Polarimetric fiber optic speed sensor

Claim 1

An apparatus for sensing the speed of rotation of a fan-like structure about an axis of rotation, the fan-like structure having blades moved about the axis of rotation, the apparatus comprising: means defining a fiber optic circuit for the transmission of optical energy in first and second polarization modes, said fiber optic circuit having an input port for accepting light from a light source and an output port; means connected to said fiber optic circuit means for transposing the polarization modes transmitted therein at a point intermediate the input and output ports; means for supporting said fiber optic circuit means in a fixed relationship adjacent the fan-like structure, said supporting means supporting a selected path length of the fiber optic circuit means between the input port and the transposing means and a selected path length between the transposing means and the output port adjacent a locus described by the moving blades to be subjected to pressure variations caused by the moving blades to alter a characteristic of the optical energy transmitted therein; and means for determining the speed of rotation from the light output of the fiber optic circuit.

Claim 2

An apparatus for sensing the speed of rotation of a fan-like structure about an axis of rotation, the fan-like structure having blades moved about the axis of rotation, the apparatus comprising: means defining a fiber optic circuit for the transmission of optical energy in first and second polarization modes, said fiber optic circuit having an input port for accepting light from a light source and an output port; means connected to said fiber optic circuit means for transposing the polarization modes transmitted therein at a point intermediate the input and output ports; means for supporting said fiber optic circuit means in a fixed relationship adjacent the fan-like structure, said supporting means supporting a selected path length of the fiber optic circuit means between the input port and the transposing means and a selected path length between the transposing means and the output port adjacent a locus described by the moving blades to be subjected to pressure variations caused by the moving blades to alter a characteristic of the optical energy transmitted therein; and means for determining the speed of rotation from the light output of the fiber optic circuit.

Claim 6

An apparatus for sensing the speed of rotation of a fan having N blades about an axis of rotation, comprising: a polarization-preserving optical fiber for the transmission of optical energy in first and second polarized orientations; another polarization-preserving optical fiber for the transmission of optical energy in the first and second dominant polarized orientations; means for coupling said other optical fiber to said first optical fiber to cross-couple the orientations from the first to the other optical fiber; means for introducing optical energy into said first optical fiber for transmission through said first and other optical fiber; means for supporting said first-mentioned and second-mentioned optical fibers in a fixed relationship adjacent a locus described by a selected point on the fan blades to be subjected to pressure variations caused by the moving blades to alter a characteristic of the optical energy transmitted therein, said means supporting said first-mentioned optical fiber to present N/2 lineal segments to said fan blades at an angular spacing of 360°/N and for supporting said second-mentioned optical fiber along the locus to present N/2 lineal segments to said fan blades at an angular spacing of 360°/N offset from said first N/2 lineal segments by an angular spacing of 360°/2N.

Claim 7

An apparatus for sensing the speed of rotation of a fan having N blades about an axis of rotation, comprising: a polarization-preserving optical fiber for the transmission of optical energy in first and second polarized orientations; another polarization-preserving optical fiber for the transmission of optical energy in the first and second dominant polarized orientations; means for coupling said other optical fiber to said first optical fiber to cross-couple the orientations from the first to the other optical fiber; means for introducing optical energy into said first optical fiber for transmission through said first and other optical fiber; means for supporting said first-mentioned and second-mentioned optical fibers in a fixed relationship adjacent a locus described by a selected point on the fan blades to be subjected to pressure variations caused by the moving blades to alter a characteristic of the optical energy transmitted therein, said means supporting said first-mentioned optical fiber to present N/2 lineal segments to said fan blades at an angular spacing of 360°/N and for supporting said second-mentioned optical fiber along the locus to present N/2 lineal segments to said fan blades at an angular spacing of 360°/N offset from said first N/2 lineal segments by an angular spacing of 360°/2N.

Claim 8

An apparatus for providing optical energy output having a characteristic responsive to the speed of rotation of a fan having N blades about an axis of rotation, comprising: a set of N/2 serially connected fiber optic segments of predetermined length for transmitting optical energy in first and second polarization modes, said segments supported in a fixed relationship adjacent a locus defined by a selected point on the blades and responsive to pressure variations caused by passage of the blades; a set of N/2 serially connected fiber optic segments of predetermined length for transmitting optical energy in first and second polarization modes, said segments positioned adjacent the locus defined by a selected point on the blades and responsive to pressure variations caused by passage of the blade; and means for serially connecting the first set of segments and the second set of segments to transpose the first and second polarization modes, whereby optical energy transmitted through said first and second sets of N/2 segments is affected by movement of the blades past the segments.

Claim 9

An apparatus for providing optical energy output having a characteristic responsive to the speed of rotation of a fan having N blades about an axis of rotation, comprising: a set of N/2 serially connected fiber optic segments of predetermined length for transmitting optical energy in first and second polarization modes, said segments supported in a fixed relationship adjacent a locus defined by a selected point on the blades and responsive to pressure variations caused by passage of the blades; a set of N/2 serially connected fiber optic segments of predetermined length for transmitting optical energy in first and second polarization modes, said segments positioned adjacent the locus defined by a selected point on the blades and responsive to pressure variations caused by passage of the blade; and means for serially connecting the first set of segments and the second set of segments to transpose the first and second polarization modes, whereby optical energy transmitted through said first and second sets of N/2 segments is affected by movement of the blades past the segments.

Claim 12

An apparatus for sensing the speed of rotation of a fan having N blades about an axis of rotation and surrounded by a cowling structure, the apparatus comprising: a polarization-preserving optical fiber for the transmission of optical energy in first and second polarized orientations; another polarization-preserving optical fiber for the transmission of optical energy in the first and second dominant polarized orientations; means for coupling said other optical fiber to said first optical fiber to cross-couple the polarized orientations from the first to the other optical fiber; means for introducing optical energy into said first optical fiber for transmission through said first and other optical fiber; means for supporting said first-mentioned and second-mentioned optical fibers on the cowling adjacent a locus described by a selected point on the fan blades, said means supporting said first-mentioned optical fiber to present N/2 lineal segments to said fan blades at an angular spacing of 360°/N and for supporting said second-mentioned optical fiber along the locus to present N/2 lineal segments to said fan blades at an angular spacing of 360°/N offset from said first N/2 lineal segments by an angular spacing of 360°/2N.

Claim 13

An apparatus for sensing the speed of rotation of a fan having N blades about an axis of rotation and surrounded by a cowling structure, the apparatus comprising: a polarization-preserving optical fiber for the transmission of optical energy in first and second polarized orientations; another polarization-preserving optical fiber for the transmission of optical energy in the first and second dominant polarized orientations; means for coupling said other optical fiber to said first optical fiber to cross-couple the polarized orientations from the first to the other optical fiber; means for introducing optical energy into said first optical fiber for transmission through said first and other optical fiber; means for supporting said first-mentioned and second-mentioned optical fibers on the cowling adjacent a locus described by a selected point on the fan blades, said means supporting said first-mentioned optical fiber to present N/2 lineal segments to said fan blades at an angular spacing of 360°/N and for supporting said second-mentioned optical fiber along the locus to present N/2 lineal segments to said fan blades at an angular spacing of 360°/N offset from said first N/2 lineal segments by an angular spacing of 360°/2N.