Sonic anemometer
AssigneeMeter Group, Inc.
InventorsGaylon S. Campbell, Nathan Taysom, Colin S. Campbell, Douglas R. Cobos
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Abstract
Techniques are described herein for displacing liquid away from a signal path of sonic signals in a signal anemometer. A sonic anemometer may include a membrane positioned between a sonic transducer and the open environment. The membrane may be formed of a hydrophobic material that repels the liquid. The membrane may also include a plurality of pores that impede the flow of liquid through the membrane but enables sonic signals to pass through the membrane. The sonic anemometer may also include a reflector that displaces liquid away from the signal path of the sonic anemometer. The reflector may include one or more pores that wick liquid away from the signal path.
Claims20
A sonic anemometer, comprising:
- a first sonic transducer configured to emit a sonic signal along a signal path;
- a second sonic transducer positioned in the signal path spaced away from the first sonic transducer;
- and
- a hydrophobic structure positioned in the signal path and configured to repel liquid away from the signal path.
A sonic anemometer, comprising:
- a sonic transducer configured to emit a sonic signal along a signal path;
- a reflector having a top surface positioned in the signal path, the top surface being configured to reflect the sonic signal;
- wherein the reflector is configured to remove liquid from the sonic signal path.
A method of using a sonic anemometer, the method comprising:
- transmitting a sonic signal from a first sonic transducer at a first end of a signal path, the signal path crossing an air gap;
- removing liquid from the signal path in the air gap by permitting the liquid to contact a hydrophobic material exposed to the air gap in the signal path;
- measuring the sonic signal at a second sonic transducer at a second end of the signal path;
- and
- determining a characteristic of air movement through the air gap based on the sonic signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.