US3735333A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aircraft vortex detection system
Assignee: XONICS TECHNOLOGY Inc 6862 HAYVENHURST AVENUE VAN NUYS CA 91405 A DE CORP
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Filing: 1971-12-23
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1991-12-23
Abstract
Abstract An improved system for detection and measurement of aircraft wing tip vortices over a wide area. An acoustic echo system with transmitter and receiver spaced from each other in a plane perpendicular to the flight path for illuminating the vortex and picking up scattering of the transmitter signal produced by the vortex, using Doppler frequency spectrum analysis with the maximum and minimum frequencies providing a measure of vortex intensity. A plurality of receivers operating with a common transmitter providing coverage of an area of interest along a flight path. A transmitter covering a broad area by a broad beam acoustic transducer or a plurality of narrow beams, and means for identifying a specific zone within the broad area occupied by the vortex being analyzed.
Inventors
- 👤 M Balser
- 👤 A Nagy
- 👤 A Proudian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 22:18
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01S; G01S15/00; G01S15/87; G01S13/00; G01S13/88; G01S13/95; G01S13/951; G01S15/003; G01S15/02; G01S15/50; G01S15/58; G01S15/586; Y; Y02; Y02A; Y02A90/00; Y02A90/10; Y10; Y10S; Y10S367/00; Y10S367/905
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
97 words
In an aircraft vortex detection system incorporating an acoustic echo system with a transmitter for directing a beam of acoustic energy toward a zone, and a plurality of receivers and analyzers spaced from the transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of the transmitter scattered by a vortex in a zone and generating an output signal varying as a function of the magnitude of the scattering, the improvement wherein said transmitter includes an acoustic transducer system with a plurality of beams for directing energy to a plurality of adjacent beam paths, and control means for selectively energizing said beams.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
97 words
In an aircraft vortex detection system incorporating an acoustic echo system with a transmitter for directing a beam of acoustic energy toward a zone, and a plurality of receivers and analyzers spaced from the transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of the transmitter scattered by a vortex in a zone and generating an output signal varying as a function of the magnitude of the scattering, the improvement wherein said transmitter includes an acoustic transducer system with a plurality of beams for directing energy to a plurality of adjacent beam paths, and control means for selectively energizing said beams.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for energizing said beams in sequence.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for energizing two of said beams at different frequencies.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
A system as defined in claim 1 wherein said control means includes means for energizing said beams in groups of different frequencies, and energizing the beams of a group in sequence.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said transmitter acoustic transducer system comprises an M element array, and said control means includes a phased signal generator providing M sets of transmitter signals, with a gate for connecting each set to an element of the array, and a switching unit for selectively actuating gates to energize said transmitter beams in sequence.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an aircraft vortex detection system incorporating an acoustic echo system with a transmitter for directing a beam of acoustic energy toward a zone, and a plurality of receivers and analyzers spaced from the transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of the transmitter scattered by a vortex in a zone and generating an output signal varying as a function of the magnitude of the scattering, the improvement wherein said transmitter includes an acoustic transducer system for directing energy over a broad beam path encompassing a length of the beam path of each of said receivers, and control means for energizing said transmitter beam in pulses, and including timing means having signals corresponding to a transmitted pulse and a received pulse as inputs for providing a spatial identification of the zone occupied by the vortex producing the received pulse.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
137 words
In an aircraft vortex detection system incorporating an acoustic echo system with a transmitter for directing a beam of acoustic energy toward a zone, and a plurality of receivers and analyzers spaced from the transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of the transmitter scattered by a vortex in a zone and generating an output signal varying as a function of the magnitude of the scattering, the improvement wherein said transmitter includes an acoustic transducer system for directing energy over a broad beam path encompassing a length of the beam path of each of said receivers, and control means for energizing said transmitter beam in pulses, and including timing means having signals corresponding to a transmitted pulse and a received pulse as inputs for providing a spatial identification of the zone occupied by the vortex producing the received pulse.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said control means includes means for producing alternately short duration and long duration pulses, with said short duration pulses providing the transmitted pulse signal to said timing means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said control means includes means for producing pulses of one frequency and a continuous output of another frequency.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
46 words
A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said timing means includes means for measuring the time interval between transmitted pulse and received pulse, with said time interval varying as a function of the location of the vortex in the space illuminated by the transmitter beam.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an aircraft vortex detection system incorporating an acoustic echo system with a transmitter for directing a beam of acoustic energy toward a zone, and a plurality of receivers and analyzers spaced from the transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of the transmitter scattered by a vortex in a zone and generating an output signal varying as a function of the magnitude of the scattering, the improvement wherein said transmitter includes an acoustic transducer system for directing energy over a broad area encompassing a length of the beam path of each of said receivers, and identification means for providing a spatial identification of the zone in said area occupied by the vortex producing an output signal at a specific receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
119 words
In an aircraft vortex detection system incorporating an acoustic echo system with a transmitter for directing a beam of acoustic energy toward a zone, and a plurality of receivers and analyzers spaced from the transmitter for receiving acoustic energy of the transmitter scattered by a vortex in a zone and generating an output signal varying as a function of the magnitude of the scattering, the improvement wherein said transmitter includes an acoustic transducer system for directing energy over a broad area encompassing a length of the beam path of each of said receivers, and identification means for providing a spatial identification of the zone in said area occupied by the vortex producing an output signal at a specific receiver.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
33 words
A system as defined iN claim 10 wherein said acoustic transducer system provides a plurality of beams defining adjacent beam paths, and said identification means includes means for selectively energizing said transmitter beams.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
49 words
A system as defined in claim 11 wherein said acoustic transducer system provides a single broad beam, and said identification means includes means for energizing said transmitter beam in pulses and means for measuring the time interval between a transmitted pulse and the received pulse providing the output signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3028578A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |