IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,546,632
Granted Patent B2
US 12,546,632 · App. 18/044,165 · Granted Feb 10, 2026

Distributed position detection rope and distributed position detection system

Inventors: Kinzo Kishida (Kobe, JP); Yoshiaki Yamauchi (Kobe, JP); Junichi Kawabata (Tokyo, JP); Shoji Seno (Tokyo, JP); Hideki Nagatani (Tokyo, JP); Michio Imai (Tokyo, JP); Yukihiro Hamada (Oita, JP); Kazumitu Watanabe (Oita, JP)
Assignee: NEUBREX CO., LTD.
G01D5/353
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,546,632
App. No.
18/044,165
Granted
Feb 10, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A distributed position detection rope includes: basic optical elements each including an optical fiber, tensile strength bodies, and a sheath material and the tensile strength bodies; a cylindrical inner sheath layer having a first optical element formed by arranging a plurality of the basic optical elements which are arranged at positions on the same circle and are helically wound at a predetermined pitch along the axial direction of the axis; and a cylindrical outer sheath layer on the outer side of the inner sheath layer and having a second optical element which are arranged at positions on the same circle and are helically wound along the axial direction so as to have a placement angle different from that of the basic optical elements of the first optical element.

Claims (75)

1 . A distributed position detection rope comprising:

basic optical elements each including an optical fiber for measuring a physical quantity, a plurality of tensile strength bodies located on opposite sides of the optical fiber so as to have intervals from the optical fiber, and a sheath material surrounding the optical fiber and the tensile strength bodies so as to integrate the optical fiber and the tensile strength bodies, the sheath material having an outer surface with recess/projection shaped portions provided at constant intervals along an axial direction of the sheath material;

a center axis body;

a cylindrical inner sheath layer including a first optical element having the basic optical elements which are wound at a predetermined pitch along an axial direction of the center axis body and which, in a cross-section perpendicular to an axis of the center axis body, are arranged at predetermined intervals on a first circle, the inner sheath layer being provided on an outer side of the center axis body coaxially with the center axis body; and

a cylindrical outer sheath layer including a second optical element having the basic optical elements which are wound along the axial direction of the center axis body and which, in the cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the center axis body, are arranged at predetermined intervals on a second circle different from the first circle and have a placement angle different from that of the basic optical elements of the first optical element, the outer sheath layer being provided on an outer side of the inner sheath layer coaxially with the center axis body.

2 . The distributed position detection rope according to claim 1 , wherein

the center axis body is a pipe,

the distributed position detection rope further comprising a cylindrical second inner sheath layer including a plurality of tension members which, in the cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the center axis body, are located at positions on the same circle that are opposed to each other with respect to an axis center, the second inner sheath layer being located on an outer circumference of the center axis body and on an inner circumference of the inner sheath layer, the second inner sheath layer being provided coaxially with the center axis body.

3 . The distributed position detection rope according to claim 2 , wherein

the sheath material is formed of a material different from those of the inner sheath layer and the outer sheath layer, and has recess/projection shaped portions provided at constant intervals on an axial-direction surface thereof.

4 . A distributed position detection system comprising:

the distributed position detection rope according to claim 2 ;

a drum skid which rotates around a shaft thereof and has an outer circumferential part around which the distributed position detection rope is wound;

a weight connected to one end of the distributed position detection rope;

a handle for moving the distributed position detection rope in synchronization with rotation of the drum skid;

a tiltmeter for adjusting a placement position of the distributed position detection rope placed on a measurement target body, in order to place the distributed position detection rope at a desired measurement position;

a measurement instrument for measuring a physical quantity of the measurement target body through calculation on signals measured by the optical fibers of the optical elements; and

a connection cable which is connected to another end of the distributed position detection rope and transfers signals to the measurement instrument, wherein

the distributed position detection rope wound around the drum skid is moved to a desired position by the handle and the weight while the drum skid is rotated, and thus is placed at a desired angle by the tiltmeter, and

the physical quantity of the measurement target body is measured at the desired position, using the measurement instrument.

5 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 4 , further comprising an arc stand having an arc-shaped structure portion provided with a gyro sensor, a distributed position detection rope fixation wedge, and a distributed position detection rope orientation adjuster, the arc stand being provided on an outer side of the drum skid so as to be axially parallel with the shaft of the drum skid, wherein

while an orientation of the distributed position detection rope is adjusted by the gyro sensor and the distributed position detection rope orientation adjuster, the distributed position detection rope is moved along the arc-shaped structure portion of the arc stand, and the distributed position detection rope is fixed at a desired position by the distributed position detection rope fixation wedge, to perform measurement for the physical quantity of the measurement target body.

6 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 4 , wherein

from signals detected by three of the basic optical elements provided in the outer sheath layer and at least one of the basic optical elements provided in the inner sheath layer, torsion of the measurement target body is calculated on the basis of measured strain in the measurement target body, by the measurement instrument.

7 . The distributed position detection rope according to claim 1 , wherein

the center axis body is a center axis core that is a solid body formed so as to include a plurality of steel wires,

the distributed position detection rope further comprising a cylindrical third inner sheath layer which, in the cross-section perpendicular to the axis of the center axis body, is located on an outer circumference of the center axis body and on an inner circumference of the inner sheath layer, the third inner sheath layer being provided coaxially with the center axis body.

8 . The distributed position detection rope according to claim 7 , wherein

the sheath material is formed of a material different from those of the inner sheath layer and the outer sheath layer, and has recess/projection shaped portions provided at constant intervals on an axial-direction surface thereof.

9 . A distributed position detection system comprising:

the distributed position detection rope according to claim 7 ;

a drum skid which rotates around a shaft thereof and has an outer circumferential part around which the distributed position detection rope is wound;

a weight connected to one end of the distributed position detection rope;

a handle for moving the distributed position detection rope in synchronization with rotation of the drum skid;

a tiltmeter for adjusting a placement position of the distributed position detection rope placed on a measurement target body, in order to place the distributed position detection rope at a desired measurement position;

a measurement instrument for measuring a physical quantity of the measurement target body through calculation on signals measured by the optical fibers of the optical elements; and

a connection cable which is connected to another end of the distributed position detection rope and transfers signals to the measurement instrument, wherein

the distributed position detection rope wound around the drum skid is moved to a desired position by the handle and the weight while the drum skid is rotated, and thus is placed at a desired angle by the tiltmeter, and

the physical quantity of the measurement target body is measured at the desired position, using the measurement instrument.

10 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 9 , further comprising an arc stand having an arc-shaped structure portion provided with a gyro sensor, a distributed position detection rope fixation wedge, and a distributed position detection rope orientation adjuster, the arc stand being provided on an outer side of the drum skid so as to be axially parallel with the shaft of the drum skid, wherein

while an orientation of the distributed position detection rope is adjusted by the gyro sensor and the distributed position detection rope orientation adjuster, the distributed position detection rope is moved along the arc-shaped structure portion of the arc stand, and the distributed position detection rope is fixed at a desired position by the distributed position detection rope fixation wedge, to perform measurement for the physical quantity of the measurement target body.

11 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 9 , wherein

from signals detected by three of the basic optical elements provided in the outer sheath layer and at least one of the basic optical elements provided in the inner sheath layer, torsion of the measurement target body is calculated on the basis of measured strain in the measurement target body, by the measurement instrument.

12 . The distributed position detection rope according to claim 1 , wherein

the sheath material is formed of a material different from those of the inner sheath layer and the outer sheath layer.

13 . A distributed position detection system comprising:

the distributed position detection rope according to claim 12 ;

a drum skid which rotates around a shaft thereof and has an outer circumferential part around which the distributed position detection rope is wound;

a weight connected to one end of the distributed position detection rope;

a handle for moving the distributed position detection rope in synchronization with rotation of the drum skid;

a tiltmeter for adjusting a placement position of the distributed position detection rope placed on a measurement target body, in order to place the distributed position detection rope at a desired measurement position;

a measurement instrument for measuring a physical quantity of the measurement target body through calculation on signals measured by the optical fibers of the optical elements; and

a connection cable which is connected to another end of the distributed position detection rope and transfers signals to the measurement instrument, wherein

the distributed position detection rope wound around the drum skid is moved to a desired position by the handle and the weight while the drum skid is rotated, and thus is placed at a desired angle by the tiltmeter, and

the physical quantity of the measurement target body is measured at the desired position, using the measurement instrument.

14 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 13 , further comprising an arc stand having an arc-shaped structure portion provided with a gyro sensor, a distributed position detection rope fixation wedge, and a distributed position detection rope orientation adjuster, the arc stand being provided on an outer side of the drum skid so as to be axially parallel with the shaft of the drum skid, wherein

while an orientation of the distributed position detection rope is adjusted by the gyro sensor and the distributed position detection rope orientation adjuster, the distributed position detection rope is moved along the arc-shaped structure portion of the arc stand, and the distributed position detection rope is fixed at a desired position by the distributed position detection rope fixation wedge, to perform measurement for the physical quantity of the measurement target body.

15 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 13 , wherein

from signals detected by three of the basic optical elements provided in the outer sheath layer and at least one of the basic optical elements provided in the inner sheath layer, torsion of the measurement target body is calculated on the basis of measured strain in the measurement target body, by the measurement instrument.

16 . A distributed position detection system comprising:

the distributed position detection rope according to claim 1 ;

a drum skid which rotates around a shaft thereof and has an outer circumferential part around which the distributed position detection rope is wound;

a weight connected to one end of the distributed position detection rope;

a handle for moving the distributed position detection rope in synchronization with rotation of the drum skid;

a tiltmeter for adjusting a placement position of the distributed position detection rope placed on a measurement target body, in order to place the distributed position detection rope at a desired measurement position;

a measurement instrument for measuring a physical quantity of the measurement target body through calculation on signals measured by the optical fibers of the optical elements; and

a connection cable which is connected to another end of the distributed position detection rope and transfers signals to the measurement instrument, wherein

the distributed position detection rope wound around the drum skid is moved to a desired position by the handle and the weight while the drum skid is rotated, and thus is placed at a desired angle by the tiltmeter, and

the physical quantity of the measurement target body is measured at the desired position, using the measurement instrument.

17 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 16 , further comprising an arc stand having an arc-shaped structure portion provided with a gyro sensor, a distributed position detection rope fixation wedge, and a distributed position detection rope orientation adjuster, the arc stand being provided on an outer side of the drum skid so as to be axially parallel with the shaft of the drum skid, wherein

while an orientation of the distributed position detection rope is adjusted by the gyro sensor and the distributed position detection rope orientation adjuster, the distributed position detection rope is moved along the arc-shaped structure portion of the arc stand, and the distributed position detection rope is fixed at a desired position by the distributed position detection rope fixation wedge, to perform measurement for the physical quantity of the measurement target body.

18 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 17 , wherein

from signals detected by three of the basic optical elements provided in the outer sheath layer and at least one of the basic optical elements provided in the inner sheath layer, torsion of the measurement target body is calculated on the basis of measured strain in the measurement target body, by the measurement instrument.

19 . The distributed position detection system according to claim 16 , wherein

from signals detected by three of the basic optical elements provided in the outer sheath layer and at least one of the basic optical elements provided in the inner sheath layer, torsion of the measurement target body is calculated on the basis of measured strain in the measurement target body, by the measurement instrument.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2025
From: NISHI NIPPON ELECTRIC WIRE & CABLE CO., LTD.
To: NEUBREX CO.,LTD.
Reel/Frame 071705/0029 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 6, 2023
From: KISHIDA, KINZO; YAMAUCHI, YOSHIAKI; KAWABATA, JUNICHI; SENO, SHOJI; NAGATANI, HIDEKI; IMAI, MICHIO; HAMADA, YUKIHIRO; WATANABE, KAZUMITU
To: NEUBREX CO.,LTD.; NISHI NIPPON ELECTRIC WIRE & CABLE CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 063275/0516 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230332931A1 · Oct 19, 2023
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