Particle sensor for stream bed
OwnerJohn P. Downing, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sensor for detecting particle flux in a stream has a hollow armored housing enclosing a vibration transducer coupled to the housing for detecting particles impinging on the housing. Also enclosed in the housing is a data logging and control unit for recording particle flux for later retrieval. An ultrasonic acoustic beacon for signalling the condition of the sensor and for indicating the position of the sensor in the event of displacement is also mounted on the sensor. Additionally a brightly colored long buoyant pennant is attached for enabling visual relocation of a displaced sensor.
Claims21
A particle sensor comprising:
- a hollow sealed housing formed from a vibration-transmitting structural material which is resistant to mechanical failure from particle impingement and detrimental environmental conditions when anchored in a stream to a bed of the stream,
- an electro-mechanical transducer contained within the sealed vibration-transmitting housing and mechanically coupled to the housing for converting vibrations of the housing to electrical signals, and
- an electronic circuit contained in the sealed vibration-transmitting housing and electrically coupled to the electromechanical transducer for detecting oscillatory events in the electrical signals corresponding to particle impingement.
A particle sensor comprising:
- a tubular sealed housing formed from a vibration-transmitting structural material which is resistant to mechanical failure from particle impingement and detrimental environmental conditions when placed vertically in a stream with a bottom end of the housing embedded in a bed of the stream,
- an electro-mechanical transducer contained within the sealed vibration-transmitting housing and mechanically coupled to the housing for converting vibrations of the housing to electrical signals,
- an electronic circuit contained in the sealed vibration-transmitting housing and electrically coupled to the electromechanical transducer for detecting oscillatory events in the electrical signals corresponding to particle impingement,
- recording means contained within the sealed vibration-transmitting housing and coupled to the electronic circuit for recording data of the oscillatory events, and
- acoustic beacon means mounted on the housing for emitting an acoustic signal.
A particle sensor comprising:
- a tubular sealed housing formed from a vibration-transmitting structural material which is resistant to mechanical failure from particle impingement and detrimental environmental conditions when placed vertically in a stream with a bottom end of the housing embedded in a bed of the stream,
- an electro-mechanical transducer contained within the housing and mechanically coupled to the housing for converting vibrations of the housing to electrical signal,
- an electronic circuit contained in the housing and electrically coupled to the electro-mechanical transducer for detecting oscillatory events in the electrical signals corresponding to particle impingement,
- recording means contained within the housing and coupled to the electronic circuit for recording data of the oscillatory events, and
- a long brightly colored buoyant pennant attached to the housing for enabling visual relocation when the sensor is displaced.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.