US3906790A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus for measuring fluidic current
Assignee: ENDECO Inc AN OH CORP
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Filing: 1973-11-01
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Granted: 1975-09-23
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Expires: 1993-11-01
Abstract
Abstract Fluidic current measuring apparatus has a current sensing unit of selected geometrical configuration, buoyancy and trim to maintain close alignment with a generally horizontal current being measured. Further, an attachment of the sensing unit to a mooring provides multi-axis freedom of motion for the unit to preserve the desired alignment in the presence of wave action and mooring motion. This attachment to a vertically extending mooring includes a swivel connection to the mooring, a horizontally extending arm fixed to the swivel connection, and a flexible tether suspending the sensing unit from the arm.
Inventors
- 👤 Ii Edward C Brainard
- 👤 John L Layport
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 09:12
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01C; G01C13/00; G01C13/002; G01C13/006; G01P; G01P5/00; G01P5/02; G01P5/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
196 words
In apparatus for measuring the fluidic current in a body of water or like liquid environment and having a sensing unit for sensing the velocity and the direction of environmental fluidic current directed along a longitudinal axis of said unit, and which has a frontal suspension point and a finned configuration for the suspended alignment of said longitudinal axis thereof with the environmental current, the improvement comprising A. ballast means affixed to said sensing unit and providing said sensing unit with a net non-negative and near neutral buoyancy when in such liquid body and providing said sensing unit, when disposed with said longitudinal axis horizontal, with a center of buoyancy above and oppositely aligned with the center of gravity thereof, and B. deployment means connected along said longitudinal axis to said sensing unit at said suspension point, said deployment means allowing rotation of said sensing unit about a vertically extending axis and about said longitudinal axis and including tether means for exerting pull on said sensing unit along said longitudinal axis and for substantially isolating said sensing unit from motion, directed other than along said longitudinal axis, at the end of said tether means removed therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
196 words
In apparatus for measuring the fluidic current in a body of water or like liquid environment and having a sensing unit for sensing the velocity and the direction of environmental fluidic current directed along a longitudinal axis of said unit, and which has a frontal suspension point and a finned configuration for the suspended alignment of said longitudinal axis thereof with the environmental current, the improvement comprising A. ballast means affixed to said sensing unit and providing said sensing unit with a net non-negative and near neutral buoyancy when in such liquid body and providing said sensing unit, when disposed with said longitudinal axis horizontal, with a center of buoyancy above and oppositely aligned with the center of gravity thereof, and B. deployment means connected along said longitudinal axis to said sensing unit at said suspension point, said deployment means allowing rotation of said sensing unit about a vertically extending axis and about said longitudinal axis and including tether means for exerting pull on said sensing unit along said longitudinal axis and for substantially isolating said sensing unit from motion, directed other than along said longitudinal axis, at the end of said tether means removed therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said ballast means includes A. a weight of selected mass for providing said buoyancy, and B. means for mounting said weight to said sensing unit below said longitudinal axis and for selective movement therealong.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said deployment means includes torsion-free coupling means connected with said tether means for accommodating with minimal restraint roll of said tether means about said longitudinal axis relative to said sensing unit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
69 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein A. said deployment means includes a stiff arm member mounted for rotation about a vertical axis and extending horizontally therefrom, and B. said tether means comprises a flexible rope member secured to said arm member distal from the center of such rotation thereof and secured at the other end thereof to said suspension point of said sensing unit.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
118 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 4 the further improvement wherein said flexible tether means has a length at least equal to that of said sensing unit along said longitudinal axis, and said arm member has a length between the center of such rotation thereof and said tether means significantly shorter than the length of said tether means. B. fastening means connected to the other end of said tether and for attachment to such mooring member, said fastening means allowing rotation of said tether about such mooring member, and C. ballast means for providing said sensing unit, with said mooring-attached tether connected thereto, with a net non-negative and near neutral buoyancy in such liquid at the selected depth.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
39 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 1, the further improvement wherein said tether means comprises a flexible rope member having a length in the same order of magnitude as the length of said sensing unit along said longitudinal axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
170 words
In apparatus for measuring the fluidic current in bodies of water and like liquid environments when moored at a selected depth therein from a mooring member elongated in a generally vertical direction, said apparatus having a finned, current-aligning sensing unit carrying a current-driven impeller for exposure to such liquid for driven rotation by the current thereof about a first axis and relative to said unit, the improvement comprising A. a flexible tether secured at one end to said unit for transferring tension thereto parallel to said first axis and for isolating said one end thereof from movement at the other end thereof which is directed transverse to said first axis. B. fastening means connected to to other end of said tether and for attachment to such mooring member, said fastening means allowing rotation of said tether about such mooring member, and C. ballast means for providing said sensing unit, with said mooring-attached tether connected thereto, with a net non-negative and near neutral bouyancy in such liquid at the selected depth.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
170 words
In apparatus for measuring the fluidic current in bodies of water and like liquid environments when moored at a selected depth therein from a mooring member elongated in a generally vertical direction, said apparatus having a finned, current-aligning sensing unit carrying a current-driven impeller for exposure to such liquid for driven rotation by the current thereof about a first axis and relative to said unit, the improvement comprising A. a flexible tether secured at one end to said unit for transferring tension thereto parallel to said first axis and for isolating said one end thereof from movement at the other end thereof which is directed transverse to said first axis. B. fastening means connected to to other end of said tether and for attachment to such mooring member, said fastening means allowing rotation of said tether about such mooring member, and C. ballast means for providing said sensing unit, with said mooring-attached tether connected thereto, with a net non-negative and near neutral bouyancy in such liquid at the selected depth.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7 the further improvement comprising sensing unit-mounted trim means for maintaining said unit with said tether connected thereto oriented in such liquid with said first axis substantially horizontal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7 the further improvement comprising rotation-free coupling means interconnecting said tether with said sensing unit for accommodating restraint-free rotation therebetween about said first axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7 the further improvement wherein said flexible tether has substantially neutral buoyancy in such liquid for developing essentially nil vertical pull at the connection thereof with said sensing unit.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
47 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7 the further improvement in which said sensing unit mounts trim means providing said sensing unit with a center of gravity spaced below and oppositely in line with the center of buoyancy for the orientation thereof with said first axis horizontal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
64 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7 the further improvement wherein said tether has a length at least as long as the length of said sensing unit along said first axis for minimizing the application of said sensing unit of non-tensile movement at the other end of said tether, and sufficiently short to maintain said sensing unit at a specified location of current measurement.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
In apparatus as defined in claim 7, the further improvement wherein said fastening means comprises a rigid arm member connected between said tether and the attachment to such mooring member.
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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) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |