MIXING NOZZLE FOR A LASER PROCESSING SYSTEM

• Main Authors: Hirano, Takayuki, Conroy, Ryan, Woods, Kenneth, Melius, Brenda, White, Henry
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 11.05.2023
• Subjects: CLADDING OR PLATING BY SOLDERING OR WELDING; CUTTING BY APPLYING HEAT LOCALLY, e.g. FLAME CUTTING; MACHINE TOOLS; METAL-WORKING NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SOLDERING OR UNSOLDERING; TRANSPORTING; WELDING; WORKING BY LASER BEAM

A nozzle for a laser processing head is provided. The nozzle includes a primary passage disposed in a body of the nozzle. The primary passage is configured to direct a laser beam and a primary fluid from a proximal end of the body to a distal end of the body. The nozzle also includes a set of at least one auxiliary passage disposed in the body of the nozzle and radially offset from a longitudinal axis of the primary passage. A distal portion of the auxiliary passage diverts into two fluid flow passages including (i) a first fluid flow passage configured to direct a first portion of an auxiliary fluid axially forward toward the distal end of the nozzle body, and (ii) a second fluid flow passage configured to direct a second portion of the auxiliary fluid radially inward to mix with the primary fluid in the primary passage.