Spiral flow convective laser

• US 4,242,646 A
• Filed: 05/12/1978
• Issued: 12/30/1980
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Macken Laser Incorporated
• Original Assignee: John A. Macken
• Inventors: Macken, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Davie, James W.
• Application Number:
  US05/905,186
• Time in Patent Office: 963 Days
• Field of Search: 331/94.5 G, 331/94.5 D, 331/94.5 P, 331/94.5 PE
• US Class Current: 372/58
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/036 Means for obtaining or maintaining the desired gas pressure within the tube, e.g. by gettering, replenishing; Means for circulating the gas, e.g. for equalising the pressure within the tube H01S3/031 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/041 for gas lasers H01S3/0401 takes precedence

Abstract

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making high-powered lasers. More particularly, this invention relates to a method and apparatus for utilizing a spiral cooling fin design to achieve convective gas transport in a laser such as a CO₂ laser.

Claims

1. In a gas laser including means for supplying a lasing gas and means for producing an electrical discharge through said gas, the improvement comprising spiral fin assembly means for directing said gas in a spiral path, said spiral fin assembly means including at least one aperture in each fin through which said electrical discharge passes.

2. The laser recited in claim 1 wherein,

said spiral fin assembly includes a central support member, and

at least one fin structure attached to and supported by said central support member to define a spiral path around said central support member.

3. The laser recited in claim 2, wherein,

said central support member is hollow such that a cooling fluid can be passed therethrough.

4. The laser recited in claim 2 wherein,

said central support member is solid, and

an outer housing substantially concentric to and spaced from said central support member and connected to the outer ends of said fin structure.

5. The laser recited in claim 1 wherein,

said spiral fin assembly includes a plurality of individual segments which are electrically isolated from each other.

6. The laser recited in claim 1 including,

magnetic means disposed adjacent to said spiral fin assembly to control the path of said electrical discharge.

7. The laser recited in claim 1 including,

external casing means surrounding said spiral fin assembly to confine said gas.

8. In a gas laser including means for supplying a lasing gas and means for producing an electrical discharge through said gas, the improvement comprising fin assembly means for directing said gas in a predetermined path, said fin assembly means including at least one aperture in each fin of said fin assembly means through which said electrical discharge passes.