ELECTROMAGNETIC BOAT SPEEDOMETER HAVING REMOVABLE ELECTRODES

• US 20160377646A1
• Filed: 07/29/2016
• Published: 12/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brickhouse Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brickhouse Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Marsh, Lawrence B.
• Granted Patent: US 10,416,187 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 for a boat, comprising:

(a) a horizontal boat hull (4;

1404) having a lower exterior surface exposed to the water, and an upper interior surface;

(b) an annular coil (504;

1410) mounted on said boat hull upper interior surface for establishing an electromagnetic field in the water adjacent said hull lower surface;

(c) a plurality of electrodes (514;

1411) having tips at one end;

(d) a plurality of generally vertical guide tubes (507;

1407) containing guide passages for removably supporting said electrodes within corresponding through openings (4a;

1404a) contained in said hull concentrically within and separate from said annular coil, thereby to effect engagement of the electrode tips with the water adjacent said electromagnetic field, and to permit removal of the electrodes and cleaning of the electrode tips when the boat is in the water;

(e) a velocity measuring circuit (623) arranged above said hull interior surface, said velocity measuring circuit means including a plurality of conductors respectively connected with the other ends of said electrodes; and

(f) closure means (512;

1412) for closing said guide passages upon removal of said electrodes therefrom.

2. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, wherein said closure means comprises a plurality of valves (512;

1412) connected in said guide passages, respectively, each of said valves being operable between closed and open positions.

3. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, wherein said closure means comprises a plurality of self-sealing flapper valves (512b) connected in said guide passages, respectively.

4. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, wherein said closure means comprises a plurality of dummy electrodes (74;

120b;

1821) adapted for insertion within said guide passages, respectively.

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

18. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, and further including a Hall effect device (1417) arranged within said annular coil adjacent said hull, said Hall effect device being connected with said velocity measuring means.

19. An electromagnetic speedometer as defined in claim 1, and further including a global system positioning arrangement (GPS) for modifying the velocity signal produced by said electrodes.

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