Methods regarding optical probe having an inner tube with separable tube sections to house optical elements

US9182285B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• SIEMENS ENERGY, INC. · US

Inventors

• Dennis H. Lemieux · Oviedo, US
• David W. Fox · Oviedo, US
• James P. Williams · Carefree, US
• Jan P. Smed · Oviedo, US
• Paul J. Zombo · Cocoa, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 12, 2013
• Grant date: Nov 10, 2015
• Expiry date: Dec 3, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T29/49826
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

In an optical probe (10) having an inner tube (30) arranged to house one or more optical elements (32), a method is provided which allows constructing the inner tube to have at least two corresponding inner tube sections (32, 34) separable from one another along a longitudinal axis of the inner tube. While corresponding inner tube sections (32, 34) are detached from one another, one or more of the optical elements may be disposed into either of the inner tube sections. The inner tube sections may be attached to one another by way of at least one removable affixing element to facilitate servicing of the probe.