Patent ID: 6173090
Filing Date: 2001-01-09
Classification: G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for installing fiber optic strands in a composite material comprised of:a template outlining the locations where a plurality of optical fiber leads egress or ingress the composite material and the location of sensors within the composite material overlaying a flexible sheet;holes of a predetermined area cut in a flexible sheet at the location of the optical fiber leads points of ingress and egress the composite material;a flexible rubber plate with a portion of the rubber material removed at a point consistent with the holes in the flexible sheet and a portion of rubber material removed from the flexible rubber plate forming a groove;a flexible rubber plug conforming with the size of the portion of material removed from the flexible rubber plate placed in the hole in the flexible rubber plate;said rubber plug having a portion of rubber removed at the point on the plug where the template indicates a point of ingress or egress for a fiber optic lead;said flexible rubber plate placed over a plurality of uncured laminations of material to form the composite material so that the fiber optic leads extend through the portion of rubber removed from the plug and into the grooves in the flexible rubber plate;means for curing the laminates to form the composite structure; anda means for relieving a strain imposed on the fiber optic leads after the composite material has been cured.