US 12,413,036 B2
Thermal control apparatus for laser system
David Scott Simmermon, Felicity, OH (US); Alex William Ariapad, Cincinnati, OH (US); and Mark Samuel Bailey, Fairfield, OH (US)
Assigned to General Electric Company, Evendale, OH (US)
Filed by General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US)
Filed on Apr. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/232,271.
Prior Publication US 2022/0337014 A1, Oct. 20, 2022
Int. Cl. H01S 3/04 (2006.01); B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/41 (2021.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.01); G01F 1/684 (2006.01); H01S 5/024 (2006.01)
CPC H01S 3/04 (2013.01) [B22F 12/20 (2021.01); B22F 12/41 (2021.01); B29C 64/268 (2017.08); G01F 1/6842 (2013.01); H01S 5/02423 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A thermal control system for an additive manufacturing apparatus, the thermal control system comprising:
a thermal control apparatus comprising a body defining a centerline axis extended along a height and a circumferential direction extended relative to the centerline axis, the body forming a flow circuit within the body, and wherein the body forms an inlet opening and an outlet opening each in fluid communication with the flow circuit, wherein the flow circuit is extended in parallel flow arrangement along the circumferential direction from the inlet opening to the outlet opening, wherein a cavity is extended at least partially through the body along the centerline axis, wherein the body forms a plurality of lobes at the flow circuit, wherein a slot is extended along a radial direction from the centerline axis between diametrically-opposed lobes of the plurality of lobes, wherein the slot is extended at least partially along the height, and wherein a portion of the flow circuit is within the plurality of lobes;
a fluid flow device configured to provide a flow of a heat transfer fluid to the thermal control apparatus through the inlet opening and to receive the flow of the heat transfer fluid from the outlet opening of the thermal control apparatus;
a flow conduit providing fluid communication of the flow of the heat transfer fluid between the fluid flow device and the thermal control apparatus;
a flow rate sensor positioned along the flow conduit, wherein the flow rate sensor is configured to obtain a flow rate of the heat transfer fluid through the flow conduit;
a temperature sensor positioned at the flow conduit, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to obtain an output temperature of the heat transfer fluid egressed from the thermal control apparatus; and
a controller configured to receive a flow device signal from a flow control device, wherein the flow device signal corresponds to a flow area through which the heat transfer fluid flows through the flow conduit, and wherein the controller is configured to receive a flow rate signal corresponding to the flow rate of the heat transfer fluid through the flow conduit obtained from the flow rate sensor, and wherein the controller is configured to receive an output temperature signal corresponding to the output temperature obtained from the temperature sensor.