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Title: Fiber optic gap gauge

Abstract

A lightweight, small size, high sensitivity gauge for indirectly measuring displacement or absolute gap width by measuring axial strain in an orthogonal direction to the displacement/gap width. The gap gauge includes a preferably titanium base having a central tension bar with springs connecting opposite ends of the tension bar to a pair of end connector bars, and an elongated bow spring connected to the end connector bars with a middle section bowed away from the base to define a gap. The bow spring is capable of producing an axial strain in the base proportional to a displacement of the middle section in a direction orthogonal to the base. And a strain sensor, such as a Fabry-Perot interferometer strain sensor, is connected to measure the axial strain in the base, so that the displacement of the middle section may be indirectly determined from the measurement of the axial strain in the base.

Inventors:
 [1];  [2];  [2];  [3]
  1. Livermore, CA
  2. Brentwood, CA
  3. Pleasanton, CA
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States); Univ. of California (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
908045
Patent Number(s):
7134219
Application Number:
11/132,976
Assignee:
The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
Patent Classifications (CPCs):
G - PHYSICS G01 - MEASURING G01D - MEASURING NOT SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR A SPECIFIC VARIABLE
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
47 OTHER INSTRUMENTATION

Citation Formats

Wood, Billy E, Groves, Scott E, Larsen, Greg J, and Sanchez, Roberto J. Fiber optic gap gauge. United States: N. p., 2006. Web.
Wood, Billy E, Groves, Scott E, Larsen, Greg J, & Sanchez, Roberto J. Fiber optic gap gauge. United States.
Wood, Billy E, Groves, Scott E, Larsen, Greg J, and Sanchez, Roberto J. Tue . "Fiber optic gap gauge". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/908045.
@article{osti_908045,
title = {Fiber optic gap gauge},
author = {Wood, Billy E and Groves, Scott E and Larsen, Greg J and Sanchez, Roberto J},
abstractNote = {A lightweight, small size, high sensitivity gauge for indirectly measuring displacement or absolute gap width by measuring axial strain in an orthogonal direction to the displacement/gap width. The gap gauge includes a preferably titanium base having a central tension bar with springs connecting opposite ends of the tension bar to a pair of end connector bars, and an elongated bow spring connected to the end connector bars with a middle section bowed away from the base to define a gap. The bow spring is capable of producing an axial strain in the base proportional to a displacement of the middle section in a direction orthogonal to the base. And a strain sensor, such as a Fabry-Perot interferometer strain sensor, is connected to measure the axial strain in the base, so that the displacement of the middle section may be indirectly determined from the measurement of the axial strain in the base.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2006},
month = {Tue Nov 14 00:00:00 EST 2006}
}