OPTICAL AXLE DEFLECTOR SENSOR

CAPTEUR DE DEVIATION D'AXE OPTIQUE

Description

CA 02479460 2004-08-30
Page 1 of
Messier-Dowty Invention Disclosure
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Title: Optical Axle Deflection Sensor Project Number:
Description and Sketches:
An axle deflection sensor that employs a light beam emitting device (a light
emitting diode or
LASER) and a light point sensing device (a position sensitive device or an
image sensor). The
sensor and emitter are mounted to the axle (essentially a beam) such that they
are spaced apart
a distance and aimed at each other such that at no deflection, the light beam
projects a dot on
the center of the sensor. When the beam is deflected; the light d~t
rriovestproportional to the
deflection. Measurement of the position of the light dot is correlated to the
deflection of flie axle:
Deflection of the axle is correlated to the force applied to~tiie ~axle.~ 4
In this manner, use of the sensor is possible to defermine axle loads, for
instance on an aircraft
landing gear.
The use of a two dimensional light sensor allowsthe beam deflections to be
characterized in two
dimensions (for instance, up and down; and fore and aft). These deflections
are correlated to, for
instance; aircraft vertical load (or weight) and drag' loads (for instance
from braking).
Other variations of the invention include the use of prisms or refractive
lenses to provide a gain
signal and increase the possible measuring resolution: Another facet of the
invention involves
the use of mirrors, plane or having specific curvatures such that the emitter
and detector devices
may be placed on the same electronic circuit board. A mirror with a specific
curvature may
provide the capability to combine the ar~npliflcatiori of deflectiorifunction
along with the foldin of
9
the light beam such That the electronics may be mounted togethelr.
A further variation includes the provision of thermal heater elements or
cooler elements (such as
a Pettier junction) to stabilize, under elecfronic control,
the~ytemparature~of the emitter and
detector: This is imporkant in applications such as an aircraftlan~ing gear
axle where severe cold
and severe heat (due to braking) cari be realized.
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Additional pages? ; # of pages -
Inventors: Explained to and l~nderstood by:
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igna ure Date Printed Name arid Signature Date
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Si nature Date Panted Name and Sr nature Date
INSTRUCTIONS TO INVENTORS:
1. Select a short tifle that describes the main feature of your invention.
2. Provide a concise abstract of tfie invention. ~'~'e'absfract'should convey
a clear uniierstandin to the extent'kn w
r g, o n, of the nature,
purpose, operation, and the physical, chemical biologicat~ or
electricahcfiaractenstics of the invention.
3. In the description state the principal objective of your invention.
° w r. _.. r .
4. Describe the construction and operation of your invention. Use sketches if
possible and refer to numbered features on your sketches.
Use additional sheets 'rf necessary.
5. Indicate any alternate methods of constnrction.
6. Indicate the features you believe to be novel.
7. If a joint invention and where determinable, indicate what contribution
each inventor made.
8. This form and all additional descriptions and sketches must be signed and
dated by the inventor s and b two witnesses.
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9. Complete questionnaire on the reverse of this page..


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