公开(公告)号：DE69507635D1

公开(公告)日：1999-03-11

申请号：DE69507635

申请日：1995-11-21

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Inventor： DUNPHY JAMES ,  RYAN JAMES

IPC: G01B11/16 ,  B29C35/02 ,  B29C70/54 ,  C03C25/10 ,  G01D5/353 ,  G01M11/08 ,  G01N11/00 ,  G01N33/44 ,  G01D5/26 ,  G01L1/00 ,  C03C25/00 ,  G02B6/245

Abstract: An optical corrosion sensor employs an optical fiber Bragg grating 20 embedded within an optical fiber 18 . The grating 20 has a coating 40 made of a material, such as aluminum, which corrodes or can otherwise be removed. The coating 40 exerts forces 46 radially inward around and along the grating 20 so as to cause the wavelength bandwidth of the grating reflectivity profile to become broader and to be shifted relative to its uncoated condition. Also, the forces on the grating 20 are reduced when the coating corrodes, thereby causing the wavelength bandwidth and shift of the reflectivity profile of the grating to narrow and to return to its uncoated condition.

公开(公告)号：DE69507635T2

公开(公告)日：1999-06-17

申请号：DE69507635

申请日：1995-11-21

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Inventor： DUNPHY JAMES ,  RYAN JAMES

IPC: G01B11/16 ,  B29C35/02 ,  B29C70/54 ,  C03C25/10 ,  G01D5/353 ,  G01M11/08 ,  G01N11/00 ,  G01N33/44 ,  G01D5/26 ,  G01L1/00 ,  C03C25/00 ,  G02B6/245

Abstract: An optical corrosion sensor employs an optical fiber Bragg grating 20 embedded within an optical fiber 18 . The grating 20 has a coating 40 made of a material, such as aluminum, which corrodes or can otherwise be removed. The coating 40 exerts forces 46 radially inward around and along the grating 20 so as to cause the wavelength bandwidth of the grating reflectivity profile to become broader and to be shifted relative to its uncoated condition. Also, the forces on the grating 20 are reduced when the coating corrodes, thereby causing the wavelength bandwidth and shift of the reflectivity profile of the grating to narrow and to return to its uncoated condition.

公开(公告)号：DE862729T1

公开(公告)日：1999-05-06

申请号：DE96940596

申请日：1996-11-21

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Inventor： DUNPHY JAMES ,  RUKUS ROBERT ,  HA JONG-MIN

IPC: B29C35/02 ,  B29C70/54 ,  G01B11/16 ,  G01C19/56 ,  G01D5/353 ,  G01H11/06 ,  G01M11/08 ,  G01N11/00 ,  G01N33/44 ,  G01P15/125 ,  G01K11/32 ,  G01L1/24

Abstract: Resin curing of a composite laminated structure is monitored using an optical fiber 20 having a grating sensor 28 embedded therein. The fiber 20 is surrounded by upper and lower buffer regions 12,14 having a predetermined minimum number of layers 30 (or thickness) with uni-directional reinforcing filaments 32 and resin 34 therebetween. When the filaments 32 are oriented perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fiber 20, the buffer regions 12,14 allow the sensor 28 to exhibit maximum sensitivity to detection of the minimum resin viscosity and the gelation point (i.e., the onset of a rapid crosslinking rate) of the resin 34. The buffer regions 12,14 also have a minimum thickness which serve to isolate the sensor 28 from interfering stresses from arbitrarily angled filaments 32 in layers 30 of outer regions 10,16 which surround the buffer regions 12,14.

公开(公告)号：DE69414011D1

公开(公告)日：1998-11-19

申请号：DE69414011

申请日：1994-11-28

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Inventor： DUNPHY JAMES ,  FALKOWICH KENNETH

IPC: G01D5/353 ,  G01H9/00 ,  G01L1/24 ,  G01M11/00 ,  H01J5/16

Abstract: An optical sensor diagnostic system includes a tunable narrow wavelength-band source 9 which provides a variable wavelength light 44 into an optical fiber 32,52. Reflective sensors 54,58, such as Bragg gratings, are disposed along the fiber 52 in the path of the variable light 44. The sensors 54,58 transmit light 56,60 having a minimum transmission wavelength which varies due to a perturbation, such as strain, imposed thereon. A tuner control circuit 42 drives the tunable light source 9 to cause the source light 44 to scan across a predetermined wavelength range to illuminate each sensor at its minimum transmission wavelength. The power of the transmitted light is converted to an electrical signal by a detector 64 and monitored by a signal processor 68 which detects drops in transmitted power level and provides output signals on lines 71 indicative of the perturbation for each sensor. The system may be configured in open loop mode to measure static strains, or closed loop mode to track static strains and measure dynamic strains. Also, the system may be used in a Fabry-Perot configuration to provide a very sensitive strain detection system. Further, the system may be configured in reflection or transmission mode.

公开(公告)号：DE69513281T2

公开(公告)日：2000-02-17

申请号：DE69513281

申请日：1995-03-08

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP ,  FINMECCANICA SPA

Inventor： MELTZ GERALD ,  VARASI MAURO ,  VANNUCCI ANTONELLO ,  SIGNORAZZI MARIO ,  FERRARO PIETRO ,  IMPARATO SABATO ,  VOTO CLAUDIO ,  DUNPHY JAMES

IPC: G01L1/24 ,  G01B11/16 ,  G01D21/02 ,  G01K5/72 ,  G01K11/12 ,  G01K11/32 ,  G01M11/08 ,  G01D5/353 ,  G01D5/34 ,  G01D5/26

Abstract: An embedded optical sensor has a plurality of layers 10-20 and an optical fiber 21 with a fiber grating 28, disposed between the layers 14,16. The layers 10-20 comprise filaments 22 and resin 24 which have different thermal expansion coefficients and the filaments 22 are oriented so as to create unequal transverse residual stresses that act through the geometry of a resin-rich region that surrounds on the grating 28 in the fiber 21. The unequal transverse residual stresses cause birefringence in the grating 28, thereby causing the grating 28 to reflect light 32 having two wavelengths with a predetermined separation, each along a different polarization axis. The wavelength separation and average wavelength between such separation have different sensitivities to temperature and strain, thereby allowing independent temperature and strain measurements using only a single grating. The birefringence is maximized when the filaments 22 of the adjacent layers 10,12 are oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal (Z-axis) of the fiber 21.

公开(公告)号：DE69414011T2

公开(公告)日：1999-03-25

申请号：DE69414011

申请日：1994-11-28

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Inventor： DUNPHY JAMES ,  FALKOWICH KENNETH

IPC: G01D5/353 ,  G01H9/00 ,  G01L1/24 ,  G01M11/00 ,  H01J5/16

Abstract: An optical sensor diagnostic system includes a tunable narrow wavelength-band source 9 which provides a variable wavelength light 44 into an optical fiber 32,52. Reflective sensors 54,58, such as Bragg gratings, are disposed along the fiber 52 in the path of the variable light 44. The sensors 54,58 transmit light 56,60 having a minimum transmission wavelength which varies due to a perturbation, such as strain, imposed thereon. A tuner control circuit 42 drives the tunable light source 9 to cause the source light 44 to scan across a predetermined wavelength range to illuminate each sensor at its minimum transmission wavelength. The power of the transmitted light is converted to an electrical signal by a detector 64 and monitored by a signal processor 68 which detects drops in transmitted power level and provides output signals on lines 71 indicative of the perturbation for each sensor. The system may be configured in open loop mode to measure static strains, or closed loop mode to track static strains and measure dynamic strains. Also, the system may be used in a Fabry-Perot configuration to provide a very sensitive strain detection system. Further, the system may be configured in reflection or transmission mode.

公开(公告)号：DE69513281D1

公开(公告)日：1999-12-16

申请号：DE69513281

申请日：1995-03-08

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP ,  FINMECCANICA SPA

Inventor： MELTZ GERALD ,  VARASI MAURO ,  VANNUCCI ANTONELLO ,  SIGNORAZZI MARIO ,  FERRARO PIETRO ,  IMPARATO SABATO ,  VOTO CLAUDIO ,  DUNPHY JAMES

IPC: G01L1/24 ,  G01B11/16 ,  G01D21/02 ,  G01K5/72 ,  G01K11/12 ,  G01K11/32 ,  G01M11/08 ,  G01D5/353 ,  G01D5/34 ,  G01D5/26

Abstract: An embedded optical sensor has a plurality of layers 10-20 and an optical fiber 21 with a fiber grating 28, disposed between the layers 14,16. The layers 10-20 comprise filaments 22 and resin 24 which have different thermal expansion coefficients and the filaments 22 are oriented so as to create unequal transverse residual stresses that act through the geometry of a resin-rich region that surrounds on the grating 28 in the fiber 21. The unequal transverse residual stresses cause birefringence in the grating 28, thereby causing the grating 28 to reflect light 32 having two wavelengths with a predetermined separation, each along a different polarization axis. The wavelength separation and average wavelength between such separation have different sensitivities to temperature and strain, thereby allowing independent temperature and strain measurements using only a single grating. The birefringence is maximized when the filaments 22 of the adjacent layers 10,12 are oriented at 90 degrees with respect to the longitudinal (Z-axis) of the fiber 21.

公开(公告)号：DE69603507T2

公开(公告)日：1999-11-18

申请号：DE69603507

申请日：1996-12-09

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Inventor： DUNPHY JAMES ,  RUKUS ROBERT ,  HA JONG-MIN

IPC: G02B6/00 ,  G02B6/36 ,  G02B6/38 ,  G02B6/44

Abstract: An optical fiber entry strain relief interface includes a composite structure (lay-up) 10 having an optical fiber 20 embedded therein. The optical fiber 20 enters (or exits) the lay-up 10 at at least one point 24 and passes through transition layers 47 comprising an adhesive film 42, a thin rubber sealing layer 44, and a thick rubber strain relief layer 46, and through a polymer plug 48 located above the layer 46. The lay-up is consolidated by heating the lay-up over a temperature profile and applying pressure through mostly closed compression molding tools 30,32. The adhesive film 42 bonds the adjacent layer 44 to the upper surface of the lay-up 10, the sealing layer 44 becomes soft enough to seal around the fiber 20 at a temperature lower than the temperature at which the resin 16 exhibits a low enough viscosity to leak out of the lay-up 10, thereby preventing the resin from leaking out of the lay-up 10 during lay-up consolidation, the strain relief layer 46 provides a rubber strain relief for the optical fiber 20, and the plug 48 supports the layers 47 during consolidation.

公开(公告)号：DE69603507D1

公开(公告)日：1999-09-02

申请号：DE69603507

申请日：1996-12-09

Applicant: UNITED TECHNOLOGIES CORP

Inventor： DUNPHY JAMES ,  RUKUS ROBERT ,  HA JONG-MIN

IPC: G02B6/00 ,  G02B6/36 ,  G02B6/38 ,  G02B6/44

Abstract: An optical fiber entry strain relief interface includes a composite structure (lay-up) 10 having an optical fiber 20 embedded therein. The optical fiber 20 enters (or exits) the lay-up 10 at at least one point 24 and passes through transition layers 47 comprising an adhesive film 42, a thin rubber sealing layer 44, and a thick rubber strain relief layer 46, and through a polymer plug 48 located above the layer 46. The lay-up is consolidated by heating the lay-up over a temperature profile and applying pressure through mostly closed compression molding tools 30,32. The adhesive film 42 bonds the adjacent layer 44 to the upper surface of the lay-up 10, the sealing layer 44 becomes soft enough to seal around the fiber 20 at a temperature lower than the temperature at which the resin 16 exhibits a low enough viscosity to leak out of the lay-up 10, thereby preventing the resin from leaking out of the lay-up 10 during lay-up consolidation, the strain relief layer 46 provides a rubber strain relief for the optical fiber 20, and the plug 48 supports the layers 47 during consolidation.