USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Stephen A Mastro

John K Overby

Veerendra Kumar Mathur

Joseph H Morris

Joseph W White

Andrew W Jarrett

Henry K Whitesel

A propeller shaft is supported on the stern end of a ship hull by a bearing within which optic fiber cables are embedded in close spaced relation to the outer cylindrical surface of a bearing supported portion of the propeller shaft for a monitoring wear thereof with maximum accuracy. An optical data acquisition system having a light source and a graphic display is operatively connected to the optic fiber cables through inserted optic connector cables to transmit light from the light source as a signal medium into the bearing so as to render the optic fiber cables therein operative as sensors to detect and measure wear of the entire bearing portion of the propeller shaft surface being thereby monitored. Wear measurement optical signals within the wear sensing cables are then transmitted back to the data acquisition system through the optic connector cables for display of the shaft bearing wear measurements.

Fiber optic measurement of bearing surface wear

A passive sensor housing has an air gap formed therein between a collimating lens and a lens focused mirror reflecting optical light signals transmitted through the lens into the air gap within which smoke is received through screened openings in the housing. The optical light signals which are generated within an opto-electronics unit are returned thereto by reflection through the air gap into a fiber cable connected to the collimating lens of the sensor and to an optical coupler within the opto-electronic unit to which generated light signals are delivered from a light emitting diode and returned from the sensor for delivery to a receiver within which such signals are processed into an output signal reflecting smoke density within the air gap.

Fiber optic smoke detector

A seal integrity verification system scans for changes in impedance in a seal with integral coaxial waveguide, twisted pair wires, parallel ribbon wires or parallel wires. The wires are monitored by a TDR to note changes in impedance. The changes indicate the location where the seal is not under proper compression to ensure a tight fit. This is especially useful in verifying that watertight doors on ships or submarines are sealing properly when shut.

Seal integrity detection system

A debris sensor arrangement is positioned within an enclosed body of fluid for detecting the presence of metallic debris particles therein. Debris detection involves exposure of cantilever beams to the fluid when magnetized within an electromagnetic field to attract the metallic debris particles thereon and induce vibratory motion thereof at a resonant frequency varied by changes in the density of the debris particles magnetically held thereon. Measurement of the resonance frequency reflecting the density of the debris particles within the fluid being tested thereby monitors the corresponding wear of machinery reflected by the debris density.

System for measurement of metallic debris in fluid

Netting constructed from strong elongated tubular elements encloses optic fiber signal lines. Such netting is anchored at spaced locations underwater adjacent to a dock to establish a protection zone for sea vessels within the zone from terrorist threats to be delivered underwater by penetration or attempted penetration of the netting which may also block damaging impact inflicted on sea vessels within the zone by missiles. If a missile however penetrates the netting for impacting the sea vessel, the location of such netting penetration is then indicated through the signal lines so as to enable rapid threat response.

Underwater net protection system

A composite structure contains crystalline and/or polycrystalline triboluminescent elements distributed therein externally and/or internally, totally and/or regionally. The structure is instrumented with at least one optical fiber which is coupled therewith penetratingly and/or superficially/tangentially. Each optical fiber is exteriorly light transparent/translucent along at least a longitudinal portion thereof which is situate in the vicinity of at least one triboluminescent element. Concomitant with the occurrence of damage in and/or on the structure is the occurrence of mechanical action with respect to at least one triboluminescent element, a consequence of which is the occurrence of triboluminescence which, to at least some degree, passes radially into at least one optical fiber so as to reach the optical fiber's transmissive axial core and thereby be transmitted to remotely located photosensitive equipment. The triboluminescent elements can exist wholely and/or partly in various capacities, e.g., as fiber reinforcement and/or particle reinforcement and/or particle filler.

Growing community of inventors

Glen Mills, PA, United States of America

Stephen A Mastro