Method and structure for impingement cooling a laser rod
AssigneeHughes Aircraft Company
InventorsPeter E. Phillips, Landon A. Strattan, Vikram D. Desai
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The impingement cooled laser apparatus including a laser rod (12) that is surrounded by an inner sleeve (24) and an outer sleeve (28). The space between the inner and outer sleeves (24, 28) forms a fluid channel. Coolant is introduced via input ports (32) and fills the fluid channel between the two sleeves. There are evenly distributed small jet holes (38) through the inner sleeve (24) to allow the coolant to spray through to the laser rod (12). After the coolant has impinged perpendicularly on the laser rod (12), it is drawn off through coolant outlet ports (36).
Claims8
A cooling structure for a laser rod having a longitudinal axis and contained within a pumped laser apparatus comprising;
- an annular channel disposed radially around said laser rod, said laser rod operating at a known temperature and at a high power density;
- and
- a means for cooling disposed between said annular channel and said laser rod, said means for cooling including at least one jet aperture radially extending from said laser rod to permit fluid to pass from said annular channel said fluid impinging substantially normal and in a radial directions onto said laser rod said fluid having a lower temperature than the known operating temperature of said laser, said impingement thereby reducing temperature differential between said rod and said fluid, to thereby increase the cooling efficiency of said laser.
A method for cooling a laser rod, having a longitudinal axis and contained within a pumped laser apparatus comprising the steps of:
- providing a supply of cooling fluid in a fluid channel in said laser apparatus,
- directing said fluid from said channel through a sleeve member having at least one aperture, which extends substantially radially with respect to said laser rod whereby said cooling fluid is directed out of said aperture and impinges said laser rod in a direction normal to said longitudinal axis.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.