Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A shaft state sensor includes a rotating member having a miniaturized lamp mounted thereto. A rotary transformer is connected to the lamp and supplies it with power. A number of optic fibers are arranged in a circular configuration on a stationary member of the sensor. The center of the circular configuration is coaxial with the shaft of the rotating member. As the shaft turns, the lamp becomes sequentially aligned with each of the fibers thereby indicating changes in shaft position. The fibers are connected to an optical coupler which is in turn connected to an optical density discriminator for detecting when the light passing through a particular optic fiber exceeds the required threshold level. The output from the discriminator is optical and may travel over substantial cable distances to a computer location without the introduction of electrical noise so that shaft position or velocity may be computed.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim