US 6,257,074 B1 · Vane anemometer with thermally isolated sensors

Abstract

A portable hand-held vane anemometer is disclosed in which a modular vane assembly is removably mounted within the casing of the instrument. Within the modular vane assembly is a rotatably mounted impeller shaft. The impeller assembly preferably can be removed and inserted into a cavity of the anemometer. Consequently, if the impeller, bearings or other components of the impeller assembly should become damaged, the modular impeller assembly can be quickly and easily replaced. The vane anemometer of this invention may also measure temperature dependent environmental parameters and may also have the ability to measure these parameters relatively quickly and accurately when moving from one thermal mass to another thermal mass. These environmental parameters may include ambient temperature, wind chill, humidity and heat index. In order to determine these parameters, the vane anemometer may have a temperature probe and a humidity sensor that are disposed external to the casing. Preferably, the temperature probe and the humidity sensor are thermally isolated from the casing, so that each can respond relatively quickly when moved from one thermal mass to another. The probe and the sensor may also be disposed within one or more openings defined in the casing of the anemometer. The openings are sized large enough so as to permit enough air flow around the probe and the sensors to obtain quick and accurate readings, and small enough so as to protect the probe and the sensor from damage from mechanical forces.

Claims41

Dependent claims

A portable hand-held vane anemometer that can determine wind speed, temperature, wind chill and humidity, comprising:

a casing that encloses a microprocessor that is adaptable to determine wind speed, wind chill, air temperature and humidity;
a temperature probe that is coupled to the casing and that is external to the casing, the temperature probe being in electrical communication with the microprocessor, so that the microprocessor can determine the temperature of the air;
a humidity sensor that is coupled to the casing and that is external to the casing, the humidity sensor being in electrical communication with the microprocessor, so that the microprocessor can determine humidity;
and
an impeller and a magnet mounted on a rotatable shaft, such that wind causes rotation of the impeller, the magnet and the shaft, said rotation of the magnet producing an electrical signal that is proportional to the wind speed, and the electrical signal being receivable by said microprocessor, so that the microprocessor can calculate the wind speed in response to the electrical signal and the wind chill in response to the electrical signal and the temperature probe.

2 more elements

A portable hand-held vane anemometer that can be used to measure a first temperature dependent environmental parameter relatively quickly, when being moved from a first thermal mass to a second thermal mass, comprising:

a casing that encloses a microprocessor that is adaptable to determine the first environmental parameter and calculate wind speed, the casing having a first opening defined within the casing through which air can flow;
a first sensor that is coupled to the casing and that extends into the first opening, the first sensor being for sensing the temperature dependent environmental parameter and being in electrical communication with the microprocessor, so that the microprocessor can determine the first environmental parameter in response to the first sensor;
a first electrical conductor, connected to the first sensor and in electrical communication with the microprocessor, the first electrical conductor being disposed in the opening, the first electrical conductor being of a length that is sufficient to thermally isolate the first sensor from the casing, so that the first sensor can sense the first environmental parameter of the second thermal mass relatively quickly when the vane anemometer is moved from the first thermal mass to the second thermal mass;
and
an impeller and a magnet mounted on a rotatable shaft, such that wind causes rotation of the impeller, the magnet and the shaft, said rotation of the magnet producing an electrical signal proportional to the wind speed and the electrical signal being receivable by said microprocessor so that the microprocessor can calculate the wind speed in response to the electrical signal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Vane anemometer with thermally isolated sensors

Life of this patent

Vane anemometer with thermally isolated sensors

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims41