Containment plenum for laser irradiation and removal of material from a surface of a structure

• US 20060144834A1
• Filed: 02/28/2006
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Andrew P. Joseph, Jay R. Eastman, John Scott Phillips, Paul E. Denney, Paul M. Fallara
• Original Assignee: Andrew P. Joseph, Jay R. Eastman, John Scott Phillips, Paul E. Denney, Paul M. Fallara
• Inventors: Fallara, Paul M., Joseph, Andrew P., Denney, Paul E., Phillips, John S., Eastman, Jay R.
• Application Number:
  US11/363,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20060144834A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/121.840
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/032 using optical means
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/035 Aligning the laser beam automatically B23K26/042
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/042 Automatically aligning the laser beam
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/12 in a special atmosphere, e.g. in an enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/123 in an atmosphere of particular gases
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/127 in an enclosure
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/128 Laser beam path enclosures
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/16 Removal of by-products, e.g. particles or vapours produced during treatment of a workpiece by a fluid stream B23K26/142
• CPC Class Codes: B23K 26/206 Laser sealing

Abstract

A containment plenum is adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region of a structure to remove material from the structure. The containment plenum includes a window substantially transparent to the laser light. The window transmits laser light towards the interaction region and provides a barrier to 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 laser light and the compressed gas are transmitted through the nozzle towards the interaction region of the structure. The nozzle is either gas-cooled or liquid-cooled. The containment plenum further includes a resilient interface that resiliently contacts the structure and substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region.

Claims

1. A containment plenum adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region of a structure to remove material from the structure, the containment plenum comprising:

a window substantially transparent to the laser light, the window transmitting laser light towards the interaction region and providing a barrier to transport of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure;

a nozzle fluidly coupled to a source of compressed gas wherein the laser light and the compressed gas are transmitted through the nozzle towards the interaction region of the structure, wherein the nozzle is either gas-cooled or liquid-cooled; and

a resilient interface resiliently contacts the structure and substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region.

2. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is either air-cooled or water-cooled.

3. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the window is mounted in a removable assembly.

4. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the window focuses the laser light.

5. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the window provides a surface against which the compressed gas exerts pressure.

6. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the nozzle comprises copper.

7. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the nozzle is water-cooled.

8. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the resilient interface facilitates blocking sound from escaping outside the containment plenum.

9. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the resilient interface facilitates blocking the laser light from escaping outside the containment plenum.

10. The containment plenum of claim 9, wherein the containment plenum further comprises a extraction port in fluid communication with the interaction region, the extraction port adapted to extract the material from the containment plenum.

11. The containment plenum of claim 10, wherein the extraction port is fluidly coupled to a vacuum generator adapted to generate a vacuum to pull the material from the containment plenum.

12. The containment plenum of claim 1, wherein the resilient interface comprises a wire brush.

13. A containment plenum for delivering laser light to an interaction region of a structure to remove material from the structure, the containment plenum comprising:

means for coupling the containment plenum to a source of laser light;

means for transmitting the laser light through the containment plenum towards the interaction region along a light path;

means for transmitting gas towards the interaction region, wherein the gas is transmitted co-linearly with the laser light along at least a portion of the light path;

means for cooling the gas-transmitting means by either gas-cooling or liquid-cooling; and

means for confining the material and removing the material from the containment plenum.

14. A method of irradiating an interaction region of a structure with laser light to remove material from the structure, the method comprising:

coupling a containment plenum to a source of laser light;

transmitting the laser light through the containment plenum towards the interaction region along a light path;

transmitting gas towards the interaction region, wherein the gas is transmitted co-linearly with the laser light along at least a portion of the light path;

cooling at least a portion of the containment plenum through which the laser light is transmitted by either gas-cooling or liquid-cooling; and

confining the material and removing the material from the containment plenum.