Containment plenum for laser irradiation and removal of material from a surface of a structure

Abstract

A containment plenum is adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region of a structure to remove material from the structure. The containment plenum includes a window substantially transparent to the laser light. The window transmits laser light towards the interaction region and provides a barrier to transport of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure. The containment plenum further includes a nozzle fluidly coupled to a source of compressed gas. The laser light and the compressed gas are transmitted through the nozzle towards the interaction region of the structure. The nozzle is either gas-cooled or liquid-cooled. The containment plenum further includes a resilient interface that resiliently contacts the structure and substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region.

1 . A containment plenum adapted to deliver laser light to an interaction region of a structure to remove material from the structure, the containment plenum comprising: 
 a window substantially transparent to the laser light, the window transmitting laser light towards the interaction region and providing a barrier to transport of particulate matter generated by interaction of the laser light and the structure;    a nozzle fluidly coupled to a source of compressed gas wherein the laser light and the compressed gas are transmitted through the nozzle towards the interaction region of the structure, wherein the nozzle is either gas-cooled or liquid-cooled; and    a resilient interface resiliently contacts the structure and substantially surrounds the interaction region, thereby confining the material and removing the material from the interaction region.    
   
   
       2 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is either air-cooled or water-cooled.  
   
   
       3 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the window is mounted in a removable assembly.  
   
   
       4 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the window focuses the laser light.  
   
   
       5 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the window provides a surface against which the compressed gas exerts pressure.  
   
   
       6 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle comprises copper.  
   
   
       7 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is water-cooled.  
   
   
       8 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient interface facilitates blocking sound from escaping outside the containment plenum.  
   
   
       9 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient interface facilitates blocking the laser light from escaping outside the containment plenum.  
   
   
       10 . The containment plenum of  claim 9 , wherein the containment plenum further comprises a extraction port in fluid communication with the interaction region, the extraction port adapted to extract the material from the containment plenum.  
   
   
       11 . The containment plenum of  claim 10 , wherein the extraction port is fluidly coupled to a vacuum generator adapted to generate a vacuum to pull the material from the containment plenum.  
   
   
       12 . The containment plenum of  claim 1 , wherein the resilient interface comprises a wire brush.  
   
   
       13 . A containment plenum for delivering laser light to an interaction region of a structure to remove material from the structure, the containment plenum comprising: 
 means for coupling the containment plenum to a source of laser light;    means for transmitting the laser light through the containment plenum towards the interaction region along a light path;    means for transmitting gas towards the interaction region, wherein the gas is transmitted co-linearly with the laser light along at least a portion of the light path;    means for cooling the gas-transmitting means by either gas-cooling or liquid-cooling; and    means for confining the material and removing the material from the containment plenum.    
   
   
       14 . A method of irradiating an interaction region of a structure with laser light to remove material from the structure, the method comprising: 
 coupling a containment plenum to a source of laser light;    transmitting the laser light through the containment plenum towards the interaction region along a light path;    transmitting gas towards the interaction region, wherein the gas is transmitted co-linearly with the laser light along at least a portion of the light path;    cooling at least a portion of the containment plenum through which the laser light is transmitted by either gas-cooling or liquid-cooling; and    confining the material and removing the material from the containment plenum.