Fiber Optic Hatch and Door Closure Sensors for Damage Control Monitoring
Abstract
In general fiber optic sensor technology offers instrumentation solutions to monitoring damage control for all the damage control parameters on Navy ships. In particular fiber optic technology offers inexpensive designs for hatch and door closure sensors in forms that will ultimately help reduce shipboard man power. The application of closure sensors to all hatches and doors makes it possible to very quickly estimate the spread of fire and flooding during emergency situations. These sensors need to be robust, meaning capable of operating during high temperatures to provide information even when compartments are on fire. Hatch and door closure sensors have been developed using light blockage and microbend techniques. Two types of position sensors were designed and evaluated. Each utilized a plunger mounted under a tab welded to the door. In one sensor the light beam between transmitting and receiving fibers was interrupted with the plunger. In the other the plunger induced microbend losses in the fiber. Sensors were operated in temperatures up to 300 degrees Centigrade during an evaluation on the Ex-USS SHADWELL. Costs are presently competitive with electrical equivalents and can even be drastically reduced by development and application of multiplexing and integrated optic technologies.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1996
- Accession Number
- ADA341923
Entities
People
- Henry K. Whitesel
- John K. Overby
Organizations
- Naval Surface Warfare Center Carderock Division