Method and apparatus to enhance the sensitivity of cylindrical magnetostrictive transducer to magnetic fields

• US 4,850,098 A
• Filed: 04/15/1988
• Issued: 07/25/1989
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Inventors: Yurek, Aileen M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stewart J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Raevis, Robert R.
• Application Number:
  US07/181,996
• Time in Patent Office: 466 Days
• Field of Search: 73/705,800, 73/DIG. 2, 73/655, 73/657, 356/32-35, 250/227, 350/320, 350/371, 350/375, 350/376, 324/244, 324/249, 324/260, 324/96, 29/605, 29/527.2, 374/187, 374/190, 374/191, 374/196, 367/156, 367/168, 367/140, 367/149
• US Class Current: 29/527.2
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 33/0327 with application of magnetostriction
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49982 Coating

Abstract

A fiber optic sensor using the treated coil of optical fiber as a structural support system for the sensor, and a method for making such a sensor.

Claims

1. A method of manufacturing a sensor comprising the steps of:

forming a cylindrical support structure comprising optical transmission means, wherein said step of forming a cylindrical support structure includes winding an optical fiber on to a mandrel composed of a low friction material and applying a bonding means to said wound optical fiber to fuse adjacent windings of said optical fiber; and

bonding a sensing means to an interior wall of said cylindrical support structure, wherein said sensing means comprises a magnetostrictive metallic glass surface.

2. A method of manufacturing a sensor as recited in claim 1 wherein said bonding means comprises a UV curing epoxy.

3. A method of manufacturing a sensor comprising the steps of:

forming a cylindrical structure comprising optical transmission means, wherein said step of forming a cylindrical support structure includes winding a jacketed optical fiber on to a mandrel composed of a low friction material, applying a softening means to said wound optical fiber to soften a jacket layer of said fiber, and bonding adjacent windings of said optical fiber together by controlling the previous step of applying softening means; and

bonding a sensing means to an interior wall of said cylindrical support structure, wherein said sensing means comprises a magnetostrictive metallic glass surface.

4. A method of manufacturing a sensor as recited in claim 3 wherein said matnetostrictive metallic glass surface comprises a single layer.

5. A method of manufacturing a sensor as recited in claim 4 wherein said low friction material of said mandrel comprises TEFLON.

6. A method of manufacturing a sensor as recited in claim 5 wherein said softening means is a corrosive capable of softening said jacketing of said optical fiber for the step of bonding adjacent windings.

7. A method of manufacturing a sensor as recited in claim 6 wherein said step of bonding a sensing means to an interior wall comprises epoxying said magnetostrictive metallic glass surface to an interior wall of said cylindrical support structure with a low modulus epoxy.

8. A method of manufacturing a sensor as recited in claim 7 wherein said corrosive comprises sulfuric acid.

9. A method of manufacturing a sensor as recited in claim 5 wherein said softening means is a organic solvent capable of softening said jacketing of said optical fiber for the step of bonding adjacent windings.

10. A method of manufacturing a sensor as recited in claim 3 wherein said softening means is a organic solvent capable of softening said jacketing of said optical fiber for the step of bonding adjacent windings.

11. A method of manufacturing a sensor having a single layer of magnetostrictive metallic glass, said method comprising the steps of:

forming a cylindrical support structure by first wrapping a jacketed optical fiber in a coil around a mandrel composed of a low friction material;

fusing together adjacent windings of the coil;

removing the cylindrical support structure from the mandrel; and

bonding a single layer of magnetostrictive metallic glass to an interior surface of the cylindrical support structure.