Abstract: In various aspects, an engine crankshaft is disclosed. The engine crankshaft comprises a rear bearing journal having an output end. The rear bearing journal defines a cylindrical cavity extending from the output end into the bearing journal. The cavity may intersect oil channels disposed within the crankshaft. A sensor capsule may be disposed within the cavity. The engine crankshaft may comprise at least one torque sensor operatively coupled to the rear bearing journal. The at least one torque sensor may be coated with a sealant to prevent contact with pressurized engine oil. The at least one torque sensor may generate a torque signal corresponding to a torque exerted on the rear bearing journal. The torque exerted on the rear bearing journal is indicative of a torque output of an engine. The at least one torque sensor may be electrically coupled to electrical elements within the sensor capsule.

Abstract: In various aspects, an engine crankshaft is disclosed. The engine crankshaft comprises a rear bearing journal having an output end. The rear bearing journal defines a cylindrical cavity extending from the output end into the bearing journal. The cavity may intersect oil channels disposed within the crankshaft. A sensor capsule may be disposed within the cavity. The engine crankshaft may comprise at least one torque sensor operatively coupled to the rear bearing journal. The at least one torque sensor may be coated with a sealant to prevent contact with pressurized engine oil. The at least one torque sensor may generate a torque signal corresponding to a torque exerted on the rear bearing journal. The torque exerted on the rear bearing journal is indicative of a torque output of an engine. The at least one torque sensor may be electrically coupled to electrical elements within the sensor capsule.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for automatically cleaning a portion of an optical fiber. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a fluid tank assembly that holds cleaning fluid and comprises an aperture sized and arranged to receive the portion of the optical fiber, an ultrasonic generator, a clamping assembly, and a controller. The clamping assembly, in one position, holds the portion of the optical fiber in a position that is axially aligned with the aperture of the fluid tank assembly and disposed through the aperture of the fluid tank assembly. The clamping assembly further comprises a sealing assembly that forms a fluid seal about the portion of the optical fiber and a fluid seal of the aperture of the fluid tank assembly. The controller controls the ultrasonic generator to provide an ultrasonic signal to the fluid within the fluid tank assembly to clean the portion of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A work pallet for processing optical fiber. The work pallet may be configured to manage lengths of optical fiber for an automated manufacturing process. In this regard, the pallet may be configured to organize and maintain individual fibers in one or more desired positions to facilitate a manufacturing process. For example, the pallet may be employed for an automated fusion splicing process in which pairs of optical fibers are spliced to each other to establish an optical circuit. The pallet presents a platform on which corresponding fibers of an optical fiber module or other device may be arranged in an organized fashion for fiber preparation, fusion splicing, fiber recoating, post-processing storage and the like. The pallet may employ a cross-lacing arrangement in which the fibers extend in opposite directions across the pallet to control fiber slack associated with subsequent fusion splicing or other processing of the fiber pairs.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing of optical fibers, including optical fibers that are part of an optical device. In one illustrative embodiment, one or more optical fibers may be secured to a work pallet that is moved within a processing system before, during and/or after processing of the fibers. Optical fibers may be picked from the work pallet and processed while a portion of the fibers remains secured to the work pallet. Two or more processes may be performed on a fiber for each pick of the fiber from the work pallet. Optical fibers may be handled by gripping devices that include one curved clamping surface and two planar surfaces. Gripping devices may operate in open, closed and contain states when handling optical fibers.

Abstract: A work pallet for processing optical fiber. The work pallet may be configured to manage lengths of optical fiber for an automated manufacturing process. In this regard, the pallet may be configured to organize and maintain individual fibers in one or more desired positions to facilitate a manufacturing process. For example, the pallet may be employed for an automated fusion splicing process in which pairs of optical fibers are spliced to each other to establish an optical circuit. The pallet presents a platform on which corresponding fibers of an optical fiber module or other device may be arranged in an organized fashion for fiber preparation, fusion splicing, fiber recoating, post-processing storage and the like. The pallet may employ a cross-lacing arrangement in which the fibers extend in opposite directions across the pallet to control fiber slack associated with subsequent fusion splicing or other processing of the fiber pairs.

Abstract: There is provided a method and apparatus for automatically cleaning a portion of an optical fiber. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises a fluid tank assembly that holds cleaning fluid and comprises an aperture sized and arranged to receive the portion of the optical fiber, an ultrasonic generator, a clamping assembly, and a controller. The clamping assembly, in one position, holds the portion of the optical fiber in a position that is axially aligned with the aperture of the fluid tank assembly and disposed through the aperture of the fluid tank assembly. The clamping assembly further comprises a sealing assembly that forms a fluid seal about the portion of the optical fiber and a fluid seal of the aperture of the fluid tank assembly. The controller controls the ultrasonic generator to provide an ultrasonic signal to the fluid within the fluid tank assembly to clean the portion of the optical fiber.

Abstract: The cam lift data is analyzed (110) through the use of a fast fourier transform (FFT) (116) to thereby obtain FFT coefficients (118) which define the amplitude and frequency content of the cam lift data. Through a combination of the kinematic model and an inverse FFT procedure, an axis control function including a position control function (Eq. 1 and Eq. 14) is determined (128) for each axis. Dynamic compensation (130) of each axis is provided for system lags and inertia loads by altering the axis control function as a proportion of the axis velocity and acceleration (130), respectively. For each controlled axis an independent vector and a corresponding dependent vector containing axis control data is generated (132). During the actual control of first and second drive motors (72, 70) of the grinding machine, position and velocity feedback signals are generated for each axis by feedback devices (82, 78).