Peripherally cooled laser lens assembly
AssigneeCaterpillar Tractor Co.
InventorsHiram A. Brubaker, Gerald P. Simmons, William E. Streight
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fluid cooled lens assembly is provided which comprises a housing mounting a lens or window where a window is a lens with infinite radius of curvature therein and a cooling passage included in said housing for directing coolant fluid around the lens periphery from an inlet through an outlet in the housing. Turbulators in the form of protuberances spaced throughout the cooling passage restrict the flow of fluid and thereby cause turbulence to assist and enhance the heat transfer effect of the fluid. The cooling passage turbulators are formed within one of a pair of mounting rings comprising the housing.
Claims10
A fluid cooled lens assembly comprising:
- a housing including a pair of generally ring-shaped members defining an opening therethrough for admitting energy rays,
- a lens mounted in said opening in said housing, said lens defining a peripheral edge, and
- cooling passage means in said housing, said cooling passage means comprising a passage within said housing circumscribing said lens peripheral edge and in fluid communication over said entire peripheral edge for directing coolant fluid to said lens peripheral edge for cooling said lens, and inlet and outlet ports in said housing in communication with said passage for admitting cool fluid and removing fluid that has been heated by said lens.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.