Wind Velocity Sensor Guard Member Turbulence Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Prior art wind velocity sensors experience significant measuring errors when mounted on off-road vehicles due to turbulence caused by the vehicle's irregular shape, leading to inaccurate wind velocity and direction measurements.
Innovation Solution
A wind velocity sensor design featuring a lower and upper platform with pillars and radially extending guard members to guide and straighten airflow, reducing turbulence and enhancing measurement accuracy by positioning ultrasonic sensors with a radial separation greater than the guard member extension, thereby minimizing distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If ultrasonic sensors are mounted on pillars without guard members, then the device structure is simple, but measurement precision deteriorates due to turbulence from vehicle movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces guard members as intermediary structures between the turbulent vehicle environment and the ultrasonic sensors. These guard members extend radially outwardly to intercept and redirect airflow, creating a protected measurement zone around the sensors mounted on pillars, thereby improving measurement accuracy without directly modifying the sensors themselves
Solution Approach 2:
The guard members are designed as simple, lightweight extensions that can be easily manufactured and attached to the sensor assembly. Their function is to provide temporary airflow management during vehicle operation, and they can be replaced or adjusted without complex procedures, making the overall system more practical for mobile applications
2Measurement precision
If guard members extend far radially outwardly, then turbulence deflection improves and measurement accuracy increases, but device complexity and material usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the radial extension distance of the guard members to achieve effective turbulence deflection. By carefully selecting the extension parameter - extending far enough to intercept turbulent flows but not excessively - the design achieves measurement accuracy improvement while minimizing material consumption and structural complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution significantly reduces measurement errors by deflecting turbulence and improving the accuracy of wind velocity and direction readings, particularly in off-road environments.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of ultrasonic sensors secured to corresponding ones of the pillars
Implementation Method 2
ultrasonic sensors
Implementation Method 3
turbulence created by the vehicle's irregular shape can distort or change the airflow detected by one or more ultrasonic sensors
Implementation Method 4
The lower guard member extends radially outwardly from the vertical axis of the pillars by a radial distance greater than the radial separation between any pair of the ultrasonic sensors
Data Source
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AI summary
A wind velocity sensor (11) comprises a lower platform (32) and an upper platform (34). Pillars (40) are positioned or connected between the upper platform (34) and the lower platform (32). Ultrasonic sensors (10) are secured to corresponding ones of the pillars (40). A lower guard member (38) extends outwardly from a reference ultrasonic sensor (10) by a radial distance greater than a radial separation between any pair of the ultrasonic sensors (10).