FIBER OPTIC NON-CONTACT TEMPERATURE MEASUREMENT SYSTEM FOR COMBAT VEHICLE TRACKS

THE TRACKS AND TRACK PADS OF COMBAT VEHICLES UNDERGO BUILUPS IN TEMPERATURE IN EXCESS OF 300 DEG F LEADING TO PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE MATERIALS. IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE EFFECT OF REPEATED TEMPERATURE EXCURSIONS IN DEVELOPING IMPROVED TRACKS AND TRACK PADS, A NEW METHOD OF MEASURING TEMPERATURE OF THESE PARTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION IS NEEDED. PRESENT METHODS ARE RESTRICTED TO MEASURING TEMPERATURES IN A STATIC CONDITION WHILE THE VEHICLE IS AT REST. NEW INFRARED TRANSMITTING OPTICAL FIBERS COUPLED TO A LOW COST, SIMPLE THERMOPILE DETECTOR OFFERS THE PROMISE OF A NOVEL NONCONTACT METHOD FOR MONITORING TRACK TEMPERATURES IN REAL TIME WHILE THE VEHICLE IS MOVING. FOSTER-MILLER, IN CONJUNCTION WITH VANZETTI SYSTEMS, INC., INTENDS TO DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF SUCH AS SYSTEM IN THIS PHASE I PROGRAM THAT WILL PROVIDE CONTINUOUS TEMPERATURE READINGS OVER A RANGE OF 150-500 DEG F + OR - 10 DEG F AND AN OUTPUT SIGNAL OF 0-5 VOLTS SUITABLE FOR DATA REDUCTION. THIS SIMPLE SYSTEM CAN MONITOR MULTIPLE POINTS AND BE RUGGEDIZED TO WITHSTAND THE ENVIRONMENT.