Inner surface fiber affixation for manufacturing a sensor mandrel

摘要

The inner surface affixation system and process is a method for affixing wound optical fibers on the inner surface of a hollow cylinder. It is useful, for example, in the manufacture of rigid mandrel-based fiber optic sensors. The optical fibers of a sensor wound on the inner surface are less susceptible to damage than are optical fibers wound on the outside of the mandrel. The process requires that the fibers be supported on a cylinder, which is coated with an adhesive and placed within the sensor mandrel cylinder, at which time the circumference of the supporting cylinder is expanded, causing the fibers to engage the inner surface of the sensor mandrel cylinder. The adhesive is then cured, holding the fibers in place on the inner surface of the sensor mandrel cylinder while the supporting cylinder is contracted and removed from the sensor mandrel cylinder.