IP Library Granted Patent US 7,580,439
Granted Patent B2
US 7,580,439 · App. 10/576,688 · Granted Aug 25, 2009

Gas laser oscillator

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,580,439
App. No.
10/576,688
Granted
Aug 25, 2009
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas laser oscillator appropriately detecting a clogging of a laying pipe of a sub ejection apparatus is disclosed. The gas laser oscillator according to the present invention includes a laser gas flow pipe, a driving part, a divide wall, a main ejection apparatus, a sub ejection apparatus, a detect portion, and a clogged laying pipe judge part. The laser gas flow pipe constitutes a circulating route of the laser gas. The driving part drives the air blower for blowing the laser gas. The divide wall separates the air blower and the driving part. The main ejection apparatus has a valve, and ejects laser gas from the laser gas flow pipe. The sub ejection apparatus ejects laser gas from the driving part. The detector detects an amount of laser gas ejected from the main ejection apparatus and the sub ejection apparatus. The clogged laying pipe judge part judges that the laying pipe of the sub ejection apparatus is clogged when an amount of ejected laser gas measured at a time the valve of the main ejection apparatus is closed is lower than a predetermined value.

Claims (17)

1. A gas laser oscillator comprising:

a discharge part for exciting laser gas;

an air blower for blowing the laser gas;

a laser gas flow pipe constituting a circulation route of laser gas between the discharge part and the air blower;

a driving part for driving the air blower;

a divide wall separating the air blower and the driving part;

a gas supply apparatus having at least one valve, and supplying laser gas to the laser gas flow pipe;

a main ejection apparatus having at least one valve and ejecting laser gas out from the laser gas flow pipe;

a sub ejection apparatus having a pipe ejecting the laser gas from the driving part of the air blower;

a detector for detecting an amount of laser gas flowing through the laser gas flow pipe;

a controller controlling each valve of the gas supply apparatus and the main ejection apparatus; and

a clogged laying pipe judge part judging the pipe of the sub ejection apparatus to be clogged when the detected amount of the laser gas is smaller than a predetermined value,

wherein a signal from the detector is input to the controller; and

wherein the controller compares the amount of the laser gas which is detected at a time the valve of the main ejection apparatus is closed, with a predetermined value.

2. The gas laser oscillator according to claim 1 , further comprising an opening and closing cycle detector for detecting an opening and closing cycle of the valves of the gas supply apparatus when the valve of the main ejection apparatus is closed,

wherein the clogged laying pipe judge part judging the pipe of the sub ejection apparatus is clogged when the detected opening and closing cycle is longer than a predetermined value.

3. The gas laser oscillator according to claim 1 , further comprising an alarm part generating an alarm when the clogged laying pipe judge part judges the pipe of the sub ejection apparatus is clogged.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Nov 24, 2008
From: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 021897/0689 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 25, 2007
From: HAYASHIKAWA, HIROYUKI; HONGU, HITOSHI; YAMAMOTO, ATSUKI
To: MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 019210/0817 →