Apparatus for measuring the velocity of a fluid

An apparatus for measuring the velocity of a fluid, comprising:

• (a) an elongated housing having at least one side wall;
• (b) a plurality of sensors arranged in spaced relation along said elongated housing side wall, each sensor including:
• (1) an electromagnet enclosed within said housing, said electromagnet configured to generate an electromagnetic field in a fluid;
• and
• (2) a pair of electrodes connected arranged opposite each other on the outer surface of said housing, said pair of electrodes configured to produce an electrical signal in response to a velocity of a fluid flowing adjacent said pair of electrodes and through the electromagnetic;
• (c) a surface velocity sensor connectable with said elongated housing, said surface velocity sensor configured to produce an auxiliary electrical signal in response to a velocity of a surface fluid flowing in an open channel, said surface velocity sensor including:
• (1) an auxiliary electromagnet configured to generate an electromagnetic field in a surface fluid;
• and
• (2) a pair of auxiliary electrodes connected with said auxiliary electromagnet and configured to produce an electrical signal in response to a velocity of a fluid flowing adjacent said pair of auxiliary electrodes and through the electromagnetic field of said auxiliary electromagnet;
• and
• (d) a processor connected with said plurality of sensors and surface velocity sensor, said processor configured to energize said electromagnets and auxiliary electromagnet and sample signals from said plurality of sensors sensors and said surface velocity sensor, whereby when said elongated housing is in contact with a flowing fluid and said processor energizes said plurality of sensors and surface velocity sensor, said sensors communicate said electrical signals to said processor.