JPS6197980A - Laser cooling device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a laser from being damaged due to a breakdown of the hoses by a method wherein a liquid tank is interposed on the return path for the reflux of the cooling water and the high-pressure vapor in the liquid tank is securely guided to the outside by the pressure escape means provided at the upper part of the liquid tank. CONSTITUTION:A liquid tank 39 is interposed on the halfway of the return path for the reflux of the cooling water, which is heated by a laser 30 and is made to rise to high temperatures. This liquid tank 39 is provided with a pressure escape means 40, such as a hole 41, which interpenetrates between the interior of the liquid tank 39 and the outside and is used for enabling the high pressure at a time, when the vapor pressure in the interior thereof rises, to escape. The other end of a hose 37, which is led out of an Ar laser head 31, is led into water 42 poured into the liquid tank 39, while the other end of a hose 38 connected with a pump 34 is similarly led into the water 42. By this method, the high-pressure vapor can be securely guided to the outside. As a result, the damage of the laser 30, which is caused by a breakdown of the hoses, can be avoided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to a laser cooling device for cooling a laser device.

(Description of Prior Art) There are various types of lasers, each of which is used in a variety of fields. Recently, for example, Ar lasers and He-Ne lasers have been used in the field of information recording.

An example of such an information recording device is a computer output device that records print data (variable information) from a computer together with desired form data (fixed information) on a microform using a laser as a scanning light.
Microfilm equipment j1η (hereinafter simply referred to as "laser COM")
(referred to as J).

First of all, regarding the scanning optical system of this laser COH, 41!
The main points will be briefly explained using FIG.

1 is an argon (Ar) laser for recording, and a blue-green light beam from the laser 1 is intensity-modulated by a video signal to be described later by an optical modulator 2, and then passes through a first microink mirror 3. . On the other hand, the He-Ne laser 4 for reading
The red laser beam passes through the first reflecting mirror 5 and enters the first tyro-ink mirror 3 f14, where it is reflected and combined with the recording light beam that has passed through the first tyro-ink mirror 3. The light then passes through the second reflecting mirror 6 and enters the rotating polygon mirror 7.

The rotating polygon mirror 7 is rotating at a constant speed in a predetermined direction. Therefore, the combined light beam incident on each mirror surface of the rotating polygon mirror 7 is reflected by each mirror surface and deflected (hereinafter referred to as "
The light is then incident on the second gichroic mirror 8 where it is converted into a composite light beam as a one-dimensional scanning light having a repetition period for each reflected light from each mirror surface. In this second tichroic mirror 8, among the combined light beams, the blue-green and red light beams are transmitted toward the carpano mirror 9, or a part of the red light beam is reflected and sent to the linear encoder 10. is also incident. This linear encoder 10 is formed of a large number of transparent and opaque linear gratings arranged in stripes with equal pinches parallel to the horizontal deflection direction.

The light beam that has passed through the linear encoder 10 is intermittent depending on the scanning position, and this intermittent light beam is photoelectrically converted by the first photomultiplier tube 11 and sent to the clock generator 12.
From this, a clock signal No. 12 is generated, and the Carnot drive device 13 is driven by this clock signal.

The recording light beam incident on the Calpa mirror 9 is deflected (hereinafter referred to as
(referred to as "vertical deflection").

The light beam vertically deflected by the Calpa mirror 9 is converted into one-dimensional scanning light by the rotating polygon mirror 7.
Due to this vertical deflection, the light becomes a two-dimensional scanning light and enters the third gicroic mirror 14, whereupon it is separated into light beams of blue-green light and red light.

The two-dimensional scanning light of the light beam transmitted through the third tichroic mirror 14, &! An image is formed on a recording material, for example, a film F, by an image optical system 15, and scanned by rask. On the other hand, the other two-dimensional scanning light separated by the third jerky mirror 14 passes through the third reflecting mirror 19 and enters the form slide 18A set in the form slide device 16 and on which form data is recorded. do.

The form slide device 16 is usually set with a plurality of frequently used form slides 18A, 18B, . . .
eB, ... A different slide image, for example, a multi-el vertical and horizontal writing frame consisting of a single line of :1'' is recorded on each jar.One of the slides is then scanned with a two-dimensional scanning light. It is now possible to selectively move to the possible position. Also, if necessary, form slide) "1f
iA, leB, etc. can be removed and replaced as desired.

In the illustrated example, it is assumed that two form slides l"16A and 16B are sent, and the light beam transmitted through one slide leA is extracted as an electrical signal by the second photomultiplier tube F, which is amplified to form a waveform. The signal is sent to a signal synthesis circuit 19 via a shaping circuit 18 for shaping.The signal sent to this belief synthesis circuit 13 is video number 4 as form data corresponding to a frame image consisting of E lines and the like.

At the timing of the clock signal obtained by the clock generator 12, character information corresponding to coated data from a character information source such as a magnetic tape of a computer is read out as print data from a character generator 20, which will be described later. It has become. The video signal as print data from the character generator 20 is supplied to a signal synthesis circuit 18, where the print data and form data are synthesized.

By supplying the video signal thus synthesized to the optical modulator 2 and modulating the intensity of the recording light beam,
The rask image projected onto the film F is an image in which print data from a computer or the like is written at a predetermined position within the entry frame of the frame selected by the form slide. Then, the image is recorded on this film F.

By the way, as can be seen from the above explanation, the laser C
For OH, an Ar laser 1 is used for recording information, and a He-Ne laser 4 is used for reading information and timing.
are using. Since the He-Ne laser has a temperature of 51 or less, heat generation is not a big problem, but since the Ar laser is a large laser of about 200℃, it generates a lot of heat, and if left without any cooling, it will reach about 2000℃. It is extremely dangerous as it reaches high temperatures.

Therefore, conventionally, a rubber hose was connected between the water faucet and the laser device to keep the water flowing, or a cooler was installed and the cooler and the laser device were connected with a rubber hose to circulate the water. By doing so, the laser head and
A method was taken to cool the laser power source. Such a cooling method is also effective because the temperature of the laser device can be suppressed to about 30°C to 40°C.

(Problem to be solved by the invention) However, if the water pressure of the water supply decreases, or if the power supply of the cooler fails due to a power outage or some other reason, the flow of cooling water will stop or slow down, so cooling with a laser device is necessary. Water is instantly heated to high temperatures and instantly turns into steam. However, since a rubber hose is used, there is no escape for this steam, and there is a risk that the hose will burst due to the steam pressure, damaging not only the laser rig itself but also surrounding components. .

The object of this invention is that when a cooler is used to circulate cooling liquid between the laser device and the laser device for cooling, the temperature of the liquid rises rapidly, boils, and instantaneously turns into steam, creating high pressure inside the hose. It is an object of the present invention to provide a laser cooling device having a structure that can appropriately release this pressure and avoid bursting of a hose when the hose bursts.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to achieve this object, the present invention includes a liquid tank inserted in the circulation return path of the cooling liquid from the laser device to the cooler, and the liquid tank is It is characterized by comprising a pressure relief means for communicating the inside and the outside to release the internal vapor pressure to the outside.

In practicing the invention, it is preferred that the pressure relief means be holes.

Further, the pressure relief means may be a hole having a valve that is closed when the vapor pressure in the liquid tank is normal and opened when it is abnormal.

(Function) With this configuration, when the cooling water circulating between the cooler and the laser device is stopped, the liquid temperature suddenly rises, boils, and instantaneously turns into steam, creating high pressure inside the hose. Even in the event of a leak, the high pressure steam pressure can be appropriately released to the outside by this pressure relief means, thereby avoiding rupture of the hose and, therefore, destruction or damage to the laser device.

(Example) Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1(A) and 1(B).

FIG. 1(A) is a diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention. 3
0 is a laser device, which includes a laser head 31 and a laser power source 32 for operating the laser head 31. 33 is a cooler, and a pump 34 for circulating a cooling liquid, for example, water. , and a radiator 35 for cooling the returned water, and may further include a filter (not shown) as required.

The low-temperature cooling water sent from the cooler 33 flows through a hose 36 that constitutes an outgoing path for circulation, passes from the laser power source 32 through the laser head 31, flows through a hose 37 that constitutes a return path for circulation, and flows out of the laser device 30. Further, the water returns to the pump 34 of the cooler 35 via a hose 38 that constitutes a return path for the reflux.

In this invention, a liquid tank 39 is inserted in the middle of the return path of the circulating cooling water heated by the laser device 30 to a high temperature. This liquid tank 39 is provided with a pressure relief means 40, for example, a hole 41, for communicating the inside and the outside and for releasing the high pressure when the internal vapor pressure becomes high. Connect the other end of the hose 37 from the laser head 31 to the water 4 in the liquid tank 39.
2 and connected to the pump 34 on the other hand.
The other end is similarly led into water 42.

With this configuration, the cooling water that has been heated to a high temperature by the laser device 30 passes through the hose 37, is once discharged into the water 42 in the liquid tank 33 (indicated by arrow A), and is sucked up again by the hose 38. Raised (indicated by arrow B) pump 34
It flows back into the world.

Therefore, when this cooling water circulation is performed normally, the vapor pressure inside the liquid tank 38 is the same as or slightly higher than the vapor pressure outside the liquid tank. However, when the circulation of the cooling water stops or the circulation speed becomes lower than the normal speed, the cooling water suddenly becomes high in temperature, and finally boils and becomes high-pressure steam. In that case, this high pressure steam is
Since the liquid is released into the liquid tank 39 through the hole 41 of the liquid tank 38 and flows to the outside through the hole 41 of the liquid tank 38, the inside of the liquid tank 39 does not become under high pressure.Moreover, the hose 38 is not directly connected to the hose 37. This high-pressure steam does not flow into the hose 38. Therefore, by the action of the hole 41 provided in this liquid tank 38, the high-pressure steam can be reliably guided to the outside, thereby preventing damage to the laser device 30 due to breakage of the hose. It can be avoided.

:1IJ1 Figure (B) is a diagram illustrating another embodiment of the pressure relief means. In this figure, the same components as those in FIG. The structure is equipped with a valve 43 that prevents the water 42 from evaporating. This valve 43 closes this hole 41 when the vapor pressure inside the liquid tank is normal.
It is configured as a kind of safety valve that opens the hole 41 according to the pressure when abnormally high pressure occurs.

With this configuration, high-pressure steam can be appropriately released to the outside of the liquid tank in abnormal situations, and evaporation of cooling water can be prevented in normal situations.

In the embodiments described above, water is used as the cooling water, but antifreeze, distilled water, or any other suitable liquid may be used.

Further, although the present invention has been described with respect to a laser device used in a radar COK, the present invention is not limited to the use of a laser device, but is suitable for application to a high-output Ar laser or other lasers.

(Effects of the Invention) As is clear from the above description, according to the laser cooling device of the present invention, a liquid tank is inserted in the return path of the circulation of the cooling liquid, and the pressure relief means provided in the liquid tank can reduce the Since high-pressure steam can be reliably guided to the outside, damage to the laser device 30 due to breakage of the hose can be avoided.

In addition, by providing the pressure relief means with a hole and a valve that opens and closes it according to the steam pressure, in addition to the effects of the present invention described above, evaporation of cooling water can be prevented. Therefore, management of cooling water becomes easy and simple.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

1(A) and (B) are diagrams for explaining an embodiment of the laser cooling device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a laser COH to which this laser cooling device is applied.
FIG. 30... Laser device, 31... Laser head 32... Laser power supply, 33... Cooler 34.
...Pump, 35...Radiator 38,
37.38...Rubber hose 39...Liquid tank 40...Pressure relief means 41...(constituting pressure relief means) Hole 42...
Water 43...valve (constituting pressure relief means). Figure 1

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a laser cooling device configured to cool the laser device by circulating a cooling liquid between the laser device and the cooler, the cooling liquid from the laser device to the cooler is cooled. A laser cooling device comprising a liquid tank inserted in a return flow path, and the liquid tank is equipped with a pressure relief means for communicating the inside and outside of the liquid tank to release internal vapor pressure to the outside. Device. 2. The laser cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief means is a hole. 3. The laser cooling device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure relief means is a hole having a valve that closes when the vapor pressure in the liquid tank is normal and opens when it is abnormal.