Radius of curvature transducer

A curvature transducer, comprising

• a transducer body having an elongate reference axis of substantially constant length when said body is subjected to bending,
• said body having an elongate passage extending therethrough displaced from and parallel to said reference axis,
• a flexible elongate member fixed at one end thereof to said body and extending through and being axially movable within said passage along the length thereof which is spaced from said fixed end when said body is bent,
• sensing means coupled to the other end of said elongate member for sensing the distance through which the free end of said elongate member moves during bending of said body.

A radius of curvature transducer comprising

• a transducer body having a neutral axis substantially constant in length as the body is flexed in a bending mode,
• said body having first and second passages therethrough spaced from and extending substantially parallel to said neutral axis, said passages being separated angularly about said neutral axis by a right angle,
• first and second elongate members flexible in bending extending through said first and second passages respectively, one end of each of said first and second members being fixed to said transducer body, whereby the free ends thereof are movable translationally within said passages during body bending,
• first and second sensor means coupled to said free ends of said first and second elongate members respectively, whereby signals indicative of radius of curvature of said transducer body in two orthogonally disposed planes are obtained, and
• means disposed between the ends of said transducer body for substantially preventing rotational movement therebetween.