Monolithic Glass Ring for Adhesive-Free Optical Current Measurement
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing glass rings for current measurements are not long-term stable, prone to measurement errors due to adhesive degradation, and have complex, costly manufacturing processes, limiting their use in high-temperature environments.
Innovation Solution
A monolithic glass ring design with specific angled and polished surfaces allows light to circulate 360 degrees around a conductor without adhesives, maintaining polarization and enabling easy manufacturing, thus eliminating measurement errors and ensuring mechanical stability across varying temperatures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If glass rings are assembled from several parts using adhesive bonding, then light can be coupled in and out and 360-degree circulation is enabled, but mechanical stresses and polarization effects are introduced, leading to measurement errors and instability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the adhesive bonding element from the glass ring structure entirely. Instead of assembling multiple glass parts with adhesive, the invention uses a single monolithic glass body with precisely engineered surfaces that enable light coupling and 360-degree circulation without any bonding agents, thereby eliminating the source of mechanical stresses and polarization effects
Solution Approach 2:
The glass ring is divided into distinct functional surfaces with specific geometric characteristics: a first surface with a first angle for light coupling, a second surface with a second angle for light exit, and intermediate surfaces at specific angles (45 degrees or more) for 360-degree light circulation. This segmentation of functional surfaces within a monolithic structure achieves the capabilities of multi-part assemblies without the drawbacks of adhesive bonding
2Ease of operation
If adhesive bonding is used to assemble glass ring parts, then light circulation capability is achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple glass parts into a single monolithic glass body, eliminating the need for adhesive bonding and assembly operations. The complex light circulation function is achieved through the integrated geometry of the single piece, simplifying the manufacturing process while maintaining the required optical capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The glass body is pre-formed with the precise geometric surfaces and angles required for light coupling and circulation built into the monolithic structure during the glass forming process, rather than requiring subsequent assembly operations. This preliminary integration of functional geometry reduces manufacturing steps and complexity
3Ease of operation
If adhesive bonding is used in glass ring assembly, then light coupling is enabled, but temperature stability is compromised due to adhesive degradation at high temperatures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the temperature-sensitive adhesive material from the system entirely. The light coupling and circulation functions are achieved through the geometric design of the monolithic glass structure, which has no temperature-dependent material interfaces that could degrade at high temperatures, ensuring stable performance across a wide temperature range
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The monolithic glass ring provides stable, accurate current measurements over time and across temperature variations, with simplified manufacturing and reduced costs.
Implementation Method 1
An alternating current generates an electromagnetic field around a current-carrying conductor, which can be measured inductively, for example, via a measuring transformer, and/or optically using the Faraday effect.
Implementation Method 2
Glass with a Verdet constant other than zero is used. The magnetic field of the current-carrying conductor leads to an additional rotation of the polarization plane of the incident light in the glass, which can be measured using various methods and is directly proportional to the current in the conductor.
Implementation Method 3
The glass ring is designed to allow light entering the glass body through the light entry surface to circulate completely around the conductor within the glass body by reflection on the outer sides of the glass body
Data Source
Figure 1~2
AI summary
The invention relates to a glass ring (1) for current measurements, comprising a glass body, which can be arranged around an electrical conductor (2) and has a light entry surface (4) and a light exit surface (5). The glass ring (1) is designed to allow light which enters the glass body through the light entry surface (4) to circulate completely around the conductor (2) in the glass body by reflection on outer faces of the glass body, the light exiting from the glass body on the light exit surface (5). The glass ring (1) consists of a monolithic glass body. The method according to the invention for optical current measurement comprises a current flow (3) in an electrical conductor (2) generating an electromagnetic field around the conductor (2), by means of which the polarisation of a light beam in the glass ring (1), which is arranged around the conductor (2), in particular with a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the conductor, is changed as the light beam circulates around the conductor (2).