Composite structures, such as coated wiring assemblies, having integral fiber optic-based condition detectors and systems which employ the same

A condition detection system comprising:

• a composite structure comprised of a coated element, and at least one fiber optic condition sensor embedded physically within a coating of said coated element, wherein the at least one fiber optic condition sensor exhibits an initial wavelength at a zero state prior to being embedded physically within the coating, and wherein each of the coating and the at least one fiber optic condition sensor has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) which is sufficiently different from one another so as to induce compressive stress on the at least one fiber optic condition sensor to achieve a wavelength change thereof during a normal state which is greater than about 0.1 nm relative to the initial wavelength of the at least one fiber optic condition sensor at the zero state to thereby achieve a predetermined strain characteristic which is responsive to a selected condition of the composite structure to be sensed, and wherein said sensor detects a change in the predetermined strain characteristic which is indicative of the condition of said composite structure during an abnormal condition due to the induced compressive stress achieved by the different CTE of the coating and the sensor,
• a data acquisition system operatively connected to said fiber optic sensor for outputting a signal indicative of the change in the predetermined strain characteristic of the at least one fiber optic condition sensor, and
• a monitor for receiving the signal and providing an indication of said predetermined condition.

A wire assembly having integral condition detection capabilities, comprising:

• a wire element which includes at least one electrical conductor;
• an electrical insulator formed of a polymeric material surrounding said wire element;
• and
• a fiber optic condition sensor in operative association with said electrical insulator to detect a selected condition of said wire assembly, wherein
• the fiber optic condition sensor exhibits a predetermined strain characteristic which is responsive to the selected condition of the wire assembly to be detected, and wherein
• the fiber optic condition sensor detects a change in the predetermined strain characteristic which is indicative of the selected sensed condition of said wire assembly;
• and wherein
• the fiber optic condition sensor exhibits an initial wavelength at a zero state prior to being operatively associated with the electrical insulator, and wherein
• each of the electrical insulation and the fiber optic condition sensor has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) which is sufficiently different from one another so as to induce compressive stress on the fiber optic condition sensor to achieve a wavelength change thereof during a normal state which is greater than about 0.1 nm relative to the initial wavelength of the fiber optic condition sensor at the zero state to thereby achieve the predetermined strain characteristic which is responsive to the selected condition of the wire assembly to be detected, and wherein
• the sensor detects a change in the predetermined strain characteristic which is indicative of the condition of the wire assembly during an abnormal condition due to the induced compressive stress achieved by the different CTE of the electrical insulation and the sensor.

An insulation wear detector system comprising:

• a wire assembly comprising a wire element which includes at least one electrical conductor;
• an electrical insulator formed of a polymeric material surrounding said wire element;
• and a fiber optic condition sensor in operative association with said electrical insulator, wherein the fiber optic condition sensor exhibits a predetermined strain characteristic which is responsive to a wear condition of the electrical insulator, and wherein the fiber optic condition sensor detects a change in the predetermined strain characteristic which is indicative of the wear condition of said electrical insulator;
• a data acquisition system operatively connected to said fiber optic sensor for outputting a signal indicative of a change in the predetermined strain characteristic of the fiber optic sensor, and
• a monitor for receiving the signal and providing an indication of the wear condition of the electrical insulator;
• wherein
• the fiber optic condition sensor exhibits an initial wavelength at a zero state prior to being operatively associated with the electrical insulator, and wherein
• each of the electrical insulation and the fiber optic condition sensor has a coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) which is sufficiently different from one another so as to induce compressive stress on the fiber optic condition sensor to achieve a wavelength change thereof during a normal state which is greater than about 0.1 nm relative to the initial wavelength of the fiber optic condition sensor at the zero state to thereby achieve the predetermined strain characteristic which is responsive to the selected condition of the wire assembly to be detected, and wherein
• the sensor detects a change in the predetermined strain characteristic which is indicative of the condition of the wire assembly during an abnormal condition due to the induced compressive stress achieved by the different CTE of the electrical insulation and the sensor.