Optical Impulse Gauges

Ktech has developed the Optical Impulse Gauge (OIG) for the measurement of blowoff impulse in radiation simulators. The OIG is mounted in a secondary enclosure using a rubber shock isolation system to to isolate the system from radiation simulator machine shock. This secondary enclosure is placed behind a debris shield that shields the enclosure from radiation and retards the expansion of source and filter debris. Without the debris shield, early radiation/debris induced motions of the secondary enclosure severely limit the useful data obtained from the OIG.

• Optical Impulse Gauge Technical Description

The OIG measures impulse by monitoring the equilibrium velocity of a known mass that is free to move along on axis. The sample holder/carriage is 31-mm long and weighs approximately 25 grams. The carriage slides on a miniature ball slide. The short axial length of the carriage allows it to equilibriate within 50µs of the stimulus. The impulse gauge employs a simple, but high resolution optical position encoder. Each OIG produces two outputs that are out of phase (quadrature) so that carriage reversal can be detected. The OIG requires a signal conditioning unit and power supply that are located outside the simulator test chamber. A shielded seven conductor cable is used to communicate between the signal conditioner and the OIG.

The OIG has an impulse resolution of 100 tap and a 50-µs time resolution. High impulses can be measured by selecting an appropriate carriage mass. The carriage is designed to accept supplementary weights. Typical recording times range from 500 to 1000 µs.

• Specifications
• Measures blowoff impulse in radiation simulators
• Impulse resolution of 100 tap
• 50 µs time resolution
• Typical recording timers range form 500 to 1000 µs
• Primary and secondary housing shield gauge from radiation, isolates system from simulator machine shock and retards the expansion of source and filter debris