Laser Module Curved Adjustment Surface Coolant Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser modules face challenges in efficiently cooling multiple laser units while maintaining compactness and allowing independent adjustment, as coolant supply hoses are cumbersome, prone to leaks, and disrupt the alignment of high-power laser beams.
Innovation Solution
A laser module design featuring a mounting unit with curved adjustment surfaces and O-ring seals for coolant channels, eliminating the need for hoses and enabling independent unit adjustment, with adjustable throttles for precise coolant flow and sensors for monitoring.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If coolant-carrying hoses are used to supply coolant to laser units, then the laser units can be cooled, but the hoses take up a lot of space, are difficult to assemble, and quickly lead to leaks
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting surface integrates both mechanical support and coolant supply functions. The cooling channel openings in the mounting surface are directly opposite the cooling channel openings in the laser unit adjustment surface, creating a direct fluid connection without external hoses. This merging of functions eliminates the complex hose assembly while improving reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The ring seal acts as an intermediary element that enables direct coolant flow between the mounting surface and laser unit while maintaining a leak-proof connection. The ring seal is positioned in a groove on the mounting surface and encloses the opposing cooling channel openings, serving as the mediator that allows adjustment while preventing leaks.
2Manufacturing precision
If individual laser units are adjusted independently for beam alignment, then precise optical alignment is achieved, but the coolant supply is disrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The ring seal serves as a mediator that decouples the adjustment mechanism from the coolant supply disruption. It allows the laser unit to be adjusted independently on the curved adjustment surface while maintaining a sealed connection for coolant flow, preventing disruption to the coolant supply during alignment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system separates the adjustment function (curved adjustment surface) from the coolant supply function (ring seal in groove), allowing independent optimization of each. The laser unit can be adjusted for precise beam alignment while the ring seal maintains stable coolant supply, resolving the conflict between these two requirements.
3Power
If multiple laser units are combined into a laser module for high power output, then the laser power is increased, but the space required for coolant supply and unit adjustment increases
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting surface merges multiple functions into a single component: mechanical support for laser units, direct coolant supply through opposite cooling channel openings, and adjustment reference surface. This integration eliminates the need for separate hoses and mounting structures, reducing the overall module volume while supporting multiple high-power laser units.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from a three-dimensional hose-based coolant supply to a two-dimensional planar connection through the mounting surface. The cooling channel openings are arranged in opposite planes, allowing direct coolant flow without requiring volumetric space for hoses, thus reducing the laser module volume while maintaining cooling capability for multiple units.
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
This design allows for efficient, space-saving cooling and precise adjustment of laser units, preventing leaks and ensuring consistent optical power by maintaining coolant tightness and flow control, resulting in a compact and reliable high-power laser module.
Implementation Method 1
the seal between the cooling channel opening in the adjustment surface and the cooling channel opening in the mounting surface is provided by a ring seal
Implementation Method 2
the laser diode bar heats up considerably and, in order to avoid its destruction, it must be intensively cooled. For this purpose, heat sinks are provided, which dissipate the heat loss of the laser diodes to a coolant
Implementation Method 3
Semiconductor diode lasers are state of the art in many areas of application
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The laser module (1) has two laser units (3) adjusted in such a manner that beams emitted by the laser units converge. The laser units exhibit multiple cooling channels (5) that are supplied with a coolant. A mounting unit (2) is provided with a mounting surface (10), where each laser unit is mounted on the mounting unit with a curved adjustment surface (9) in such a manner that a cooling channel orifice in the adjustment surface faces another cooling channel orifice in the mounting surface.