US3680375A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sonic velocity sensing
Assignee: J TEC ASS Inc
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Filing: 1969-09-12
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Granted: 1972-08-01
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Expires: 1989-09-12
Abstract
Abstract This disclosure describes a method and apparatus for determining the relative velocity between an object and a fluid stream. A vortex strut attached to the object is located in the fluid stream so as to generate Karman vortices at a frequency proportional to the relative velocity between the object and the stream. In one embodiment, a sonic signal transmitting transducer is located on one side of the strut''s wake and a sonic signal receiving transducer is located on the other side of the wake. The transmitting transducer''s signal is modulated by the Karman vortices and received by the receiving transducer. An electronic detecting system is connected to the signal receiving transducer for detecting the modulations created by the Karman vortices. An alternate embodiment of the invention combines the sonic signal transmitting transducer and the sonic signal receiving transducer in a single transducer structure. The combined transducer structure is mounted in the strut. A burst of pulses is transmitted and reflected by a Karman vortex back to the combined transducer structure where the reflected signal is detected.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert D Joy
- 👤 Russell F Colton
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 22:14
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01P; G01P5/00; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/05; G01F1/20; G01F1/32; G01F1/325; G01F1/3282; G01P5/01; G01P5/24
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 35
Claim 1
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of determining the relative velocity between a fluid stream and an object immersed in the fluid stream comprising the steps of: locating a vortex strut in the fluid stream so that Karman vortices are formed in the wake of the strut; generating a sonic signal; directing the sonic signal toward the vortices formed in the wake of the vortex strut so that the vortices modulate the sonic signal; receiving the modulated sonic signal; and, detecting the modulating frequency of the received sonic signal.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of determining the relative velocity between a fluid stream and an object immersed in the fluid stream comprising the steps of: locating a vortex strut in the fluid stream so that Karman vortices are formed in the wake of the strut; generating a sonic signal; directing the sonic signal toward the vortices formed in the wake of the vortex strut so that the vortices modulate the sonic signal; receiving the modulated sonic signal; and, detecting the modulating frequency of the received sonic signal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of determining the relative velocity between a fluid stream and an object immersed in the fluid stream as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sonic signal is directed from one side of the wake and is received on the other side of the wake.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of determining the relative velocity between a fluid stream and an object immersed in the fluid stream as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strut is located, and the signal is directed and received, in a manner such that the received sonic signal is modulated by a decrease in energy when it impinges on a vortex.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
58 words
A method of determining the relative velocity between a fluid stream and an object immersed in the fluid stream as claimed in claim 2 wherein the strut is located, and the signal is directed and received, in a manner such that the received sonic signal is modulated by an increase in energy when it impinges on a vortex.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
72 words
A method of determining the relative velocity between a fluid stream and an object immersed in the fluid stream as claimed in claim 1 wherein the sonic signal is directed from the vortex strut and is received at the vortex strut; and, including the additional step of gating the generating and receiving of the sonic signal so that the passage of vortices passed a predetermined point from the vortex strut is detected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
A sonic velocity sensor comprising: a vortex strut mounted so that Karman vortices are created in the wake of the strut when there is relative movement between the strut and a fluid in which the strut is immersed; sonic signal generating means, including a sonic transmitting transducer, for generating and transmitting a sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal, said sonic signal receiving means including a sonic receiving transducer suitable for detecting a modulated sonic signal; and, support means for supporting said sonic transmitting transducer and said sonic receiving transducer so that the signal generated by said sonic signal generating means impinges on the vortices formed in the wake of said vortex strut and the sonic signal received by said sonic signal receiving means is modulated by said vortices prior to being received.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
A sonic velocity sensor comprising: a vortex strut mounted so that Karman vortices are created in the wake of the strut when there is relative movement between the strut and a fluid in which the strut is immersed; sonic signal generating means, including a sonic transmitting transducer, for generating and transmitting a sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal, said sonic signal receiving means including a sonic receiving transducer suitable for detecting a modulated sonic signal; and, support means for supporting said sonic transmitting transducer and said sonic receiving transducer so that the signal generated by said sonic signal generating means impinges on the vortices formed in the wake of said vortex strut and the sonic signal received by said sonic signal receiving means is modulated by said vortices prior to being received.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 6 wherein said support means supports said sonic transmitting transducer on one side of the vortices formed in the wake of said vortex strut and supports said sonic receiving transducer on the other side of the wake.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 7 wherein said sonic signal receiving means includes a detector connected to saId sonic receiving transducer for detecting the modulation frequency of the received sonic signal; and , wherein said sonic signal receiving means also includes a digital counter connected to said detector for counting the modulation frequency of the signal detected by said detector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 7 wherein said receiving transducer is supported so as to lie in the sonic beam transmitted by said sonic transmitting transducer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 9 wherein said sonic signal receiving means includes a detector connected to said sonic receiving transducer for detecting the modulation frequency of the received sonic signal; and, wherein said sonic signal receiving means also includes a digital counter connected to said detector for counting the modulation frequency of the signal detected by said detector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 6 wherein said sonic transmitting transducer and said sonic receiving transducer are formed as a unitary transducer; and, including gating means for gating said unitary transducer from a transmitting mode to a receiving mode.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
19 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 11 wherein said unitary transducer is supported in said vortex strut.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 12 wherein said sonic signal receiving means includes a detector connected to said sonic receiving transducer for detecting the modulation frequency of the received sonic signal; and, wherein said sonic signal receiving means also includes a digital counter connected to said detector for counting the modulation frequency of the signal detected by said detector.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
137 words
A sonic velocity sensor comprising: a vortex ring mounted so that Karman vortices are created in the wake of the ring when there is relative movement between the ring and a fluid in which the ring is immersed; sonic signal generating means, including a sonic transmitting transducer, for generating and transmitting a sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal, said sonic signal receiving means including a sonic receiving transducer suitable for detecting a modulated sonic signal; and, support means for supporting said sonic transmitting transducer and said sonic receiving transducer so that the signal generated by said sonic signal generating means impinges on the vortices formed in the wake of said vortex strut and the sonic signal received by said sonic signal receiving means is modulated by said vortices prior to being received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
137 words
A sonic velocity sensor comprising: a vortex ring mounted so that Karman vortices are created in the wake of the ring when there is relative movement between the ring and a fluid in which the ring is immersed; sonic signal generating means, including a sonic transmitting transducer, for generating and transmitting a sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal, said sonic signal receiving means including a sonic receiving transducer suitable for detecting a modulated sonic signal; and, support means for supporting said sonic transmitting transducer and said sonic receiving transducer so that the signal generated by said sonic signal generating means impinges on the vortices formed in the wake of said vortex strut and the sonic signal received by said sonic signal receiving means is modulated by said vortices prior to being received.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 14 wherein said support means supports said sonic transmitting transducer on one side of the vortices formed in the wake of said vortex strut and supports said sonic receiving transducer on the other side of the wake.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 15 wherein said sonic signal receiving means includes a detector connected to said sonic receiving transducer for detecting the modulation frequency of the received sonic signal; and, wherein said sonic signal receiving means also includes a digital counter connected to said detector, for counting the modulation frequency of the signal detected by said detector.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
29 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 15 wherein said receiving transducer is supported so as to lie in the sonic beam transmitted by said sonic transmitting transducer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
62 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 17 wherein said sonic signal receiving means includes a detector connected to said sonic receiving transducer for detecting the modulation frequency of the received sonic signal; and, wherein said sonic signal receiving means also includes a digital counter connected to said detector for counting the modulation frequency of the signal detected by said detector.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
91 words
A sonic velocity sensor comprising: a vortex strut mounted so that Karman vortices are created in the wake of the strut when there is relative movement between the sTrut and a fluid in which the strut is immersed; sonic signal generating means for generating a sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal; and, a sonic transducer mounted in said vortex strut and connected to said sonic signal generating means and to said sonic signal receiving means for transmitting a sonic signal and detecting a modulated sonic signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
91 words
A sonic velocity sensor comprising: a vortex strut mounted so that Karman vortices are created in the wake of the strut when there is relative movement between the sTrut and a fluid in which the strut is immersed; sonic signal generating means for generating a sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal; and, a sonic transducer mounted in said vortex strut and connected to said sonic signal generating means and to said sonic signal receiving means for transmitting a sonic signal and detecting a modulated sonic signal.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
30 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 19 including gating means connected to said sonic transducer for gating said sonic transducer from a transmitting mode to a receiving mode.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
97 words
A sonic velocity sensor as claimed in claim 20 wherein: said sonic signal generating means comprises a pulse generator; said sonic signal receiving means comprises a receiver for receiving sonic signals, an amplitude detector connected to said receiver for detecting signals above a predetermined magnitude, and a counter connected to said amplitude detector for counting the signals detected by said amplitude detector; and, said gating means comprises an electronic switch connected to said pulse generator, said receiver and said sonic transducer, and a controller connected to said electronic switch to control the operation of said electronic switch.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of obtaining information about the relative flow of fluid comprising the steps of: creating a disturbance in said fluid by inserting a strut into said fluid; transmitting a sonic signal toward said disturbance so that said disturbance modulates said sonic signal; receiving said modulated sonic signal; and, detecting the modulation frequency of said received sonic signal.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
58 words
A method of obtaining information about the relative flow of fluid comprising the steps of: creating a disturbance in said fluid by inserting a strut into said fluid; transmitting a sonic signal toward said disturbance so that said disturbance modulates said sonic signal; receiving said modulated sonic signal; and, detecting the modulation frequency of said received sonic signal.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said sonic signal is transmitted toward said disturbance from one location and said modulated sonic signal is received at a different location.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said transmitted sonic signal and said received modulated sonic signal are transmitted from and received at the same location.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for obtaining information about the relative flow of fluid comprising: a strut mounted so as to be inserted into said fluid thereby creating a disturbance in said fluid; sonic signal transmitting means for transmitting a sonic signal toward said disturbance so that said disturbance modulates said sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal, said sonic signal receiving means mounted so as to receive said modulated sonic signal; and, detecting means connected to said receiving means for detecting the modulation frequency of said received modulated sonic signal.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
92 words
An apparatus for obtaining information about the relative flow of fluid comprising: a strut mounted so as to be inserted into said fluid thereby creating a disturbance in said fluid; sonic signal transmitting means for transmitting a sonic signal toward said disturbance so that said disturbance modulates said sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal, said sonic signal receiving means mounted so as to receive said modulated sonic signal; and, detecting means connected to said receiving means for detecting the modulation frequency of said received modulated sonic signal.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said transmitting means is mounted at one location and said receiving means is mounted at another location.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 25 wherein said transmitting means and said receiving means are mounted at the same location.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
156 words
A sonic velocity sensor comprising: a vortex strut mounted so that Karman vortices are created in the wake of the strut when there is relative movement between the strut and a fluid in which the strut is immersed; sonic signal generating means, including a sonic transmitting transducer, for generating and transmitting a sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal, said sonic signal receiving means including a sonic receiving transducer suitable for receiving a modulated sonic signal and a detecting means coupled to said sonic receiving transducer for detecting the modulations of said received sonic signal; and, support means for supporting said sonic transmitting transducer and said sonic receiving transducer so that the signal generated by said sonic signal generating means impinges on the vortices formed in the wake of said vortex strut and the sonic signal received by said sonic signal receiving means is modulated by said vortices prior to being received.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
156 words
A sonic velocity sensor comprising: a vortex strut mounted so that Karman vortices are created in the wake of the strut when there is relative movement between the strut and a fluid in which the strut is immersed; sonic signal generating means, including a sonic transmitting transducer, for generating and transmitting a sonic signal; sonic signal receiving means for receiving a sonic signal, said sonic signal receiving means including a sonic receiving transducer suitable for receiving a modulated sonic signal and a detecting means coupled to said sonic receiving transducer for detecting the modulations of said received sonic signal; and, support means for supporting said sonic transmitting transducer and said sonic receiving transducer so that the signal generated by said sonic signal generating means impinges on the vortices formed in the wake of said vortex strut and the sonic signal received by said sonic signal receiving means is modulated by said vortices prior to being received.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-08-01 | 1976-01-31 | 1976-08-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-08-01 | 1980-01-31 | 1980-08-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-08-01 | 1984-01-31 | 1984-08-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |