A device for laying optical fiber into a mesh structure material during manufacturing

Abstract

This utility model pertains to technological devices designed to improve the efficiency and quality of the creation and fabrication of load-bearing composite structures with a measuring system based on optical fibers with Bragg gratings embedded in the structure's material. The proposed device for inserting optical fiber into the mesh structure during fabrication consists of a box with a lid. Inside the box is a dispenser with pre-applied optical fiber and pre-installed protection elements against compression and kinking at particularly stressed points in the structure.The device contains a pointed axial rod (screw), the height of which exceeds the construction height of the mesh structure to ensure piercing of the outer shell during the manufacturing process of the structure and subsequent visual determination of the location of the center of the device, a curtain with slots to protect against penetration of the polymer binder into the box during the manufacturing process of the structure.

Description

[0001] The utility model relates to the field of technological devices designed to improve the efficiency and quality of the creation and production of load-bearing composite structures with a measuring system based on optical fibers with Bragg gratings (FBG) embedded in the structure material.

[0002] This utility model can be used in mesh structures made of composite materials (CM) manufactured by continuous winding, in which it is impossible to embed sufficiently large state sensors into the material due to a violation of the strength characteristics of the structure.

[0003] A device for measuring strains is known under US Patent No. 200901126501, "Fiber Optic Strain Gauge and Carrier," dated May 21, 2009. A disadvantage of this device is its inability to be installed within the structural material being monitored due to its large dimensions. Devices are known under Russian Patents No. 2480798 (Fiber Optic Distributor) and 22577086 (Optic Fiber Organizer). A disadvantage of these technical solutions is the impossibility of placing these devices within the product structure.

[0004] A method is known according to French patent FR2865539 for placing fiber optics in a mesh structure, which can be selected as a prototype.

[0005] A device known under Russian patent 2606932 (fiber optic cable organizer) was chosen as a prototype. A drawback of this device is the inability to place it directly on the product.

[0006] The device according to the Utility Model is designed to ensure the safety of fiber-optic sensors with Bragg gratings and their connectors during the manufacturing process of composite mesh structures, thereby ensuring the process of measuring the physical characteristics of the mesh structure using fiber-optic sensors based on Bragg gratings embedded in the composite material after the manufacturing of the mesh structure during its operation.

[0007] The technical effect is to ensure that the device with the optical fiber is placed in the technological gaps of the mandrel for winding the optical fiber.

[0008] Brief description of device elements

[0009] The technical result consists in the creation of a technological device for protecting the free ends and connectors of fiber-optic lines (FOL) from temperature, chemical and mechanical damage when laying FBG in the thickness of the material of the manufactured product sample according to the mesh structure type.

[0010] This device for laying optical fiber into a mesh structure during manufacturing comprises a box with a lid and is characterized in that a dispenser with pre-applied optical fiber and pre-installed protective elements is located within the box. The dispenser also contains an axial rod whose height exceeds the overall height of the mesh structure and shutters with slots to prevent polymer binder from entering the box during manufacturing. This device is an optical fiber organizer and can be used in the manufacture of polymer composite products, particularly mesh structures. The device can be used to store both unterminated lines and those with patch cords, as well as to isolate them from external influences that occur during the manufacture of mesh and other structures.

[0011] The device can be manufactured from heat-resistant plastics such as PEI, PEEK, ABS, or PLA plastic using a 3D printer based on a created 3D model or other available printing method. After printing, all flash and burrs generated during the manufacturing process are mechanically removed using various cutting tools.

[0012] The device (Fig. 1) consists of a box (housing) (1 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2) with a lid (Fig. 3, not shown in Fig. 1), a dispenser with optical fiber pre-applied to it with pre-installed protective elements (spool) (2 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 4), containing, among other things, an axial rod (Fig. 8), the height of which exceeds the construction height of the mesh structure, fixing latches (3 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 5), several removable curtains (4 in Fig. 1 and Fig. 6) with slots for protection against penetration of a polymer binder into the box during the manufacturing process of the structure, and also has several functional holes (5). The dispenser (spool) is used for winding unterminated fiber optic lines (optical fiber) into a coil for storage and convenient work with them in the future. The useful volume of the device allows you to place several similar dispensers (spools) of the same height.The housing, together with the cover, serves to protect the spools with wound fiber optic cables from external influences and seal them. The cover is independent of the housing and can be removed, for example, by loosening the mounting screws. Functional openings in the housing serve to attach and remove the fiber optic cables from the device.

[0013] The uniqueness of this device, in contrast to its analogues, lies in its dimensions, manufacturing method and installation.

[0014] The housing (Fig. 2) together with the lid (Fig. 3) serves to protect the spools with wound fiber optic cable from external influences. The housing has side slots and a central axis with a flat-bottomed hole into which an axial rod, the height of which exceeds the structural height of the mesh structure, is inserted. The side slots are used to install removable curtains (Fig. 6), with slots to protect against the penetration of polymer binder into the box during the construction of the structure. The hole in the central axis is used to install a drive-in bushing with internal threads (Fig. 7).

[0015] The cover (Fig. 3) is independent of the housing and can be attached to the housing using self-tapping screws. The applicable fastening screws comply with DIN 7982. The cover and self-tapping screws are not shown in Fig. 1.

[0016] The dispenser (spool) (Fig. 4) is used to wind unterminated optical fiber into a coil for storage and convenient handling. The device's usable volume allows for the placement of several similar spools of the same height.

[0017] The locking latch (Fig. 5) prevents the thread wound on the bobbin from unwinding. The locking latch is installed by snapping into special grooves on the bobbin.

[0018] A removable shutter (Fig. 6) with slots to prevent polymer binder from entering the box during manufacturing serves to facilitate the removal of the fiber-optic cable from the device housing and protects the device's interior from damage. A central slot is provided in the shutter housing for the removal of the fiber-optic cable, after which the shutter is secured to the device using grooves machined on the sides.

[0019] The internally threaded drive bushing (Fig. 7) is required for screwing in a pointed screw of the appropriate diameter. The axial rod (pointed screw) (Fig. 8), the height of which exceeds the structural height of the mesh structure, serves to pierce the outer shell of the product during the winding process and mark the center of the device. This is necessary to locate the installation location of the device in the product body upon completion of all technological processes of the product manufacturing. After removing the axial rod, it becomes possible to remove the outer shell of the product at the installation location of the device and gain access to the fiber optic line by unscrewing the fastening screws and opening the cover. The internally threaded drive bushing (Fig. 7) and the axial rod (Fig. 8) are not shown in Fig. 1.

Claims

A device for laying optical fiber in the material of a mesh structure during the manufacturing process, comprising a box with a lid, characterized in that a dispenser with optical fiber pre-applied to it with pre-installed protective elements is placed inside the box, including an axial rod, the height of which exceeds the construction height of the mesh structure, and curtains with slots for protection against the penetration of a polymer binder into the box during the manufacturing process of the structure.

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