Optical fuel pin scanner
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsTommy L. Kirchner, Hurshal G. Powers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical scanner for indicia arranged in a focal plane at a cylindrical outside surface by use of an optical system including a rotatable dove prism. The dove prism transmits a rotating image of an encircled cylindrical surface area to a stationary photodiode array.
Claims6
An apparatus for optically scanning indicia imprinted about an outer cylindrical surface of an article, said apparatus comprising:
- a supporting frame;
- light detector means fixed to said frame for digitizing light patterns directed thereto;
- indexing means on said frame for coaxially locating an imprinted outer cylindrical surface about a reference axis on the frame;
- light means for illuminating said imprinted outer cylindrical surface located by said indexing means;
- optical means rotatably mounted on said frame about said reference axis, said optical means including a dove prism centrally aligned along the reference axis and a radial light receiver overlying the position of an imprinted cylindrical area located by said indexing means for encircling the imprinted cylindrical surface and transmitting an image from said surface through the dove prism and to said light detector means;
- and means for selectively rotating said optical means relative to the frame about the reference axis.
An apparatus for optically scanning indicia imprinted about an outer cylindrical surface of an article, said apparatus comprising:
- a supporting frame;
- light detector means fixed to said frame for digitizing light patterns directed thereto;
- indexing means on said frame for coaxially locating an imprinted outer cylindrical surface about a reference axis on the frame;
- light means for illuminating said imprinted outer cylindrical surface located by said indexing means;
- a dove prism having a central prism axis extending through oppositely inclined prism faces, said dove prism being coaxially mounted on said frame for rotation about said reference axis;
- first focusing means on said frame optically aligned with the central prism axis for directing light to one prism face of the dove prism;
- second focusing means on said frame optically aligned with the central prism axis for directing light from the remaining prism face of the dove prism to said light detector means;
- radial light receiver means on said frame overlying the position of said imprinted cylindrical surface located by said indexing means for encircling the imprinted cylindrical surface and transmitting an image from said surface to said first focusing means;
- and drive means on said frame operably connected to said dove prism, first and second focusing means and the radial light receiver means for selectively rotating them relative to the frame about the reference axis.
An apparatus for optically scanning indicia imprinted about an outer cylindrical surface of a nuclear fuel pin in a circumferential pattern centered about the fuel pin axis;
- said apparatus comprising;
- a supporting frame;
- light detector means fixed to said frame for digitizing light patterns directed thereto;
- collet means on said frame for fixing the position of a fuel pin coaxially relative to a reference axis on the frame;
- rotatable optical means mounted on said frame for rotation about the reference axis, said optical means including a dove prism centrally aligned along the reference axis and a radial light receiver overlying the position of an imprinted area about the cylindrical surface of a fuel pin fixed by said collet means for transmitting a reflected image received radially from said cylindrical surface to a path directed through the dovetail prism along the reference axis;
- and stationary light reflecting means between the rotatable optical means and light detector means for directing reflected images from the dove prism to said light detector means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.