Patent EP-2572821-A1 (EP)
Inventor: MOGGIA FABRICE
IPC: B23K26/12
Filed: 2012-09-20
Abstract: The device comprises a flexible sleeve (400) leveled with a hermetically sealed first end (410) by a slap (300) comprising a window that is transparent with an emission wavelength of a laser beam emitted by a laser source (40). The laser source emits an electromagnetic signal in an infra-red range of 1045-1070 nm. The sleeve is lengthened and/or curved to make the first end to move and/or to be directed in a space to multiple dimensions. The window has a transmittance value of higher than 95% with the emission wavelength of the laser source. The device comprises a flexible sleeve (400) leveled with a hermetically sealed first end (410) by a slap (300) comprising a window that is transparent with an emission wavelength of a laser beam emitted by a laser source (40). The laser source emits an electromagnetic signal in an infra-red range of 1045-1070 nm. The sleeve is lengthened and/or curved to make the first end to move and/or to be directed in a space to multiple dimensions. The window has a transmittance value of higher than 95% with the emission wavelength of the laser source. The window is made of molten silica, and is maintained between two supports. The slap includes a first support crossed by a first boring and a second boring and a second support crossed by a third boring and optionally by a fourth boring partially aligned with the third boring. The borings are aligned to allow the laser beam to cross the slap. Diameter of the window is higher than diameters of the first boring and the third boring and is lower than diameters of the second boring and fourth boring. The window is placed in the second boring and the fourth boring. A watertight O-ring enters the window and the first support and/or the second support to reinforce or to improve the sealing between the first boring and the third boring. The first support and the second support are maintained in contact or in a vicinity one of the other by a supporting unit to allow replacement of the window. The supporting unit is threaded surfaces, thumb screws and/or magnets. A fixing unit maintains the laser source in the vicinity or against the slap so that a part of the laser beam crosses the slap. The fixing unit is reversible to allow assembling and/or disassembling of the laser source in the vicinity or against the slap. The fixing unit is adjustable and/or repositionable to adapt to different laser sources. The first end of the sleeve is present in contact with an external side of the slap and parallel with walls of one of the borings via bands or elastic snap rings in a watertight or hermetic manner. The device further comprises a protection unit covering a face of the slap external with the sleeve. The protection unit comprises a first opening located and leveled with a top, a second opening located and leveled with a base and a fourth opening contrary to a third opening to generate a flow of air in front of the window. The first and second openings are aligned with one of the borings. The protection unit is connected to an evacuator via the third opening to evacuate pollution present in a periphery of the first opening. The slap comprises an external holding fixture of the first end of the sleeve connecting a handle to a surface of the slap without breaking containment of the sleeve. The external holding fixture comprises a flange or a ring to maintain the laser source through the sleeve without exposing the laser source to an external environment with the sleeve. A second end of the sleeve is hermetically maintained against a wall (10). An independent claim is included for a method for treating an object located outside a sleeve.