Hot wire anemometer with extendable probe

• US 6,705,158 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 03/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graywolf Sensing Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Phil Louden
• Inventors: Louden, Phil
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Edward
• Assistant Examiner(s): JENKINS, JERMAINE L
• Application Number:
  US10/021,146
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• Field of Search: 731/701.2, 732/025, 731/701.5, 731/701.6, 731/701.1, 732/03, 738/665, 732/041--20, 738/616.5, 738/611.6, 738/618.5, 732/042.2, 324/115
• US Class Current: 73/170.12
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/68 by using thermal effects
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/12 using variation of resistance of a heated conductor

Abstract

A hot wire anemometer comprising a support member having a data processing system, probe head with a hot wire sensor and an ambient temperature sensor and an extendable portion having conductors therein for transfer of collected data and command data between the data processing system in the handle and the hot wire and ambient sensors in the probe head, thus conveniently allowing the probe head to be extended far from the support member and into a desired test area for accurate data collection to determine the velocity of fluid flow.

Claims

1. An anemometer, comprising:

(a) a support member;

(b) a data collection device;

(c) an extendable portion having a first end and a second end, said second end being connected to said support member, said extendable portion comprising at least two extendable self-supporting conductors for transferring electricity and power to said data collection device said data collection device being connected to said first end of said extendable portion for collecting data at said first end, said extendable self-supporting conductors being adjustable through a range of lengths and said extendable self-supporting conductor being of stable length at a plurality of lengths in said range; and

(d) a data processing device coupled to said data collection device for sending command data and receiving collected data from said data collection device.

2. An anemometer as in claim 1, wherein said data processing device is located within said support member.

3. An anemometer as in claim 1, wherein said data processing device is a computer.

4. An anemometer as in claim 1, further comprising a power source located within said support member.

5. An anemometer as in claim 1, wherein said a support member is suitable for being grasped by the hand of a user.

6. An anemometer, comprising:

(a) a support member;

(b) a transducer; and

(c) an extendable portion, said extendable portion comprising at least two extendable conductive members each having a first end and a second end, said transducer being coupled to said first ends of said extendable conductive members for coupling data collected by said transducer at said first end, said second ends of said extendable conductive members being connected to said support member,

wherein said two extendable conductive members comprise an inner telescoping section and an outer telescoping section, said inner section being contained within said outer section and said inner telescoping section having a smaller diameter than said outer telescoping section.

7. An anemometer as in claim 6, wherein said telescoping sections are electrically insulated from each other, said outer telescoping section being electrically grounded.

8. An anemometer, comprising:

(a) a support member;

(b) an electrical transducer for generating data in the form of an electrical signal;

(c) a data utilization device; and

(d) an extendable portion, said extendable portion comprising at least two electrically conductive extendable self-supporting conductive members, each of said self supporting conductive members having a first end and a second end, said transducer being coupled to said first ends of said extendable conductive members for coupling said electrical signal generated by said transducer, said second ends of said extendable conductive members being connected to said support member and said second ends of said extendable conductive members coupling said electrical signal to said data utilization device.

9. An anemometer as in claim 8, wherein said transducer comprises a hot wire sensor and/or an ambient temperature measuring device.

10. An anemometer as claimed in claim 9, wherein said hot wire sensor and/or said ambient temperature measuring device have a mass of material disposed on its furthermost point from said support member.

11. An anemometer as claimed in claim 10, wherein said mass of material is of a composition such that its physical characteristics are known.

12. An anemometer as claimed in claim 10, wherein said mass of material is substantially spherical in shape.

13. An anemometer as claimed in claim 9, wherein said hotwire sensor comprises a metal or metal alloy.

14. An anemometer as claimed in claim 9, wherein said hotwire sensor comprises tungsten and platinum alloys.

15. An anemometer as claimed in claim 9, wherein said hotwire has a diameter of 2-20 microns.

16. An anemometer as in claim 8, wherein said support member comprises a handle.

17. An anemometer as in claim 8, wherein said transducer is located at said first end of said extendable conductive members.

18. A method for using an anemometer, comprising:

(i) a support member;

(ii) a data collection device;

(iii) an extendable portion having a first end and a second end, said second end being connected to said support member said extendable portion comprising at least two conductors for transferring electricity and power to said data collection device, said data collection device being connected to said first end of said extendable portion for collecting data at said first end, said conductors and said data collection device forming a sensor assembly; and

(iv) a data processing device coupled to said data collection device for sending command data and receiving collected data from said data collection device,

said method comprising;

(a) extending said extendable members to a desired length;

(b) rotating a sensor assembly to a desired position;

(c) turning on said apparatus;

(d) placing said apparatus in a fluidic stream whose velocity is to be measured;

(e) receiving raw data from said apparatus.

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein turning on said apparatus causes:

(a) a timing sequencer to energize, said timing sequencer energizing said sensor assembly, said energizing of said sensor assembly causing a hot wire associated with said hot wire sensor to be heated to its operating temperature; and

(b) once said operating temperature is achieved, a data acquisition routine is initiated, said data acquisition routine receiving and processing data from said sensor assembly.

20. A method as claimed in claim 19, wherein said operating temperature being approximately 130 degrees Celsius.

21. A method as claimed in claim 18, wherein said sensor assembly comprises a hot wire sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, said ambient temperature sensor being used to calibrate said hot wire sensor.

22. A method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising:

(f) processing said raw data with a microprocessor to calculate flow data, said flow data being calculated by measuring the current required to maintain the hot wire at its operating temperature.

23. An anemometer comprising:

(a) a support member;

(b) a transducer;

(c) an extendable portion, said extendable portion comprising at least two extendable conductive members each having a first end and a second end, said transducer being coupled to said first ends of said extendable conductive members for coupling data collected by said transducer at said first end, said second ends of said extendable conductive members being connected to said support member; and

(d) a data processing device, wherein said transducer comprises a hot wire sensor and an ambient temperature sensor, said hot wire sensor being coupled to said data processing device, and said ambient temperature sensor being coupled to said data processing device to calibrate said hot wire sensor, said data processing device being configured to receive the output of said hot wire sensor and said ambient temperature sensor and produce an output indicating fluidic speed.