Weatherproof sensing apparatus with rotatable sensor
First Claim
1. A sensing apparatus for use in adverse conditions, said sensing apparatus comprising:
- a main enclosure defining an interior cavity protected from an exterior environment and having an aperture provided in a first surface thereof opening to the environment; and
a sensor being supported by a generally spherically shaped housing, said generally spherically shaped housing being larger in size than said aperture and partially extending through said aperture so that at least said sensor is extendible out through said aperture in said main enclosure for obtaining, when in a use position, sensor measurements;
wherein said generally spherically shaped housing is rotatable relative to said aperture and is supported by said main enclosure for rotation about a rotational axis from the use position, in which said sensor is located outside said main enclosure and positioned to obtain desired sensor measurements, to a retracted position in which said sensor is completely accommodated within said interior cavity of said main enclosure; and
a drive mechanism is coupled to said generally spherically shaped housing for rotating, as desired, said generally spherically shaped housing to the use position and to the retracted position.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A sensing apparatus, for use in adverse conditions comprising a housing having an aperture formed therein. A generally spherically shaped housing, which is larger in size than the aperture, partially extends through the aperture. The generally spherically shaped housing supports a desired sensor and is supported for rotation about an axis of rotation. A drive mechanism is provided for rotating the generally spherically shaped housing to and fro about its rotational axis from a use position, in which the sensor is positioned outside the housing to obtain sensor measurements, to a retracted position in which the sensor is completely accommodated within the housing and sheltered from the elements. A peripheral scraping ring is mounted circumferentially about the aperture in close proximity to an exterior surface of the generally spherically shaped housing but spaced therefrom. The scraping ring is positioned to remove any snow, ice, rain, freezing rain, moisture, dirt, soot, or other contaminants contained on the exterior surface of the generally spherically shaped housing during rotation thereof. The sensing apparatus also includes fans, a calibration device and a heater to maintain the sensor in an operable condition.
12 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A sensing apparatus for use in adverse conditions, said sensing apparatus comprising:
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a main enclosure defining an interior cavity protected from an exterior environment and having an aperture provided in a first surface thereof opening to the environment; and a sensor being supported by a generally spherically shaped housing, said generally spherically shaped housing being larger in size than said aperture and partially extending through said aperture so that at least said sensor is extendible out through said aperture in said main enclosure for obtaining, when in a use position, sensor measurements; wherein said generally spherically shaped housing is rotatable relative to said aperture and is supported by said main enclosure for rotation about a rotational axis from the use position, in which said sensor is located outside said main enclosure and positioned to obtain desired sensor measurements, to a retracted position in which said sensor is completely accommodated within said interior cavity of said main enclosure; and a drive mechanism is coupled to said generally spherically shaped housing for rotating, as desired, said generally spherically shaped housing to the use position and to the retracted position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of obtaining sensor measurements in adverse conditions, said method comprising the steps of:
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defining an interior cavity, protected from an exterior environment, in a main enclosure, and providing an aperture in a first surface thereof opening to the environment; supporting a sensor by a generally spherically shaped housing, said generally spherically shaped housing being larger in size than said aperture, and extending said generally spherically shaped housing partially through said aperture, at least said sensor being extendible out through said aperture in said main enclosure for obtaining, when desired, sensor measurements; spacing said generally spherically shaped housing from said aperture so as to be rotatable relative to said aperture; supporting said generally spherically shaped housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis; coupling a drive mechanism to said generally spherical shaped housing for rotating said generally spherically shaped housing as desire;
androtating said generally spherically shaped housing about the longitudinal axis from one of a use position, in which said sensor is located outside said main enclosure to obtain desired sensor measurements, to a retracted position in which said sensor is completely accommodated within said interior cavity of said main enclosure. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A sensing apparatus for use in adverse conditions, said sensing apparatus comprising:
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a main enclosure defining an interior cavity protected from an exterior environment and having an aperture provided in a first surface thereof opening to the environment; and a sensor being supported by a generally spherically shaped housing, said generally spherically shaped housing being larger in size than said aperture and at least partially extending through said aperture so that at least said sensor is exposed to the exterior environment for obtaining, when in a use position, sensor measurements of the outside environment; wherein said generally spherically shaped housing is rotatable relative to said aperture and is supported by said main enclosure for rotation about a fixed rotational axis from the use position, in which said sensor is exposed to the exterior environment to obtain desired sensor measurements of the outside environment, to a retracted position in which said sensor is completely accommodated within said interior cavity of said main enclosure; and said sensing apparatus includes an automated control mechanism for rotating said generally spherically shaped housing from the retracted position to the use position and vice versa.
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Specification