Fiber optic curvature sensor for towed hydrophone arrays
First Claim
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1. A system for detecting curvature in a towed hydrophone array, said system comprising:
- at least two curvature sensors positioned along the length of the towed hydrophone array;
each of said curvature sensors comprising a bend member which bends as the array bends, at least one optical fiber within the bend member, and at least one detecting device embedded within said at least one optical fiber to detect a change in strain in said at least one optical fiber; and
means for limiting the bending of said bend member and thereby the strain in said at least one optical fiber.
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Abstract
The present invention relates to a system for sensing the curvature of a towed hydrophone array and a curvature sensor used in the system. The system has at least two curvature sensors positioned along the length of the array. Each of the curvature sensors comprises a bend member which bends as the array bends, at least one optical fiber within the bend member, and at least one detection device embedded within the at least one optical fiber to detect a change in the strain in the at least one optical fiber.
22 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A system for detecting curvature in a towed hydrophone array, said system comprising:
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at least two curvature sensors positioned along the length of the towed hydrophone array;
each of said curvature sensors comprising a bend member which bends as the array bends, at least one optical fiber within the bend member, and at least one detecting device embedded within said at least one optical fiber to detect a change in strain in said at least one optical fiber; and
means for limiting the bending of said bend member and thereby the strain in said at least one optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A system for detecting curvature in a towed hydrophone array, said system comprising:
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at least two curvature sensors positioned along the length of the towed hydrophone array;
each of said curvature sensors comprising a bend member which bends as the array bends at least one optical fiber within the bend member, and at least one detection device embedded within said at least one optical fiber to detect a change in strain in said at least one optical fiber;
means for limiting the bending of said bend member and thereby limit the strain in said at least one optical fiber;
said bend member comprising a bend rod and said curvature sensor having at least three optical fibers embedded within said bend rod;
said array having a hose wall and means for coupling said first and second ends of said bend rod to said hose wall; and
said coupling means comprising a pair of rigid pieces. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A system for detecting curvature in a towed hydrophone array, said system comprising:
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at least two curvature sensors positioned along the length of the towed hydrophone array;
each of said curvature sensors comprising a bend member which bends as the array bends at least one optical fiber within the bend member, and at least one detection device embedded within said at least one optical fiber to detect a change in strain in said at least one optical fiber;
means for limiting the bending of said bend member and thereby limit the strain in said at least one optical fiber;
said bend member comprising a bend cylinder having a plurality of optical fibers embedded therein; and
said limiting means comprising a mount assembly inside said bend cylinder;
a gap between an inner surface of said bend cylinder and an outer surface of said mount assembly; and
said gap being sized to limit the bending of said optical fibers.
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24. A curvature sensor comprising:
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a bend member;
at least one optical fiber within the bend member;
at least one detection device embedded within said at least one optical fiber to detect a change in strain in said at least one optical fiber; and
means for limiting the bending of said bend member and thereby the strain in said at least one optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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32. A curvature sensor comprising:
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a bend member;
at least one optical fiber within the bend member;
at least one detection device embedded within said at least one optical fiber to detect a change in strain in said at least one optical fiber;
means for limiting the bending of said bend member and thereby the strain in said at least one optical fiber;
said bend member comprising a bend rod and said curvature sensor having at least three optical fibers embedded within said bend rod; and
said bend rod having a length and each of said optical fibers running longitudinally down the length of the bend rod and said optical fibers being radially distributed around the perimeter of the bend rod.
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33. A system for determining the curvature and shape of a towed hydrophone array comprising:
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a plurality of curvature sensors positioned along the length of the towed hydrophone array;
each of said curvature sensors comprising a bend member which bends as the array bends, at least one optical fiber within the bend member, at least one detection device embedded within said at least one optical fiber to detect a change in strain in said at least one optical fiber, and means for limiting the bending of said bend member and thereby the strain in said at least one optical fiber; and
a plurality of roll sensors positioned along the length of the towed hydrophone array with each of said roll sensors being in close proximity to a respective one of said curvature sensors.
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Specification