System for determining condition of an article

• US 6,067,159 A
• Filed: 02/22/1999
• Issued: 05/23/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated (Rockwell Automation, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Reliance Electric Industrial Company (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Harris, James S., Discenzo, Frederick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US09/253,785
• Time in Patent Office: 456 Days
• Field of Search: 356/345, 356/357, 356/359, 356/360
• US Class Current: 356/450
• CPC Class Codes: B60C 11/24 Wear-indicating arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2066/001 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 66/02 Apparatus for indicating wear
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/06 for measuring thickness ; e.g. of sheet material thickness measurement by thermal means G01B21/085
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/268 using optical fibres G01D5/28 - G01D5/38 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/35312 using a Fabry Perot
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/086 Details about the embedment of the optical fiber within the DUT
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 39/58 Means structurally associated with the current collector for indicating condition thereof, e.g. for indicating brush wear
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/25 Devices for sensing temperature, or actuated thereby
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/35 Devices for recording or transmitting machine parameters, e.g. memory chips or radio transmitters for diagnosis
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/14 Means for supporting or protecting brushes or brush holders

Abstract

A system for determining wear of an article including an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source. The optical fiber is embedded in the article, and operatively coupled to an interferometric system. The interferometric system is operatively coupled to a processor. The interferometric system provides the processor with information relating to wear of the optical fiber, and the processor determines wear of the article rate of wear and remaining useful life of the article based on the information relating to wear of the optical fiber.

Claims

1. A system for determining wear of an article, comprising:

an optical fiber, at least a portion of the optical fiber being embedded in the article;

means for providing information relating to wear of the optical fiber; and

means for determining wear of article based at least partially on the information relating to wear of the optical fiber.

2. The system of claim 1, further including means for transmitting energy through the optical fiber.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein a length direction of the optical fiber is substantially parallel to a direction of wear of the article.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a carbon brush.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a tire.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the article is a brake pad.

7. A system for determining pressure of an article, comprising:

an optical fiber at least a portion of which is embedded in the article;

means for sensing pressure, the means for sensing pressure being operatively coupled to the optical fiber, the means for sensing pressure receiving at least a portion of a measuring beam being transmitted through the optical fiber; and

means for determining pressure of the article, the means for determining pressure being operatively coupled to the means for sensing pressure, the means for determining pressure using information based on the measuring beam provided by the means for sensing pressure to determine pressure related information of the article.

8. The system of claim 7, the optical fiber including at least one induced microbend.

9. The system of claim 7, the optical fiber undergoing micro-bending as a result of pressure applied to the article.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein attenuation of the measuring beam varies in relation to the amount of micro-bending of the optical fiber.

11. The system of claim 7, the optical fiber including a plurality of micro-bends which are periodic and quasi-sinusoidal.

12. A system for determining pressure of an article, comprising:

an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source, at least a portion of the optical fiber being embedded in the article;

a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor being operatively coupled to the optical fiber and being adapted to receive at least a portion of a measuring beam being transmitted through the optical fiber;

a processor operatively coupled to the pressure sensor, the pressure sensor providing the processor with data based on the measuring beam, and the processor determining pressure related information based on the data.

13. The system of claim 12, the optical fiber including at least one induced micro-bend.

14. The system of claim 12, the optical fiber undergoing micro-bending as a result of pressure applied to the article.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein attenuation of the measuring beam varies in relation to the amount of micro-bending of the optical fiber.

16. The system of claim 12, the optical fiber including a plurality of micro-bends which are periodic and quasi-sinusoidal.

17. A system for determining temperature related information of an article, comprising:

an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source, the optical fiber being embedded in the article;

a temperature sensor operatively coupled to the optical fiber, the temperature sensor being adapted to receive at least a portion of a measuring beam being transmitted through the optical fiber;

a processor operatively coupled to the temperature sensor, the temperature sensor providing the processor with data based on the measuring beam, and the processor determining temperature related information based on the data.

18. The system of claim 17, the optical fiber having a temperature-sensitive index of refraction.

19. The system of claim 17, the measuring beam traveling through the optical fiber and striking an object the article is in contact with, the temperature sensor converting at least a reflected portion of the measuring beam to an electrical signal.

20. The system of claim 19, the processor analyzing the electrical signal to make a determination of temperature relating to the article.

21. The system of claim 19, the optical fiber being grated such that a change in index of refraction due to a temperature change will cause a shift in the wavelength of the reflected portion of the measuring beam.

22. A system for determining pressure of an article, comprising:

an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source, at least a portion of the optical fiber being embedded in the article;

means for sensing pressure, the means for sensing pressure being operatively coupled to the optical fiber and being adapted to receive at least a portion of a measuring beam being transmitted through the optical fiber;

means for determining pressure operatively coupled to the means for sensing pressure, the means for sensing pressure providing the means for determining pressure with data based on the measuring beam, and the means for determining pressure determining pressure related information based on the data.

23. A system for determining temperature related information of an article, comprising:

an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source, the optical fiber being embedded in the article;

means for sensing temperature operatively coupled to the optical fiber, the means for sensing temperature being adapted to receive at least a portion of a measuring beam being transmitted through the optical fiber;

means for determining temperature operatively coupled to the means for sensing temperature, the means for sensing temperature providing the means for determining temperature with data based on the measuring beam, and the means for determining temperature determining temperature related information based on the data.