Weather monitoring apparatus and method
US5421198A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 10, 1993 |
| Grant date | Jun 6, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 10, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01W1/04
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A weather monitoring device includes a wind force receiving body supported by a support member and a wind velocity and direction measuring arrangement. The wind velocity and direction measuring arrangement, preferably includes strain gauges mounted upon the support member and measures the magnitude and direction of flex in the support caused by wind acting upon the wind receiving body. Wind direction and velocity are calculated from the flex measured in the support. The velocity and direction measuring arrangement also includes features to compensate for strain gauge offsets and temperature drift. Additionally, a rain monitoring arrangement may be included in the weather monitoring device to provide rain measurements in addition to the wind measurements. The rain monitoring arrangement includes a rain collection surface and a rain volume measuring device. The rain collection surface is completely contained within the wind force receiving body and directs water to the rain volume measuring device. The rain volume measuring device preferably causes droplets having a uniform and known volume to fall upon a piezoelectric transducer and calculates precipitation per unit area from drop s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.