Method and apparatus for ascertaining the magnitude and direction of the flow speed in a flowing medium
US4206999A · kind A · utility
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 14, 1978 |
| Grant date | Jun 10, 1980 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 1998 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01P5/26
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The invention relates to a method for determining the magnitude and direction of the flow speed in a flowing medium comprising the following steps: PA1 (a) Irradiating the flowing medium in a first direction with a laser beam of a defined cross-section having a maximum principal dimension; PA1 (b) Observing a defined position (measured volume) in the longitudinal extent of the laser beam in a second direction at a defined angle to the first direction; PA1 (c) Measuring the pulse duration of diffuse light pulses given off in the second direction by particles of a defined size contained in the flowing medium and passing through the measured volume; and PA1 (d) Turning the laser beam cross-section about the rotary axis defined by the first direction until diffuse light pulses of maximum pulse duration can be observed. By means of this method one obtains in a single measuring operation an indication of the magnitude and direction of flow in the plane formed by the laser beam and the flow direction.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.