Fluid Conduit Laser Delivery for Non-Planar Peening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Laser peening on non-planar surfaces is complex due to the need for precise focusing and significant water usage, which is costly and cumbersome, especially when water blankets are required to manage plasma shock waves and debris.
Innovation Solution
A delivery device that emits a columnar flow of fluid containing a laser beam, utilizing total internal reflectivity to maintain the beam within the fluid flow, which acts as both an optical conduit and a fluid blanket, eliminating the need for a separate water blanket and allowing flexible positioning on non-planar surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a water blanket is used to contain plasma and shock waves during laser peening, then the equipment is protected from damage, but the complexity of the system increases and significant water must be collected and drained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the plasma containment function and the optical delivery function into a single fluid stream. The fluid stream serves dual purposes: it contains the plasma and shock waves while simultaneously guiding the laser beam to the workpiece, eliminating the need for separate water delivery and drainage systems
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid stream performs multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as an optical waveguide for the laser beam, provides plasma containment through inertial confinement, and serves as a protective barrier between the laser equipment and the workpiece. This multi-functionality reduces system complexity while maintaining equipment protection
2Reliability
If a large water blanket is used to cover the workpiece during laser peening, then plasma is contained effectively, but the amount of water required is significant and costly to manage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential function of plasma containment from the traditional water blanket approach. Instead of using a large volume of water to cover the entire workpiece, the invention uses a focused fluid stream that delivers plasma containment precisely where needed at the laser impact zone, dramatically reducing water consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid stream provides plasma containment locally at the laser-workpiece interaction zone rather than requiring a widespread water blanket. The localized application of fluid maintains effective plasma confinement while minimizing the total quantity of water required
3Manufacturing precision
If the laser is focused onto a small area on the workpiece, then laser peening effectiveness is improved, but the robotic laser manipulation and delivery system becomes very complex for non-planar surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid stream acts as an intermediary optical waveguide that simplifies the laser delivery system. Instead of requiring complex robotic manipulation to maintain precise focus on non-planar surfaces, the fluid stream guides the laser beam along its path, with the beam naturally following the fluid stream's trajectory to the target area
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical robotic manipulation system with a fluid-based optical waveguide system. The fluid stream's physical properties (total internal reflection) enable optical guidance without requiring complex mechanical positioning and adjustment mechanisms
4Reliability
If the laser equipment is spaced several centimeters from the workpiece to avoid shock wave damage, then equipment protection is achieved, but maintaining laser focus over varying distances becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid stream serves as an intermediary medium that transmits the laser beam from the equipment to the workpiece while maintaining focus. The fluid stream's waveguide properties preserve beam coherence and focus over varying distances, eliminating the need for precise distance control while protecting equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The system becomes dynamic in its ability to accommodate varying distances between equipment and workpiece. The fluid stream adapts to different positioning scenarios while maintaining optical guidance, allowing the laser to remain focused on the workpiece regardless of distance variations
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables efficient laser peening on non-planar surfaces with reduced water usage, improved debris management, and simplified robotic positioning, while maintaining beam focus and energy coherence over varying distances.
Implementation Method 1
The beam is retained within the interior of the flow of fluid since the total internal reflectivity of the flow is sufficient do so
Implementation Method 2
The workpiece typically must have an ablative layer situated on it. However, it is also possible to perform laser peening without an ablative layer by ablating the surface of the workpiece itself
Implementation Method 3
with the water being employed to retain by inertial confinement a plasma pressure shock that is created from the laser impinging on the workpiece
Implementation Method 4
The flow of fluid thus effectively functions in the same fashion as fiber optic cable in that it contains therein the beam of electromagnetic energy based upon its having a sufficiently high total internal reflectivity. The flow of fluid that serves as a conduit for the beam also itself impinges on the workpiece and thus blankets the plasma and washes away the debris that forms from a laser peening operation
Data Source
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AI summary
A delivery device that is usable in a laser peening operation emits a columnar flow of a fluid that contains therein a beam of electromagnetic energy. The beam is retained within the interior of the flow of fluid since the total internal reflectivity of the flow is sufficient to do so. The flow of fluid that serves as a conduit for the beam also itself impinges on a workpiece and thus contains and washes away the plasma that forms from a laser peening operation, and this resists the plasma from reaching and possibly damaging the delivery device. The carrying of the beam in the columnar flow of fluid avoids the need to maintain a fixed distance between the delivery device and the workpiece, which simplifies the movement by a robotic manipulator of the delivery device along a non-planar surface of a workpiece during a laser peening operation.