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US3906392A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Combination electron window-sustainer electrode for electron beam discharge devices

Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corp
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Filing: 1974-01-07
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Granted: 1975-09-16
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Expires: 1994-01-07
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Abstract

Abstract An integral sustainer electrode and electron beam window combination structure which is disposed across the window portion of an electron gun used in electron beam stabilized gas laser systems. The combination structure is non-reticulated and is located within a laser cavity to provide a relatively smooth nonreticulated wall which is substantially continuous with a wall of the laser cavity. In this way, supersonic flow streams of a laser gas can be introduced into the laser cavity in such manner as to minimize shock induced nonuniformities in the laser gas, and also to minimize electrode wave induced medium nonuniformities. A method of making the combination structure is also disclosed.

Inventors

  • 👤 Michael M Mann

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 19:44
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01J; H01J33/00; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/097; H01S3/09707; H01S3/10; H01S3/13

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim 105 words
An electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser comprising a vessel, means for introducing a laser gas under pressure into saiad vessel, electron accelerator means supported on said vessel for introducing a higher energy primary electron beam into said vessel, an integral first sustainer electrode and electron stream window combination structure located in the path of the electron beam of said accelerating means, said structure being positioned out of the main laser gas stream so as to minimize interference thereby with laser gas flow, and a second sustainer electrode spaced from said combination structure and cooperating therewith to establish a sustainer field electron stream thereacross.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 105 words
An electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser comprising a vessel, means for introducing a laser gas under pressure into saiad vessel, electron accelerator means supported on said vessel for introducing a higher energy primary electron beam into said vessel, an integral first sustainer electrode and electron stream window combination structure located in the path of the electron beam of said accelerating means, said structure being positioned out of the main laser gas stream so as to minimize interference thereby with laser gas flow, and a second sustainer electrode spaced from said combination structure and cooperating therewith to establish a sustainer field electron stream thereacross.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 32 words
The electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser system of claim 1 further characterized in that said combination structure is located within said cavity to provide a smooth wall in said cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 22 words
The electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser system of claim 1 further characterized in that said structure is a unitary member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 60 words
The electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser system of claim 1 further characterized in that support means is operatively associated with said electron accelerating means and said vessel, and that said combination structure is rigidly secured to said support means to provide a relatively smooth non-reticulated wall substantially continuous with a wall of said vessel forming the laser cavity.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 59 words
The electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser system of claim 1 further characterized in that support means is operatively associated with said electron accelerating means and said vessel, and that said combination structure is brazed to said support means to provide a relatively smooth nonreticulated wall substantially continuous with a wall of said vessel forming the laser cavity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 88 words
The electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser system of claim 1 further characterized in that support means is operatively associated with said electron accelerating means and includes a plurality of spaced apart support elements, said structure being rigidly secured to substantially all of said support elements to provide a window permitting passage of electrons, and to function as an electrode, and Means for masking to electron flow from the sustainer field electron stream certain portions of said combination structure which are not secured to said support elements.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 72 words
The electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser system of claim 1 further characterized in that said support means comprises a rectangularly shaped frame member with a plurality of spaced apart substantially parallel support elements extending across said frame member, and that the nonmasked areas of said combination structure are rigidly secured to said frame member and the spaced apart substantially parallel support elements and are conductive to sustainer field electron flow.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 40 words
The electron beam stabilized electrical discharge gas laser system of claim 7 further characterized in that said support frame is disposed over an open end of said electron accelerating means and is sealed thereto with an electrically conductive sealing ring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 104 words
An improvement in an electron beam stabilized gas laser device which uses an electron gun for generating a high energy primary electron beam across a laser gas contained within a laser cavity; the improvement comprising an integral first sustainer electrode and electron stream window combination structure positioned in the path of said electron beam and forming a window between the gun and the cavity, said structure being located out of the main laser gas stream so as to minimize interference thereby with laser gas flow, and a second sustainer electrode spaced from said structure and cooperating therewith to establish a sustainer electron field thereacross.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 104 words
An improvement in an electron beam stabilized gas laser device which uses an electron gun for generating a high energy primary electron beam across a laser gas contained within a laser cavity; the improvement comprising an integral first sustainer electrode and electron stream window combination structure positioned in the path of said electron beam and forming a window between the gun and the cavity, said structure being located out of the main laser gas stream so as to minimize interference thereby with laser gas flow, and a second sustainer electrode spaced from said structure and cooperating therewith to establish a sustainer electron field thereacross.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 34 words
The improvement in the electron beam stabilized gas laser device of claim 9 further characterized in that said combination structure is located within said cavity to form a smooth non-reticulated wall of said cavity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 52 words
The improvement in electron beam stabilized gas laser device of claim 9 further characterized in that support means is operatively associated with said electron gum and the said combination structure is rigidly secured to support means to provide a relatively smooth non-reticulated wall substantially continuous with a wall forming the laser cavity.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 91 words
The improvement in electron beam stabilized gas laser device of claim 9 further characterized in that support means is operatively associated with said electron gun and includes a plurality of spaced apart support elements, said structure being rigidly secured to substantially all of said support elements to provide a window permitting passage of electrons in the sustainer electron field and to function as an electrode, and means for masking to electron flow in the sustainer electron field certain portions of said combination structure which are not secured to said support elements.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

No citation records indexed.

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1978-09-15 1979-03-17 1979-09-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1982-09-15 1983-03-17 1983-09-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1986-09-15 1987-03-17 1987-09-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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