Back to results
US 10,619,518 B2Granted
Exhaust system with directed energy beam interference avoidance system
AssigneeRolls-Royce North American Technologies Inc.
InventorAndrew J. Eifert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A self-powered laser system for discharging high energy light beams is disclosed. The laser system includes a laser unit, a power unit, and an exhaust system. The laser unit is capable of discharging beams in multiple directions. The exhaust system directs exhaust gasses discharged from the power unit.
Claims20
A laser system comprising
- a laser unit configured to discharge high energy light beams in multiple directions,
- a power unit coupled to the laser unit and configured to provide pulses of electrical power to the laser unit, the power unit including a gas turbine engine and an exhaust conduit configured to conduct exhaust gases produced during operation of the gas turbine engine, and
- an exhaust system configured to direct a discharge of the exhaust gases from the exhaust conduit, the exhaust system including an exhaust director and a controller, the exhaust director being reconfigurable from a first configuration in which the exhaust director causes the exhaust gases to move in a first direction as the exhaust gases exit the exhaust conduit to a second configuration in which the exhaust director causes the exhaust gases to move in a second direction as the exhaust gases exit the exhaust conduit, and the controller being coupled to the exhaust director to reconfigure the exhaust director from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to receipt of information associated with high energy light beam guidance so that interference of the exhaust gases with the high energy light beams from the laser unit is managed.
A generator system adapted for use with an associated laser unit adapted to produce high energy light beams, the generator system comprising
- a power unit, the power unit including a gas turbine engine and an exhaust conduit configured to conduct exhaust gases produced during operation of the gas turbine engine, and
- an exhaust system configured to direct a discharge of the exhaust gases from the exhaust conduit, the exhaust system including an exhaust director that directs the exhaust gases as the exhaust gases exit the exhaust conduit and a controller coupled to the exhaust director,
- wherein the controller is configured to reconfigure the exhaust director to change a direction of the exhaust gases as the exhaust gases exit the exhaust conduit in response to receipt of information associated with high energy light beam guidance so that interference of the exhaust gases with the high energy light beams from the associated laser unit is managed.
A laser system comprising
- a laser unit movable to discharge high energy light beams in multiple directions,
- a power unit coupled to the laser unit and configured to provide pulses of electrical power to the laser unit, the power unit including a gas turbine engine and an exhaust conduit coupled to the gas turbine engine to conduct exhaust gases produced during operation of the gas turbine engine, and
- an exhaust system configured to direct a discharge of the exhaust gases from the exhaust conduit, the exhaust system including an exhaust director that directs the exhaust gases as the exhaust gases exit the exhaust conduit and a mechanical linkage that extends from the laser unit to the exhaust director, wherein the mechanical linkage couples the exhaust director to the laser unit such that the exhaust director is moved to change a direction of the exhaust gases as the exhaust gases exit the exhaust conduit in response to movement of the laser unit so that interference of the exhaust gases with the high energy light beams from the laser unit is managed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.