Underwater laser irradiation device and irradiation method

Abstract

To provide an underwater laser irradiation device which can extremely simplify the working process and maintenance and can remove removal materials from a plurality of objects P in a short time. [Solution] An object P is placed in a water tank 1. Gases generated by laser irradiation from a portable laser irradiation device 10 are collected. The water tank 1 is shaped like a metal box. A transparent heat-resistant glass irradiation surface 1A is provided on the front side where the laser is irradiated. An exhaust duct 2 is provided that penetrates the water tank 1 above the water. An air purifier 3 is provided to purify the gases discharged from the exhaust duct 2. A lid 4 is provided to seal the top, which is open when the laser is in use.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an underwater laser irradiation method and irradiation device that can reliably collect gases generated when a laser is irradiated onto an underwater object to remove deposits such as paint film and rust. [Background technology]

[0002] When a laser is applied to an object to remove rust, paint, etc. by evaporating or sublimating it, dust particles and harmful substances from the paint film, metal, etc. are scattered from the object into the surrounding area. Therefore, Patent Documents 1 and 2 describe devices that are configured to collect gases from an object placed in a water tank.

[0003] The device of Patent Document 1 is configured such that the workpiece 3 to be irradiated with the laser is placed at the bottom of the water tank 1, a suction cover 7 is installed above the workpiece 3 in the water, and gas generated from the workpiece 3 during laser irradiation is collected from the suction cover into a filter 8.

[0004] On the other hand, in Patent Document 2, a moving table 16 is placed at the bottom of a housing 18 that stores water, and a plate-shaped workpiece 3 is placed on this moving table 16. Then, a water flow is generated on the surface of the workpiece 3 in the water, and when ultraviolet pulsed laser light 1 is irradiated through this water flow, the resulting workpiece debris (dust) is moved from the surface of the workpiece to a filter 28 and removed. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 3268052 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-142971 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] However, both of the devices described in Patent Documents 1 and 2 have a fixed laser beam irradiator, and the lens is fixed in the water tank. Moreover, the workpiece needs to be precisely positioned, which is time-consuming and labor-intensive, making it difficult to quickly change multiple workpieces and remove deposits.

[0007] Moreover, the device in Patent Document 1 is configured such that the processing nozzle 4 to which the lens is fixed is installed inside the water tank. Also, the device in Patent Document 2 requires that the light introduction duct 14 to which the lens and mirror are fixed be placed above the water tank. Therefore, all of the conventional devices have a complex configuration and require a lot of effort for operation, maintenance, etc.

[0008] Therefore, the present invention has been devised to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an underwater laser irradiation device and irradiation method that is an apparatus for placing objects in a water tank and removing any attached matter with a laser, which can remove material from multiple objects P in a short period of time and makes the work process and maintenance extremely simple. [Means for solving the problem]

[0009] In order to achieve the above object, the first means of the present invention is: An underwater laser irradiation device that places an object P in a water tank 1, irradiates the underwater object P with a laser from a portable laser irradiation device 10, and collects the gas generated together with the removed object, The water tank 1 is a metal box-shaped body, and has an irradiation surface 1A made of transparent heat-resistant glass on the front side where the laser is irradiated. An exhaust duct (2) is provided that penetrates the water tank (1) above the water. The air conditioner is provided with an air purifier 3 that purifies the gas discharged from the exhaust duct 2.

[0010] The water tank 1 of the second means is configured to supply water into the water tank 1 from a water supply port 5 located above the opening 1C, and is equipped with a lid 4 that seals the opening 1C when the laser is in use, and a drain port 6 that drains used water.

[0011] The third means is an underwater laser irradiation method in which an object P is placed in a water tank 1, a laser is irradiated onto the underwater object P, and the gas generated along with the removed material is collected.The method consists in placing the water tank 1 within the laser focal length of a portable laser irradiation device 10, irradiating the object P in the water tank 1 with a laser from outside the water tank 1 using the portable laser irradiation device 10, and purifying the gas floating up from the water using an air purifier 3.

[0012] The fourth method is a method in which the object P is placed with the laser irradiation surface facing the front side of the aquarium 1, and the laser is irradiated onto the object P from outside the front side of the aquarium 1. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to the present invention, the work of removing rust and other substances can be performed by the portable laser irradiation device 10 simply by submerging the object P in the water tank 1. Therefore, there is no need to precisely set the position of the workpiece as in the conventional case, and the configuration of the device itself is extremely simple.

[0014] As a result, the work process and maintenance are extremely simple, and it is possible to remove the removed material from multiple objects P in a short time.

[0015] Furthermore, the gas generated from the object P is purified by the air purifier 3, and the removed substances mixed in the water in the tank 1 are discharged outside the tank 1 together with the wastewater, eliminating the risk of the removed substances and gas generated from the object P adhering to workers. In addition, vaporized harmful substances will not be inhaled by workers. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the present invention is used. [Figure 2] 1 is a schematic side view showing a state in which the present invention is used. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing the state in which water is supplied to the water tank of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of the main part showing the state in which water is being drained from the water tank of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The present invention provides a method for removing deposits such as paint and rust from an underwater object P by irradiating the object P with a laser from a portable laser irradiation device 10, thereby preventing the removed deposits from scattering and efficiently removing them.

[0018] The device of the present invention comprises a water tank 1, an exhaust duct 2, an air purifier 3, and a lid 4, and is a device that irradiates a laser onto an object P in water using a portable laser irradiation device 10. The illustrated portable laser irradiation device 10 is equipped with a laser head that focuses laser light output from a laser oscillation device 20 and irradiates the surface of the object P. Furthermore, the laser irradiation device is equipped with a focusing lens inside the main body that focuses the light on the surface of the object P.

[0019] The aquarium 1 is made of metal such as stainless steel and is shaped like a box with an open top. Furthermore, on the front side where the laser is irradiated, an irradiation surface 1A is formed of transparent heat-resistant glass. With this configuration, the laser is reflected by the metal, preventing it from penetrating the surrounding area, such as the back side of the aquarium 1.

[0020] The illustrated water tank 1 is a flat cube with a wide, horizontally elongated front surface and narrow bottom and side surfaces. The width of the water tank 1 is set within the range of the focal length of the focusing lens of the portable laser irradiation device 10.

[0021] This focal length within aquarium 1 becomes longer when object P is placed against the back side of aquarium 1 with its laser irradiation surface facing the front side of aquarium 1 (see Figure 1). On the other hand, the closer the laser irradiation surface of object P is to irradiation surface 1A of aquarium 1, the shorter the focal length becomes (see Figure 2). In this way, as long as the installation position of aquarium 1 is within the focal length of portable laser irradiation device 10, the focal position can be changed depending on the installation position of object P.

[0022] Exhaust duct 2 is a cylindrical member that penetrates the above-water portion of aquarium 1, and exhausts gases generated within aquarium 1 to the outside through this exhaust duct 2. In the illustrated example, it is installed so that it penetrates the above-water portion of the side of aquarium 1. Any material and configuration can be selected for exhaust duct 2, such as a flexible duct or a plastic duct. In addition, an exhaust port 1B that matches the opening diameter of exhaust duct 2 is formed at the connecting part of aquarium 1, and the connecting end of this exhaust port 1B and exhaust duct 2 is waterproof sealed.

[0023] The air purifier 3 is a device that purifies the gas discharged from the exhaust duct 2. The gas generated together with the removed matter from the target object P rises to the surface of the water and reaches the air purifier 3 through the exhaust duct 2. In the illustrated example, the air purifier 3 is configured to suck in the gas inside the aquarium 1, but it is also possible to use a separate suction device.

[0024] The lid 4 seals the opening 1C when the laser is in use. In the illustrated example, an intake valve 4A is formed on the top surface of the lid 4. When gas is discharged from the water tank 1, outside air is drawn into the water tank 1 through the intake valve 4A.

[0025] Water inlet 5 is located above opening 1C of tank 1 and is used to supply water into tank 1. Typically, a water faucet or the like is used as water inlet 5. After use, the water contains removed substances, and is drained from drain outlet 6 along with the removed substances.

[0026] To drain the water from the tank 1, it is drained through the drain outlet 6. In the illustrated example, the drain outlet 6 is provided at the bottom of the tank 1, and is opened and closed with a cock 6A. After draining the used water, it is also possible to remove the removed substances in a purification device.

[0027] The water tank 1 shown in the figure is configured to be freely movable by being equipped with a mounting base 7 and casters 8. This allows the water tank 1 to be moved to the most suitable position when pouring water, performing work, or draining an area.

[0028] Next, the method of the present invention will be described. First, the water tank 1 is placed within the laser focal distance of the portable laser irradiation device 10. Next, the object P is placed in the water tank 1. At this time, the surface of the object P to be irradiated with the laser is placed facing the front side of the water tank 1.

[0029] Then, a laser is irradiated from outside the tank 1 onto the object P in the water by a portable laser irradiation device 10. At this time, gas is generated from the object P along with the removed matter. The gas floating out of the water is then purified by an air purifier 3. The removed matter that has become mixed in the water is drained together with the water.

[0030] The configurations of the illustrated water tank 1, exhaust duct 2, air purifier 3, lid 4, etc. are not limited to the illustrated examples, and can be freely changed within the scope that does not change the gist of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] P Object 1 aquarium 1A irradiation surface 1B Exhaust port 1C opening 2 Exhaust duct 3. Air purifier 4 Lid 4A Intake valve 5 Water inlet 6 Drain port 6A Cock 7 Mounting table 8 Casters 10 Portable laser irradiation device 20 Laser Oscillator

Claims

1. An underwater laser irradiation device in which an object is placed in a water tank, a laser from a portable laser irradiation device is irradiated onto the underwater object, and the gas generated along with the removed material is collected, wherein the water tank is shaped like a metal box, has an irradiation surface on the front side where the laser is irradiated formed of transparent heat-resistant glass, has an exhaust duct that penetrates the above-water part of the water tank, and is equipped with an air purifier that purifies the gas discharged from the exhaust duct.

2. The water tank is configured to supply water into the water tank from a water supply port located above the opening, and is provided with a lid that seals the opening when the laser is in use, and a drain port for draining used water. The underwater laser irradiation device described in claim 1.

3. An underwater laser irradiation method in which an object is placed in a water tank, a laser is irradiated onto the underwater object, and gas generated together with the removed object is collected, An underwater laser irradiation method characterized by placing the water tank within the laser focal length of a portable laser irradiation device, irradiating the object in the water tank with a laser from outside the water tank using the portable laser irradiation device, and purifying gases that float up from the water using an air purifier.

4. 4. The underwater laser irradiation method according to claim 3, wherein the target is placed with a laser irradiation surface facing the front side of the water tank, and the laser is irradiated onto the target from outside the front side of the water tank.

Images