| CPC B23K 26/142 (2015.10) [B23K 26/127 (2013.01); B23K 26/144 (2015.10); B23K 26/1436 (2015.10); B23K 26/1464 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |
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1. An apparatus for ensuring uniform laminar gas flow in the vicinity of a part being processed by a laser welding system, the apparatus comprising:
a laser for welding the part;
a platform for supporting the part to be processed;
an enclosure including a plurality of walls surrounding the platform, the enclosure including:
an inlet on a first wall and configured to receive gas flow from outside the enclosure, and
an outlet on a second wall and positioned on an opposite side of the first wall and configured to allow the gas flow to exit the enclosure so that at least a portion of the gas flow travels over the platform;
a first actuatable barrier positioned on a first track attached to the first wall so that the first actuatable barrier slidably moves along the first track, the first actuatable barrier at least partially defining a first opening at the inlet and configured to modify a cross-sectional area of the first opening when actuated;
a second actuatable barrier positioned on a second track attached to the second wall so that the second actuatable barrier slidably moves along the second track, the second actuatable barrier at least partially defining a second opening at the outlet and configured to modify a cross-sectional area of the second opening when actuated;
an actuator configured to actuate at least one of the first actuatable barrier or the second actuatable barrier; and
a controller configured to control the actuator to actuate at least one of the first actuatable barrier or the second actuatable barrier as the part is being processed by the laser welding system so that the cross-sectional area of the first opening is larger than the cross-sectional area of the second opening and so that a pressure at the inlet is greater than a pressure at the outlet while the gas flow travels through the first opening and the second opening.
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