Patent US4646208A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4021753A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4021753A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Free expansion nozzle for gas dynamic lasers
Assignee: United States Department of the Air Force
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Filing: 1975-04-08
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Granted: 1977-05-03
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Expires: 1995-04-08
Abstract
Abstract A free expansion nozzle for gas dynamic lasers having a multitude of finely divided free expansion sites. These sites may be in the form of a plurality of minute openings within a plate, or minute spacings between adjacent cylinders, or in the form of a small mesh screen. In any case these expansion sites may be situated within the nozzle section of a gas dynamic laser, thereby providing an easily fabricated, economical means of producing a lasing medium within the optical cavity of the laser.
Inventors
- 👤 Ernie D. Braunschweig
- 👤 Robert E. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 13:27
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/095; H01S3/0951; H01S3/0953
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
183 words
In a gas dynamic laser having at least one gas source providing a gas for said laser, a nozzle section and a resonant cavity the improvement therein being a free expansion nozzle mounted within said nozzle section, said free expansion nozzle comprising a nozzle member, said nozzle member having means located therein capable of elevating said gas flowing therethrough to a supersonic velocity, said means being in the form of a multitude of free expansion sites uniformly distributed within said nozzle section to effect a homogeneous gas flow in said resonant cavity, each of said sites being an opening in the range of 0.001-0.015 inches in size and spaced apart a distance in the range of 0.005-0.15 inches between mid point thereof and where the ratio between the cross-sectional area of said nozzle section and the total cross-sectional area of said openings in said nozzle member is in the range of 25-100, whereby said gas, after passing through said free expansion nozzle and being elevated to a supersonic velocity thereby provides a medium capable of sustaining a lasing action within said resonant cavity.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
183 words
In a gas dynamic laser having at least one gas source providing a gas for said laser, a nozzle section and a resonant cavity the improvement therein being a free expansion nozzle mounted within said nozzle section, said free expansion nozzle comprising a nozzle member, said nozzle member having means located therein capable of elevating said gas flowing therethrough to a supersonic velocity, said means being in the form of a multitude of free expansion sites uniformly distributed within said nozzle section to effect a homogeneous gas flow in said resonant cavity, each of said sites being an opening in the range of 0.001-0.015 inches in size and spaced apart a distance in the range of 0.005-0.15 inches between mid point thereof and where the ratio between the cross-sectional area of said nozzle section and the total cross-sectional area of said openings in said nozzle member is in the range of 25-100, whereby said gas, after passing through said free expansion nozzle and being elevated to a supersonic velocity thereby provides a medium capable of sustaining a lasing action within said resonant cavity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a laser as defined in claim 1 wherein the size of each of said openings within said nozzle section is approximately 0.004 inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a laser as defined in claim 2 wherein the distance between the midpoint of adjacent openings is approximately 0.03 inches.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
In a laser as defined in claim 2 wherein said nozzle member is in the form of a plate, said plate containing said openings therein.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a laser as defined in claim 1 wherein each of said openings within said nozzle section are axisymmetric.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
In a laser as defined in claim 1 wherein said nozzle member comprises a plurality of closely spaced cylinders.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
In a laser as defined in claim 6 wherein the size of the space between said cylinders is approximately 0.004 inches.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
In a laser as defined in claim 1 wherein said nozzle member is in the form of a mesh screen.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
In a laser as defined in claim 8 wherein the size of each of said openings of said mesh screen are approximately 0.004 inches.
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) | 1980-05-02 | 1980-11-01 | 1981-05-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1984-05-02 | 1984-11-01 | 1985-05-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1988-05-02 | 1988-11-01 | 1989-05-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |