Laser processing head and annular nozzle for a laser processing head

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9969029-B2
Application number	US-201514664113-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 20, 2015
Priority date	Sep 21, 2012
Publication date	May 15, 2018
Grant date	May 15, 2018

Abstract

A laser processing head comprises an optical focusing unit for focusing a laser beam on a processing zone of a workpiece and an annular nozzle arranged coaxially with respect to a central axis of the laser beam for introducing an auxiliary gas into a region surrounding the processing zone. The annular nozzle is mounted on the laser processing head so as to be displaceable along the laser beam axis and can be secured to the laser processing head in different positions along the laser beam axis.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A laser processing head comprising:
an optical focusing unit for focusing a laser beam on a processing zone of a workpiece; and
an annular nozzle arranged coaxially with respect to a central axis of the laser beam for introducing an auxiliary gas into a region surrounding the processing zone,
wherein the annular nozzle is mounted on the laser processing head so as to be displaceable along the laser beam axis and can be secured to the laser processing head in different positions along the laser beam axis, wherein the annular nozzle is rigidly connected to a tubular portion of a supply line for the auxiliary gas and the tubular portion is displaceably mounted on the laser processing head, and wherein the tubular portion extends along the laser beam axis.

2. The laser processing head according to claim 1 , further comprising a clamping device for securing the tubular portion to the laser processing head in a clamped manner.

3. The laser processing head according to claim 1 , wherein the annular nozzle comprises at least one outlet opening that is oriented at an acute angle relative to the laser beam axis.

4. The laser processing head according to claim 1 , wherein the annular nozzle comprises a plurality of outlet openings that are each oriented at an acute angle relative to the laser beam axis.

5. The laser processing head according to claim 1 , wherein the annular nozzle comprises a first annular portion, a second annular portion, and a changing ring, which are releasably connected to each other and which together delimit an annular gas distribution chamber.

6. The annular nozzle according to claim 5 , wherein the changing ring comprises a plurality of outlet openings for the auxiliary gas.

7. The annular nozzle according to claim 6 , wherein the plurality of outlet openings are arranged with uniform spacing intervals between them.

8. The annular nozzle according to claim 6 , wherein at least one outlet opening has a varying flow cross-section.

9. An annular nozzle for a laser processing head for introducing an auxiliary gas into a region surrounding a processing zone of a workpiece, the annular nozzle comprising:
a first substantially radially outer annular ring, a second substantially radially inner annular ring, and a changing ring arranged between the first annular ring and the second annular ring, which are releasably connected to each other and which together delimit an annular gas distribution chamber,
wherein the first annular ring has a lateral inlet opening that opens to the gas distribution chamber to connect a supply line for the auxiliary gas and wherein the changing ring has at least one outlet opening for the auxiliary gas at an angle with respect to a laser beam axis, wherein the first and second annular rings have receiving surfaces for radially inserting the changing ring between the receiving surfaces of the first and second annular rings in a gas-tight assembly.

10. The annular nozzle according to claim 9 , wherein the changing ring has a plurality of outlet openings for the auxiliary gas.

11. The annular nozzle according to claim 10 , wherein the plurality of outlet openings are arranged with uniform spacing intervals between them.

12. The annular nozzle according to claim 9 , wherein at least one outlet opening has a varying flow cross-section.

13. The annular nozzle according to claim 9 , wherein a longitudinal axis of the at least one outlet opening is oriented at an acute angle with respect to a rotation axis of the annular nozzle.

14. The annular nozzle according to claim 9 , wherein the first annular ring and the second annular ring comprise a threading that enables these elements to be screwed to each other.

15. The annular nozzle according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one outlet opening of the changing ring extends from an axial inner side of the changing ring as far as an axial outer side of the changing ring.

Assignees

• Trumpf Laser Gmbh

Inventors

• Rominger Volker
• Broghammer Gerhard

Classifications

• B23K26/142

  for the removal of by-products · CPC title

• B23K26/147 Primary

  Features outside the nozzle for feeding the fluid stream towards the workpiece · CPC title

• B23K26/1462

  Nozzles; Features related to nozzles · CPC title

• B23K26/1438

  for directional control · CPC title