Fluid dynamic angular rate sensor

A unit for sensing the direction and rate of angular movement of a body comprising:

• a fluid flow channel including a short section of pipe, a flow inlet plenum connected longitudinally to one end of the flow-channel and providing a means for dampening out inhomogenieties and disturbances in pressure of the fluid flow which enters the inlet region of said fluid flow channel, a fluid flow-sensing means which respond to differences in fluid flow velocity across a diameter of said flow channel and are mounted to a fixture which is connected longitudinally to the end of said flow channel opposite said inlet plenum and with said sensing means positioned symmetrically about the longitudinal axis of said flow channel, a mounting block fixture to which parts including said inlet plenum, flow channel, and sensing means are attached and providing a base mounting for a fluid pumping means which is incorporated for the purpose of establishing a low velocity, uniform, laminar flow of fluid nearly across the entire diameter of said flow channel in a velocity direction into said inlet plenum, longitudinally through said flow channel, and exhausting into the ambient environment and alternately returned through pipes to said inlet plenum through ports in said mounting block fixture such that under conditions of angular movement in a plane which includes a diameter of said flow channel which passes centrally through the sensing means and the longitudinal axis of said flow channel, the distribution of fluid flow rate across said flow channel diameter becomes unsymmetrical proportional to the applied angular movement and the said sensing means respond proportionally to the said induced unsymmetric flow about the same channel diameter, the sensing means thus producing measurable output signals proportional to rate and direction of angular movement.