Laser enclosure

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9463525-B2
Application number	US-201414178377-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 12, 2014
Priority date	Nov 6, 2013
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

The present invention is an enclosure for a laser, the enclosure having positive pressure in the line to generate a positive gas flow within the enclosure so as to keep welding fumes, welding spatter and other contaminants off a laser beam lens.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A robotic welding system which comprises:
at least one robotic arm having a welding torch affixed to a distal end thereof;
at least one housing affixed to the at least one robotic arm in proximity to the welding torch, the housing containing at least one laser beam generator which generates at least one laser beam, said at least one laser beam egressing from said housing through at least one laser beam lens, said housing and welding torch in fixed, non-movable relationship to each other;
the housing further comprising an openable cover plate positioned toward the distal end of the of the robotic arm, said plate moving from an open to a closed position;
at least one source of compressed gas;
said at least one source of compressed gas flowing about said at least one laser beam generator and said at least one laser beam lens when said cover plate is in the open position and said at least one source of compressed gas not flowing when said cover plate is in the closed position; and
said cover plate being in the open position during setup of the robotic welding system and said cover plate being in the closed position during operation of the robotic welding system.

2. The robotic welding system of claim 1 wherein
said compressed gas is selected from the group consisting of air, helium, nitrogen, neon and argon.

3. The robotic welding system of claim 2 wherein
said compressed gas is air.

4. The robotic welding system of claim 1 wherein
said cover plate moves from the open to the closed position by manual operator intervention.

5. The robotic welding system of claim 1 wherein
said cover plate moves from the open to the closed position automatically.

6. The robotic welding system of claim 5 wherein
said openable cover plate moves from said open to said closed position by reciprocating action of a piston.

7. The robotic welding system of claim 6 wherein
said housing encloses at least said laser beam generator and said piston.

8. A robotic welding system which comprises:
at least one robotic arm having a welding torch positioned at a distal end thereof;
at least one laser beam having a laser beam lens in proximity to the welding torch, said laser beam lens and welding torch in fixed, non-movable relationship to each other;
at least one protective means for shielding said at least one laser beam lens from contaminants generated during a welding operation, said at least one protective means having at least an open and a closed position;
at least one source of a compressed gas entering said at least one protective means;
said at least one source of compressed gas flowing about at least said laser beam lens when said at least one protective means is in said open position and said at least one source of compressed gas not flowing when said at least one protective means is in the closed position; and
said at least one protective means being in the open position during setup of the robotic welding system and said at least one protective means being in the closed position during operation of the robotic welding system.

9. The robotic welding system of claim 8 wherein
said at least one source of compressed gas is selected from the group consisting of air, helium, nitrogen, neon and argon.

10. The robotic welding system of claim 9 wherein
said at least one source of compressed gas is air.

11. The robotic welding system of claim 8 wherein
said at least one protective means moves from the open to the closed position by manual operator intervention.

12. The robotic welding system of claim 8 wherein
said at least one protective means moves from the open to the closed position automatically.

13. The robotic welding system of claim 8 wherein
said at least one protective means is a combination of a housing for said at least one laser generator and a pivotable cover plate on said housing.

14. The robotic welding system of claim 13 wherein
said pivotable cover plate moves from said open to said closed position by reciprocating action of a piston.

15. The robotic welding system of claim 14 wherein
said housing encloses at least said laser beam generator and said piston.

Assignees

• Lincoln Global Inc

Inventors

• Patton Jr Donald M
• Lee Jung Hwa
• Gibson Craig A

Classifications

• B23K9/322 Primary

  Head protecting means · CPC title

• B23K9/1274

  Using non-contact, optical means, e.g. laser means · CPC title

• B23K9/0956 Primary

  using sensing means, e.g. optical · CPC title

• G01C3/00

  Measuring distances in line of sight; Optical rangefinders (tapes, chains or wheels for measuring length G01B3/00; active triangulation systems, i.e. using the transmission and reflection of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, G01S17/48) · CPC title

• B23K9/126

  Controlling the spatial relationship between the work and the gas torch (between wire tip and piece B23K9/073) · CPC title