Lightweight adaptive metal cooled mirrors
AssigneeBoard of Trustees of the University of Alabama, for and on behalf of the University of Alabama in Huntsville
InventorPatrick Reardon
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Abstract
The present disclosure generally pertains to lightweight adaptive metal cooled mirrors and methods of producing the same. The metal mirror surface is integrated with and supported by metal channels which are physically incorporated into the mirror surface through an additive manufacturing process. These channels are nominally conformal with the desired mirror surface shape. A liquid or gaseous coolant may be directed through some or all of the channels to cool the mirror surface. The mirrors are produced through an additive manufacturing process which allows for the creation of a unitary optical mirror containing finely spaced channels.
Claims11
A method comprising:
- providing a metal mirror comprising a metal substrate that has an optical surface for reflecting light, the metal substrate defining a plurality of hollow channels, the plurality of hollow channels including at least a first hollow channel and a second hollow channel;
- applying a first pressure to the first hollow channel with a pressure source;
- and
- adjusting the first pressure in the first hollow channel to a second pressure to deform at least a portion of the optical surface, wherein the providing comprises:
- (1) forming the metal substrate using additive manufacturing techniques, the forming the metal substrate comprising depositing layers of metallic material in a pattern using the additive manufacturing techniques such that the layers of the metallic material define the plurality of hollow channels in the metal substrate;
- (2) filling the first hollow channel with a coolant;
- and
- (3) finishing the optical surface, the finishing comprising removing a layer of the metallic material from the metal substrate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.