Device and method for observing and analyzing a stream of material
AssigneeGeneral Electric Company
InventorsStephen Aleshin, Vanon D. Pratt
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for observation and analysis of a cross-sectional portion of a stream of material, which may be either a particle or a fluid stream, includes a laser light source for generating a beam of light. A focusing lens is disposed in an optical path between the laser source and the stream and a plano-cylindrical lens of a selected focal length is disposed in the optical path between the focusing lens and the stream. The focusing lens and the plano-cylindrical lens convert the beam of light from the laser light source to a plane of light which may be projected through the stream to illuminate a selected cross-section of the stream for observation and analysis thereof.
Claims24
A method for analyzing and adjusting the shape of a stream of material, wherein the stream of material is a powder stream which flows coaxially about a laser beam operable at a first wavelength and usable for welding, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) generating a plane of light;
- (b) projecting the plane of light through the stream to illuminate a selected cross-section of the stream;
- (c) observing and analyzing the shape of the stream at the selected cross-section from a location at an angle relative to said plane of light;
- and
- (d) detecting said illuminated, selected stream cross-section using a detector means and generating an image thereof, said light source and said detector means operating at a second wavelength which is substantially different from said first wavelength and different from spectral emissions created during a laser welding operation to permit observation and analysis of the powder stream during the laser welding operation.
A device for observing and analyzing a stream of material, wherein the stream of material is a powder stream which flows coaxially about a laser beam operable at a first wavelength and usable for welding, the device comprising:
- a laser light source for generating a beam of light;
- a focusing lens disposed in a optical path between said laser source and the stream;
- a plano-cylindrical lens of a selected focal length disposed in said optical path between said focusing lens and the stream, said focusing lens and said plano-cylindrical lens converting said beam of light to a plane of light and projecting said plane of light through the stream to illuminate a selected cross-section of the stream for observation and analysis of a profile of the stream from a location at an angle relative to said plane of light;
- and
- detector means for detecting said illuminated, selected powder stream cross-section and for generating an image thereof, said laser light source and said detector means operating at a second wavelength which is substantially different from said first wavelength and different from spectral emissions created during a laser welding operation to permit observation and analysis of the powder stream during the laser welding operation.
A device for observing and analyzing a stream of material, wherein the stream of material is a powder stream which flows coaxially about a laser beam operable at a first wavelength and usable for welding, the device comprising:
- a high intensity light source generating a beam of light;
- means for converting said beam of light to a plane of high intensity light;
- means for projecting said plane of high intensity light through the stream to illuminate a selected cross-section of the stream for observation and analysis of a profile of the stream from a location at an angle relative to said plane of light;
- and
- detector means for detecting said illuminated, selected stream cross-section and for generating an image thereof, said light source and said detector means operating at a second wavelength which is substantially different from said first wavelength and different from spectral emissions created during a laser welding operation to permit observation and analysis of the powder stream during the laser welding operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.