초록 ▼

In the apparatus of the invention, a first excitation laser or other excitation light source is used in tandem with an ignitor laser to provide a compact, durable, engine deployable fuel ignition laser system. Reliable fuel ignition is provided over a wide range of fuel conditions by using a single

In the apparatus of the invention, a first excitation laser or other excitation light source is used in tandem with an ignitor laser to provide a compact, durable, engine deployable fuel ignition laser system. Reliable fuel ignition is provided over a wide range of fuel conditions by using a single remote excitation light source for one or more small lasers located proximate to one or more fuel combustion zones. In two embodiments the beam from the excitation light source is split with a portion of it going to the ignitor laser and a second portion of it being combined with either the first portion after a delay before injection into the ignitor laser or combined with the output of the ignitor laser. In another embodiment alternating short and long pulses of light from the excitation light source are directed into the ignitor laser. In a fourth embodiment the excitation light source is a laser with more than one resonating cavity; beams from one resonating cavity are directed into an ignitor laser and beams from the other resonating cavity are directed into a beam combiner where they are combined with the output of the ignitor laser. In a fifth embodiment an excitation light source capable of producing alternating beams of light having different wavelengths is used to pump the ignitor laser.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An ignition apparatus comprising: (a) an excitation light source having at least two resonator cavities; (b) a first optical fiber positioned to receive light pulses from one of said resonator cavities and transport said light pulses to an ignitor laser; (c) a second optical fiber positioned to

1. An ignition apparatus comprising: (a) an excitation light source having at least two resonator cavities; (b) a first optical fiber positioned to receive light pulses from one of said resonator cavities and transport said light pulses to an ignitor laser; (c) a second optical fiber positioned to receive light pulses from another of said resonator cavities and transport said light pulses to a beam combiner; and (d) wherein said beam combiner is positioned to direct combined beams from said ignitor laser and from said second optical fiber through a focusing lens into a combustible fuel.