US3597578A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Thermal cutting apparatus and method
Assignee: GRENX HOLDING
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Filing: 1968-03-13
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1988-03-13
Abstract
Abstract A workpiece is cut or gouged by moving a concentrated laser beam along its surface and directing on to the moving region of the workpiece, at which the laser beam is concentrated, a gas which produces an exothermic reaction at the heated workpiece and sweeps away the products of combustion. In apparatus for supplying a gas to a workpiece the gas is led into a tube and nozzle surrounding the laser beam and is directed at the workpiece through the same nozzle.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur Basil Joseph Sullivan
- 👤 Peter Thomas Houldcroft
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 18:56
CPC Classifications
C; C03; C03B; C03B33/00; C03B33/08; C03B33/085; C03B33/0855; B; B23; B23K; B23K26/00; B23K26/08; B23K26/10; B23K26/14; B23K26/142; B23K26/1435; B23K26/1438; B23K26/144; B23K26/1462; B23K26/1464; B23K26/147; B23K26/1476; B23K26/36; B23K26/361; B23K35/00; B23K35/22; B23K35/228; B26; B26F; B26F3/00; B26F3/06; B26F3/16; B28; B28D; B28D1/00; B28D1/22; B28D1/221; C03B33/082
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of cutting completely through a workpiece comprising: concentrating a laser beam on the workpiece; moving the beam and workpiece relatively to one another; directing a jet of a gas which produces an exothermic reaction onto the moving region of the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated to provoke the exothermic reaction at the heated workpiece; continuing the foregoing steps to cut completely through the workpiece; and sweeping products of combustion through the cut by means of the exothermically reactive gas jet.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of cutting completely through a workpiece comprising: concentrating a laser beam on the workpiece; moving the beam and workpiece relatively to one another; directing a jet of a gas which produces an exothermic reaction onto the moving region of the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated to provoke the exothermic reaction at the heated workpiece; continuing the foregoing steps to cut completely through the workpiece; and sweeping products of combustion through the cut by means of the exothermically reactive gas jet.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, additionally comprising subjecting the laser beam to a cyclically repetitive movement transverse to the direction of the cut.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method in accordance with claim 2, in which the relative movement between the laser beam and the surface is a combined linear movement in the required direction of cut and a circular movement symmetrical about the centerline of the cut.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the laser beam is focused slightly above the surface of the workpiece.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the laser is energized to give a pulse of higher power than its continuous rating to initiate the cutting or gouging process.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method in accordance with claim 1, in which the workpiece is stainless steel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as defined by claim 1 in which said jet of gas coaxially surrounds said laser beam.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of gouging a workpiece comprising: concentrating a laser beam onto a workpiece; moving the beam and the workpiece relatively to one another; and directing a jet of gas which produces an exothermic reaction onto the moving region of the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated to provoke an exothermic reaction of the heated workpiece, said gas jet being delivered to said workpiece at an angle less than 45* and under sufficient pressure to sweep away resulting reaction products.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of gouging a workpiece comprising: concentrating a laser beam onto a workpiece; moving the beam and the workpiece relatively to one another; and directing a jet of gas which produces an exothermic reaction onto the moving region of the workpiece at which the laser beam is concentrated to provoke an exothermic reaction of the heated workpiece, said gas jet being delivered to said workpiece at an angle less than 45* and under sufficient pressure to sweep away resulting reaction products.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of gouging a workpiece comprising: concentrating two laser beams on to the workpiece, the laser beams being directed at an angle to one another so that their beams converge to a point in the neighborhood of the surface of the workpiece to make parallel cuts which converge to a point below the workpiece surface; directing two jets of a gas which produces an exothermic reaction onto the workpiece, each jet being directed at an angle onto the moving region of the workpiece at which a different laser beam is concentrated to provoke an exothermic reaction at the heated workpiece; and sweeping products of combustion out of the resulting groove by means of the angled exothermically reactive gas jets.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
120 words
A method of gouging a workpiece comprising: concentrating two laser beams on to the workpiece, the laser beams being directed at an angle to one another so that their beams converge to a point in the neighborhood of the surface of the workpiece to make parallel cuts which converge to a point below the workpiece surface; directing two jets of a gas which produces an exothermic reaction onto the workpiece, each jet being directed at an angle onto the moving region of the workpiece at which a different laser beam is concentrated to provoke an exothermic reaction at the heated workpiece; and sweeping products of combustion out of the resulting groove by means of the angled exothermically reactive gas jets.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |