Patent ID: 6437285
Filing Date: 2002-08-20
Classification: B08B,B23K

Abstract:
An apparatus having a back end system (30) including a base unit (32) capable of emitting a pulsed beam (38) of coherent electromagnetic radiation for treating a layer of surface material disposed on an interior tubular surface (52) of a workpiece (42), the interior tubular surface defined by a cylindrical volume having a central axis (44), the interior tubular surface extending inward from one open end of the cylindrical volume along a length of the central axis (44), a tubular interior surface cleaning assembly comprising:a work head sized to enter the opening; work head support means for resiliently supporting the work head (100) in slidable contact with the interior tubular surface; a conduit connecting one end of the proximal head to the base unit; longitudinal connecting means between the work head (100) and the base unit cooperating with the conduit for moving the work head (100) in the direction of the central axis (44) with the work head support means supporting the work head (100) in slidable contact with the interior tubular surface; laser beam transport means for transporting the pulsed beam from the base unit to the work head (100), the work head (100) comprising; laser beam receiving means for receiving the pulsed laser beam from the laser beam transport means; laser beam directing means cooperating with the laser beam receiving means for movably directing the received pulsed laser beam from the laser beam receiving means to form a succession of adjacent impingement points disposed on the interior surface of the tubular workpiece (42); laser beam protective means for protecting optical laser elements transmitting the received laser beam from contamination by contaminants evolved by impingement of the received laser beam on said adjacent impingement points.