Claims
- 1. A system for sensing water temperature, comprising:
a tow cable with an exterior surface having at least one helical groove formed therein at least partially therealong; a metal tube lying in each said helical groove; at least one optical temperature sensing element in each said metal tube; a thermally-conducting material filling said metal tube and surrounding said at least one optical temperature sensing element; and an outer jacket layer formed over said tow cable and said metal tube, said outer jacket layer having a smooth outer surface.
- 2. A system as in claim 1 wherein said exterior surface is plastic.
- 3. A system as in claim 1 wherein each said metal tube is a stainless steel tube.
- 4. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber.
- 5. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber having Bragg grating sensors formed therein.
- 6. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber having extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors formed therein.
- 7. A system as in claim 1 wherein each said helical groove and each said metal tube extend along the entire length of said tow cable.
- 8. A system as in claim 1 wherein said outer jacket layer is a thermally-conductive plastic.
- 9. A system as in claim 1 wherein said at least one helical groove comprises a plurality of helical grooves running parallel to one another along the length of said tow cable.
- 10. A system for sensing water temperature, comprising:
a tow cable with an exterior surface having at least one helical groove formed therein at least partially therealong; a stainless steel tube lying in each said helical groove; at least one optical temperature sensing element in each said metal tube; a thermally-conducting material filling said metal tube and surrounding said at least one optical temperature sensing element; and a thermally-conductive outer jacket layer formed over said tow cable and said metal tube, said thermally-conductive outer jacket layer having a smooth outer surface.
- 11. A system as in claim 10 wherein said exterior surface is plastic.
- 12. A system as in claim 10 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber.
- 13. A system as in claim 10 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber having Bragg grating sensors formed therein.
- 14. A system as in claim 10 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber having extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors formed therein.
- 15. A system as in claim 10 wherein each said helical groove and each said stainless steel tube extend along the entire length of said tow cable.
- 16. A system as in claim 10 wherein said thermally-conductive outer jacket layer is a plastic.
- 17. A system as in claim 10 wherein said at least one helical groove comprises a plurality of helical grooves running parallel to one another along the length of said tow cable.
- 18. A method of modifying a tow cable for the sensing of water temperature, comprising the steps of:
providing a tow cable having a plastic exterior surface; forming at least one helical groove in said plastic exterior surface at least partially along the length of said tow cable; placing at least one optical fiber temperature sensing element in a metal tube; filling said metal tube with a thermally-conducting material that surrounds said at least one optical temperature sensing element; laying one said metal tube so-filled in each said helical groove; and covering said tow cable and each said metal tube with a thermally-conductive outer jacket layer having a smooth outer surface.
- 19. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of covering comprises the step of extruding said thermally-conductive outer jacket layer over said tow cable and each said metal tube.
- 20. A method according to claim 18 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber.
- 21. A method according to claim 18 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber having Bragg grating sensors formed therein.
- 22. A method according to claim 18 wherein said at least one optical temperature sensing element comprises an optical fiber having extrinsic Fabry-Perot interferometric sensors formed therein.
- 23. A method according to claim 18 wherein said step of forming comprises the step of forming a plurality of helical grooves running parallel to one another along the length of said tow cable.
STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST
[0001] The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for Governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.