APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR LOCALIZED DETECTION AND WARNING OF SEVERE WEATHER

• US 20130187782A1
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Published: 07/25/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph P. Heisler
• Original Assignee: Storm Warning, LLC
• Inventors: Heisler, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 9,535,188 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01W 1/02 Instruments for indicating weather conditions by measuring two or more variables, e.g. humidity, pressure, temperature, cloud cover or wind speed G01W1/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/10 responsive to calamitous events, e.g. tornados or earthquakes
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/00 in human health protection, e.g. against extreme weather

Abstract

An apparatus and method for determining the localized presence of severe weather and signaling an alarm. An outdoor sensor assembly may contain a number of sensors including a barometric pressure sensor, temperature sensor, and humidity sensor. The outdoor sensor assembly is in electrical communication with an indoor controller assembly. A plurality of parameters may be measured and compared with pre-established threshold values. The alarm may be signaled when the measured parameters meet or exceed the selected threshold values.

Claims

1. An apparatus for detecting the immediate localized presence of severe weather comprising:

an outdoor sensor assembly positioned in an outdoor environment and comprising a barometric pressure sensor; and

an indoor controller assembly in electrical communication with the outdoor sensor assembly and comprising;

an alarm, and

a microcontroller adapted to

accept the incoming data from the outdoor sensor assembly,

calculate the current rate of pressure drop per minute Δ

P,

compare Δ

P to a threshold pressure drop Δ

P(MAX), and

signal the alarm when Δ

P equals or exceeds Δ

P(MAX).

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a status indicator in electrical communication with the microcontroller.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the microcontroller is further adapted to compare the current pressure P to a threshold pressure P(MIN), and

signal the alarm when P is less than or equal to P(MIN).

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

Δ

P(MAX) is between 0.002 and 0.004 in. Hg/min.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein:

P(MIN) is between 29.65 and 29.85 in. Hg.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the electrical communication between the outdoor sensor assembly and indoor controller assembly is wireless electrical communication.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein:

the electrical communication between the outdoor sensor assembly and indoor controller assembly is ribbon cable.

8. An apparatus for detecting the immediate localized presence of a tornado comprising:

an outdoor sensor assembly positioned in an outdoor environment and comprising;

a barometric pressure sensor,

a temperature sensor, and

a humidity sensor,

an indoor controller assembly in electrical communication with the outdoor sensor assembly and comprising;

an alarm, and

a microcontroller adapted to

accept the incoming data for pressure P, temperature T,

calculate the current rate of pressure drop per minute Δ

P,

calculate the current dew point DP,

compare Δ

P to a threshold pressure drop Δ

P(MAX),

compare P to a threshold pressure P(MIN),

compare T to a threshold temperature T(MAX),

compare DP to a threshold dew point DP(MAX), and

signal the alarm when Δ

P, P, T, and DP meet or exceed their respective threshold values.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a status indicator in electrical communication with the microcontroller.

10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

Δ

P(MAX) is 0.003 in. Hg/min.

11. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

Δ

P(MAX) is 0.002 in. Hg/min.

12. 10. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

Δ

P(MAX) is 0.004 in. Hg/min.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

P(MIN) is between 29.65 and 29.85 in. Hg.

14. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

T(MAX) is between 58 and 62°

F.

15. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein:

DP(MAX) is between 63 and 67°

F.

16. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

a wind speed sensor in electrical communication with the indoor controller assembly.

17. A method for predicting the immediate localized presence of a tornado and signaling an alarm, comprising the steps of:

selecting a threshold value for the rate of change in barometric pressure per minute Δ

P(MAX);

measuring the barometric pressure P;

calculating the rate of change in P per minute Δ

P;

comparing Δ

P with Δ

P(MAX); and

signaling the alarm when Δ

P meets or exceeds Δ

P(MAX).

18. The method of claim 17 wherein:

Δ

P(MAX) is 0.003 in. Hg/min.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein:

Δ

P(MAX) is 0.002 in. Hg/min.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein:

the step of measuring the barometric pressure P is performed by a temperature compensated pressure transducer.