System and method for sensing torque on a rotating shaft
First Claim
1. An optical characteristic inspection system comprising:
- a layer of photo-elastic material that overlays a portion of a rotating structure;
a signal emitting component that delivers a signal to the photo-elastic material, the signal is directed photo-elastic material along an axis of the structure;
an analysis component that receives light exiting the photo-elastic material, the exiting signal associated with structural degradation characteristics; and
a control component that provides a pulse of known amplitude to the system.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method relating to the measuring of torque in a rotating shaft is provided. An optical torque sensing system comprises a rotating shaft, wherein a sleeve of photo-elastic material overlays a portion of the shaft. A light emitting component delivers light into the photo-elastic material, wherein the light delivered by the light emitting component is directed through the photo-elastic material along an axis of the rotating shaft. A capturing component captures the light that exits the photo-elastic material. The exiting light comprises fringe pattern data, and a computing system computes torsion strain of the shaft based at least in part on the fringe pattern information.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An optical characteristic inspection system comprising:
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a layer of photo-elastic material that overlays a portion of a rotating structure; a signal emitting component that delivers a signal to the photo-elastic material, the signal is directed photo-elastic material along an axis of the structure; an analysis component that receives light exiting the photo-elastic material, the exiting signal associated with structural degradation characteristics; and a control component that provides a pulse of known amplitude to the system. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A system that monitors structural characteristics comprising:
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means for directing a light from a light source into a photo-elastic material along an axis of a portion of a structure; means for receiving the light exiting the photo-elastic material, the exiting light having at least one of mechanical degradation and alignment characteristics relating to the structure; and means for analyzing the characteristics of the structure utilizing the received light, means for employing at least one of a Shape Memory Alloy, a piezoelectric ceramic and a electroactive polymer to modify parameters of the structure based at least in part on axial and lateral misalignment data.
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23. A method that determines characterstics of a structure comprising:
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injecting a signal into a photo-elastic material along an axis of a portion of a structure; receiving a signal exiting the photo-elastic material, the exiting signal having mechanical wear characteristics relating to the structure; analyzing the characteristics of the structure utilizing the received signal; and employing a smart material to modify parameters of the structure based at least in part on axial and lateral misalignment data. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification