SYSTEMS AND ASSEMBLIES FOR TRANSFERRING HIGH POWER LASER ENERGY THROUGH A ROTATING JUNCTION

• US 20130266031A1
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Published: 10/10/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Foro Energy, Inc.
• Inventors: McKay, Ryan P., Fraze, Jason D., Rinzler, Charles C., Grubb, Daryl L., Faircloth, Brian O., Zediker, Mark S., Norton, Ryan J.
• Granted Patent: US 9,244,235 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 372/9
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2817 using reflective elements to split or combine optical signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3604 Rotary joints allowing relative rotational movement between opposing fibre or fibre bundle ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3871 Ferrule rotatable with respect to plug body, e.g. for setting rotational position adjusting fibre within the ferrule, G02B6/3843; Fixation of ferrules after rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H01S 3/08 Construction or shape of optical resonators or components thereof

Abstract

There are provided high power laser devices and systems for transmitting a high power laser beam across a rotating assembly, including optical slip rings and optical rotational coupling assemblies. These devices can transmit the laser beam through the rotation zone in free space or within a fiber.

Claims

1. A rotational junction transmission device for transmitting very high power laser energy, the device comprising:

a. a housing having a first end and a second end;

b. a first plate rotatably affixed to the first end of the housing, and a second plate affixed to the second end of the housing, wherein the first and second plates and the housing define a rotation junction there between;

c. a means for transferring a laser beam having at least about 20 kW of power across the rotation junction.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring comprises a pair of optical blocks, wherein each pair of optical blocks is optically associated with a laser beam path, whereby the optical block pair is capable of transmitting the laser beam across a rotation junction;

and wherein at least one of the pair of optical blocks passes through a second laser beam path.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein the means for transferring comprises an optical block having a plurality of transmissive reflective surfaces with in the block.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the means for transferring comprises at least four high power laser couplers.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein the optical block has at least four transmissive reflective surfaces and each surface is optically associated with a high power optical fiber.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the means for transferring comprises a ratchet mechanism.

7. A self adjusting optical slip ring for transmitting high power laser energy across a rotational transition, the slip ring comprising:

a first connector defining a mechanical, optical and thermal tolerance;

a second connector defining a mechanical, optical and thermal tolerance;

a launching body optics defining a mechanical, optical and thermal tolerance;

a receiving body optics defining a mechanical, optical and thermal tolerance tolerance; and

all tolerances below a predetermined level, whereby the optical slip ring is self-aligning.

8. An optical rotational coupling assembly, the assembly comprising:

a. a continuous length of a high power umbilical having a first end section and a second end section;

b. the end sections on either side of a rotational junction;

c. wherein the first end is fixed in a non-rotatable manner; and

,

d. wherein the second end rotatable, in a manner that does not twist the umbilical;

e. whereby the assembly is capable of delivering a laser beam across the rotational junction.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the assembly comprises:

a first non-rotating drum, a second rotating drum, and a revolving arm assembly.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein the umbilical is configured in a reversible helix.