Fiberoptic temperature transducer
AssigneeMetatech Corporation
InventorPeter S. Mischenko
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A temperature measuring system that utilizes an electronic control unit and a rod made of a first material with a first thermal coefficient of expansion, the rod being attached at one end within a tubular device made of a material having a second coefficient of expansion. A reflecting surface is on the outer end of the rod of first material. At least one optical fiber is associated with the tubular member and is located so as to create a gap between the optical fiber and the reflecting surface. The first and second materials are chosen based upon their respective coefficients of thermal expansion such that a change in temperature of both materials will cause the length of the gap to either increase or decrease, thereby causing a change in the amount of light that is reflected and detected by the optical fibers.
Claims17
A fiberoptic temperature transducer comprising:
- a tubular member formed of a material having a first thermal coefficient of expansion;
- a cylindrical rod-like expansion member formed of a material having a second coefficient of expansion;
- at least a portion of said expansion member being inserted in and attached at only one end to the tubular member for expansion within the tubular member;
- a reflective surface positioned at the other end of the expansion member distal from said attached end;
- and
- at least one fiberoptic rod associated with the tubular member and positioned a predetermined distance from the reflective surface with a gap therebetween such that a change in temperature of both the tubular member and the cylindrical rod-like member causes the gap to change in length so as to change the amount of light reflected from said reflective surface and received by said at least one fiberoptic rod, the change of received reflected light representing the change in temperature.
A temperature transducer comprising:
- a tubular member formed of a material having a first thermal coefficient of expansion;
- a cylindrical rod formed of a material having a second coefficient of expansion;
- the cylindrical rod being inserted in and attached at only one end to the tubular member for expansion within the tubular member;
- a reflective surface positioned at the other end of the cylindrical rod distal from said attached end;
- and
- at least one fiberoptic rod associated with the tubular member and positioned a predetermined distance from the reflective surface to form a gap therebetween such that a change in temperature of both the tubular member and the cylindrical rod causes the gap to change in length so as to change the amount of light reflected from said reflective surface and received by said at least one fiberoptic rod, the change of reflected light representing the change in temperature.
A method of forming a temperature transducer comprising the steps of:
- forming a tubular member of a material having a first thermal coefficient of expansion;
- forming a cylindrical rod of a material having a second coefficient of expansion with a reflective surface at one end thereof;
- inserting the cylindrical rod in and attaching it to the tubular member only at a position distal to said end with said reflective surface for expansion within the tubular member;
- and
- positioning at least one fiberoptic rod associated with the tubular member at a predetermined distance from the reflective surface to form a gap between said reflective surface and said at least one fiberoptic rod such that a change in temperature of both the tubular member and the cylindrical rod causes the gap to change in length so as to change the amount of light being reflected from said reflective surface and received by said at least one fiberoptic rod, the change of received reflected light representing the change in temperature.
A temperature transducer comprising:
- first and second coaxially aligned body members, said first body member being positioned within said second body member and being attached at only one end to said second body member, said first and second body members being held in spaced relationship with each other;
- the first body member having a first thermal coefficient of expansion and the second body member having a second thermal coefficient of expansion such that with a change in temperature the respective length of the first and second members varies;
- a support member in axial alignment with the first body member;
- a reflecting surface on the other end of the first body member distal from said attached end facing the support member;
- and
- at least one fiberoptic rod mounted in the support member facing the first body member, such that the amount of light reflected from the reflecting surface to the at least one fiberoptic rod varies with a change in temperature and thus a change in the respective length of the first and second body members.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.