Ultrasonic velocity sensor

• US 4,942,765 A
• Filed: 11/28/1988
• Issued: 07/24/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro-Trak Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Micro-Trak Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Tofte, Semor D., Hiniker, Thomas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Williams, Hezron E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Arana, Louis M.
• Application Number:
  US07/276,768
• Time in Patent Office: 603 Days
• Field of Search: 73/431, 73/866.5, 73/488, 73/493, 220/366, 220/378, 220/DIG. 6, 174/17 VA, 174/52.1, 277/201, 277/202, 277/70, 277/71, 277/75, 367/89, 367/90, 367/91
• US Class Current: 73/431
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 15/60 wherein the transmitter and receiver are mounted on the moving object, e.g. for determining ground speed, drift angle, ground track
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/52006 with provision for compensating the effects of temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/521 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/523 Details of pulse systems short-range imaging G01S7/52017; methods or devices for transmitting, conducting or directing sound G10K11/18
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 7/5273 using digital techniques

Abstract

An ultrasonic ground speed sensor has a single transducer which both transmits and receives ultrasonic signals. The sensor is mounted on a vehicle in alignment with the direction of the vehicle, the transducer having a built-in angle with the body of the sensor unit. The transmitted signal is clocked by a 16 MHz clock, with the signal received by the transducer selectively filtered and amplified. A temperature sensor is also used to determine the speed of the transmitted and received signal. A 64-cycle sample period is used, as well as multiple counters and a signal processor to increase accuracy and minimize erroneous readings. A drop-out detector and monitoring system sensor is also described. The vehicle speed is calculated from a Doppler-based formula as a function of both the sum and difference of the transmitted and received signal frequencies. Also disclosed is a gasket seal having leak holes for drainage from the interior of the sensor.

Claims

1. A container for a velocity sensor which is adapted to be mounted on an agricultural vehicle comprising:

(a) a housing having a plurality of linear mounting channels defined therein, said channels being adapted for slidably receiving a mounting projection or projections secured to an agricultural vehicle said linear mounting channels being positioned such that they are aligned with the direction of travel of the vehicle when said housing is mounted to the vehicle; and

(b) a transducer for transmitting and receiving pulses, said transducer mounted in said housing and directed such that signal is transmitted by said transducer at a predetermined angle with the line of travel of the vehicle when said housing is secured to the vehicle by the linear mounting channels.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein the predetermined angle of said transducer is approximately 37 degrees.

3. The container of claim 1 further comprising at least one end plate for enclosing said housing and sealant means applied to the periphery of the housing and the end plate where the housing and end plate are drawn together for forming a seal between the housing and end plate, said sealant means forming at least one leak hole in its periphery having no sealant means, said leak hole located at the edge of the housing which is the lower edge when the housing is mounted to a vehicle, such that moisture which is enclosed by the sealed housing means when the housing is mounted on a vehicle may drain through the leak hole formed by the sealant means out of the housing.

4. A container for a sensor for an agricultural vehicle having a housing containing velocity sensor circuitry, the housing having linear mounting channels formed on the top, bottom, left side, and right side of the housing and aligned parallel to the direction of travel of the vehicle when the housing forming said mounting channels is mounted to said agricultural vehicle, said mounting channels formed such that a mounting projection or projections secured to the vehicle may be slidably received in the channels for mounting the housing on the agricultural vehicle.

5. A container of claim 4 further comprising at least one end plate for enclosing said housing and sealant means applied to the periphery of the housing and the end plate where the housing and end plate are drawn together for forming a seal between the housing and end plate, said sealant means forming at least one leak hole in its periphery having no sealant means, said leak hole located at the edge of the housing which is the lower edge when the housing is mounted to a vehicle, such that moisture which is enclosed by the sealed housing means when the housing is mounted on a vehicle may drain through the leak hole formed by the sealant means out of the housing.

6. A container for a velocity sensor for sensing the velocity of a vehicle mounted to the sensor comprising:

(a) a housing means for housing the velocity sensor;

(b) at least one end plate for enclosing said housing; and

(c) sealant means applied to the periphery of the housing and the end plate where the housing and end plate are drawn together for forming a seal between the ho using and end plate, said sealant means forming at least one leak hole in its periphery having no sealant means, said leak hole located at the edge of the housing which is the lower edge when the housing is mounted to a vehicle, such that moisture which is enclosed by the sealed housing means when the housing is mounted on a vehicle may drain through the leak hole formed by the sealant means out of the housing.