Ground vehicle air data systems and associated methods
AssigneePACCAR Inc
InventorPeter Kilcline
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Ground vehicle air data systems, and associated methods are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a method for determining a drag coefficient of a vehicle includes the steps of: while the vehicle is at rest, opening a valve that connects an air tank with an outside atmosphere; while the vehicle is at rest, closing the valve that connects the air tank with the outside atmosphere; and while the vehicle is in motion, measuring a total pressure with a total pressure probe carried by the vehicle.
Claims20
A method for determining a drag coefficient of a vehicle, comprising:
- while the vehicle is at rest, opening a valve that connects an air tank with an outside atmosphere;
- while the vehicle is at rest, closing the valve that connects the air tank with the outside atmosphere;
- while the vehicle is in motion, measuring a total pressure with a total pressure probe carried by the vehicle;
- determining a dynamic pressure as a differential pressure between a first pressure measured by the total pressure probe and a second pressure in the air tank;
- and
- determining the drag coefficient of the vehicle based on the dynamic pressure.
An air measurement system, comprising:
- an air tank configured to be carried by a vehicle;
- a valve connecting the air tank with outside atmosphere;
- a total pressure probe extending away from the vehicle in motion;
- and
- a differential pressure probe configured to determine a difference between the total pressure of the vehicle in motion and a pressure in the air tank.
An air measurement system, comprising:
- an air tank configured to be carried by a vehicle;
- a valve connecting the air tank with outside atmosphere;
- means for measuring a total pressure of the vehicle in motion;
- and
- a differential pressure probe configured to determine a difference between the total pressure of the vehicle in motion and a pressure in the air tank.
An air measurement system, comprising:
- an absolute pressure probe configured to be carried by a vehicle;
- a valve connecting outside atmosphere with the absolute pressure probe;
- a total pressure probe extending away from the vehicle in motion;
- and
- a differential pressure probe configured to determine a difference between the total pressure of the vehicle in motion and a pressure indicated by the absolute pressure probe.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.