Multiple component sensor mechanism
AssigneeWeatherford/Lamb, Inc.
InventorsArne Berg, Sverre Knudsen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multiple component mechanism for housing one or more fiber optic based sensors and one or more fiber organizers and other devices for the sensors is disclosed. The mechanism includes a splice component and a sensor component, which are hermetically sealed. The sensor and splice components include substantially tubular bodies having lids welded to the ends. The fiber organizer and other devices are installed in the cylindrical splice component. The one or more sensors are installed in the tubular body of the sensor component with wedging devices. In one embodiment, the sensor component is acoustically decoupled from the splice component by a tube welded to the lids of the components. The tube communicates optical fiber from the fiber organizer to the one or more sensors.
Claims52
A fiber-optic-based sensor system coupled to a first transmission line comprising a first fiber optic cable contained within a first sleeve, the system comprising:
- a second housing comprising at least one fiber optic sensor coupled to a second fiber optic cable;
- a first housing, wherein the first sleeve is coupled to the first housing, and wherein the first housing contains a first splice which couples the first fiber optic cable to the second fiber optic cable;
- and
- a flexible tube between the first and second housings, the flexible tube containing the second fiber optic cable and enabling acoustic decoupling of the second housing spaced from the first housing.
A fiber-optic-based sensor system coupleable to a fiber optic transmission line, comprising:
- a sensor housing comprising at least one fiber optic senor;
- a splice housing containing at least one first splice which couples the at least one fiber optic sensor to the fiber optic transmission line;
- and
- a fiber organizer for disposal in the splice housing, wherein the fiber organizer provides winding members for winding optical fiber thereon.
A method for manufacturing a fiber-optic-based sensor, comprising:
- (a) positioning a plurality of sensors within a sensor housing, wherein each sensor comprises an input fiber optic cable and an output fiber optic cable;
- (b) bringing any combination of the input and output fiber optic cables to first and second ends of the sensor housing;
- (c) splicing the fiber optic cables brought to the first end of the sensor housing to form at least one first splice;
- (d) splicing the fiber optic cables brought to the second end of the sensor housing to form at least one second splice;
- and
- (e) wrapping the fiber optic cables at each end of the sensor housing on respective fiber organizers prior to placing the fiber organizers in splice housings, the splice housings for housing the at least one splice and the at least one second splice.
A method for manufacturing a fiber-optic-based sensor system, comprising in no particular order:
- (a) affixing a first fiber optic transmission line containing a first fiber optic cable to a first end of a first housing, wherein the first fiber optic cable is exposed at a second end of the first housing;
- (b) positioning at least one sensor containing a second fiber optic cable within a second housing, wherein the second fiber optic cable is exposed at a first end of the first housing;
- (c) splicing the first and second fiber optic cables to form a splice;
- (d) placing the splice in the first housing;
- and
- (e) acoustically decoupling the second housing from the first housing by spacing the housings from one another and connecting the housings by a flexible tube containing the second fiber optic cable.
A sensor component, comprising:
- a tubular body having a central axis, comprising:
- a pressure regulator for regulating the pressure within the tubular body;
- a first fiber-optic-based accelerometer with an elongate body positioned along the central axis within the tubular body, wherein the first accelerometer detects acceleration in a first axis orthogonal to the central axis;
- a second fiber-optic-based accelerometer with an elongate body positioned along the central axis within the tubular body, wherein the first accelerometer detects acceleration in a second axis orthogonal to both the first axis and the central axis;
- and
- a third fiber-optic-based accelerometer with an elongate body positioned along the central axis within the tubular body, wherein the first accelerometer detects acceleration in an axis parallel to the central axis,
- wherein the first, second, and third fiber-optic-based accelerometers are multiplexed along a single optical pathway.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.