Sensing cable

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9557231-B2
Application number	US-201113877018-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 30, 2011
Priority date	Oct 1, 2010
Publication date	Jan 31, 2017
Grant date	Jan 31, 2017

Abstract

A sensing cable is provided which includes exposed and/or unexposed optical fibers or wires disposed through the length of the sensing cable. The sensing cable includes a slotted core which is a one-piece integral member having a plurality of channels formed on a perimeter of the slotted core and which extend along a length of the slotted core. The sensing cable includes at least one exposed component which is disposed in a first channel of the plurality of channels and which extends along a length of the first channel. The sensing cable includes at least one unexposed component which is encased by a protective member, and the unexposed component and the protective member are disposed in a second channel of the plurality of channels. The unexposed component and the protective member extend along a length of the second channel.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A sensing cable comprising:
a slotted core which is a one-piece integral member comprising a plurality of channels formed on a perimeter of the slotted core, wherein the plurality of channels extend along a length of the slotted core;
an exposed component which is disposed in a first channel of the plurality of channels, wherein the exposed component extends along a length of the first channel, wherein the exposed component is an optical fiber and is configured to directly contact a fluid surrounding the slotted core and sense temperature and pressure; and
an unexposed component which is encased by a protective member, and the unexposed component and the protective member are disposed in a second channel of the plurality of channels, wherein the unexposed component and the protective member extend along a length of the second channel, wherein the unexposed component is an optical fiber and is configured to sense temperature.

2. The sensing cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels extend along the length of the slotted core in an arrangement parallel to a longitudinal axis of the slotted core.

3. The sensing cable of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of channels extend along the length of the slotted core in a helical arrangement.

4. The sensing cable of claim 1 , further comprising a protective layer which encases the slotted core.

5. The sensing cable of claim 1 , wherein the exposed component is disposed entirely within the first channel and does not extend beyond the perimeter of the slotted core.

6. The sensing cable of claim 1 , wherein the unexposed component and the protective member are disposed entirely within the second channel and do not extend beyond the perimeter of the slotted core.

7. A sensing cable comprising:
a stranded wire core comprising a plurality of wires coupled together;
a protective layer which encases the stranded wire core;
a protective member disposed in a first space formed between the stranded wire core and the protective layer;
an unexposed component encased within the protective member, wherein the unexposed component is an optical fiber is configured to sense temperature; and
an exposed component disposed in a second space formed within the protective layer, wherein the exposed component is an optical fiber and is configured to directly contact a fluid surrounding the stranded wire core and sense temperature and pressure.

8. The sensing cable of claim 7 , wherein the second space is formed between the stranded wire core and the protective layer.

9. The sensing cable of claim 7 , wherein the second space is formed by an area enclosed by the plurality of wires and the protective member.

10. The sensing cable of claim 7 , wherein the second space is formed in a center area enclosed by the plurality of wires, and a gap is provided around an entire perimeter of the exposed component between the plurality of wires and the exposed component.

11. The sensing cable of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wires comprise a single-strand wire and a multi-strand wire, and the second space is formed in an area enclosed by strands of the multi-strand wire.

12. The sensing cable of claim 7 , wherein the plurality of wires of the stranded wire core have a helical arrangement.

13. A sensing cable comprising:
a cable core structure comprising:
an unexposed component, wherein the unexposed component is an optical fiber and is configured to sense temperature;
a first protective member which encases the unexposed component;
an exposed component; and
a second protective member which encases the exposed component, wherein the second protective member has a plurality of holes formed therethrough at intermittent locations provided along a length of the second protective member, wherein

the exposed component is an optical fiber and is configured to directly contact a fluid surrounding the slotted core and sense temperature and pressure.

14. The sensing cable of claim 13 , wherein the unexposed component measures a distribution of temperature, and the exposed component measures a distribution of pressure.

15. The sensing cable of claim 13 , wherein the first protective member and the second protective member are stranded together.

16. The sensing cable of claim 13 , wherein the second protective member is stranded around a central part of the first protective member.

17. The sensing cable of claim 13 , wherein the first protective member is stranded around a central part of the second protective member.

18. The sensing cable of claim 13 , further comprising a central strength member, and wherein the cable core structure stranded around a central part of the central strength member.

19. The sensing cable of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of wires which surround the cable core structure.

20. The sensing cable of claim 13 , wherein the holes have a diameter from 0.1 mm to 3.0 mm.

21. The sensing cable of claim 13 , wherein the holes are spaced apart from each other by a distance of 10 mm to 10,000 mm.

22. The sensing cable of claim 13 , wherein the holes are formed as slits.

23. The sensing cable of claim 1 , wherein the core member consists of a single component throughout the core member.

24. The sensing cable of claim 13 , wherein the second protective member directly encases an outer circumference of the second protective member.

25. The sensing cable of claim 10 , wherein the gap is provided around the entire perimeter of the exposed component between the plurality of wires and the exposed component such that the fluids surrounding the sensing cable permeate the gap.

26. The sensing cable of claim 1 , wherein the unexposed component is prevented from sensing pressure, corrosive gases and external stress, and
the slotted core is further configured to prevent the unexposed component from sensing external stress.

27. The sensing cable of claim 1 , wherein the exposed component is a bare optical fiber.

28. The sensing cable of claim 1 , wherein the exposed component is a coated optical fiber.

Assignees

• Villiger Brett
• Stratton Craig
• Cignarale Joe
• Herbst Brian
• Hashimoto Yoshio
• Miyamoto Matsuhiro
• Afl Telecommunications Llc

Inventors

• Villiger Brett
• Stratton Craig
• Cignarale Joe
• Herbst Brian
• Hashimoto Yoshio
• Miyamoto Matsuhiro

Classifications

• G01L11/025

  using a pressure-sensitive optical fibre · CPC title

• G01K11/32

  using changes in transmittance, scattering or luminescence in optical fibres · CPC title

• G01K1/14

  Supports; Fastening devices; Arrangements for mounting thermometers in particular locations · CPC title

• G01L1/242 Primary

  the material being an optical fibre · CPC title

• G02B6/4407 Primary

  with internal fluted support member (G02B6/4429, G02B6/4439, G02B6/4479 take precedence) · CPC title