US3676798A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Cooling system for lasing media
Assignee: Unisys Corp
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Filing: 1969-10-13
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Granted: 1972-07-11
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Expires: 1989-10-13
Abstract
Abstract Heat generated within a lasing medium operating in a laser pumping cavity is efficiently removed from the pumping cavity by use of a heat sink located exterior of the cavity. A tube formed of a single crystal of sapphire surrounds the laser medium and extends through an end wall of the pumping cavity. There, the sapphire tube is in turn surrounded by a metal heat exchanger element that may be operated at cryogenic temperatures. Undesired condensation is prevented from forming adjacent the laser medium by forming the pumping cavity as a sealed chamber and evacuating it to a relatively low gas pressure.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald H Mcmahon
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 01:34
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/02; H01S3/04; H01S3/042; H01S3/0405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 3
Claim 1
Independent Claim
303 words
In combination: an elongate body of lasable material having a substantially cylindrical surface and first and second ends, said lasable body having a length between said ends substantially greater than the transverse dimension of said body, reflective means at said ends for forming an energy radiating resonant cavity about said lasable body, an elongate homogeneous body of material relatively transparent in the wave length range suitable for pumping said lasable body, said transparent body taking the form of a hollow tube having substantially coaxial inner and outer surfaces, said cylindrical surface of said lasable body being disposed in intimate contact with said inner surface of said transparent hollow tube for efficient transfer of heat from said lasable body to said hollow tube over substantially the total area of said cylindrical surface of said lasable body, an elongate metal body of relatively high heat conductivity, said body taking the form of a hollow metal element having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, said outer surface of said transparent hollow tube being disposed in intimate contact with said inner surface of said metal body for efficient transfer of heat from said transparent hollow tube to said metal body over substantially the total area of said cylindrical inner surface of said metal body, means for cooling said metal body, said metal body being spaced on said transparent hollow tube from said lasable body in non-overlapping relation therewith, means for projecting pumping energy through said body of transparent material for substantially uniformly illuminating the total of said cylindrical surface of said lasable material, and wherein said elongate tubular body of transparent material has an effective direction of heat conductivity lying substantially parallel to said inner and outer coaxial surface of said elongate hollow tubular body for efficient transfer of heat from said lasable body to said metal body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
303 words
In combination: an elongate body of lasable material having a substantially cylindrical surface and first and second ends, said lasable body having a length between said ends substantially greater than the transverse dimension of said body, reflective means at said ends for forming an energy radiating resonant cavity about said lasable body, an elongate homogeneous body of material relatively transparent in the wave length range suitable for pumping said lasable body, said transparent body taking the form of a hollow tube having substantially coaxial inner and outer surfaces, said cylindrical surface of said lasable body being disposed in intimate contact with said inner surface of said transparent hollow tube for efficient transfer of heat from said lasable body to said hollow tube over substantially the total area of said cylindrical surface of said lasable body, an elongate metal body of relatively high heat conductivity, said body taking the form of a hollow metal element having a substantially cylindrical inner surface, said outer surface of said transparent hollow tube being disposed in intimate contact with said inner surface of said metal body for efficient transfer of heat from said transparent hollow tube to said metal body over substantially the total area of said cylindrical inner surface of said metal body, means for cooling said metal body, said metal body being spaced on said transparent hollow tube from said lasable body in non-overlapping relation therewith, means for projecting pumping energy through said body of transparent material for substantially uniformly illuminating the total of said cylindrical surface of said lasable material, and wherein said elongate tubular body of transparent material has an effective direction of heat conductivity lying substantially parallel to said inner and outer coaxial surface of said elongate hollow tubular body for efficient transfer of heat from said lasable body to said metal body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
Apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said elongate tubular body of transparent material is comprised of crystalline sapphire having its most effective direction of heat conductivity lying substantially parallel to said inner and outer coaxial surfaces of said elongate hollow tubular body for efficient transfer of heat from said lasable body to said metal body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3353115A
Cited
US3339150A
Cited
US3387227A
Cited
US3361989A
Cited
US3471801A
Cited
US3339151A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-07-11 | 1976-01-10 | 1976-07-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-07-11 | 1980-01-10 | 1980-07-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-07-11 | 1984-01-10 | 1984-07-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |