Patents by Inventor Edwin G. Chaffee

Edwin G. Chaffee has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5253261
    Abstract: A high temperature laser solenoid incorporates a combination of thermally and electrically insulating components to replace and to exceed the operating limits of epoxy encapsulation which solenoid is used in cooperation with a mechanically driven cooling air flow. The solenoid construction includes a layer of high temperature resistant, electrical insulation assembled on an aluminum bobbin adapted for coil winding so as to create a solenoid. High temperature insulated magnet wire is wound into a coil on the bobbin and the coil is covered with an additional high temperature resistant, electrically insulating film layer. Wire leads are passed through notches formed through the insulation barrier and the bobbin flanges and the solenoid is covered by an intimately contacting preformed heat conductive tubular casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1993
    Assignee: American Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 5099491
    Abstract: A gas replenishment system for a gas laser utilizes a gas metering device between a gas reservoir and the gas laser tube which operates at a pressure below the gas reservoir pressure. The metering device incorporates a body of gas entrapping material. The tube pressure is detected and when low an electrically controlled valve is energized for a predetermined time which allows gas to flow from the reservoir, into the gas entrapping material and from there to the tube. If the tube pressure is not restored to its proper level, the system recycles for another equivalent period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: American Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4961202
    Abstract: A gas laser tube assembly terminates at one end with a directly affixed selectively coated curved mirror and at the opposite end with a directly affixed selectively coated half-Littrow prism oriented such that one hundred percent (100%) purity, single line, polarized light results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1990
    Assignee: American Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4930136
    Abstract: A plurality of thin wall ceramic-metal segments are brazed together to form a gas laser tube assembly. Within each segment there is mounted a refractory metal ferrule with a central hole. The series of holes formed in the ferrules define the discharge bore. A plurality of ferrules are mounted in each segment and each ferrule is separately mounted within a heat dissipating fin structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 29, 1990
    Assignee: American Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4892497
    Abstract: A gas laser tube is fitted with internal mirrors only and no windows. The laser tube is processed by heating the tube with the ends open in a vacuum oven to drive out contaminating substances. The mirrors are installed by cold welding after the tube has been decontaminated and filled with a fresh supply of its operating gas. The mirrors mount on flexible bellows which enable the mirrors to be easily aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1990
    Assignee: American Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4803697
    Abstract: A gas laser tube is fitted with internal mirrors only and no windows. The laser tube is processed by heating the tube with the ends open in a vacuum oven to drive out contaminating substances. The mirrors are installed by cold welding after the tube has been decontaminated and filled with a fresh supply of its operating gas. The mirrors mount on flexible bellows which enable the mirrors to be easily aligned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: American Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4774713
    Abstract: A plurality of thin wall ceramic-metal segments are brazed together to form a gas laser tube assembly. Within each segment there is mounted a ferrule with a central hole. The series of holes formed in the ferrules define the discharge bore and gas return paths are formed in the wall of structure supporting the ferrules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 27, 1988
    Assignee: American Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4633872
    Abstract: An improved optical delivery assembly for an argon-ion or similar medical laser attaches to a wobble plate for thermal tracking and supports in a single integral subassembly an adjustable focusing lens, a beam splitter and associated light detector enabling selective display of power at both proximal and distal ends of the fiber, scattering and blocking shutters, a scattering shutter position sensor, shutter control solenoids, an optical plug position sensor and an optical plug mounting block adapted to interchangeably receive any of several types of optical fiber connecting plugs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: HGM, Incorporated
    Inventors: Edwin G. Chaffee, Steve Holtman, George A. Nelson, Howard M. C. Tanner
  • Patent number: 4553241
    Abstract: A plurality of thin wall ceramic-metal segments are brazed together alternately with pairs of metal sealing rings to form a gas laser tube assembly. Within each segment there is mounted a refractory metal disc with a central hole. The series of holes formed in the discs define the discharge bore and gas return paths are formed in the wall of the segments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4434493
    Abstract: An improved argon-ion gas laser utilizes a dispenser-type cathode and within the cathode shroud mounts a preignition electrode and a heat shield enabling the cathode to be operated efficiently and within a 900.degree.-1050.degree. C. temperature range over an extended period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 1981
    Date of Patent: February 28, 1984
    Assignee: American Laser Corporation
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4376908
    Abstract: A crossed field amplifier including a linear, ladder type slow wave device ncluding an array of closely spaced parallel U-shaped rungs with a pair of oppositely wound helices running side-by-side inside said array, and a pair of trimmers running along each side of said array of rungs, the trimmer height at the input or cathode end of said slow wave structure being increased compared to its height for the remainder of said slow wave device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 15, 1983
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army
    Inventor: Edwin G. Chaffee
  • Patent number: 4307322
    Abstract: A coupled cavity traveling wave tube is disclosed which includes a plurality of pole piece members and hollow spacer members which are alternately arrayed to define a plurality of cavities. The pole piece members each has a central aperture and a coupling slot through which microwave energy is coupled between adjacent cavities. The tube includes a plurality of first loss elements each of which is positioned in both of two respective adjacent cavities, with each of the first loss elements having its first end in contact with the front face of a respective one of the alternate pole piece members, its central portion pass through an aperture in the next intervening pole piece member in which it is coupled to the coupling slot in that pole piece member, and its second end in contact with the rear face of the next alternate pole piece member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 22, 1981
    Assignee: Litton Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Edwin G. Chaffee, Ronald W. Herriott