Fiber optic movement measuring sensor

Claim 2

A sensor for use in measuring movement between two points comprising: a plurality of members having bearing surfaces thereon, two of said members having means attached thereto for connecting said two members to external points between which movement is desired to be measured, other members of said plurality of members being separated from, and not directly connected to, said external points; an optic fiber disposed between at least two of said plurality of members and contacting the bearing surfaces thereon; and means, connecting said plurality of members, for moving said other members contacting the optic fiber and causing the optic fiber to bend as a function of movement between the two external points.

Claim 3

A sensor for use in measuring movement between two points comprising: a plurality of members having contoured bearing surfaces thereon, two of said members having connecting means attached thereto for connecting said two members to external points between which movement is desired to be measured, other members of said plurality of members being separated from, and not directly connected to, said external points; an optic fiber disposed between at least two of said plurality of members and contacting the bearing surfaces thereon; and means, connecting said plurality of members, for moving said other members contacting the optic fiber and causing the optic fiber to bend over the contoured bearing surfaces of the contacting member as a function of movement between the two external points.

Claim 4

A sensor for use in measuring movement between two points comprising: a plurality of members having contoured bearing surfaces thereon, two of said members having connecting means attached thereto for connecting said two members to external points between which movement is desired to be measured, other members of said plurality of members being separated from, and not directly connected to, said external points; an optic fiber disposed between at least two of said plurality of members and contacting the bearing surfaces thereon; and means, connecting said plurality of members, for moving said other members contacting the optic fiber and causing the optic fiber to bend over the contoured bearing surfaces of the contacting member as a function of movement between the two external points.

Claim 5

The sensor of claim 2 wherein the plurality of members comprises a set of pins and said means connecting said plurality of members comprises a set of links.

Claim 6

The sensor of claim 3 wherein the plurality of members are serially connected and held in a spaced-apart relationship by said means connecting said plurality of members.

Claim 7

The sensor of claim 4 wherein the pins are cylindrical in shape and have a constant radius defining the contour of the bearing surface thereon.

Claim 8

The sensor of claim 5 wherein the spacing between the pins is determined for causing the optic fiber to bend only over the contoured bearing surfaces, the total amount of bent optic fiber being a function of movement between the two external points.

Claim 9

The sensor of claim 6 wherein the members are spaced a sufficient distance apart so that a straight portion of optic fiber exists between each portion of the optic fiber bent over the contoured bearing surfaces.

Claim 10

A sensor for use in measuring movement between two points comprising: a plurality of members having bearing surfaces thereon; link means pivotally connecting said plurality of members in a manner causing the plurality of members to move into alignment along the direction of the movement to be measured as such movement occurs; connecting means, attached to two end members of said plurality of members, for connecting said two end members to external points between which movement is to be measured; and an optic fiber, disposed between at least two of said plurality of members and contacting the bearing surfaces thereon, said optic fiber causing the members in contact therewith from being aligned in the direction of movement to be measured before such movement occurs, said optic fiber being bent over the bearing surfaces as the link means cause the plurality of members to move into alignment as movement to be measured occurs.

Claim 11

A sensor for use in measuring movement between two points comprising: a plurality of members having bearing surfaces thereon; link means pivotally connecting said plurality of members in a manner causing the plurality of members to move into alignment along the direction of the movement to be measured as such movement occurs; connecting means, attached to two end members of said plurality of members, for connecting said two end members to external points between which movement is to be measured; and an optic fiber, disposed between at least two of said plurality of members and contacting the bearing surfaces thereon, said optic fiber causing the members in contact therewith from being aligned in the direction of movement to be measured before such movement occurs, said optic fiber being bent over the bearing surfaces as the link means cause the plurality of members to move into alignment as movement to be measured occurs.

Claim 12

The sensor of claim 8 wherein said connecting means includes means for periodically compensating for the movement between the external points to enable the optic fiber to cause the members in contact therewith from being aligned in the direction of movement to be measured.

Claim 13

The sensor of claim 9 wherein the means for compensating for the movement between the external points is configured for compensating up to approximately 5 inches of such movement.

Claim 14

The sensor of claim 10 wherein the optic fiber is disposed between ten of said plurality of members by weaving the optic fiber therebetween so that the optic fiber crosses the direction of movement to be measured as it passes from member to member.

Claim 15

The sensor of claim 11 wherein the optic fiber is disposed between a sufficient number of said plurality of members to cause non-alignment of said sufficient number of members to require approximately one inch of movement between the two external points to cause complete alignment of the plurality of members.

Claim 16

The sensor of claim 12 wherein the members are spaced a sufficient distance apart so that a straight portion of optic fiber exists between each portion of the optic fiber bent over the bearing surfaces.

Claim 17

The sensor of claim 13 wherein the plurality of members and the link means comprise 0.5 inch pitch roller chain.

Claim 18

The sensor of claim 14 wherein the optic fiber has a diameter of 400 micrometers.

Claim 19

A sensor for use in measuring movement between two points comprising: a plurality of members having bearing surfaces thereon; link means pivotally connecting said plurality of members in a manner causing the plurality of members to move into alignment along the direction of the movement to be measured as such movement occurs; an optic fiber, disposed between a sufficient number of said plurality of members to cause non-alignment of said sufficient number of members to require approximately one inch of movement between the two external points to cause complete alignment of the plurality of members, said optic fiber being disposed between said plurality of members by weaving the optic fiber therebetween so that the optic fiber crosses the direction of movement to be measured as it passes from member to member, said optic fiber being bent over the contacting surfaces as the link means cause the plurality of members to move into alignment as movement to be measured occurs; and connecting means, attached to two end members of said plurality of members, for connecting said two end members to external points between which movement is to be measured, said connecting means including means for periodically compensating for the movement between the external points to enable the optic fiber to cause the members in contact therewith from being aligned in the direction of movement to be measured.

Claim 20

A sensor for use in measuring movement between two points comprising: a plurality of members having bearing surfaces thereon; link means pivotally connecting said plurality of members in a manner causing the plurality of members to move into alignment along the direction of the movement to be measured as such movement occurs; an optic fiber, disposed between a sufficient number of said plurality of members to cause non-alignment of said sufficient number of members to require approximately one inch of movement between the two external points to cause complete alignment of the plurality of members, said optic fiber being disposed between said plurality of members by weaving the optic fiber therebetween so that the optic fiber crosses the direction of movement to be measured as it passes from member to member, said optic fiber being bent over the contacting surfaces as the link means cause the plurality of members to move into alignment as movement to be measured occurs; and connecting means, attached to two end members of said plurality of members, for connecting said two end members to external points between which movement is to be measured, said connecting means including means for periodically compensating for the movement between the external points to enable the optic fiber to cause the members in contact therewith from being aligned in the direction of movement to be measured.