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US 12,007,552 B2Granted
Fail safe beam shutter devices and systems
AssigneeUniversity of Rochester
InventorsAstrid M. Mueller, Jeffery W. Lefler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides apparatuses and systems for cutting off electromagnetic radiation (ER) beams, such as laser beams. The apparatuses and systems employ gravitational force on a shutter to close off the path of the ER beam if power is cut to an electromagnet holding the shutter out of the beam path. Power to the electromagnet is typically connected to a safety interlock connected to a door or other entry point to an enclosure in which the ER beam is being used. Additionally, the invention provides add-on devices that allow the ER beam to be blocked to change lenses or targets.
Claims20
An electromagnetic radiation (ER) beam shutter apparatus with shutter return on power down, comprising:
- (a) a protective housing opaque to said ER beam, having
- (i) a top, a bottom, sides, a width, a length, a first end, a second end, an exterior, and an interior of each of said top, bottom, and sides,
- (ii) a central lumen traversing said length of said housing from said first end to said second end and defining a beam path for an ER beam, and
- (iii) an exit aperture disposed along said beam path at said second end,
- (b) a beam shutter pivotally or rotatably attached to said interior of said housing, said shutter having a first side facing said first end of said housing and a second side facing said second end, which beam shutter is able to pivot or rotate from said interior top of said housing to a position on said interior bottom of said housing, in which position on said interior bottom of said housing, said beam shutter blocks said beam path prior to said first exit aperture, and,
- (c) an electromagnet positioned (1) on said top of said housing, integrated into said top of said housing, or disposed on said interior of said top of said housing, or (2) on said beam shutter, wherein,
- when said electromagnet is positioned as recited in (c)(1), said beam shutter has ferromagnetic material disposed on or integrated into at least a portion of said beam shutter in a position such that said beam shutter can be held by electromagnetic force to said top of said housing when said electromagnet is energized, and
- when said electromagnet is positioned as recited in (c)(2), at least a portion of said housing has ferromagnetic material disposed on or integrated into said top of said housing in a position such that said beam shutter can be held by electromagnetic force to said top of said housing when said electromagnetic is energized.
5 more elements
A system for preventing accidental exposure to an electromagnetic radiation (“ER”) beam in an enclosed space having at least one openable entry point, said system comprising:
- (a) a source providing an ER beam,
- (b) a protective housing opaque to said ER beam, having
- (i) a top, a bottom, sides, a width, a length, a first end facing said ER beam source, a second end, an exterior, and an interior of each of said top, bottom, and sides,
- (ii) a central lumen traversing said length of said frame from said first end to said second end and defining a beam path for an ER beam, and
- (iii) an exit aperture disposed along said beam path at said second end, said housing having a position fitting over or attached to said ER beam source so as to prevent leakage of said ER beam from said position when said housing is fitted over or attached to said ER beam source,
- (c) a beam shutter pivotally or rotatably attached to said interior of said housing, said beam shutter having a first side facing said first end of said housing and a second side facing said second end, said beam shutter being able to rotate from said interior top of said housing to a closed position on said interior bottom of said housing, thereby blocking said beam path prior to said first exit aperture,
- (d) an electromagnet positioned (1) on said top of said housing, integrated into said top of said housing, or disposed on said interior of said top of said housing, or (2) on said beam shutter, wherein, when said electromagnet is positioned as recited in (d)(1), said beam shutter has ferromagnetic material disposed on or integrated into at least a portion of said beam shutter in a position such that said beam shutter can be held by electromagnetic force to said top of said housing when said electromagnet is energized, and, when said electromagnet is positioned as recited in (d)(2), at least a portion of said housing has ferromagnetic material disposed on or integrated into said top of said housing in a position such that said beam shutter can be held by electromagnetic force to said top of said housing when said electromagnetic is energized, said electromagnet being connected to a power source, and
- (e) an interlock system wherein opening of said entry point into said protected space stops power from reaching said electromagnet.
5 more elements
A device for temporarily blocking an electromagnetic radiation (“ER”) beam entering said device from a first protective housing having an exit aperture from which said ER beam exits said first protective housing, said device comprising:
- (a) a second protective housing opaque to said ER beam, said second protective housing having
- (i) a top, a bottom, sides, a width, a length, a first end having an first aperture, a second end having a second aperture, an exterior, and an interior of each of said top, bottom, and sides, wherein said first end of said second protective housing is configured to fit over, cover, or attach to said exit aperture from said first protective housing, and,
- (ii) a central lumen traversing said length of said second protective housing frame from said first aperture to said second aperture and defining a first beam path for said ER beam from said exit aperture of said first protective housing through said second protective housing to said second aperture of said second protective housing,
- (b) a beam shutter pivotally or rotatably attached to said interior of said second protective housing, said beam shutter having a first side facing said first end of said housing and a second side facing said second end, said beam shutter being able to rotate from a first position at said interior top of said housing to a second position on said interior bottom of said housing, thereby blocking said beam path prior to said exit aperture,
- (c) an electromagnet positioned (1) on said top of said housing, integrated into said top of said housing, or disposed on said interior of said top of said housing, or (2) on said beam shutter, wherein, when said electromagnet is positioned as recited in (d)(1), said beam shutter has ferromagnetic material disposed on or integrated into at least a portion of said beam shutter in a position such that said beam shutter can be held by electromagnetic force to said top of said housing when said electromagnet is energized, and, when said electromagnet is positioned as recited in (d)(2), at least a portion of said housing has ferromagnetic material disposed on or integrated into said top of said housing in a position such that said beam shutter can be held by electromagnetic force to said top of said housing when said electromagnetic is energized, said electromagnet being connected to a power source, said electromagnet having a source of power that can energize said electromagnet, and,
- (d) a control operable by an operator for cutting power to said electromagnet.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.