Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Ted F Hutchinson

James Robert Onstott

Dale R Lutz

Trevor W MacDougall

Bryon J Cronk

Silica tubes and sleeves are used to protect fusion splices between the ends of the fiber coil and polarizing fibers. Use of silica for most of the subassembly components matches the coefficients of thermal expansion of the subassembly to that of the fiber coil, and also allows the coil to be annealed at extremely high temperatures. Annealing yields fiber coils of lowered birefringence, particularly when used with spun fibers. Ferrules are used to adjust the angular orientation of the fibers with respect to their planes of polarization.

Method of annealing a fiber within a coiled tube to thereby make a fiber

A holder for annealing a fiber optic coil uses a silica ring on a silica substrate, or silica tubular coil, either of which may be directly incorporated into a coil subassembly for a Faraday-effect current sensor. The ring may be formed in a silica plate by sandblasting or grinding, or formed separately and adhered to the plate. In the tubular holder embodiment, silica tubes and sleeves are used to protect fusion splices between the ends of the fiber coil and polarizing fibers. Use of silica for most of the subassembly components matches the coefficients of thermal expansion of the subassembly to that of the fiber coil, and also allows the coil to be annealed at extremely high temperatures. Annealing yields fiber coils of lowered birefringence, particularly when used with spun fibers. Ferrules are used to adjust the angular orientation of the fibers with respect to their planes of polarization.

Holder for annealing fiber optic coils

A fault indicator for a surge arrester includes an explosive cartridge which is detonated by a fault condition of an attached surge arrester to remove a covering which exposes colored, reflective tape to provide a visual indication of the faulted condition of the surge arrester.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Park, TX, United States of America

Ted F Hutchinson