Aerial sampler system

• US 6,809,648 B1
• Filed: 11/26/2002
• Issued: 10/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: University Corporation For Atmospheric Research
• Original Assignee: University Corporation For Atmospheric Research
• Inventors: Fleming, Rex J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huang, Sihong
• Application Number:
  US10/304,577
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 340/601, 340/962, 340/966, 340/968, 340/581, 340/583, 340/580, 738/610.7, 731/700.2
• US Class Current: 340/601
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/02 for measuring temperature of moving fluids or granular materials capable of flow
• CPC Class Codes: G01K 13/028 for use in total air temperature [TAT] probes
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/22 in the gaseous state specially adapted for biological material G01N33/497; measuring breath flow A61B5/087
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 15/075 by optical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2279 high altitude, e.g. rockets, balloons

Abstract

An aerial sampler system includes an enclosure, a transfer system, and a measurement system. The enclosure is connected to an external surface of an aerial vehicle and receives atmospheric flow from the external surface of the aerial vehicle. The enclosure also directs at least some of the atmospheric flow into an aperture in the external surface. The transfer system transfers some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to a measurement system. The measurement system is internal to the external surface of the aerial vehicle and measures atmospheric trace gases in the atmospheric flow.

Claims

1. An aerial sampler system comprising:

an enclosure connected to an external surface of an aerial vehicle and configured to receive atmospheric flow from the external surface of the aerial vehicle and direct at least some of the atmospheric flow into an aperture in the external surface;

a transfer system configured to transfer the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to a measurement system;

wherein the transfer system further comprises an outgoing coupling pipe connected to the measurement system and configured to transfer the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the measurement system to the enclosure; and

the measurement system that is internal to the external surface of the aerial vehicle and configured to measure atmospheric trace gases in the atmospheric flow.

2. The aerial sampler system of claim 1 wherein the measurement system is farther configured to measure water vapor in the atmospheric flow.

3. The aerial sampler system of claim 1 wherein the measurement system comprises:

a temperature sensor configured to measure temperature within the measurement system; and

a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure within the measurement system.

4. The aerial sampler system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises an inertial separator configured to converge and diverge the atmospheric flow.

5. The aerial sampler system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a flow enhancer configured to direct the atmospheric flow.

6. The aerial sampler system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises a pressure sensor configured to determine pressure for ice detection.

7. The aerial sampler system of claim 1 wherein the enclosure comprises electrically heated metal configured to remove ice.

8. The aerial sampler system of claim 1 wherein the transfer system further comprises an incoming coupling pipe configured to transfer the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to the measurement system.

9. The aerial sampler system of claim 1 wherein the incoming coupling pipe is heated.

10. An aerial sampler system comprising:

an enclosure connected to an external surface of an aerial vehicle and configured to receive atmospheric flow from the external surface of the aerial vehicle and direct at least some of the atmospheric flow into an aperture in the external surface;

a transfer system configured to transfer the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to a measurement system; and

the measurement system that is internal to the external surface of the aerial vehicle and configured to measure atmospheric trace gases in the atmospheric flow;

wherein the measurement system comprises a laser transmitter configured to transmit laser signals;

a receiver configured to receive the laser signals; and

a processing system configured to determine water vapor based on the received laser signals.

11. The aerial sampler system of claim 10 wherein the laser transmitter comprises a diode laser transmitter.

12. The aerial sampler system of claim 10 wherein the laser transmitter comprises a quantum cascade laser transmitter.

13. The aerial sampler system of claim 10 wherein a frequency of the laser transmitter is chosen for one of the atmospheric trace gases.

14. The aerial sampler system of claim 10 wherein the measurement system further comprises a reflective material configured to reflect the laser signals.

15. An aerial sampler system comprising:

an enclosure connected to an external surface of an aerial vehicle and configured to receive atmospheric flow from the external surface of the aerial vehicle and direct at least some of the atmospheric flow into an aperture in the external surface;

a transfer system configured to transfer the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to a measurement system; and

the measurement system that is internal to the external surface of the aerial vehicle and configured to measure atmospheric trace gases in the atmospheric flow;

wherein the measurement system comprises a first laser transmitter configured to transmit first laser signals;

a first receiver configured to receive the first laser signals;

a second laser transmitter configured to transmit second laser signals;

a second receiver configured to receive the second laser signals; and

a processing system configured to measure gas from a volcanic eruption based on the first received laser signals and determine whether the volcanic aerosol content is high based on the second received laser signals.

16. A method for operating an aerial sampler system, the method comprising:

receiving atmospheric flow from an external surface of an aerial vehicle into an enclosure connected to the external surface of the aerial vehicle;

directing at least some of the atmospheric flow into an aperture in the external surface;

in a transfer system, transferring the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to a measurement system that is internal to the external surface of the aerial vehicle;

in the transfer system, transferring the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the measurement system to the enclosure; and

in the measurement system, measuring atmospheric trace gases in the atmospheric flow.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising in the measurement system, measuring water vapor in the atmospheric flow.

18. The method of claim 16 further comprising converging and diverging the atmospheric flow with an inertial separator in the enclosure.

19. The method of claim 16 further comprising directing the atmospheric flow with a flow enhancer in the enclosure.

20. The method of claim 16 further comprising in a pressure sensor in the enclosure, determining pressure for ice detection.

21. The method of claim 16 further comprising removing ice with electrically heated metal in the enclosure.

22. A method for operating an aerial sampler system, the method comprising:

receiving atmospheric flow from an external surface of an aerial vehicle into an enclosure connected to the external surface of the aerial vehicle;

directing at least some of the atmospheric flow into an aperture in the external surface;

in a transfer system, transferring the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to a measurement system that is internal to the external surface of the aerial vehicle; and

in the measurement system, measuring atmospheric trace gases in the atmospheric flow;

transmitting laser signals from a laser transmitter in the measurement system;

receiving the laser signals into a receiver in the measurement system; and

in a processing system in the measurement system, determining water vapor based on the received laser signals.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the laser transmitter comprises a diode laser transmitter.

24. The method of claim 22 wherein the laser transmitter comprises a quantum cascade laser transmitter.

25. The method of claim 22 wherein a frequency of the laser transmitter is chosen for one of the atmospheric trace gases.

26. The method of claim 22 further comprising reflecting the laser signals with a reflective material in the measurement system.

27. The method of claim 22 further comprising:

in a temperature sensor in the measurement system, measuring temperature within the measurement system; and

in a pressure sensor in the measurement system, measuring pressure within the measurement system.

28. A method for operating an aerial sampler system the method comprising:

receiving atmospheric flow from an external surface of an aerial vehicle into an enclosure connected to the external surface of the aerial vehicle;

directing at least some of the atmospheric flow into an aperture in the external surface;

in a transfer system, transferring the at least some of the atmospheric flow from the aperture to a measurement system that is internal to the external surface of the aerial vehicle; and

in the measurement system measuring atmospheric the gases in the atmospheric flow;

transmitting first laser signals from a first laser transmitter in the measurement system;

receiving the first laser signals into a first receiver in the measurement system;

transmitting second laser signals from a second laser transmitter in the measurement system;

receiving the second laser signals into a second receiver in the measurement system; and

in a processing system, measuring gas from a volcanic eruption based on the first received laser signals; and

in the processing system, determining whether the volcanic aerosol content is high based on the second received laser signals.