Measuring and testing – Navigation – Leeway incidence or side-slip
Patent
1980-09-08
1982-06-15
Woodiel, Donald O.
Measuring and testing
Navigation
Leeway incidence or side-slip
G01P 1302, G01P 507
Patent
active
043344305
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a device for metering the angular position of a direction indicator mounted rotatably about an axis. Such indicator may, for example, be used for indicating the direction of a flow of gas or liquid, such as wind or sea currents, or for determing the position of a magnetic needle.
Prior art devices of this general type are disclosed in for example U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,068,692, 3,282,099, and 3,420,101. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 3,282,099 discloses a wind speed and direction transducing apparatus having wind speed sensing means rotating continuously in a predetermined direction about an axis, and a wind direction indicator mounted rotatably about the same axis. A reference marker is connected to the wind speed sensing means and is rotating together therewith in a magnetic field so as to generate a reference signal or clock pulse once each revolution, and a second marker is connected to the wind direction indicator and movable in said magnetic field. A measuring signal is generated every time the two markers are in the same angular position, and the angular position of the wind direction indicator is determined by comparing the lapsed time between generation of the clock pulse and generation of the measuring signal with the lapsed time between generation of the clock pulse and generation of the next succeeding clock pulse.
The present invention provides a simplified device of the above type in which the use of markers rotating in a magnetic field causing a certain increase in energy consumption, is avoided.
Thus, the present invention provides a device for metering the angular position of a direction indicator mounted rotatably about an axis, said device comprising a reference member mounted rotatably about said axis and having driving means for continuously rotating said reference member in a predetermined direction, means for providing a reference signal at least once each revolution of said reference members, means for providing once each said revolution a measuring signal in a timed relationship with said reference signal, said relationship being a function of said angular position of said direction indicator, and means for determining said angular position on the basis of said reference and measuring signals, said device being characterized in that said reference and measuring signal providing means comprise a radiation source extending about said axis, first radiation beams directing means rotating with said reference member so as to direct once each revolution a reference radiation beam and a measuring radiation beam from said radiation source to a first radiation sensing means and to second radiation beam direction means, respectively, said second directing means bening rotatable with said direction indicator and adapted to direct said measuring radiation beam received from said first directing means to a second radiation sensing means. The said reference member may, for example, be rotated by means of a suitable motor, and the said first radiation sensing means will then generate reference signals or clock pulses with a frequency corresponding to the rotational speed of the reference member. The device according to the invention may be used for indicating the direction of a fluid flow, and in that case the reference member is preferably driven by the said flow. As an example, the said driving means may constitute part of an anemometer.
As the said second direction means are rotatable with the direction indicator the measuring radiation beam will be transmitted from said first radiation beam directing means to said second radiation beam directing means and further to said second radiation sensing means in a timed relationship to the clock pulses or reference signals so that the angular position of the direction indicator may be determined on the basis of the reference signals or clock pulses generated by the said first radiation sensing means and the measuring signals generated by the said second radiation sensing means. The first and second radiation sensing means may be suitab
REFERENCES:
patent: 3041599 (1962-06-01), Beaudette
patent: 3068692 (1962-12-01), Morgan
patent: 3282099 (1966-11-01), Kingman et al.
patent: 3420101 (1969-01-01), Adams
patent: 3604810 (1971-09-01), Schuch
Hansen John A.
Hogh Steen
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