Laser nozzle with mobile element

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10926352-B2
Application number	US-201816108382-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 22, 2018
Priority date	May 16, 2011
Publication date	Feb 23, 2021
Grant date	Feb 23, 2021

Abstract

The invention relates to a laser nozzle that can be used in laser cutting, notably with a fibre or disc laser, comprising a nozzle body comprising an axial housing passing axially through said nozzle body and comprising a first outlet orifice situated at the front face of the nozzle body, and a movable element comprising a skirt-forming front part arranged in the axial housing of the nozzle body, said movable element being capable of translational movement in the axial housing of the nozzle body and comprising an axial passage with a second outlet orifice opening onto the skirt-forming front part.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laser nozzle comprising:
a gas source, providing a gas stream,
a nozzle body comprising a front face, and an axial housing axially passing through said nozzle body and comprising a first outlet orifice situated at the front face of the nozzle body,
a movable element arranged in the axial housing of the nozzle body comprising a front part forming a skirt and an axial passage with a second outlet orifice emerging at the front part forming a skirt, said movable element being capable of a translational movement in the axial housing due to a gas pressure exerted on the movable element, wherein the second outlet orifice comprises an internal profile with a divergent frustoconical shape,
wherein the divergent frustoconical shape is configured to produce a controlled leakage of the gas stream between the skirt and a surface of a part to be cut, and wherein the controlled leakage is configured to assist in the formation of a fine gas layer under the skirt, which opposes the translational movement of the movable element, and holding the skirt a predetermined distance above the surface of the part to be cut, wherein the movable element is able to move between several positions comprising:
an idle position in which the skirt of the front part is retracted in the axial housing of the nozzle body, and
a working position in which the skirt of the front part projects outside the axial housing of the nozzle body, through the first outlet orifice.

2. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein the gas is concentrated by the skirt at the laser spot and thus a kerf, and thus improving cutting efficiency and metal expulsion.

3. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein of the first outlet orifice situated at the front face of the nozzle body, the front part forming a skirt of the movable element projects outside the axial housing through the first outlet orifice of the front face of the nozzle body.

4. The nozzle of claim 1 , wherein at least one sealing element is arranged between the nozzle body and the movable element.

Assignees

• Air Liquide

Inventors

• Debecker Isabelle
• Jouanneau Thomas
• Lefebvre Philippe

Classifications

• B23K26/14 Primary

  using a fluid stream, e.g. a jet of gas, in conjunction with the laser beam; Nozzles therefor (B23K26/12 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B23K26/38 Primary

  by boring or cutting · CPC title

• B23K26/1462 Primary

  Nozzles; Features related to nozzles · CPC title

• B23K26/064

  by means of optical elements, e.g. lenses, mirrors or prisms · CPC title