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Title: Furnace control apparatus using polarizing interferometer

Abstract

A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accuratelymore » recording beam length distance differences with only one reading.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4]
  1. Maumee, OH
  2. Waban, MA
  3. North Reading, MA
  4. Newton, MA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Surface Combustion, Inc. (Maumee, OH)
OSTI Identifier:
869806
Patent Number(s):
5402233
Assignee:
Surface Combustion, Inc. (Maumee, OH)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01H - MEASUREMENT OF MECHANICAL VIBRATIONS OR ULTRASONIC, SONIC OR INFRASONIC WAVES
G - PHYSICS G10 - MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS G10K - SOUND-PRODUCING DEVICES
DOE Contract Number:  
FC07-89ID12830
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
furnace; control; apparatus; polarizing; interferometer; non-destructively; measuring; controlling; industrial; processes; response; measurement; disclosed; impulse; laser; generates; plurality; sound; waves; timed; increments; measure; surface; movement; caused; sensed; phase; shifts; signal; beam; photon; multiplier; senses; shift; develops; electrical; conditioning; arrangement; modifies; signals; generate; average; correlated; physical; metallurgical; property; temperature; process; external; random; vibrations; workpiece; utilized; discernible; addition; optimizing; sensitivity; attributed; various; detected; opaque; mechanism; sensing; surfaces; produce; speckle; light; patterns; finally; capable; accurately; recording; length; distance; differences; reading; random vibrations; recording beam; movement attributed; signal correlated; various waves; timed increments; speckle light; average signal; produce speckle; accurately recording; beam length; arrangement modifies; non-destructively measuring; metallurgical property; measure surface; multiplier senses; laser generates; light pattern; impulse laser; controlling industrial; conditioning arrangement; length distance; discernible signals; distance differences; industrial processes; photon multiplier; phase shift; electrical signals; sound waves; electrical signal; signal beam; industrial process; polarizing interferometer; phase shifts; surface movement; signal conditioning; control apparatus; light patterns; pulse laser; sound wave; /356/73/

Citation Formats

Schultz, Thomas J, Kotidis, Petros A, Woodroffe, Jaime A, and Rostler, Peter S. Furnace control apparatus using polarizing interferometer. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Schultz, Thomas J, Kotidis, Petros A, Woodroffe, Jaime A, & Rostler, Peter S. Furnace control apparatus using polarizing interferometer. United States.
Schultz, Thomas J, Kotidis, Petros A, Woodroffe, Jaime A, and Rostler, Peter S. Sun . "Furnace control apparatus using polarizing interferometer". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/869806.
@article{osti_869806,
title = {Furnace control apparatus using polarizing interferometer},
author = {Schultz, Thomas J and Kotidis, Petros A and Woodroffe, Jaime A and Rostler, Peter S},
abstractNote = {A system for non-destructively measuring an object and controlling industrial processes in response to the measurement is disclosed in which an impulse laser generates a plurality of sound waves over timed increments in an object. A polarizing interferometer is used to measure surface movement of the object caused by the sound waves and sensed by phase shifts in the signal beam. A photon multiplier senses the phase shift and develops an electrical signal. A signal conditioning arrangement modifies the electrical signals to generate an average signal correlated to the sound waves which in turn is correlated to a physical or metallurgical property of the object, such as temperature, which property may then be used to control the process. External, random vibrations of the workpiece are utilized to develop discernible signals which can be sensed in the interferometer by only one photon multiplier. In addition the interferometer includes an arrangement for optimizing its sensitivity so that movement attributed to various waves can be detected in opaque objects. The interferometer also includes a mechanism for sensing objects with rough surfaces which produce speckle light patterns. Finally the interferometer per se, with the addition of a second photon multiplier is capable of accurately recording beam length distance differences with only one reading.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}