Detector apparatus for detecting wind velocity and direction and ice accumulation
First Claim
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1. A detector apparatus which comprises:
- (a) an elongate cylindrically shaped rod having a longitudinal axis and two opposed ends along the longitudinal axis with one supported and the other end unsupported;
(b) support means rigidly mounting the one end of the rod such that the rod is cantilevered from the support means and wherein there is a region of high stress in tension and compresssion in the rod or support means when a force is applied to the rod;
(c) electrical strain gauges mounted on the region of high stress in uniform relationship to and around the longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein the apparatus includes electrical measuring means which measure wind velocity and direction around the longitudinal axis of the rod and measure weight of accumulated ice on the rod as a function of time in relation to compression or tension on the strain gauges; and
(d) deicer means for removal of ice from the rod.
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Abstract
Detector apparatus (10, 50, 90) for measuring wind velocity and direction and/or ice accumulation. The apparatus preferably includes boots (14, 23, 24 and 70) for removing accumulated ice prior to measuring wind velocity and direction without the ice. A computerized system and program for determining the measurements in the detector apparatus.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A detector apparatus which comprises:
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(a) an elongate cylindrically shaped rod having a longitudinal axis and two opposed ends along the longitudinal axis with one supported and the other end unsupported; (b) support means rigidly mounting the one end of the rod such that the rod is cantilevered from the support means and wherein there is a region of high stress in tension and compresssion in the rod or support means when a force is applied to the rod; (c) electrical strain gauges mounted on the region of high stress in uniform relationship to and around the longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein the apparatus includes electrical measuring means which measure wind velocity and direction around the longitudinal axis of the rod and measure weight of accumulated ice on the rod as a function of time in relation to compression or tension on the strain gauges; and (d) deicer means for removal of ice from the rod.
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2. A detector apparatus which comprises:
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(a) an elongate cylindrically shaped rod having a longitudinal axis and two opposed ends along the longitudinal axis with one end supported and the other end unsupported; (b) identical arms rigidly supporting the one end of the rod and extending from the rod to arm ends around the longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein each of the arms has a section of substantially identical cross-section adjacent the rod where tension or compression is to be measured along one line in the section; (c) support means rigidly mounting the ends of the arms such that the rod is cantilevered from the support means by the arms; (d) electrical resistance film strain gauges rigidly mounted on the section of the arms in uniform relationship to and around the longitudinal axis of the rod to measure tension and compression in the one line of the section, wherein the apparatus includes electrical measuring means which measure wind velocity and direction around the longitudinal axis of the rod and measure weight of accumulated ice on the rod as a function of time in relation to compression or tension on the strain gauges; and (e) deicer means for removal of ice from the rod. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5)
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6. A detector apparatus which comprises:
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(a) an elongate cylindrically shaped rod having a longitudinal axis and two opposed ends with one end supported and the other end unsupported; (b) a hub rigidly supporting the one end of the rod and having identical arms which extend radially away from the rod to radial ends and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod wherein each of the arms has a section of substantially identical cross-section adjacent the rod where tension or compression is to be measured along one line in the section; (c) support means rigidly mounting the radial ends of the arms such that the rod is cantilevered from the support means by the hub and arms; (d) electrical resistance film strain gauges rigidly mounted on the section of the arms in uniform spaced radial relationship to and around the longitudinal axis of the rod to measure tension and compression along the one line of the section, wherein the apparatus includes electrical measuring means which measure wind velocity and direction around the longitudinal axis of the rod and measure weight of accumulated ice on the rod as a function of time in relation to compression or tension on the strain gauges; and (e) deicer means for removal of ice from the rod. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A detection system which comprises:
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(a) an elongate cylindrically shaped rod having a longitudinal axis and two opposed ends along the longitudinal axis with one end supported and the other end unsupported; (b) identical arms rigidly supporting the one end of the rod and extending from the rod to arm ends around the longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein each of the arms has a section of substantially identical cross-section adjacent the rod where tension or compression is measured along one line of the section; (c) support means rigidly mounting the ends of the arms such that the rod is cantilevered from the support means by the arms; (d) electrical resistance film strain gauges rigidly mounted on the section of the arms in uniform relationship to and around the longitudinal axis of the rod to measure tension and compression along the one line of the section, wherein the apparatus includes electrical measuring means which measure wind velocity and direction around the longitudinal axis of the rod and measure weight of accumulated ice on the rod as a function of time in relation to compression or tension on the strain gauges; (e) microprocessor means electrically connected to the strain gauges which are connected in a bridge circuit, wherein the microprocessor means converts electrical signals from the strain gauges to digital data which is supplied to the measuring means; and (f) deicer means for removing ice from the rod. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A detection system which comprises:
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(a) an elongate cylindrically shaped rod having a longitudinal axis and two opposed ends along the longitudinal axis with one end supported and the other end unsupported; (b) a hub rigidly supporting the one end of the rod and having identical arms which extend radially away from the rod to radial ends and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the rod wherein each of the arms has a section of substantially identical cross-section adjacent the rod wherein tension or compression is to be measured along one line in the section; (c) support means rigidly mounting the radial ends of the arms such that the rod is cantilevered from the support means by the hub and arms; and (d) electrical resistance film strain gauges rigidly mounted on the section of the arms in uniform spaced radial relationship to and around the longitudinal axis of the rod to measure tension and compression along the one line of the section, wherein the apparatus includes electrical measuring means which measure wind velocity and direction around the longitudinal axis of the rod and measure weight of accumulated ice on the rod as a function of time in relation to compression or tension on the strain gauges; (e) microprocessor means electrically connected to the strain gauges which are in a bridge circuit, wherein the microprocessor means converts electrical signals from the strain gauges to digital data; and (f) deicer means for removal of ice from the rod. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for measuring wind velocity and direction and accumulated ice weight which comprises:
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(a) providing a detector apparatus in an environment wherein ice accumulates which comprises;
a detector apparatus which comprises;
an elongate cylindrically shaped rod having a longitudinal axis and two opposed ends along the longitudinal axis with one end supported and the other end unsupported;
support means rigidly mounting the one end of the rod such that the rod is cantilevered from the support means and wherein there is a region of high stress in tension and compression when a force is applied to the rod;
electrical strain gauges mounted on the region of high stress in unifrom relationship to and around the longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein the apparatus includes electrical measuring means which measure wind velocity and direction around the longitudinal axis of the rod and which measures weight of accumulated ice on the rod as a function of time in relation to compression or tension on the strain gauges; and
deicer means for removal of ice from the rod;(b) measuring with the srain gauges the wind velocity and direction on the rod after the ice has been removed by the deicer means and the accumulated ice weight on the rod before removal of the ice by the deicer means. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A detection system which comprises:
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(a) an elongate cylindrically shaped rod having a longitudinal axis and two opposed ends along the longitudinal axis with one end supported and the other end unsupported; (b) support means rigidly mounting the one end of the rod such that the rod is cantilevered from the support means and wherein there is a region of high stress in tension and compression in the rod or support means when a force is applied to the rod; (c) electrical strain gauges mounted on the region of high stress in uniform relationship to and around the longitudinal axis of the rod, wherein the apparatus includes electrical measuring means which measure wind velocity and direction around the longitudinal axis of the rod and measure weight of accumulated ice on the rod as a function of time in relation to compression or tension on the strain gauges; (d) microprocessor means electrically connected in a bridge circuit, wherein the microprocessor means converts electrical signals from the strain gauges to digital data which is supplied to the measuring means; and (e) deicer means for removal of ice from the rod.
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Specification