Laser nozzle comprising an element movable in a gas layer

Abstract

Laser nozzle usable for laser cutting, especially with a fiber or disk laser, comprising: a nozzle body comprising an axial housing passing axially through the nozzle body and comprising a first output orifice located in the front side of the nozzle body; a movable element able to move in translation in the axial housing in the direction of the first output orifice under the effect of a gas pressure acting on the movable element; and an elastic element arranged in the axial housing, between the nozzle body and the movable element, the elastic element exercising an elastic return force on the movable element tending to oppose the translation movement in the axial housing in the direction of the first output orifice.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A laser nozzle comprising:
 a nozzle body comprising a front face, and an axial housing axially passing through said nozzle body and comprising a first outlet orifice situated at the front face of the nozzle body,   a movable element arranged in the axial housing of the nozzle body comprising a front part forming a skirt and an axial passage with a second outlet orifice emerging at the front part forming a skirt, said movable element being able to move in translation in the axial housing due to a gas pressure exerted on the movable element, wherein the second outlet orifice comprises an internal profile with a divergent frustoconical shape,   wherein the divergent frustoconical shape is configured to produce a controlled leakage of the gas between the skirt and a surface of a part to be cut, and   wherein the controlled leakage is configured to assist in the formation of a fine gas layer under the skirt, which opposes the translation movement of the movable element, and holding the skirt a predetermined distance above the surface of the part to be cut.   
     
     
         2 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the gas is concentrated by the skirt at the laser spot and thus the kerf, and thus improving cutting efficiency and metal expulsion. 
     
     
         3 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein of the first outlet orifice situated at the front face of the nozzle body, the front part forming a skirt of the movable element projects outside the axial housing through the first outlet orifice of the front face of the nozzle body. 
     
     
         4 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the movable element is able to move in translation in the axial housing until the front part forming a skirt of the movable element projects outside the axial housing through the first outlet orifice of the front face of the nozzle body. 
     
     
         5 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sealing element is arranged between the nozzle body and the movable element. 
     
     
         6 . The nozzle of  claim 1 , wherein the movable element is able to move between several positions comprising:
 an idle position in which the skirt of the front part is totally or almost totally retracted in the axial housing of the nozzle body, and   a working position in which the skirt of the front part totally or almost totally projects outside the axial housing of the nozzle body, through the first outlet orifice.   
     
     
         7 . A laser focusing head comprising at least one focusing lens, further comprising a laser nozzle according to  claim 1 . 
     
     
         8 . A laser installation comprising a laser generator, a laser focusing head and a laser beam conveying device connected to said laser generator and to said laser focusing head, the laser focusing head is in accordance with  claim 7 . 
     
     
         9 . The installation of  claim 8 , wherein the laser generator is of the CO 2  or YAG type, with fibres or discs.