Abstract The method of determining the change in the spacing between two positions on a single object or a position on each of two objects, by affixing two linear scatterers at the two positions; illuminating the scatterers with coherent monochromatic light from a source such as a He-Ne laser and obtaining an indication of the relative movement from changes in the interference pattern. In one apparatus, linear scatterers are positioned on opposite sides of an adhesive in a lap joint. The scatterers are illuminated with light from a He-Ne laser to produce an interference pattern on a screen. Movement of a preselected fringe on the screen will provide an indication of strain in the adhesive lap joint. In another apparatus, fibers are attached to the ends of a standard bar specimen and a test bar specimen which are placed in a furnace. The fibers are then illuminated with light from a helium neon laser to produce an interference pattern. A slit in a mask is positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the zero order fringe. A photodetector is placed behind the mask. The output of the photodetector is displayed on a strip chart recorder together with a temperature signal.
Inventors
👤 William N. Sharpe, Jr.
👤 Glenn W. Hollenberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number—
JurisdictionUS
Data Sourcegoogle_patents
Last Synchronized2026-10-27 09:40
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for obtaining data for determining the thermal coefficient of expansion of a test block of material having a predetermined length, comprising: a furnace; means for supporting said test block within said furnace; a standard block of material on said supporting means spaced a predetermined distance from said test block; said standard block having a length slightly different than said test block; a linear light scatterer fiber secured to the end of each of said blocks with the diameter of the fibers being less than the spacing between the fibers; means for passing coherent monochromtic light past said fibers to thereby produce an interference pattern; means for providing an indication of charges in said interference pattern in response to changes in temperature in said furnace; means for providing an indication of the temperature within said furnace.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
137 words
An apparatus for obtaining data for determining the thermal coefficient of expansion of a test block of material having a predetermined length, comprising: a furnace; means for supporting said test block within said furnace; a standard block of material on said supporting means spaced a predetermined distance from said test block; said standard block having a length slightly different than said test block; a linear light scatterer fiber secured to the end of each of said blocks with the diameter of the fibers being less than the spacing between the fibers; means for passing coherent monochromtic light past said fibers to thereby produce an interference pattern; means for providing an indication of charges in said interference pattern in response to changes in temperature in said furnace; means for providing an indication of the temperature within said furnace.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
77 words
The device as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for providing an indication of changes in said interference pattern includes a mask having a slit positioned at a predetermined angle with respect to the zero order frings; a photodetector adjacent said slit; a strip chart recorder connected to said photodetector; said means for providing an indication of temperature within said furnace including a thermocouple within said furnace having its output connected to said strip chart recorder.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
121 words
The method of determining the changes of relative lengths between a test bar of material and a standard bar specimen, having a length slightly different than the length of the test bar specimen, on a support within a furnace; securing a first linear polycrystalline alumina fiber scatterer to the end, of the test bar specimen, remote from said support; securing a second linear polycrystalline alumina fiber scatterer to the end, of the standard bar specimen, remote from said support; directing a beam of coherent monochromatic light past the two linear scatterers; measuring the movement of interference fringes, past a predetermined point, resulting from the changes in spacing between the linear scatterers in response to changes in the temperature within the furnace.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
121 words
The method of determining the changes of relative lengths between a test bar of material and a standard bar specimen, having a length slightly different than the length of the test bar specimen, on a support within a furnace; securing a first linear polycrystalline alumina fiber scatterer to the end, of the test bar specimen, remote from said support; securing a second linear polycrystalline alumina fiber scatterer to the end, of the standard bar specimen, remote from said support; directing a beam of coherent monochromatic light past the two linear scatterers; measuring the movement of interference fringes, past a predetermined point, resulting from the changes in spacing between the linear scatterers in response to changes in the temperature within the furnace.