Laser output device based on hollow-core optical fiber

Abstract

A laser output device based on a hollow-core optical fiber is suitable for laser processing equipment and comprises an optical cable output connector, a cage type structure assembly and a tubular shell, the tail end of the hollow-core optical fiber is arranged in a sealed environment through the optical cable output connector and used for outputting laser, and the cage type structure assembly comprises an adapter, a mounting plate and a connecting rod. And the tubular shell is used for being connected with the optical cable output connector and transmitting laser to a laser processing head, and the tubular shell is used for packaging the cage type structure assembly to achieve a modularization effect. According to the utility model, flexible modular design is adopted, and the output end of the optical fiber can be conveniently connected to the laser processing head through integration; the device replaces the traditional mode that light beams are transmitted to a laser processing head through free space light beams, the cost of laser processing equipment can be effectively reduced, the characteristics of the hollow-core optical fibers are combined, and the device can show stability under different conditions and under most light sources.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The utility model relates to laser device technical field especially, it relates to a kind of laser output device based on hollow optical fiber, it can be applied to laser processing industry. BACKGROUND

[0002] With the rapid development of manufacturing industry, the demand for laser processing technology is increasing, especially in the field of aviation, automobile, electronics, etc., there is an urgent need for high-precision, high-efficiency laser processing technology. However, the traditional laser processing system mostly relies on free-space transmission mode, that is, the laser beam travels along the preset fixed path, after going through a series of complex optical system components, it is finally guided to the laser processing head and completes the focusing processing on the workpiece surface. This mode not only leads to the complexity of the whole laser processing system structure, but also significantly increases the construction cost of the system and the subsequent maintenance burden.

[0003] Compared with the traditional way, flexible transmission has great advantages in industrial applications. The main advantages of fiber transmission are flexibility and lightness. Applications that previously required joint arms or heavy robot solutions greatly benefit from fiber transmission. Fiber beam transmission also has lower alignment sensitivity, which can reduce dust and particle pollution and reduce the number of optical elements. Due to higher availability, fiber-based beam transmission has significant cost advantages. Currently, in high peak power applications, light is confined in air (or other gases) by hollow-core optical fibers, which can effectively control dispersion and nonlinear effects.

[0004] Although the flexible transmission technology based on optical fiber has brought unprecedented flexibility to laser processing, there are still challenges in size and weight control in the process of seamlessly integrating laser sources into various application systems or mechanical devices. Therefore, developing more compact and highly integrated laser beam transmission solutions to further reduce system size and weight has become a key problem to be solved. This not only promotes the wide application of laser processing technology, but also plays an important role in improving production efficiency and reducing cost. SUMMARY

[0005] The utility model aims at: in order to overcome prior art problems, provide laser output device based on hollow optical fiber, replace free-space beam output to laser processing head by modularization setting, to reduce complexity and cost.

[0006] A laser output device based on hollow optical fiber, characterized in that it comprises:

[0007] An optical cable output connector is used to place the end of the hollow optical fiber in a sealed environment and output laser;

[0008] A cage-like structural assembly includes an adapter, a mounting plate, and a connecting rod. The adapter has a cylindrical center and a flange at the top for connection to the optical cable output connector. The adapter and the mounting plate are a coaxial system. The base of the adapter and the surface of the mounting plate have through holes for use with the connecting rod. The mounting plate can move freely along the connecting rod and is fastened through threaded holes on the side of the through holes after reaching the desired position. Different beam-shaping optical elements are mounted on the mounting plate according to the required beam size.

[0009] The tubular housing is used to encapsulate the cage-like structural assembly, serving a modular function. Each side has a groove to secure the parts inside the cage-like structural assembly.

[0010] Preferably, the optical cable output connector includes a hollow optical fiber, a metal armored cable, and an optical fiber output end cavity.

[0011] Preferably, the metal armor cable is used to encase the hollow optical fiber, which can enhance the mechanical strength of the optical fiber, enabling the hollow optical fiber to withstand external pressure and resist wear.

[0012] Preferably, the optical fiber output cavity includes a water chamber and an air chamber from top to bottom. The upper end of the water chamber is provided with two water cooling interfaces that can be connected to a water chiller and a gas interface that can be connected to an air pump, which are used to inject water into the water chiller and discharge water and to fill or discharge gas into or out of the hollow optical fiber, respectively.

[0013] Preferably, the optical cable output connector has a window at the beam exit position to provide sealing and protection.

[0014] Preferably, the adapter has a cylindrical structure at its center and a flange at its top with external threads, which is used to fit the flange on the optical fiber output cavity.

[0015] Preferably, the adapter and mounting plate are a coaxial system. The base of the adapter and the surface of the mounting plate are provided with through holes, which can be used in conjunction with the connecting rod. The mounting plate can move freely along the connecting rod and can be fastened through the threaded hole on the side of the through hole after reaching the desired position.

[0016] Preferably, the mounting plate can be fitted with different beam shaping elements according to the required beam size, including collimating lenses of the required beam size, wherein the collimating lenses include at least one lens.

[0017] Preferably, the beam-shaping optical element includes at least one lens, which is a plano-convex lens or any other equivalent optical element, for collimating diverging laser beams.

[0018] Preferably, each side of the tubular housing is provided with two grooves to facilitate the fixing of each part within the cage-like structure assembly, thereby increasing the stability of the system.

[0019] This application proposes a laser output device based on hollow-core optical fiber, suitable for laser processing equipment. The optical fiber is installed within an optical cable output connector, and instead of a fixed beam path, multiple mirrors are used, resulting in excellent beam pointing stability. Furthermore, the device employs a flexible modular design, allowing for easy connection of the optical fiber output end to the laser processing head. This device replaces the traditional method of transmitting the beam to the laser processing head via free space, effectively reducing the cost of laser processing equipment. Reduced complexity and simplified maintenance improve the operation of the entire laser processing system. Additionally, the characteristics of hollow-core optical fiber enable the device to exhibit stability under various conditions and with most laser sources. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an embodiment of the laser output device based on hollow optical fiber according to this utility model;

[0021] Figure 2 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the output connector structure of the optical fiber cable;

[0022] Figure 3 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the medium-cage structure component;

[0023] Figure 4 for Figure 1 Schematic diagram of the tubular shell structure;

[0024] In the picture:

[0025] Optical Fiber Output Connector-1: Hollow-core Optical Fiber-11, Metal Armored Cable-12, Optical Fiber Output End Cavity-13: First Water-cooling Interface-131, Gas Interface-132, Second Water-cooling Interface-133, Water Chamber-134, First Flange-135, Gas Chamber-136, Window Frame-137

[0026] Cage structure component-2: adapter-21, mounting plate-23, connecting rod-22;

[0027] 3. Tubular shell. Detailed Implementation

[0028] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of this utility model. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of this utility model from the content disclosed in this specification. This utility model can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can also be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of this utility model. It should be noted that, unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features described therein can be combined with each other.

[0029] It should be noted that, in order to make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of this utility model clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of this utility model will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The components of the embodiments of this utility model described and shown in the accompanying drawings herein can typically be arranged and designed in various different configurations.

[0030] Therefore, the following detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention provided in the accompanying drawings is not intended to limit the scope of the claimed invention, but merely to illustrate selected embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without inventive effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0031] It should be noted that similar labels and letters in the following figures indicate similar items. Therefore, once an item is defined in one figure, it does not need to be further defined and explained in subsequent figures.

[0032] It should be noted that when a component is described as being "fixed to," "attached to," or "mounted to" another component, it can be directly on the other component, or there can be one or more intermediate components between them. When a component is described as being "connected to" another component, it can be directly connected to the other component, or there can be one or more intermediate components between them.

[0033] In the description of this utility model, it should also be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "set," "install," "connect," and "link" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection; they can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; and they can refer to the internal connection of two components. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this utility model based on the specific circumstances.

[0034] Furthermore, it should be noted that unless otherwise specified, the specific structures, connections, positions, power sources, etc. involved in this utility model are all things that a person skilled in the art can know without creative effort based on the prior art.

[0035] Please refer to the following: Figure 1 and Figure 2 The diagrams show an exploded view and a corresponding assembly view of a laser output device based on hollow optical fiber according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device includes an optical cable output connector 1, a cage-like structure assembly 2, and a tubular housing 3.

[0036] Optical fiber output connector 1, used to place the end of the hollow fiber in a sealed environment to avoid contamination, while simultaneously outputting laser light, includes:

[0037] Hollow-core fiber 11: Used for transmitting laser light.

[0038] Metal armor cable 12: It is fitted over the hollow optical fiber 11 to enhance the mechanical strength of the hollow optical fiber, so that the hollow optical fiber 11 can withstand external pressure and is not easily worn. It enhances the mechanical strength of the optical fiber, protects the optical fiber from external pressure and wear, and ensures the stability of laser transmission.

[0039] The fiber optic output cavity 13 consists of a water chamber and an air chamber from top to bottom. The water chamber is equipped with a water-cooling interface, which can be connected to a water chiller for cooling the fiber optic cable. The air chamber is equipped with a gas interface, which can be connected to an air pump for filling or venting gas, thereby realizing temperature control and gas management of the fiber optic cable.

[0040] Window: Located at the beam exit position and fixed by window frame 137. The window frame is fastened to the fiber output cavity by threaded connection to ensure the sealing and mechanical strength of the connection.

[0041] Cage-type structural component 2 connects to the optical cable output connector and transmits the laser to the laser processing head, including

[0042] Adapter 21: It has a cylindrical structure at the center and a flange at the top for connecting to the fiber optic output cavity 13, ensuring continuous laser transmission. The base and mounting plate of the adapter have through holes for use with a connecting rod.

[0043] Mounting plate 23: It can move freely along the connecting rod 22 to facilitate beam position adjustment. Once the desired position is reached, it can be secured through the threaded hole on the side of the through hole. Different beam-shaping optical elements, such as collimating lenses, can be mounted on the mounting plate according to the required beam size. In addition, positioning holes can be added to the mounting plate for initial positioning.

[0044] Connecting rod 22: Used to connect adapter 21 and mounting plate 33, providing stable support and adjustment functions.

[0045] The tubular housing 3 encapsulates the entire coaxial system, increasing its stability and modularity. Each side of the tubular housing 3 has two grooves to facilitate securing components within the cage-like structure assembly, thus improving the overall stability of the system.

[0046] The other end of the optical cable output connector 1 is connected to an input connector (not shown), which has the same structure and will not be described in detail here. The metal armor cable-12 is used to mount the hollow optical fiber-11. It has an axially continuous installation space (not shown) inside to hold the optical fiber, which enhances the mechanical strength of the fiber and allows the hollow optical fiber-11 to withstand external pressure and is less prone to wear. The optical fiber output end cavity-13 has a first flange-135 extending outward from it, which is characterized by eight evenly distributed M4 internal thread holes. The optical fiber output end cavity-13 includes a water chamber-134 and an air chamber-136 from top to bottom. The upper end of the water chamber-134 has a first water-cooling interface-131 and a second water-cooling interface-133 for connecting to a water chiller, and a gas interface-132 for connecting to an air pump, used respectively for injecting and discharging water into the water chiller and filling or discharging gas into or out of the hollow optical fiber-11. A window (not shown) is installed at the beam exit position of the optical fiber output cavity-13 to provide sealing and protection.

[0047] In this embodiment, the window is fixed to the optical fiber output cavity -13 by a window holder -137. The lower end of the optical fiber output cavity -13 has an external thread structure, while the window holder -137 has a matching internal thread. This allows the window holder -137 to be securely fastened to the optical fiber output cavity -13 via a threaded connection, facilitating installation and disassembly and ensuring the sealing and mechanical strength of the connection. It should be noted that, according to one aspect of this patent, the optical fiber output cavity -13 and the window holder -137 can be fixed through various mechanical connection methods, including but not limited to threaded connections, snap-fit ​​connections, magnetic connections, or any other equivalent detachable connection mechanism. These connection methods are all designed to ensure a stable connection between the window and the optical fiber output cavity -13, and will not be detailed here.

[0048] The cage-type structure assembly-2 includes an adapter-21, a mounting plate-23, and a connecting rod-22, which are used to connect the optical cable output connector-1. The tubular housing-3 is used to encapsulate the cage-type structure assembly-2, serving a modular function, and the rear end can be used to connect to the processing head (not shown) of a laser processing equipment.

[0049] The aforementioned cage-type structure component-2 includes an adapter-21, a mounting plate-23, and a connecting rod-22. The adapter-21 and mounting plate-23 form a coaxial system. The adapter-21 has a cylindrical center and a second flange-211 at its top, with external threads for connection. Specifically, the optical cable output connector-1 is connected to the adapter-21 using eight M4 screws, ensuring both system stability and coaxiality of the components. The base-212 of the adapter and the surface of the mounting plate-23 have through holes for use with the connecting rod-22. The mounting plate-23 can move freely along the connecting rod and can be tightened through the threaded holes on the side of the through holes after reaching the desired position, ensuring the flexibility and adjustability of the mounting plate-23 while providing a stable and reliable fixing method. Specifically, the adapter-21 is longitudinally connected to the four connecting rods-22 by four M3 countersunk screws. The base-212 of the adapter has 16 M2 screw holes on its side, with four M2 screw holes on each side. The adapter-21 and connecting rods-22 are transversely connected to the four connecting rods-22 by the 16 M2 screw holes.

[0050] Furthermore, this patent also considers the specific needs of different application scenarios. In some practical applications, it may be necessary for the mounting plate-23 to automatically position and fix itself when slid to a specific position. Therefore, this invention proposes another improvement: adding positioning holes to the mounting plate-23. These positioning holes are specially designed to match specific size requirements, allowing the mounting plate-23 to be directly engaged through these positioning holes when slid to the corresponding position, thus achieving initial positioning. To ensure the stability and safety of the final installation, it is still recommended to use the aforementioned threaded holes for the final tightening operation.

[0051] The mounting plate-23 can accommodate different beam-shaping optical elements according to the required beam size, including collimating lenses of the required beam size, each collimating lens comprising at least one lens. In this embodiment, the mounting plate-23 has a 2-inch threaded hole internally, which is converted to a 1-inch threaded hole using a conversion part-25 to match a 1-inch plano-convex lens-24. The mounting plate-23 has 16 M2 screw holes on its sides, with 4 M2 screw holes on each side. The mounting plate-23 and the connecting rods-22 are connected laterally to the four connecting rods-22 via the 16 M2 screw holes.

[0052] For the aforementioned laser output device, each side of the tubular housing-3 is provided with two M4 countersunk grooves, which facilitates the fixing of each part in the cage structure assembly-2, avoiding displacement or loosening caused by vibration or external force, thereby increasing the coaxiality and stability of the system.

[0053] This application proposes a laser output device based on hollow-core optical fiber, suitable for laser processing equipment. The optical fiber is installed within an optical cable output connector, and instead of a fixed beam path, multiple mirrors are used, resulting in excellent beam pointing stability. Furthermore, the device employs a flexible modular design, allowing for easy connection of the optical fiber output end to the laser processing head. This device replaces the traditional method of transmitting the beam to the laser processing head via free space, effectively reducing the cost of laser processing equipment. Reduced complexity and simplified maintenance improve the operation of the entire laser processing system. Additionally, the characteristics of hollow-core optical fiber enable the device to exhibit stability under various conditions and with most laser sources.

[0054] The above description is only a preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the present utility model. Any modifications, equivalent substitutions and improvements made within the spirit and principles of the present utility model should be included within the protection scope of the present utility model.

Claims

1. A laser output device based on hollow optical fiber, characterized in that, include: Optical fiber output connectors are used to place the ends of hollow optical fibers in a sealed environment and output laser light. A cage-like structural assembly includes an adapter, a mounting plate, and a connecting rod. The adapter has a cylindrical center and a flange at the top for connection to the optical cable output connector. The adapter and the mounting plate are a coaxial system. The base of the adapter and the surface of the mounting plate have through holes for use with the connecting rod. The mounting plate can move freely along the connecting rod and is fastened through threaded holes on the side of the through holes after reaching the desired position. Different beam-shaping optical elements are mounted on the mounting plate according to the required beam size. The tubular housing is used to encapsulate the cage-like structural assembly, serving a modular function. Each side has a groove to secure the parts inside the cage-like structural assembly.

2. The laser output device based on hollow optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The optical cable output connector includes a hollow optical fiber, a metal armored cable, and an optical fiber output cavity. The metal armored cable is fitted over the hollow optical fiber. The optical fiber output cavity includes a water chamber and an air chamber from top to bottom. The upper end of the water chamber is provided with two water-cooling interfaces that can be connected to a water chiller, which are used to inject water into the water chiller and discharge water, respectively. The air chamber is provided with a gas interface that can be connected to an air pump, which is used to fill or discharge gas into the hollow optical fiber.

3. A laser output device based on hollow optical fiber according to claim 2, characterized in that, The metal armored cable has an axially continuous installation space inside to house the hollow optical fiber.

4. A laser output device based on hollow optical fiber according to claim 2, characterized in that, The optical fiber output cavity has a window at the beam outlet position and is fixed to the optical fiber output cavity by a window frame. The lower end of the optical fiber output cavity has an external thread structure, and the window frame has a matching internal thread to achieve fastening with the optical fiber output cavity by threaded connection.

5. A laser output device based on hollow optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The adapter is connected to the optical cable output connector and the connecting rod by screws to ensure the stability of the system and the coaxiality of the components.

6. A laser output device based on hollow optical fiber according to claim 1, characterized in that, The mounting plate has threaded holes inside, which can be converted into threaded holes of different sizes by a conversion part to match beam shaping elements of different sizes.

7. A laser output device based on hollow optical fiber according to claim 6, characterized in that, The beam-shaping optical element includes at least one lens, which is a plano-convex lens or any equivalent optical element, for collimating diverging laser beams.

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