Containment plenum for laser irradiation and removal of material from a surface of a structure
First Claim
1. A containment plenum adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region of an inhabitable structure to remove material from the structure, the containment plenum comprising:
- a plenum housing adapted to be coupled to a source of laser light;
a window substantially transparent to the laser light, the window mounted within the plenum housing to transmit the laser light in a downstream direction and to provide a barrier to upstream transport of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure;
a nozzle fluidly coupled to a source of compressed gas, the nozzle mounted downstream of the window whereby the laser light and the compressed gas are transmitted through the nozzle in the downstream direction to the interaction region of the structure; and
a resilient interface coupled to the plenum housing and adapted to resiliently contact the structure and to substantially surround the interaction region, thereby confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A containment plenum is adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region of an inhabitable structure to remove material from the structure. The containment plenum includes a plenum housing adapted to be coupled to a source of laser light. The containment plenum further includes a window substantially transparent to the laser light. The window is mounted within the plenum housing to transmit the laser light in a downstream direction and to provide a barrier to upstream transport of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure. The containment plenum further includes a nozzle fluidly coupled to a source of compressed gas. The nozzle is mounted downstream of the window whereby the laser light and the compressed gas are transmitted through the nozzle in the downstream direction to the interaction region of the structure. The containment plenum further includes a resilient interface coupled to the plenum housing and adapted to resiliently contact the structure and to substantially surround the interaction region, thereby confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A containment plenum adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region of an inhabitable structure to remove material from the structure, the containment plenum comprising:
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a plenum housing adapted to be coupled to a source of laser light;
a window substantially transparent to the laser light, the window mounted within the plenum housing to transmit the laser light in a downstream direction and to provide a barrier to upstream transport of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure;
a nozzle fluidly coupled to a source of compressed gas, the nozzle mounted downstream of the window whereby the laser light and the compressed gas are transmitted through the nozzle in the downstream direction to the interaction region of the structure; and
a resilient interface coupled to the plenum housing and adapted to resiliently contact the structure and to substantially surround the interaction region, thereby confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A containment plenum adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region of an inhabitable structure to remove material from the structure, the containment plenum comprising:
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means for coupling the containment plenum to a source of laser light;
means for transmitting the laser light through the containment plenum in a downstream direction to the interaction region;
means for inhibiting upstream transport of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure; and
means for confining the material and removing the material from the containment plenum.
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14. A method of irradiating an interaction region of an inhabitable structure with laser light to remove material from the structure, the method comprising:
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coupling a containment plenum to a source of laser light;
transmitting the laser light through the containment plenum in a downstream direction to the interaction region;
inhibiting upstream transport of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure; and
confining the material and removing the material from the containment plenum.
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Specification