System for monitoring sealing wear
First Claim
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1. A sensor device comprising:
- a seal associated with a motor;
a first optical fiber embedded within the seal associated with the motor, the first optical fiber includes at least one microbend; and
a pressure sensor that incessantly monitors pressure on the seal based in part on a change in amplitude of the at least one microbend.
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Abstract
A system for determining at least one condition of a seal including an optical fiber for transmitting light from a light source. The optical fiber is embedded in the seal 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 seal, rate of wear and remaining useful life of the seal based on the information relating to wear of the optical fiber.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A sensor device comprising:
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a seal associated with a motor; a first optical fiber embedded within the seal associated with the motor, the first optical fiber includes at least one microbend; and a pressure sensor that incessantly monitors pressure on the seal based in part on a change in amplitude of the at least one microbend. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for sensing a characteristic related to a motor, comprising:
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measuring pressure of a mechanical seal based in part on a change in amplitude of at least one microbend permanently induced in a first optical fiber, the first optical fiber embedded within the mechanical seal; and monitoring at least one of radial and axial wear of the seal by employing at least a second optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A sensor device, comprising:
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means for incessantly measuring pressure on a seal associated with a motor based in part on a change in amplitude of at least one microbend induced on a first optical fiber embedded within the seal; and means for continuously measuring wear on the seal based on information received from a second optical fiber embedded within the seal.
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Specification