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US5153665A
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Vaporizing particle velocimeter
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1991-06-14
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Granted: 1992-10-06
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Expires: 2011-06-14
Abstract
Abstract A velocimeter measures flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction. Tracer particles are entrained in the flow and a source of radiant energy produces an output stream directed transverse the chamber and having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream. Each of the vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core, and a flow visualization system tracks the motion of the hot cores and shock waves to thereby measure velocity of each tracer particle, and temperature of the flow around the tracer.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard M. Weinstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:06
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01F; G01F1/00; G01F1/704; G01F1/708; G01F1/7086; G01M; G01M9/00; G01M9/06; G01M9/065; G01M9/067; G01P; G01P3/00; G01P3/36; G01P3/38
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
95 words
A velocimeter for measuring flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction, the flow having tracer particles entrained therein, comprising: a source of radiant energy producing an output stream directed transverse the chamber and having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream, each of said vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core; and a flow visualization system for tracking the motion of the hot cores and shock waves to thereby measure velocity of at least one tracer particle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A velocimeter for measuring flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction, the flow having tracer particles entrained therein, comprising: a source of radiant energy producing an output stream directed transverse the chamber and having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream, each of said vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core; and a flow visualization system for tracking the motion of the hot cores and shock waves to thereby measure velocity of at least one tracer particle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A velocimeter according to claim 1, wherein the flow visualization system is a schlieren system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
43 words
A velocimeter according to claim 2, wherein the schlieren system includes a photographic imager for taking pictures of the vaporized particles in closely spaced time intervals to thereby measure the expansion and convection of the hot core and shock waves of the particles.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
A velocimeter according to claim 3, wherein the schlieren system includes a video imager for taking pictures of the vaporized particles in closely spaced time intervals to thereby measure the expansion and convection of the hot core and shock waves of the particles.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A velocimeter according to claim 1, wherein the source of radiant energy is a pulsed laser and the output stream is a pulsed laser beam.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A velocimeter according to claim 1, wherein the tracer particles are polystyrene microspheres having a substantially uniform diameter of about 1 μm.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of measuring flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction, comprising the steps of: dispersing a plurality of tracer particles in the flow; irradiating the particles with a source of radiant energy having an output stream directed transverse the chamber, the source of energy having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream, each of said vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core; and tracking the motion of the hot cores and shock waves with a flow visualization system to thereby measure velocity of each tracer particle.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of measuring flow characteristics of a flow travelling through a chamber in a given direction, comprising the steps of: dispersing a plurality of tracer particles in the flow; irradiating the particles with a source of radiant energy having an output stream directed transverse the chamber, the source of energy having a sufficient intensity to vaporize the particles as they pass through the output stream, each of said vaporized particles exploding to produce a shock wave and a hot core; and tracking the motion of the hot cores and shock waves with a flow visualization system to thereby measure velocity of each tracer particle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the flow visualization system is a schlieren system.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein the schlieren system includes a photographic imager for taking pictures of the vaporized particles in closely spaced time intervals to thereby measure the expansion and convection of the hot core and shock waves of the particles.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the schlieren system includes a video imager for taking pictures of the vaporized particles in closely spaced time intervals to thereby measure the expansion and convection of the hot core and shock waves of the particles.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the source of radiant energy is a pulsed laser and the output stream is a pulsed laser beam.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the tracer particles are polystyrene microspheres having a substantially uniform diameter of about 1 μm.
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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) | 1995-10-06 | 1996-04-06 | 1996-10-06 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-10-06 | 2000-04-06 | 2000-10-06 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-10-06 | 2004-04-06 | 2004-10-06 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |