Laser and mechanical boring
OwnerDavid Talcottinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A boring method is provided and can include directing a laser beam at an exposed face of a bulk target in a longitudinal direction. The laser beam can be configured to liquefy and/or gasify the target within the laser beam. The method can also include removing, by the laser beam, a channel of predetermined length and width within the target. The method can further include moving the laser beam in a closed loop of predetermined diameter to define a cut portion of the target laterally bounded by the closed loop. A ligament of the cut portion can remain attached to the target. The method can additionally include separating the ligament from the target. The method can also include removing the cut portion from the target after separating the ligament to form a bore.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- directing a laser beam at an exposed face of a bulk target in a longitudinal direction, wherein the laser beam is configured to liquefy and/or gasify the target within the laser beam;
- removing, by the laser beam, a channel of predetermined length and width within the target;
- moving the laser beam in a closed loop of predetermined diameter to define a cut portion of the target laterally bounded by the closed loop, wherein a ligament of the cut portion remains attached to the target;
- separating the ligament from the target;
- and
- removing the cut portion from the target after separating the ligament to form a bore.
A method, comprising:
- identifying a location for a pilot hole within a target;
- identifying a path for a closed loop of predetermined diameter, the closed loop containing the identified location of the pilot hole;
- forming one or more cuts within the target between the identified locations of the pilot hole and the closed loop;
- directing a laser beam at an exposed face of the target in a longitudinal direction, wherein the laser beam is configured to liquefy and/or gasify the target within the laser beam;
- forming the pilot hole;
- moving the laser beam along the path of the closed loop to define a cut portion of the target laterally bounded by the closed loop, wherein a ligament of the cut portion remains attached to the target;
- wherein the cut portion, the pilot hole, and the one or more cuts define a plurality of sections, wherein each of the segments remain attached to the target by respective ligaments;
- separating ligaments of respective sections of the cut portion from the target;
- and
- removing respective sections from the target to form a bore.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.