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US4703487A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Device for suppressing electrical discharges between cathodes of laser oscillator

Assignee: Amada Engineering and Service Co Inc
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Filing: 1985-08-13
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Granted: 1987-10-27
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Expires: 2005-08-13
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Abstract

Abstract A gas oscillator consisting of a plurality of laser tubes with discharge electrodes arranged in a straight line so that the cathodes are next to each other, a gas drive, a heat exchanger to cool a laser gas and an exhaust device provided to expel the laser gas from the laser tubes and containing an injection device for non-ionized gas to separate and expel the ionized gas from the laser tubes so as to suppress electrical discharges between the cathodes of the laser oscillator.

Inventors

  • 👤 Ryoji Koseki

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-29 15:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/03; H01S3/036; H01S3/038; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/07; H01S3/073; H01S3/076

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim 109 words
A gas laser oscillator comprising: a plurality of laser tubes which are disposed in a straight line in a manner such that a plurality of cathodes are arranged adjacent one another to form a gap between said cathodes, said laser tubes communicating with each other at abutted ends of said laser tubes; means for supplying a laser gas into said laser tubes, said gas supply means having a heat exchanger to cool the laser gas; means for exhausting the laser gas from said laser tubes, said exhausting means provided near the cathodes; means connected to said gap for injecting non-ionized gas directly into the gap between the adjacent cathodes.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 109 words
A gas laser oscillator comprising: a plurality of laser tubes which are disposed in a straight line in a manner such that a plurality of cathodes are arranged adjacent one another to form a gap between said cathodes, said laser tubes communicating with each other at abutted ends of said laser tubes; means for supplying a laser gas into said laser tubes, said gas supply means having a heat exchanger to cool the laser gas; means for exhausting the laser gas from said laser tubes, said exhausting means provided near the cathodes; means connected to said gap for injecting non-ionized gas directly into the gap between the adjacent cathodes.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 95 words
The gas laser oscillator as described in claim 1, wherein said exhausting means comprises a Y-shaped exhaust section having two exhaust paths and a merging portion, each of said two exhaust paths connected at the end opposite to said merging portion to each said laser tube, said merging portion connected to a gas return path to said heat exchanger, and said injection means connected to said Y-shaped exhaust section so as to inject the non-ionized gas into a portion of the laser tubes between the connection of the two exhaust paths to the laser tubes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
The gas laser oscillator as described in claim 2, wherein said non-ionized gas is introduced to said injection device from said gas supplying means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 24 words
The gas laser oscillator as described in claim 2, wherein said non-ionized gas is introduced to said injection device from said gas supplying means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 23 words
The gas laser oscillator as described in claim 2, wherein said path is sufficiently long to suppress any discharge in said merging portion.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 57 words
A gas laser oscillator, comprising: a laser tube having discharge electrodes arranged therealong in a straight line with two cathodes arranged adjacent one another and forming a gap therebetween; an exhaust device mounted in the tube; and means for injecting non-ionized laser gas directly into the gap between the cathodes to suppress electrical discharges between the cathodes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 57 words
A gas laser oscillator, comprising: a laser tube having discharge electrodes arranged therealong in a straight line with two cathodes arranged adjacent one another and forming a gap therebetween; an exhaust device mounted in the tube; and means for injecting non-ionized laser gas directly into the gap between the cathodes to suppress electrical discharges between the cathodes.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 15 words
The oscillator according to claim 6, wherein the exhaust device is arranged between the cathodes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The oscillator according to claim 6, wherein the exhaust device comprises a separate exhaust passage arranged adjacent each cathode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 32 words
The oscillator according to claim 8, wherein the separate passages are connected at one end to form a common exhaust passage and are connected at the other end by a third passage.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 23 words
The oscillator according to claim 9, wherein the non-ionized gas is injected into the third passage for delivery to the separate exhaust passages.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4610014A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1990-10-26 1991-04-27 1991-10-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1994-10-26 1995-04-27 1995-10-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1998-10-26 1999-04-27 1999-10-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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