Electromagnetic boat speedometer having removable electrodes

• US 10,416,187 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Issued: 09/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brickhouse Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brickhouse Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Marsh, Lawrence B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Seo, Justin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singer, David L
• Application Number:
  US15/223,755
• Publication Number:
  US 20160377646A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,145 Days
• Field of Search: 7386111-86117, 73493, 7351439, 73488, 73181, 7317011
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/588 combined constructions of electrodes, coils or magnetic circuits, accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/08 by measuring variation of an electric variable directly affected by the flow, e.g. by using dynamo-electric effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/083 by using electronic circuits for measuring the dynamoelectric effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/086 by using special arrangements and constructions for measuring the dynamo-electric effect

Abstract

An electromagnetic speedometer for a boat having hull containing an opening includes an electromagnetic coil supported by the hull for establishing an electromagnetic field in the water adjacent the hull opening. A plurality of electrodes are supported by an arrangement that both closes the hull opening and supports the electrodes in engagement with the water adjacent the hull opening. The electrodes are connected by conductors with a velocity measuring circuit arranged above the hull interior surface. Preferably, the electrode support arrangement includes guide tubes supporting the electrodes for removal relative to the boat hull, thereby to permit cleaning of the electrodes. The guide tubes are closed by valves when the electrodes are removed from the assembly. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic coil is of the end-fired type, and in another embodiment, the electromagnetic coil is annular and is arranged above and below the hull.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic speedometer suitable for use in a boat including a hull having an upper interior surface and a lower exterior surface in contact with a body of water, the hull containing a plurality of spaced through openings, comprising:

(a) a plurality of electrode assemblies arranged adjacent to respective through openings in the boat hull, each of said electrode assemblies including

(1) a penetrator valve mounted on the hull upper surface and surrounding a respective through opening; and

(2) an electrode supported by each penetrator valve for insertion and removal from the respective through openings in the boat hull, said electrodes each having a tip at one end to engage the water when said electrodes are inserted into the respective through openings, said penetrator valves permitting removal of said electrodes and cleaning of the electrode tips when the boat is in the water while preventing water from entering the boat;

(b) an annular coil adapted for mounting on the boat hull upper interior surface and having an inner diameter extending beyond the through openings in the boat hull, said penetrator valves and said electrodes being arranged in spaced relation within said inner diameter of and separate from said annular coil, said annular coil being configured to establish an electromagnetic field in the water large enough to allow a speed measurement to be made by said electrodes substantially away from boundary layer influences resulting from movement of the boat hull; and

(c) a velocity measuring circuit including a plurality of conductors, respectively connected with other ends of said electrodes, said velocity measuring circuit generating a velocity signal in response to speed measurements from said electrodes.

2. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said penetrator valves is operable between closed and open positions.

3. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, wherein said penetrator valves comprise self-sealing flapper valves.

4. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, and further comprising a plurality of dummy electrodes supported by said penetrator valves, respectively, when said electrodes are removed for cleaning.

5. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, wherein said tips of said electrodes are arranged in a predetermined pattern relative to the longitudinal axis of the boat.

6. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, and further including a Hall effect device arranged within said annular coil adjacent the hull, said Hall effect device being connected with said velocity measuring circuit.

7. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, and further including a global positioning system for modifying a velocity signal produced by said electrodes.

8. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, wherein said electrodes are arranged on an inner diameter of said annular coil that is between 75% and 90% of said coil inner diameter.

9. A method for measuring the speed of a boat moving through a body of water, comprising the steps of

(a) creating a plurality of spaced through openings in a hull of the boat;

(b) mounting a plurality of electrode assemblies on an upper surface of the boat hull, and surrounding each of said through openings, respectively, each electrode assembly including a penetrator valve and an electrode removably supported by said penetrator valve for insertion and removal from the adjacent through opening, each electrode having a tip at one end to engage the water when the electrodes are inserted into the respective through openings, the penetrator valves permitting removal of the electrodes and cleaning of the electrode tips while the boat is in the water;

(c) mounting an annular coil on the boat hull upper surface, the coil having an inner diameter extending beyond the through openings in the boat hull with the electrode assemblies being arranged in spaced relation within the inner diameter and separate from the annular coil, the annular coil being configured to establish an electromagnetic field in the water large enough to allow a speed measurement to be made by the electrodes substantially away from boundary layer influences resulting from movement of the boat hull through the water; and

(d) connecting a velocity measuring circuit with the electrodes to generate a velocity signal in response to speed measurements from the electrodes.