Omnidirectional aerodynamic sensor
OwnerJoseph J. Gerardiinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are disclosed for detecting the nature of fluid flow. Specifically, an omnidirectional aerodynamic sensor is disclosed comprising an omnidirectional aerodynamic drag force inducing probe, a force transducer and a signal processor. The force transducer is illustratively an array of strain gauges which detect forces in each of three orthogonal directions. Such forces are initially detected by the probe and then transmitted to the transducer. The transducer outputs electrical signals which the signal processor processes in order to determine, for example, aircraft angle-of-attack and angle-of-sideslip as well as wind speed and direction. The invention is especially useful in the field of aviation.
Claims43
An apparatus for determining speed and direction of airflow comprising:
- means for providing aerodynamic forces;
- means connected to said providing means for mechanically transmitting said aerodynamic forces exerted on said providing means;
- diaphragm means connected to said transmitting means for receiving and physically responding to said mechanically transmitted forces;
- means for sensing said physical response of said diaphragm means and for outputting electrical signals indicative of the magnitude and direction of said aerodynamic forces;
- and
- means for maintaining the center of gravity of said apparatus at the center of said diaphragm means.
A method of determining relative airflow speed and direction, and aircraft angle-of-attack and angle-of-sideslip comprising the steps of:
- maintaining a surface of a geometric structure in the path of said airflow;
- sensing three-dimensional aerodynamic drag forces on said geometric structure;
- transducing said three-dimensional aerodynamic drag forces into electronic signals indicative of said drag forces;
- sensing ambient temperature and producing electrical signals relating thereto;
- sensing ambient pressure and producing electrical signals relating thereto;
- and
- analyzing said electronic signals, temperature signals, and pressure signals to determine relative air speed, direction, angle-of-attack and angle-of-sideslip.
A method of determining the magnitude and direction of fluid flow comprising the steps of:
- maintaining a surface of a geometric structure in the path of said fluid flow;
- sensing forces on said geometric structure due to said fluid flow;
- transducing said forces into electronic signals;
- sensing ambient temperature and producing electrical signals relating thereto;
- sensing ambient pressure and producing electrical signals relating thereto;
- and
- analyzing said electronic signals, temperature signals, and pressure signals to determine relative air speed, direction, angle-of-attack and angle-of-sideslip.
An apparatus for determining speed and direction of airflow comprising;
- means for providing aerodynamic forces;
- means connected to said providing means for mechanically transmitting said aerodynamic forces exerted on said providing means;
- diaphragm means connected to said transmitting means for receiving and physically responding to said mechanically transmitted forces;
- means for sensing said physical response of said diaphragm means and for outputting electrical signals indicative of the magnitude and direction of said aerodynamic forces;
- means for monitoring temperature of the ambient free air stream;
- means for monitoring ambient pressure;
- means for determining whether ice is present on said providing means;
- and
- means for maintaining the center of gravity of said apparatus at the center of said diaphragm means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.