The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 09, 1982
Filed:
Jul. 28, 1980
Leroy G Puffer, Vernon, CT (US);
James P Waters, Ellington, CT (US);
Essex Group, Inc., Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Abstract
Apparatus and method for optically scanning the circumference of a generally circular section of a test object, and especially for monitoring the surface character of cables and the like. An optical system has its apparent axis substantially concentric with the centerline of the path along which the cable moves relative to the scanning optics. A beam of radiation is caused to rotate or orbit about that axis and is then directed into near-normal incidence with the surface of the test object such that it is specularly reflected by the surface. The optical system redirects the reflected beam toward one or more detectors, the intensity of outputs of which provide an indication of the surface character of the object. In a preferred embodiment, a radiation source beam offset from the actual cable path is rotated by a pair of oscillating mirrors such that it describes a divergent conical shape. Certain optics direct a 180.degree. portion of that rotating beam along one path to intersect with a corresponding 180.degree. segment of the cable and a dividing mirror and similar optics direct the other 180.degree. portion of the beam along another path to intersect with the remaining or complementary 180.degree. segment of the cable. By so dividing the beam paths, a full 360.degree. scan of the cable surface is obtained without the cable 'shadowing' any part of the incoming beam. The reflected radiation is 'returned' along two respective paths to a respective pair of detectors. Some of the optical elements may be movable relative to others to facilitate coupling and uncoupling the apparatus with the cable.