Combination fluid flow speed and direction transducer

Claim 2

A transducer for simultaneously providing signals indicative of the speed and magnetic azimuth of the flow of a fluid comprising: a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. magnetic flux concentrating means fixed to said speed sensing means for rotation in the earth''s magnetic field; d. magneto-electric transducer means fixed to said housing and responsive to the magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means for producing a sinusoidal electric signal having a frequency proportional to the rotational speed of said speed sensing means and magnitude and polarity proportional to the magnitude and direction of the earth''s magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time a predetermined point on said speed sensing means has an angular position corresponding to the direction from which the fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said sinusoidal signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of said sinusoidal signal indicates the speed of said fluid flow; and f. said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising a fluid pressure-sensitive electric transducer means for providing said direction signal.

Claim 3

A transducer for simultaneously providing signals indicative of the speed and magnetic azimuth of the flow of a fluid comprising: a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. magnetic flux concentrating means fixed to said speed sensing means for rotation in the earth''s magnetic field; d. magneto-electric transducer means fixed to said housing and responsive to the magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means for producing a sinusoidal electric signal having a frequency proportional to the rotational speed of said speed sensing means and magnitude and polarity proportional to the magnitude and direction of the earth''s magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time a predetermined point on said speed sensing means has an angular position corresponding to the direction from which the fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said sinusoidal signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of said sinusoidal signal indicates the speed of said fluid flow; and f. said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising a fluid pressure-sensitive electric transducer means for providing said direction signal.

Claim 4

A transducer for simultaneously providing signals indicative of the speed and magnetic azimuth of the flow of a fluid comprising: a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. magnetic flux concentrating means fixed to said speed sensing means for rotation in the earth''s magnetic field; d. magneto-electric transducer means fixed to said housing and responsive to the magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means for producing a sinusoidal electric signal having a frequency proportional to the rotational speed of said speed sensing means and magnitude and polarity proportional to the magnitude and direction of the earth''s magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time a predetermined point on said speed sensing means has an angular position corresponding to the direction from which the fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said sinusoidal signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of said sinusoidal signal indicates the speed of said fluid flow; and f. said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising a fluid pressure-sensitive electric transducer means for providing said direction signal.

Claim 5

a self-heated thermistor mounted on said anomometer, said thermistor having a maximum resistance when moving directly into the wind, due to the cooling effect of the wind; and

Claim 6

a self-heated thermistor mounted on said anomometer, said thermistor having a maximum resistance when moving directly into the wind, due to the cooling effect of the wind; and

Claim 7

A transducer as defined in claim 1 wherein a. said fluid pressure sensitive electric transducer means comprises a pressure-sensitive transistor fixed to said housing, and b. said speed sensing means has a hole therein at said predetermined point to permit fluid pressure to be applied to said transistor, whereby maximum fluid pressure on said transistor produces said direction signal.

Claim 8

means for heating the thermistor above ambient temperature and means for connecting said thermistor in a circuit for producing said direction signal corresponding to said maximum resistance of said thermistor.

Claim 9

means for heating the thermistor above ambient temperature and means for connecting said thermistor in a circuit for producing said direction signal corresponding to said maximum resistance of said thermistor.

Claim 10

A transducer for simultaneously providing signals indicative of the speed and magnetic azimuth of the flow of a fluid comprising: a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. magnetic flux concentrating means fixed to said speed sensing means for rotation in the earth''s magnetic field; d. magneto-electric transducer means fixed to said housing and responsive to the magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means for producing a sinusoidal electric signal having a frequency proportional to the rotational speed of said speed sensing means and a magnitude and poLarity proportional to the magnitude and direction of the earth''s magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time a predetermined point on said speed sensing means has an angular position corresponding to the direction from which the fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said sinusoidal signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of said sinusoidal signal indicates the speed of said fluid flow, said fluid being wind; f. said speed sensing means comprising an anemometer having a plurality of wind cups each attached to said housing via a radial arm lying in a plane generally parallel to the earth''s surface; g. said flux concentrating means comprising a magnetic flux concentrating rod mounted in one of said arms; h. said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising:

Claim 11

A transducer for simultaneously providing signals indicative of the speed and magnetic azimuth of the flow of a fluid comprising: a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. magnetic flux concentrating means fixed to said speed sensing means for rotation in the earth''s magnetic field; d. magneto-electric transducer means fixed to said housing and responsive to the magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means for producing a sinusoidal electric signal having a frequency proportional to the rotational speed of said speed sensing means and a magnitude and poLarity proportional to the magnitude and direction of the earth''s magnetic flux in said flux concentrating means; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time a predetermined point on said speed sensing means has an angular position corresponding to the direction from which the fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said sinusoidal signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of said sinusoidal signal indicates the speed of said fluid flow, said fluid being wind; f. said speed sensing means comprising an anemometer having a plurality of wind cups each attached to said housing via a radial arm lying in a plane generally parallel to the earth''s surface; g. said flux concentrating means comprising a magnetic flux concentrating rod mounted in one of said arms; h. said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising:

Claim 12

A transducer for providing a signal indicative of a fluid flow speed and direction relative to the known azimuth of one of the earth''s magnetic poles comprising; a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. switch means fixed to said housing at a point having first angular position corresponding to said known azimuth of said one of the earth''s magnetic poles; d. switch activating means fixed to said speed sensing means for activating said switch means once each revolution of said speed sensing means to produce a first signal indicative of the azimuth of said one magnetic pole; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time said direction sensing means passes through second angular position corresponding to the direction from which said fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said first signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of either of said signals indicates the speed of said fluid flow; and f. said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising a fluid pressure-sensitive electric transducer for producing said direction signal.

Claim 13

A transducer for providing a signal indicative of a fluid flow speed and direction relative to the known azimuth of one of the earth''s magnetic poles comprising; a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. switch means fixed to said housing at a point having first angular position corresponding to said known azimuth of said one of the earth''s magnetic poles; d. switch activating means fixed to said speed sensing means for activating said switch means once each revolution of said speed sensing means to produce a first signal indicative of the azimuth of said one magnetic pole; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time said direction sensing means passes through second angular position corresponding to the direction from which said fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said first signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of either of said signals indicates the speed of said fluid flow; and f. said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising a fluid pressure-sensitive electric transducer for producing said direction signal.

Claim 14

A transducer for providing a signal indicative of a fluid flow speed and direction relative to the known azimuth of one of the earth''s magnetic poles comprising: a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. switch means fixed to said housing at a point having first angular position corresponding to said known azimuth of said one of the earth''s magnetic poles; d. switch activating means fixed to said speed sensing means for activating said switch means once each revolution of said speed sensing means to produce a first signal indicative of the azimuth of said one magnetic pole; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time said direction sensing means passes through second angular position corresponding to the direction from which said fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said first signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of either of said signals indicates the speed of said fluid flow; f. said fluid being wind, and said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising a self-heating thermistor mounted on said speed sensing means and exposed to said wind, whereby said thermistor has a maximum resistance when it is moving directly into the wind, and means for connecting said thermistor in a detecting circuit whereby said maximum resistance is detected to produce said direction signal.

Claim 15

A transducer for providing a signal indicative of a fluid flow speed and direction relative to the known azimuth of one of the earth''s magnetic poles comprising: a. a housing, fixed to the earth''s surface; b. fluid speed sensing means rotatably mounted on said housing in the path of said fluid and adapted to rotate in a predetermined direction at a speed proportional to the speed of the flowing fluid; c. switch means fixed to said housing at a point having first angular position corresponding to said known azimuth of said one of the earth''s magnetic poles; d. switch activating means fixed to said speed sensing means for activating said switch means once each revolution of said speed sensing means to produce a first signal indicative of the azimuth of said one magnetic pole; e. fluid flow direction sensing means on said transducer for producing, during each revolution of said speed sensing means, a fluid flow direction signal each time said direction sensing means passes through second angular position corresponding to the direction from which said fluid is flowing, whereby the phase of said direction signal relative to said first signal indicates the magnetic azimuth of the direction of fluid flow, and the frequency of either of said signals indicates the speed of said fluid flow; f. said fluid being wind, and said fluid flow direction sensing means comprising a self-heating thermistor mounted on said speed sensing means and exposed to said wind, whereby said thermistor has a maximum resistance when it is moving directly into the wind, and means for connecting said thermistor in a detecting circuit whereby said maximum resistance is detected to produce said direction signal.