Back to results
US 4,794,613 AGranted
Laser fluid flow control apparatus and method
AssigneePRC Inc.
InventorsCarl J. Nilsen, Joseph P. Wachter, Ronald D. Young
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneePRC Inc.
InventorsCarl J. Nilsen, Joseph P. Wachter, Ronald D. Young
Estimating the term…
A laser fluid control apparatus and method provide selective, precise control of the fluid supplied to the laser. The flow of the fluid to the laser can be automatically adjusted according to a selected, programmed control to provide a high volume of the fluid to the laser during initial operation of the laser for a quick warm-up of the laser and a reduced volume after the laser has warmed-up for more economical operation of the laser. Different fluid mixes can also be provided for enhancing laser performance. A control for pulsed or continuous wave laser operation can be actuated to automatically change the composition of the fluid supplied to the laser for continuous wave laser operation as compared to that for pulsed operation.
In a fluid laser comprising means for supplying fluid to the laser and means for exciting the fluid in said laser to produce a laser beam, the improvement comprising, in combination, said means for supplying fluid to the laser including control means for selectively and precisely varying at least the volume of the fluid supplied to said laser, said control means producing a relatively high volume of the fluid to the laser for a predetermined period of time for quick warm-up of the laser and thereafter reducing the volume of fluid, and wherein said laser further includes pressure control means for maintaining the fluid pressure in the laser substantially constant even with changes in the volume of the fluid being supplied to the laser by said control means.
A laser fluid control apparatus comprising at least one supply of fluid for a laser fluid passage means for conveying fluid from said at least one supply to a laser, and control means for selectively and precisely varying the volume of the fluid supplied to said laser through said fluid passage means from said at least one supply, said control means producing a relatively high volume of the fluid to the laser for a predetermined period of time for quick warm-up of the laser and thereafter reducing the volume of fluid, and further comprising pressure control means for maintaining the fluid pressure in the laser substantially constant even with changes in the volume of the fluid being supplied to the laser by said control means.
In a method of operating a fluid laser comprising the steps of supplying fluid to the laser and exciting the fluid in the laser to produce a laser beam, the improvement comprising the step of selectively and precisely varying the volume of the fluid is supplied during an initial operating period of the laser or supplied to said laser so that a relatively high volume of fluid a quick warm-up of the laser and thereafter supplying a relatively lower volume of the fluid for more economical operation of the laser, and including the step of maintaining the fluid pressure in said laser substantially constant as the volume of fluid supplied to the laser is varied.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.