US4884434A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Wear sensor
Assignee: Mitsubishi Cable Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1989-02-13
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Granted: 1989-12-05
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Expires: 2009-02-13
Abstract
Abstract A wear sensor provided with a block incorporating one or more optical fibers for indicating that wear has occurred to the block, on the basis of a fact that the fibers have been severed on account of wear of the block.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Satake
- 👤 Yoshiyuki Imada
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/84; G01N21/88; F; F16; F16D; F16D66/00; F16D66/02; F16D66/021; F16D66/026; F16D66/027; F16D66/028; G01N17/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A wear sensor comprising: a block having a wearing surface, a periphery of said block including at least one curved surface; and a plurality of optical waveguide members, each having a segment disposed within said block substantially adjacent to and following the contour of said curved surface, said segments being successively disposed at spaced apart distances from one another in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said block, a first and second end of each of said plurality of optical waveguide members being connected to a light source and a light receiving element, respectively, such that each member when intact transmits light from the light source to the light receiving element, said segments being arranged such that wear of said wearing surface causes successive breakage of individual segments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A wear sensor comprising: a block having a wearing surface, a periphery of said block including at least one curved surface; and a plurality of optical waveguide members, each having a segment disposed within said block substantially adjacent to and following the contour of said curved surface, said segments being successively disposed at spaced apart distances from one another in a direction parallel to a longitudinal axis of said block, a first and second end of each of said plurality of optical waveguide members being connected to a light source and a light receiving element, respectively, such that each member when intact transmits light from the light source to the light receiving element, said segments being arranged such that wear of said wearing surface causes successive breakage of individual segments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A wear sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said optical waveguide members are optical fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A wear sensor as set forth in claim 1, wherein said optical waveguide members serve as a polymer optical waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A wear sensor as set forth in claim 3, wherein said optical waveguide members are connected into a single optical path at one end of said polymer optical waveguide and into individual optical paths at the other end of said polymer optical waveguide.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
A wear sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said block, is cylindrical.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A wear sensor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the optical waveguide members are integral with the periphery of said cylindrical block.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A wear sensor as claimed in claim 5 wherein the optical waveguide members are located underneath the periphery of said cylindrical block.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A wear sensor as claimed in claim 1 wherein said block is in the form of a truncated cone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A wear sensor as claimed in claim 8 wherein the optical waveguide members are integral with the periphery of said truncated cone.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A wear sensor as claimed in claim 8 wherein the optical waveguide members are located underneath the periphery of said truncated cone.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-12-04 | 1993-06-05 | 1993-12-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-04 | 1997-06-05 | 1997-12-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-04 | 2001-06-05 | 2001-12-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |