WO2017031508A1

WO2017031508A1 - Electronic wind measurement device

Info

Publication number: WO2017031508A1
Application number: PCT/ZA2015/050005
Authority: WO
Inventors: Russell WITTHUHN
Original assignee: Witthuhn Russell
Priority date: 2015-08-20
Filing date: 2015-08-20
Publication date: 2017-02-23

Abstract

The present invention relates to a wind measurement device or anemometer. The device is constructed to be more compact, rigid and robust than said anemometers presenting spinning cups and a moving wind vain. Load cells (22,24) are used to measure wind speed through x and y axis captured by a sphere (110) mounted on the upper load cell. The base and outer cover (28) is mounted to the inner lower load cell. Wind forces pressing against the sphere (110) can be accurately measured to wind velocity. Due to the symmetric roundness and geometry of the exposed sphere (110), a consistent wind reading can be achieved regardless of the prevailing wind angle.

Description

Electronic wind measurement device

DESCRIPTION

A electronic wind measuring instrument implementing load cell transducers to measure wind speed and wind direction.

TECHNICAL FIELD

In this description the invention can be referred to as a "WindBall". The ball can be referred to as a sphere.

The air flow over a sphere provides an ideal geometry to measure a consistent force for wind speed and direction at any prevailing wind angle.

A load cell is a transducer that creates a electrical signal whose magnitude is directly proportional to the force been measured.

The wind velocity is measured as a physical vector quantity; both magnitude and direction are needed to define it. The scalar or "single number" absolute value (magnitude) of velocity is called "speed", a quantity that is measured in metres per second (m/s or m-s-1 ) in the SI (metric) system.

This invention relates to a device measuring wind speed by using two or more geometrically angled load cell transducers with each load cell representing a vector axis. Wind speed and direction measurement takes place by reading the magnitude of force exerted on the sphere in all vectors simultaneously.

The vector readings determine direction and speed of the wind through various geometric calculations. The measurement can be displayed electronically through an interpreter such as a micro-controller or computer. The two or more load cells act as transducers which create an electrical signal whose magnitude is directly proportional to the force being measured. The force being the winds resistance against the sphere. The calculation for wind speed and direction formula used for the two or more load cell transducers determines the final result on a micro-controller or similar.

The invention will be presented as a different method and instrument for reading wind speed and direction. Different size sphere's or objects can be implemented to calculate different aspects of the technical field. The technical field being a wind speed and wind direction measuring device. The device's sphere is deliberate and intended to portray only one facet and that is a perfect round ball or sphere to ensure equal readings or measurements taken when the wind strikes the surface of the ball.

There can be two or more single load cells implemented or one or more multi axis load cell transducers. These been set at differing angles from each other. In the case of using two load cells at 90 degrees from the other, one would capture the X axis data and the other the Y axis data. With this configuration it is possible to read the direction and speed from any wind direction. Each load cell is able to measure negative and positive movement which allows the X and Y and -X and -Y to cover the full circumference of measurement.

Although substantially more expensive and increasing the WindBall's manufacturing price, a Multi Axis Load cell can be implemented. Multi Axis Load cell's are designed to measure a multiple of forces and moments simultaneously with a single Load Cell.

BACKGROUND ART

Wind measurement device's and more-so in this regard related to the invention of so called anemometers. Anemometers are common weather station sensors and there are a few derivatives in the line of "spinning" or rotating cups or a bladed fan rotating in moving air.

Other wind measuring instruments imploring ultrasonic and laser measurement sensors though accurate are prohibitively expensive.

Due to the low cost of small load cell transducers and them becoming prolific in weight scale measurements, the 'Wind Ball' is substantially cheaper to manufacture compared to the equivalent accuracy of high-end sensors such as those using laser, ultrasonic or pressure to accomplish the same outcome.

The 'Wind Ball' sensor can be incorporate as part of a hand held electronic wind indicator or as a stand-alone wind sensor affixed to a pole or solid surface connected to a weather station.

The inventor has tried different anemometers and wind-vane types from different manufacturers over the years and soon discovered that most used bearings and other components that wore out within a short period, even that of the more costly sensors.

The lifespan presented a great challenge when similar instruments failed in such a short time as they were expensive to replace and were installed in difficult to reach locations, such as those mounted above mountains on towers or poles.

After much consideration the inventor felt he needed to find a affordable technology to read the wind accurately and implore a method of non-moving parts for longevity. The inventor initially considered developing the ultrasonic wind sensor but found it to contain expensive components as well as it having to rely on difficult mathematical calculations for accuracy.

After obtaining a small hobby size weight scale the inventor was intrigued at how it worked and took it apart to discover a very sensitive load cell transducer. Realising the potential of such a sensor the inventor knew instantly that by configuring them geometrically to measure all axes and a bit of a software the inventor could read wind speed and direction with great accuracy. After the inventor created the first prototype the inventor was very impressed by its sensitivity and being an aviation pilot the inventor found the best object to cause a consistent wind resistance regardless of the oncoming wind angle was a round ball, which due to it's perfect geometry and shape, proved to work well.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

"The invention" is a method of determining wind speed and wind direction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a wind speed and wind direction measurement device with which the applicant believes disadvantages of known devices and methods may at least be alleviated. These objectives are to increase the lifespan, make it cost effective to produce while maintaining a high level of accuracy.

It is a further object of the invention to provide users with a more robust, accurate and sensitive device than its predecessors.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

According to the 1 ^s aspect of the invention there is included an electronic device for measuring wind speed and wind direction

According to the 2^nd aspect of the invention the electronic device comprises of a sphere (Ball) and two or more load cells connected to a digital interpreter which processes the information to be displayed.

According to the 3^rd aspect of the invention the electronic device captures vector forces from different angles pushed against the balls surface.

According to the 4^th aspect of the invention the electronic device can be coupled to a weather station.

According to the 5^th aspect of the invention the electronic device can vary in size according to the requirement of either a free standing hand held unit or a mounted unit. For larger weather stations, a larger device can be utilised for increased sensitivity.

According to the 6^th aspect of the electronic device the information is gathered by two or more load cells or one or more multi-axis load cell transducers.

According to the 7^th aspect of the electronic device the two or more load cell transducers each represent differing axes of measurement of vector forces.

According to the 8^th aspect of the electronic device the measurements can be portrayed in various units of measurement. Formats including Knots, Miles-Per-Hour, Kilometres-Per-Hour etc. According to the 9 aspect of the electronic device the sleeve or outer jacket protecting the device can be insulated with a metal sheath to prevent outside electromagnetic interference.

According to the 10^th aspect of the electronic device the outer sleeve can be of one mould or two or th ee parts.

According to the 11 ^th aspect of the electronic device an exchangeable sphere to switch ball sizes can be used for different magnitudes of sensitivity.

According to the 12^th aspect of the electronic device a sphere is utilised for a good even geometry measurement.

According to the 13^th aspect of the electronic device a sphere is used for accurate measurements combined with geometrically positioned load cell transducers each representing a differing axis making an accurate measurement of wind force on a sphere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is the WindBall device measuring wind speed and direction

Figure 2 is a diagram of the WindBall depicting the components at work

Figure 3 is a flow diagram depicting the three steps of calibration with the WindBall device

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In Figure 1 is an embodiment of a sphere 110 attached to a inner upper load cell transducer 22.

The outer protective cover 28 is attached to a Platform/base 55. The base 55 can be mounted to a weather station, a weather pole or the like.

In Figure 1 wind velocity 220 air flow on a sphere 110 and is measured by a combination of positive and negative vectors X 75, Y 75 and -x 75, -y 75 derived from two load cell transducers 22 and 24. A digital output is read from circuits 35 and 36 which incorporate a ADC (analogue to digital converter). A micro-controller 43 calculates the wind speed and direction read from the ADC and displays it on a digital LCD or similar display.

In Figure 2 is a simple embodiment of the WindBaH's work flow or process of determination. Wind velocity 220 is captured by two load cell transducer's 22/24 mounted at a 90° angle to one another and one above the other. Next Analog-to-Digital Conversion (ADC) takes place for each load cell transducer 35/36 and read by the micro-controller 43 which sends the data for display.

In Figure 3 embodies the electric flow of the WindBall. The excitation provided by a power supply for load cells 8 and 9 are typically several volts for each load cell transducer as is required for them to operate, although this may be greater depending on the load cell size. The type of load cell transducer typically used in the WindBall is the common Strain gauge load cell 22/24 used in scales for weight measurement. As the wind pushes against the ball, the forces are read by the strain gauge load cell which detects fine changes in force pressure. By incorporating the smaller extremely sensitive strain gauge load cells, one is able to read a large window of forces and therefore wind speeds.

Claims

1 . A strain gauge type anemometer comprising one or more load cells using a sphere or balls x and y vectors and capturing wind velocity and direction by using the electrically coupled load cell/s. Through various stages the velocity and wind direction is determined and can be displayed.

2. A strain gauge type anemometer according to claim 1 , wherein embodied in this document two load cells are used with a predetermined offset angle of 90° exists.

3. A strain gauge type anemometer according to claim 1 , wherein the load cell may be one or more load cells which can determine at least the said x and y axes of force.

4. A strain gauge anemometer according to claim 2, wherein the anemometer can include one or more load cell transducers offset at any angle but not necessarily at 90° from each other. Therefore this being to understand that through using another load cell angle arrangement and by using different mathematical formulae to determine the same measurements and direction, one can achieve the same result.

5. A strain gauge anemometer according to claim 1 that can be used to display a final or end calibrated result by imploring a micro-controller, PLC or any computer which is able to read digital and analogue information from the load cell transducers.

6. A strain gauge anemometer according to claim 1 where the sphere or ball can be manufactured using plastic, aluminium, steel and other materials to suit the required environment to which it will be used.

7. A strain gauge anemometer according to claim 1 that can be coupled to a weather station and mounted on a pole or tower structure or any other mounting as preferred by the user.

8. A strain gauge anemometer opposite to claim 7 that can be used as a wireless and hand-held device able to take wind measurements and wind direction from multiple locations.

9. A strain gauge anemometer taking in consideration claim 1 -8, a simplified reliable anemometer is invented to alleviate cost and increase longevity while maintaining accuracy.