The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 20, 2001
Filed:
Apr. 30, 1999
John C. Legge, Rockford, IL (US);
W.A. Whitney Co., Rockford, IL (US);
Abstract
A cutting head for a laser-equipped machine tool in which the cutting head has a controllably positionable optic carrier for adjusting the position of the beam focus. The focusing optic has a reaction force imposed on it by the assist gas coupled to the cutting nozzle. The magnitude of the force varies with the pressure of the assist gas, and can be very substantial. A counterbalance mechanism connected between the cutting head and the optic carrier is operated from the same assist gas source which supplies the nozzle, and creates a force on the optic in the opposite direction of the reaction force and which has a magnitude which closely compensates it. The system also provides for rapid purge of assist gas when switching from one type of assist gas to another.