first gaseous reactant; second supply means for introducing second gaseous reactant into the radially expanded first gaseous reactant; and third supply means for radially delivering a gas whereby when said first and second gaseous reactants react in an exothermic reaction, internal modes of the gas become excited to produce a population inversion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a laser device: first supply means for radially delivering and expanding a first gaseous reactant; second supply means for introducing second gaseous reactant into the radially expanded first gaseous reactant; and third supply means for radially delivering a gas whereby when said first and second gaseous reactants react in an exothermic reaction, internal modes of the gas become excited to produce a population inversion.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The device of claim 25 further including means for electrically initiating the exothermic reaction.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a laser device: supply means for radially delivering and expanding first, second and third gases; and electrical discharge means for initiating an exothermic reaction between the first and second gases whereby the third gas is vibrationally excited to produce a population inversion.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
43 words
In a laser device: supply means for radially delivering and expanding first, second and third gases; and electrical discharge means for initiating an exothermic reaction between the first and second gases whereby the third gas is vibrationally excited to produce a population inversion.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a laser device: supply means for radially delivering and expanding a gas and including means defining electrodes; and means for producing electrical discharges between said electrodes whereby said gas is vibrationally excited to produce a population inversion.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
38 words
In a laser device: supply means for radially delivering and expanding a gas and including means defining electrodes; and means for producing electrical discharges between said electrodes whereby said gas is vibrationally excited to produce a population inversion.
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) | 1980-03-07 | 1980-09-06 | 1981-03-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-03-07 | 1984-09-06 | 1985-03-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-03-07 | 1988-09-06 | 1989-03-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |