Speed compensating Pitot tube apparatus
AssigneeMedallion Instruments, Inc.
InventorWilliam R. Carpenter
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A Pitot tube apparatus for actuating a marine speedometer includes a body member pivotally secured to a housing. An impact pressure-transmitting tube extends through the body member and is connected to the housing. The housing defines a pressure and surge chamber. Positioned within the chamber is a piston having a face which engages the body member. The pressure chamber is also connected to the marine speedometer. As the Pitot tube apparatus is pulled through the water, the force exerted on the body member by the water tends to rotate the body member but is compensated by the opposing force exerted by the piston on the body member. As a result, the body member is maintained at substantially the same position regardless of boat speed yet still may be pivoted upwardly if it encounters an obstacle.
Claims15
A device usable with a water craft for exerting a variable force on a movable member, said member being mounted on said craft and being subjected to fluid drag forces exerted thereon during operation of said craft and which are proportional to craft speed, said forces tending to move said member, said device comprising:
- an impact pressure tube having one end submerged and opening in the direction of craft travel;
- a housing defining a pressure chamber, said impact pressure tube being connected to said pressure chamber, whereby the pressure within said chamber varies as a function of craft speed;
- and
- force exerting means responsive to the pressure within said chamber for exerting a force on said member proportional to the pressure within said chamber to thereby oppose the fluid drag forces exerted on said member.
A device usable with a water craft for exerting a variable force on a member, comprising:
- an impact pressure tube having one end submerged and opening in the direction of craft travel;
- a housing defining a pressure chamber, said impact pressure tube being connected to said pressure chamber, whereby the pressure within said chamber varies as a function of craft speed;
- means responsive to the pressure within said chamber for exerting a force on said member proportional to the pressure within said chamber, said force exerting means comprising a piston slidably mounted within said pressure chamber, said piston directly engaging said member, said member being an elongated element pivotally connected to said water craft, and said impact pressure tube being carried by said member.
In a Pitot tube adapted for actuating a marine speedometer, of the type including an elongated, streamlined blade having a conduit extending longitudinally thereof which opens at one end through a submerged impact pressure orifice, said blade being pivotally mounted at its opposite end to a boat so as to be at least partially submerged and to be pivotable rearwardly relative to the boat by the water drag force acting on the blade as the boat moves, the improvement comprising:
- means operatively engaging said blade and operatively connected to said conduit and impact pressure orifice for exerting a force on said blade proportional to boat speed and in a direction which counteracts the water drag force exerted on said blade by the water as the boat moves forwardly, said force-exerting means decreasing said force exerted on said blade if said orifice is partially or wholly blocked by debris whereby said force exerted on said blade by the water may pivot the blade rearwardly towards a horizontal position to facilitate removal of the debris thereby unblocking said orifice.
In a Pitot tube adapted for actuating a marine speedometer, of the type including an elongated, streamlined blade having a conduit extending longitudinally thereof which opens at one end through an impact pressure orifice, said blade being pivotally mounted at its opposite end to a boat so as to be at least partially submerged and to be pivotable rearwardly relative to the boat, by the force of the water as the boat moves, the improvement comprising:
- means operatively engaging said blade for exerting a force on said blade proportional to boat speed and in a direction which counteracts the force exerted on said blade by the water as the boat moves forwardly, said force-exerting means decreasing said force if said orifice is partially or wholly blocked by debris whereby said blade will pivot rearwardly under the force exerted by the water towards a horizontal position to facilitate removal of the debris thereby unblocking said orifice, said force-exerting means comprising:
- a housing defining a pressure chamber, said conduit being connected to said pressure chamber;
- and
- a piston slidably received within said pressure chamber and operatively engaging said blade adjacent the pivoted end thereof.
A Pitot tube type device adapted for actuating a marine speedometer, comprising:
- a blade having a leading edge and a conduit extending longitudinally thereof, said conduit opening through said leading edge;
- a housing adapted to be secured to a boat, said blade being carried by said housing, for movement relative thereto longitudinally of the boat, said housing defining a pressure chamber;
- and
- a piston slidably received within said housing pressure chamber and operatively engaging said blade, said conduit being connected to said pressure chamber whereby the pressure within said chamber varies as a function of the boat speed and said piston thereby exerts a force on said blade tending to counteract movement of the blade due to water drag forces acting on said blade so that said blade remains in a substantially constant position regardless of boat speed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.