Method and apparatus for sensing the relative direction and velocity of movement of a body in a liquid or gas medium

Claim 3

A method of determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 1 wherein the frequency of said first frequency-modulated signal differs from the frequency of said second freuqency-modulated signal.

Claim 4

A method of determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 2 wherein: the step of locating said first sonic vortex sensing arrangement in said fluid stream comprises the substeps of: mounting a first ring-shaped strut in said fluid stream; mounting a first soniC transmitting transducer so as to direct a first sonic wave generally toward the center of said first ring-shaped strut in a manner such that said first sonic wave is frequency-modulated by vortices flowing toward the center of said first ring-shaped strut, said vortices being created by the relative velocity of movement between said body and said fluid stream; mounting a first sonic receiving transducer in a position such that it detects said first frequency-modulated sonic wave; and, the step of locating said second sonic vortex sensing arrangement in said fluid stream comprises the substeps of: mounting a second ring-shaped strut in said fluid stream, the plane defined by said second ring-shaped strut being generally parallel to the plane defined by said first ring-shaped strut; mounting a second sonic transmitting transducer so as to direct a second sonic wave generally toward the center of said second ring-shaped strut in a manner such that said second sonic wave is frequency-modulated by vortices flowing toward the center of said second ring-shaped strut, said vortices being created by the relative velocity of movement between said body and said fluid stream; and, mounting a second sonic receiving transducer in a position such that it detects said second frequency-modulated sonic wave.

Claim 5

A method of determing the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 3 wherein said first ring-shaped strut has a constant thickness and wherein said second ring-shaped strut has a thickness that varies in a predetermined manner.

Claim 6

A method of determining the relative direction of movement bewtween a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 4 wherein the thickness of both said first and said second ring-shaped struts vary in a predetermined manner.

Claim 7

A method of determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 5 wherein said predetermined manner is in the form of a sine wave, said first and second struts being displaced 90* with respect to one another in their respective planes.

Claim 8

A method of determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 1 wherein: the step of locating said first sonic vortex sensing arrangement in said fluid stream comprises the substep of mounting a first tube including a sonic vortex sensing device at either end thereof in said fluid stream, each of said sonic vortex sensing devices including a vortex strut located adjacent the associated end of said first tube and a sonic transmitting-receiving transducer arrangement located inwardly in said first tube from said vortex strut; and, the step of locating said second sonic vortex sensing arrangement in said fluid stream comprises the substep of mounting a second tube including a sonic vortex sensing device at either end thereof in said fluid stream orthogonally with respect to said first tube, each of said sonic vortex sensing devices including a vortex strut located adjacent the associated end of said second tube and a sonic transmitting-receiving transducer arrangement located inwardly in said second tube from said vortex strut.

Claim 11

A method of determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 8 wherein the frequency of said first frequency-modulated signal differs from the frequency of said second frequency-modulated signal.

Claim 12

A method of determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 9 wherein; the step of locating said first sonic vortex sensing arrangement in said fluid stream comprises the substeps of mounting a first ring-shaped strut in said fluid stream; mounting a first sonic transmitting transducer so as to direct a first sonic wave generally toward the center of said first ring-shaped strut in a manner such that said first sonic wave is frequency-modulated by vortices flowing toward the center of said first ring-shaped strut, said vortices being created by the relative velocity of movement between said body and said fluid stream; and mounting a first sonic receiving transducer in a position such that it detects said first frequency-modulated sonic wave; and, the step of locating said second sonic vortex sensing arrangement in said fluid stream comprises the substeps of: mounting a second ring-shaped strut in said fluid stream, the plane defined by said second ring-hsaped strut being generally parallel to the plane defined by said first ring-shaped strut; mounting a second sonic transmitting transducer so as to direct a second sonic wave generally toward the center of said second ring-shaped strut in a manner such that said second sonic wave is frequency-modulated by vortices flowing toward the center of said second ring-shaped strut, said vortices being created by the relative velocity of movement between said body and said fluid stream; and, mounting a second sonic receiving transducer in a position such that it detects said second frequency-modulated sonic wave.

Claim 13

A method of determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 10 wherein said first ring-shaped strut has a constant thickness and wherein said second ring-shaped strut has a thickness that varies in a predetermined manner.

Claim 14

A method of determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 10 wherein the thickness of both said first and said second ring-shaped struts vary in a predetermined manner.

Claim 15

A method of determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 12 wherein said predetermined manner is in the form of a sine wave, said first and second struts being displaced 90* with respect to one another in their respective planes.

Claim 16

A method of determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which said body is located as claimed in claim 8 wherein: the step of locating said first sonic Vortex sensing arrangement in said fluid stream comprises the substep of mounting a first tube including a sonic vortex sensing device at either end thereof in said fluid stream, each of said sonic vortex sensing devices including a vortex strut located adjacent the associated end of said first tube and a sonic transmitting-receiving transducer arrangement located inwardly in said first tube from said vortex strut; and, the step of locating said second sonic vortex sensing arrangement in said fluid stream comprises the substep of mounting a second tube including a sonic vortex sensing device at either end thereof in said fluid stream orthogonally with respect to said first tube, each of said sonic vortex sensing devices including a vortex strut located adjacent the associated end of said second tube and a sonic transmitting-receiving transducer arrangement located inwardly in said second tube from said vortex strut.

Claim 17

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located comprising: a first vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said first vortex sensing arrangement including a first ring-shaped strut and a means for sensing the rate of vortex generation created in the wake of said first ring-shaped strut by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, said first ring-shaped strut defining a plane; a second vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said second vortex sensing arrangement including a second ring-shaped strut and a means for sensing the rate of vortex generation created in the wake of said second ring-shaped strut by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, said rate being related to the direction of said relative movement, said second ring-shaped strut lying in a plane parallel to the plane defined by said first ring-shaped strut; and, combining means connected to said first and second vortex sensing arrangements for combining the signals related to the rate of vortex generation so as to determine the relative direction of movement between said body and said fluid stream.

Claim 18

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located comprising: a first vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said first vortex sensing arrangement including a first ring-shaped strut and a means for sensing the rate of vortex generation created in the wake of said first ring-shaped strut by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, said first ring-shaped strut defining a plane; a second vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said second vortex sensing arrangement including a second ring-shaped strut and a means for sensing the rate of vortex generation created in the wake of said second ring-shaped strut by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, said rate being related to the direction of said relative movement, said second ring-shaped strut lying in a plane parallel to the plane defined by said first ring-shaped strut; and, combining means connected to said first and second vortex sensing arrangements for combining the signals related to the rate of vortex generation so as to determine the relative direction of movement between said body and said fluid stream.

Claim 19

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 15 wherein said first and second means for sensing the rate of vortex generation are sonic velocity sensing arrangements wherein a sonic signal is modulated by the vortices created in the wake of said first and seocnd ring-shaped struts by relative movement.

Claim 20

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 16 wherein each of said sonic velocity sensing arrnagements comprises: a transmitting transducer adapted to transmit a sonic signal generally toward the center of its associated ring-shaped strut; and, a sonic receiving transducer mounted so as to detect the sonic signal transmitted by said transmitting transducer as modulated by vortices created in the wake of said associated ring-shaped strut and flowing toward the center thereof.

Claim 21

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 17 wherein said first ring-shaped strut has a constant thickness and wherein said second ring-shaped strut has a thickness that varies in a predetermined manner.

Claim 22

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 18 wherein said second ring-shaped strut has a constant thickness change and includes a discontinuous point.

Claim 23

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 18 wherein said second ring-shaped ring strut is in the form of a crown.

Claim 24

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a Body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 17 wherein said first and second ring-shaped struts both vary in thickness in a predetermined manner.

Claim 25

Apparatus for determining the relative direction between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 21 wherein said first and second ring-shaped struts vary in thickness in a sinusoidal manner and are displaced from one another.

Claim 26

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located comprising: a first vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said first vortex sensing arrangement including a first ring-shaped strut and a means for sensing the rate of vortex generation created in the wake of said first ring-shaped strut by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, said first ring-shaped strut defining a plane; a second vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said vortex sensing arrangement including a second ring-shaped strut and a means for sensing the rate of vortex generation created in the wake of said second ring-shaped strut by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, said rate being related to the direction of said relative movement, said second ring-shaped strut lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane defined by said first ring shaped strut; and, combining means connected to said first and second vortex sensing arrangements for combining the signals related to the rate of vortex generation so as to determine the relative velocity and direction of movement between said body and said fluid stream.

Claim 27

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located comprising: a first vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said first vortex sensing arrangement including a first ring-shaped strut and a means for sensing the rate of vortex generation created in the wake of said first ring-shaped strut by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, said first ring-shaped strut defining a plane; a second vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said vortex sensing arrangement including a second ring-shaped strut and a means for sensing the rate of vortex generation created in the wake of said second ring-shaped strut by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, said rate being related to the direction of said relative movement, said second ring-shaped strut lying in a plane generally parallel to the plane defined by said first ring shaped strut; and, combining means connected to said first and second vortex sensing arrangements for combining the signals related to the rate of vortex generation so as to determine the relative velocity and direction of movement between said body and said fluid stream.

Claim 28

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 23 wherein said first and second means for sensing the rate of vortex generation are sonic velocity sensing arrangements wherein a sonic signal is modulated by the vortices created in the wake of said first and second ring-shaped struts by relative movement.

Claim 29

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 24 wherein each of said sonic velocity sensing arrangement comprises: a transmitting transducer adapted to transmit a sonic signal generally toward the center of its associated ring-shaped strut; and, a sonic receiving transducer mounted so as to detect the sonic signal transmitted by said transmitting transducer as modulated by vortices created in the wake of said associated ring-shaped strut and flowing toward the center thereof.

Claim 30

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 25 wherein said first ring-shaped strut has a constant thickness and wherein said second ring-shaped strut has a thickness that varies in a predetermined manner.

Claim 31

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 26 wherein said second ring-shaped strut has a constant thickness change and includes a discontinuous point.

Claim 32

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 26 wherein said second ring-shaped ring strut is in the form of a crown.

Claim 33

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 25 wherein said first and second ring-shaped struts both vary in thickness in a predetermined manner.

Claim 34

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and a fluid stream in which the body is located as claimed in claim 29 wherein said first and second ring-shAped struts vary in thickness in a sinusoidal manner and are displaced from one another by 90* in their respective planes.

Claim 35

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and fluid stream in which the body is located comprising: a first vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said first vortex sensing arrangement comprising: a first tube; first and second vortex struts, one located at either end of said first tube; and, first and second transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangements located in said first tube inwardly of said first and second vortex struts, the first transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said first vortex strut and the second transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said second vortex strut, the transmitter portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to transmit sonic signals which are modulated by vortices created in the wake of their associated struts by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, the receiver portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to sense said modulated signal; a second vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said second vortex sensing arrangement comprising: a second tube; third and fourth vortex struts, one located at either end of said second tube; and, third and fourth transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangements located in said first tube inwardly of said third and fourth vortex struts, the third transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said third vortex strut and the fourth transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said fourth vortex strut, the transmitter portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to transmit sonic signals which are modulated by vortices created in the wake of their associated struts by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, the receiver portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to sense said modulated signal; combining means connected to said first and second vortex sensing arrangements for combining the signal sensed by said receiver portions in accordance with a mathematical relationship so as to generate a signal related to the relative direction of movement between said body and said fluid stream.

Claim 36

Apparatus for determining the relative direction of movement between a body and fluid stream in which the body is located comprising: a first vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said first vortex sensing arrangement comprising: a first tube; first and second vortex struts, one located at either end of said first tube; and, first and second transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangements located in said first tube inwardly of said first and second vortex struts, the first transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said first vortex strut and the second transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said second vortex strut, the transmitter portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to transmit sonic signals which are modulated by vortices created in the wake of their associated struts by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, the receiver portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to sense said modulated signal; a second vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said second vortex sensing arrangement comprising: a second tube; third and fourth vortex struts, one located at either end of said second tube; and, third and fourth transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangements located in said first tube inwardly of said third and fourth vortex struts, the third transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said third vortex strut and the fourth transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said fourth vortex strut, the transmitter portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to transmit sonic signals which are modulated by vortices created in the wake of their associated struts by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, the receiver portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to sense said modulated signal; combining means connected to said first and second vortex sensing arrangements for combining the signal sensed by said receiver portions in accordance with a mathematical relationship so as to generate a signal related to the relative direction of movement between said body and said fluid stream.

Claim 37

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and fluid stream in which the body is located comprising: a first vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said first vortex sensing arrangement comprising: a first tube; first and second vortex struts, one located at either end of said first tube; and, first and second transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangements located in said first tube inwardly of said first and second vortex struts, the first transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said first vortex strut and the second transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said second vortex strut, the transmitter portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to transmit sonic signals which are modulated by vortices created in the wake of their associated struts by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, the receiver portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to sense said modulated signal; a second vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said second vortex sensing arrangement comprising: a second tube; third and fourth vortex struts, one located at either end of said second tube; and, third and fourth transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangements located in said first tube inwardly of said third and fourth vortex struts, the third transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said third vortex strut and the fourth transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement bEing associated with said fourth vortex strut, the transmitter portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to transmit sonic signals which are modulated by vortices created in the wake of their associated struts by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, the receiver portion of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to sense said modulated signal; combining means connected to said first and second vortex sensing arrangements for combining the signal sensed by said receiver portions in accordance with a mathematical relationship so as to generate signals related to the relative velocity and direction of movement between said body and said fluid stream.

Claim 38

Apparatus for determining the relative velocity and direction of movement between a body and fluid stream in which the body is located comprising: a first vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said first vortex sensing arrangement comprising: a first tube; first and second vortex struts, one located at either end of said first tube; and, first and second transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangements located in said first tube inwardly of said first and second vortex struts, the first transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said first vortex strut and the second transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said second vortex strut, the transmitter portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to transmit sonic signals which are modulated by vortices created in the wake of their associated struts by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, the receiver portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to sense said modulated signal; a second vortex sensing arrangement affixed to said body, said second vortex sensing arrangement comprising: a second tube; third and fourth vortex struts, one located at either end of said second tube; and, third and fourth transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangements located in said first tube inwardly of said third and fourth vortex struts, the third transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement being associated with said third vortex strut and the fourth transmitter-receiver sonic transducer arrangement bEing associated with said fourth vortex strut, the transmitter portions of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to transmit sonic signals which are modulated by vortices created in the wake of their associated struts by relative movement between said body and said fluid stream, the receiver portion of said sonic transducer arrangements adapted to sense said modulated signal; combining means connected to said first and second vortex sensing arrangements for combining the signal sensed by said receiver portions in accordance with a mathematical relationship so as to generate signals related to the relative velocity and direction of movement between said body and said fluid stream.