Electromagnetic boat speedometer having removable electrodes

• US 9,429,588 B2
• Filed: 07/05/2013
• Issued: 08/30/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brickhouse Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: Brickhouse Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Marsh, Lawrence B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lyons, Michael A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Singer, David L
• Application Number:
  US13/935,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20140047927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,152 Days
• Field of Search: 731/81, 731/86, 731/701.1, 735/143.9, 7386111-86117
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 1/588 combined constructions of electrodes, coils or magnetic circuits, accessories therefor
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 25/10 of flowmeters
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/08 by measuring variation of an electric variable directly affected by the flow, e.g. by using dynamo-electric effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/083 by using electronic circuits for measuring the dynamoelectric effect
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 5/086 by using special arrangements and constructions for measuring the dynamo-electric effect

Abstract

An electromagnetic speedometer for a boat having hull containing an opening includes an electromagnetic coil supported by the hull for establishing an electromagnetic field in the water adjacent the hull opening. A plurality of electrodes are supported by an arrangement that both closes the hull opening and supports the electrodes in engagement with the water adjacent the hull opening. The electrodes are connected by conductors with a velocity measuring circuit arranged above the hull interior surface. Preferably, the electrode support arrangement includes guide tubes supporting the electrodes for removal relative to the boat hull, thereby to permit cleaning of the electrodes. The guide tubes are closed by valves when the electrodes are removed from the assembly. In one embodiment, the electromagnetic coil is of the end-fired type, and in another embodiment, the electromagnetic coil is annular and is arranged above and below the hull.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic speedometer for a boat, comprising:

(a) a horizontal boat hull (4) having a lower exterior surface exposed to the water, and an upper interior surface, said horizontal boat hull containing at least one through opening;

(b) an annular electromagnetic coil (304;

404) mounted on said horizontal boat hull for establishing an electromagnetic field in the water adjacent said horizontal boat hull lower exterior surface;

(c) a plurality of electrodes (314;

414) having first ends terminating in electrode tips, said electrodes having second ends;

(d) an electrode support arrangement removably supporting said electrodes within said at least one horizontal boat hull through opening to effect engagement of said electrode tips with the water adjacent said electromagnetic field, thereby to permit removal of said electrodes and cleaning of said electrode tips when the boat is in the water;

(e) a velocity measuring circuit arranged above said horizontal boat hull upper interior surface, said velocity measuring circuit including a plurality of conductors respectively connected with said electrode second ends; and

(f) closure means (312;

412) for closing said at least one horizontal boat hull through opening upon removal of said electrodes therefrom;

(g) said electrode support arrangement comprising a synthetic plastic shroud member (308;

408) having a generally inverted-mushroom-shaped configuration including a horizontal body portion secured to said horizontal boat hull lower exterior surface, and a stem portion that extends upwardly through said horizontal boat hull through opening, said shroud member containing a plurality of guide passages (307;

407) that extend downwardly through said shroud stem portion and radially outwardly in said shroud body portion toward electrode tip openings (306;

406) contained in the bottom surface of said shroud member;

(h) said electrodes (314;

414) being flexible and removably extending in said guide passages downwardly through said shroud stem portion, and radially outwardly in said shroud body portion toward said electrode tip openings.

2. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 1, wherein said annular coil (304) is embedded in said shroud body portion.

3. An electromagnetic speedometer for a boat, comprising:

(a) a boat hull having an upper interior surface, and a lower exterior surface exposed to the water, whereby a boundary layer is formed in the water adjacent said boat hull exterior surface, said boat hull including a generally horizontal portion containing a through opening;

(b) a tubular penetrator member (1002;

1102;

1202;

1302) mounted vertically concentrically relative to said horizontal boat hull through opening;

(c) an electromagnetic coil (1010;

1110;

1210;

1310) for establishing an electromagnetic field extending downwardly into the water adjacent said through opening and extending beyond the water boundary layer, said electromagnetic coil having a vertical axis and containing an opening having an internal diameter of at least 1.5 inches, said electromagnetic coil being mounted on said horizontal boat hull upper interior surface concentrically around said tubular penetrator member;

(d) a plurality of generally vertical electrodes (1011;

1111;

1211;

1311) having lower first ends provided with electrode tips, said generally vertical electrodes having upper second ends;

(e) an electrode support arrangement removably supporting said generally vertical electrodes within said tubular penetrator member, said electrode support arrangement being separate from said electromagnetic coil and comprising a sensor body (1001;

1101;

1201;

1301) mounted concentrically within said tubular penetrator member, said generally vertical electrodes extending through said sensor body with said electrode tips being exposed to the water, said electrode upper second ends extending above said horizontal boat hull upper interior surface, thereby to permit removal of said generally vertical electrodes and cleaning of the electrode tips when the boat is in the water;

(f) a velocity measuring circuit arranged above said horizontal boat hull upper interior surface, said velocity measuring circuit including a plurality of input conductors connected with said electrode upper second ends, respectively; and

(g) closure means (1012;

1112;

1212;

1312) for closing said tubular penetrator member upon removal of said generally vertical electrodes therefrom.

4. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 3, wherein said electromagnetic coil comprises an annular electromagnetic coil (1010;

1210) mounted above said horizontal boat hull upper interior surface concentrically about said tubular penetrator member.

5. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 3, wherein said electromagnetic coil comprises a solenoid (1110;

1310) mounted concentrically about the external surface of said tubular penetrator member.

6. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 3, wherein said sensor body (1880) is tubular, said guide passages (1807) extending in circumferentially spaced relation longitudinally through said tubular sensor body.

7. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 6, and further including at least one physical property measuring device (1883, 1884) mounted within said sensor body.

8. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 3, and further including:

(h) a Hall effect sensing device (1217;

1317;

1417;

1883) arranged within said electromagnetic coil adjacent said horizontal boat hull, said Hall effect device being connected with said velocity measuring circuit, thereby to compensate for changes in the strength of said electromagnetic field.

9. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 8, and further including:

(i) a global system positioning arrangement (GPS) for modifying the velocity signal produced by said generally vertical electrodes.

10. The electromagnetic boat speedometer as defined in claim 3, wherein said sensor body contains a plurality of guide passages (1007;

1107;

1207;

1307) in which said generally vertical electrodes are removably mounted, respectively.

11. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 10, wherein said closure means comprises a plurality of self-sealing valves connected in said electrode support arrangement vertical guide passages, respectively.

12. The electromagnetic speedometer for a boat as defined in claim 10, wherein said closure means comprises a plurality of dummy electrodes adapted for insertion within said electrode support arrangement vertical guide passages, respectively.