Fiber optic transducer
OwnerArmando S. Martinezinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fiber optic transducer is provided for use in remote monitoring of the position of mechanical devices, such as the position of valves used in the petroleum and chemical industries and the like. The fiber optic transducer includes a transducer frame supporting an optical fiber under conditions of predetermined bending and tension. Cam apparatus is coupled between a mechanical device to be monitored and a bending pin having a cylindrical surface bearing against the fiber to control further bending thereof in response to position changes of the mechanical device. Changes in light transmission through the fiber as a result of bending can be detected and correlated with the position of the mechanical device.
Claims15
A fiber optic transducer, comprising:
- an optical fiber;
- a bending bridge having a pair of generally parallel convex surfaces separated by a concave surface;
- means for supporting a portion of said fiber under predetermined tension to extend across said bridge in engagement with said convex surfaces. said support means including a transducer housing with said bending bridge therein and having said fiber threaded therethrough, and further including spring means associated with said fiber on opposite sides of said bending bridge for applying said predetermined tension to said fiber;
- and
- means for bending said fiber at a position generally between said convex surfaces.
The fiber optic transducer of claim I further including means for adjustably positioning said bending means to apply a prebend to said fiber.
A fiber optic transducer, comprising:
- an optical fiber;
- a transducer housing having a front wall;
- a bending bridge including a fiber support block supported within said housing for adjustable movement toward and away from said front wall, said bending bridge including at least two generally parallel convex surfaces presented generally toward said front wall and separated by a concave surface;
- means for releasably locking said bending bridge in a selected position of adjustment;
- means for supporting a portion of said fiber in bearing engagement with said convex surfaces;
- means including a pair of spring assemblies carried by said support block on opposite sides of said bending bridge for applying a predetermined tension to said portion of said fiber;
- and
- bending means disposed generally between said fiber and said front wall for variably engaging and bending said fiber at a position between said convex surfaces.
A fiber optic transducer system, comprising:
- an optical fiber;
- a bending bridge having at least two generally parallel convex surfaces separated by a generally concave surface;
- means for supporting a portion of said fiber under predetermined tension extending across said bridge in bearing engagement with said convex surfaces, said supporting means including spring means associated with said fiber on opposite sides of said bending bridge for applying said predetermined tension to said fiber;
- bending means for engaging and bending said fiber at a position generally between said convex surfaces;
- a mechanical device movable to at least two different operating positions;
- cam means coupled to said mechanical device and including a cam follower movable in response to movement of said mechanical device, said cam follower being coupled to said bending means for correspondingly displacing said bending means;
- a light source for trnasmitting light along said fiber;
- and
- an optical detec:tor for detecting the intensity of light transmitted along said fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.