US5828797A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic linked flame sensor
Assignee: Meggitt Orange County Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-19
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Granted: 1998-10-27
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Expires: 2016-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic linked flame sensor for continuous optical monitoring of the combustion process within the combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine. The system includes a high temperature optical probe, a fiber optic cable, and electro-optics module. The high temperature probe is mounted on the engine skin and sighted in a manner so as to view the combustion process taking place at its origin just aft to the fuel nozzle. The appropriately constructed fiber optic cable connects the high temperature probe with the electro-optics module. The radiation transmitted via the fiber optic cable is then received by an ultraviolet photodiode located in the electro-optics module and coupled with appropriate electronics.
Inventors
- 👤 George L. Minott
- 👤 Jonathan C. Plimpton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:53
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05H; H05H1/00; H05H1/0006; H05H1/0012; H05H1/0025; F; F01; F01D; F01D17/00; F01D17/02; F01D21/00; F01D21/003; F23; F23N; F23N5/00; F23N5/02; F23N5/08; F23N5/082; G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/0014; Y; Y02; Y02T; Y02T50/00; Y02T50/60
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
176 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor for monitoring a combustion process within an engine combustion chamber comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a sapphire window disposed therein and having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a high temperature end and a low temperature end, said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a silicon carbide photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
176 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor for monitoring a combustion process within an engine combustion chamber comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a sapphire window disposed therein and having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a high temperature end and a low temperature end, said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a silicon carbide photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor according to claim 1, wherein said optical probe further comprises a lens fixed within said sight tube bore between said sapphire window and said second opening, and wherein said sight tube bore is gold-plated between said sapphire window and said lens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor according to claim 1, wherein said fiber optic cable comprises: a plurality of individual optical fibers; a fiberglass cloth covering said optical fibers; and a stainless steel braid covering said fiberglass cloth.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
80 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor according to claim 1, wherein said fiber optic cable comprises a plurality of individual optical fibers, wherein each of said individual optical fibers comprises: a core; a cladding over said core; a gold buffer over a first portion of said cladding adjacent to said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable; and a polyimide buffer over a second portion of said cladding adjacent to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor according to claim 1, wherein said electro-optics module comprises focusing optics between said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable and said photodiode for focusing said radiant energy onto said photodiode.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor according to claim 5, wherein said electro-optics module comprises a UV optical bandpass filter between said focusing optics and said photodiode.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor according to claim 1, wherein said sight tube bore is gold-plated along at least a portion thereof between said sapphire window and said second opening of said sight tube bore.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
193 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor for monitoring a combustion process within an engine combustion chamber comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe having a first end adjacent said first opening formed of Hastelloy X, and a second end adjacent said second opening formed of Kovar, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said fiber optic cable being optically connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said second end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a silicon carbide ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
193 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor for monitoring a combustion process within an engine combustion chamber comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe having a first end adjacent said first opening formed of Hastelloy X, and a second end adjacent said second opening formed of Kovar, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said fiber optic cable being optically connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said second end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a silicon carbide ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of detecting the occurrence of a flame-out in an engine flame within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine comprising: providing a fiber optic linked flame sensor, said flame sensor comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a sapphire window disposed therein and having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a high temperature end and a low temperature end, said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a silicon carbide photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber; mounting said optical probe of said flame sensor within said combustion chamber adjacent said engine flame; mounting said electro-optics module of said flame sensor in a position remote from said combustion chamber; and monitoring said electrical signal.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
230 words
A method of detecting the occurrence of a flame-out in an engine flame within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine comprising: providing a fiber optic linked flame sensor, said flame sensor comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a sapphire window disposed therein and having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a high temperature end and a low temperature end, said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a silicon carbide photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber; mounting said optical probe of said flame sensor within said combustion chamber adjacent said engine flame; mounting said electro-optics module of said flame sensor in a position remote from said combustion chamber; and monitoring said electrical signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said optical probe further comprises a lens fixed within said sight tube bore between said sapphire window and said second opening, and wherein said sight tube bore is gold-plated between said sapphire window and said lens.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein a first end of said optical probe adjacent said first opening is formed of Hastelloy X, and a second end of said optical probe adjacent said second opening is formed of Kovar.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said fiber optic cable comprises: a plurality of individual optical fibers; a fiberglass cloth covering said optical fibers; and a stainless steel braid covering said fiberglass cloth.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
76 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said fiber optic cable comprises a plurality of individual optical fibers, wherein each of said individual optical fibers comprises: a core; a cladding over said core; a gold buffer over a first portion of said cladding adjacent to said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable; and a polyimide buffer over a second portion of said cladding adjacent to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said electro-optics module comprises focusing optics between said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable and said photodiode for focusing said radiant energy onto said photodiode, and a UV optical bandpass filter between said focusing optics and said photodiode.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the ambient temperature at said position remote from said combustion chamber is no greater than 125° Celsius.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor according to claim 9, wherein said sight tube bore is gold-plated along at least a portion thereof between said sapphire window and said second opening of said sight tube bore.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
199 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor for monitoring a combustion process within an engine combustion chamber comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said second end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a solid state ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber, wherein a first end of said optical probe adjacent said first opening is formed of Hastelloy X, and a second end of said optical probe adjacent said second opening is formed of Kovar.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
199 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor for monitoring a combustion process within an engine combustion chamber comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said second end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a solid state ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber, wherein a first end of said optical probe adjacent said first opening is formed of Hastelloy X, and a second end of said optical probe adjacent said second opening is formed of Kovar.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
253 words
A method of detecting the occurrence of a flame-out in an engine flame within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine comprising: providing a fiber optic linked flame sensor, said flame sensor comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said second end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a solid state ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber, wherein a first end of said optical probe adjacent said first opening is formed of Hastelloy X, and a second end of said optical probe adjacent said second opening is formed of Kovar; mounting said optical probe of said fame sensor within said combustion chamber adjacent said engine flame; mounting said electro-optics module of said flame sensor in a position remote from said combustion chamber; and monitoring said electrical signal.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
253 words
A method of detecting the occurrence of a flame-out in an engine flame within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine comprising: providing a fiber optic linked flame sensor, said flame sensor comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a first end and a second end, said first end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore; and an electro-optics module connected to said second end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a solid state ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber, wherein a first end of said optical probe adjacent said first opening is formed of Hastelloy X, and a second end of said optical probe adjacent said second opening is formed of Kovar; mounting said optical probe of said fame sensor within said combustion chamber adjacent said engine flame; mounting said electro-optics module of said flame sensor in a position remote from said combustion chamber; and monitoring said electrical signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 18, wherein the ambient temperature at said position remote from said combustion chamber is no greater than 125° Celsius.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
238 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor for monitoring a combustion process within an engine combustion chamber comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore; a fiber optic cable having a high temperature end and a low temperature end, said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore, said fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of individual optical fibers, each of said individual optical fibers comprising: a core, a cladding over said core, a gold buffer over a first portion of said cladding adjacent to said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable, and a polyimide buffer over a second portion of said cladding adjacent to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable; and an electro-optics module connected to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a solid state ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
238 words
A fiber optic linked flame sensor for monitoring a combustion process within an engine combustion chamber comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore; a fiber optic cable having a high temperature end and a low temperature end, said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore, said fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of individual optical fibers, each of said individual optical fibers comprising: a core, a cladding over said core, a gold buffer over a first portion of said cladding adjacent to said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable, and a polyimide buffer over a second portion of said cladding adjacent to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable; and an electro-optics module connected to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a solid state ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
292 words
A method of detecting the occurrence of a flame-out in an engine flame within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine comprising: providing a fiber optic linked flame sensor, said flame sensor comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a high temperature end and a low temperature end, said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore, said fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of individual optical fibers, each of said individual optical fibers comprising: a core, a cladding over said core, a gold buffer over a first portion of said cladding adjacent to said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable, and a polyimide buffer over a second portion of said cladding adjacent to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable, and an electro-optics module connected to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a solid state ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber; mounting said optical probe of said flame sensor within said combustion chamber adjacent said engine flame; mounting said electro-optics module of said flame sensor in a position remote from said combustion chamber; and monitoring said electrical signal.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
292 words
A method of detecting the occurrence of a flame-out in an engine flame within a combustion chamber of a gas turbine engine comprising: providing a fiber optic linked flame sensor, said flame sensor comprising: an optical probe having a sight tube bore formed therein, said sight tube bore having a first opening and a second opening, said optical probe being adapted to be fixed within said combustion chamber with said first opening adjacent an engine flame to receive radiant energy emitted from said engine flame into said sight tube bore, a fiber optic cable having a high temperature end and a low temperature end, said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable being connected to said second opening of said sight tube bore, said fiber optic cable comprising a plurality of individual optical fibers, each of said individual optical fibers comprising: a core, a cladding over said core, a gold buffer over a first portion of said cladding adjacent to said high temperature end of said fiber optic cable, and a polyimide buffer over a second portion of said cladding adjacent to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable, and an electro-optics module connected to said low temperature end of said fiber optic cable to receive said radiant energy from said sight tube bore through said fiber optic cable, said electro-optics module comprising a solid state ultraviolet photodiode for converting said radiant energy to an electrical signal, said electrical signal being indicative of the presence of said flame within said combustion chamber; mounting said optical probe of said flame sensor within said combustion chamber adjacent said engine flame; mounting said electro-optics module of said flame sensor in a position remote from said combustion chamber; and monitoring said electrical signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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