Vehicular drift indicator-speedometer

Claim 2

An Indicator for indicating the velocity of a vehicle relative to a medium in which the vehicle is travelling, and comprizing: an impeller rotatably mounted on said vehicle and in communications with said medium, a cam member attached to said impeller and rotatable therewith, switch contact means mounted opposite said cam member, said switch contact means being actuated by said cam member in accordance with the rotation of the impeller, an electrical power source for providing voltage for operation of electrical circuitry through a common lead and a power switch whose other terminal is connected to the other lead supplying power to: a series connection of two resistors, one being connected with one end to said common terminal, second resistor being connected to said other lead, an n-p-n type transistor having emitter, base and collector electrodes, said collector electrode being connected to said other lead, emitter electrode being connected to a resistor whose other end is connected to said common terminal, a capacitor connected between the base electrode of said transistor and the interconnection of said two in series connected resistors; said switch contact means being connected across said capacitor (as shown in FIG. 1) providing drive current for said transistor whenever said switch contact means is closed, said drive current causes conduction of said transistor, thus producing a rectangular voltage pulse across said resistor, a differentiator having its input lead connected to interconnection of said resistor and said transistor for accepting said rectangular voltage pulse across said resistor, having its common lead connected to said common lead, and its output lead connected to a pulse separation network input lead, allowing passage of differentiating pulses of desired polarity (differentiating pulses representing a positive going and a negative going sharp pulse produced by differentiator per each rectangular voltage pulse), and having its common lead connected to said common lead, and its output lead connected to the input lead of a means for producing rEctangular pulses of same amplitude and constant duration and same in number as the rectangular pulses produced by said transistor, having its common lead connected to said common lead, its supply lead connected to said other lead to accept electric power, and its output lead connected to the input lead of a square wave amplifier having its common lead connected to said common lead, its supply lead to said other lead to receive electric power for operation and its output lead connected to the anode electrode of a: diode having its cathode connected to an integrating capacitor having its other plate connected to said common lead, and used to integrate said pulses of constant duration, first current limiting resistor tied up to the interconnection of said diode and said capacitor, and its other end connected to a pushbutton switch to allow fast discharge of said integrating capacitor through said first current limiting resistor and another current limiting resistor connected to interconnection of said first current limiting resistor and said pushbutton switch, a calibrating rheostat connected to said common lead and its other end to the other end of said second current limiting resistor and a readout means for providing a readout of the output of said integrating means and having its other lead connected to said common lead.

Claim 3

The indicator of claim 1 wherein the drift of the vehicle is indicated and further comprising: a duct supported on said vehicle so it is exposed to the medium surrounding the vehicle, said duct having an aperture facing in a direction substantially normal to principal direction of travel of said vehicle, said aperture providing communication of said medium to the inside of said duct, said impeller being rotatably mounted within the casing, the rotation axis of the impeller being substantially normal to the principal direction of vehicular travel, said impeller being rotatably driven in accordance with the velocity of the medium entering the duct.

Claim 4

The indicator of claim 1 wherein the speed of the vehicle is indicated and further comprising: a duct supported on said vehicle so it is exposed to the medium surrounding the vehicle, said duct having an aperture facing in substantially same direction as the principal direction of travel of said vehicle, said aperture providing communication of said medium to the inside of said duct, the rotation axis of said impeller being in substantially same direction as the principaldirection of vehicle travel, said impeller being rotatably driven in accordance with the velocity of the medium enterring the duct.

Claim 5

The indicator of claim 1 wherein said switch contact means comprises two pairs of switch contacts and separate resilient arm means for supporting each of the contact pairs, said arm means being positioned in the rotation path of the cam member.

Claim 6

An indicator for indicating the rate of flow of a medium through an axial aperture of a cylindrical body and comprising: a rotation axis supported by said cylindrical body and being coaxial with it and further comprising: an impeller rotatably mounted on said cylindrical body and in communications with said medium, a cam member attached to said impeller and rotatable therewith, switch contact means mounted opposite said cam member, said switch contact means being actuated by said cam member in accordance with the rotation of the impeller, an electrical power source for providing voltage for operation of electrical circuitry through a common lead and through a power switch whose other terminal is connected to the other lead supplying power to: a series connection of two resistors, one being connected with one end to said common terminal, second resistor being connected to said other lead, an n-p-n transistor having emitter, base and collector electrodes, said collector electrode being connected to said other lead, said emitter electrode being connect to a resistor whose Other end is connected to said common terminal, a capacitor connected between the base electrode of said transistor and the interconnection of said two in series connected resistors; said switch contact means being connected across said capacitor (as shown in FIG. 1) providing drive current for said transistor whenever said switch contact means is closed, said drive current causes conduction of said transistor, thus producing a rectangular voltage pulses across said resistor, a differentiator having its input lead connected to interconnection of said resistor and said transistor for accepting said rectangular voltage pulses across said resistor, having its common lead connected to said common lead, and its output lead connected to a pulse separation network input lead, allowing passage of differentiating pulses of desired polarity (differentiating pulses representing a positve going and a negative going sharp pulse produced by differentiator per each rectangular voltage pulse), and having its common lead connected to said common lead, and its output lead connected to the input lead of a means for producing rectangular pulses of same amplitude and constant duration and same in number as the rectangular pulses produced by said transistor, having its common lead connected to said common lead, its supply lead connected to said other lead to accept electric power, and its output lead connected to the input lead of a square wave amplifier having its common lead connected to said common lead, its supply lead to said other lead to receive electric power for operation and its output lead connected to the anode electrode of a diode having its cathode connected to an integrating capacitor having its other plate connected to said common lead and used to integrate said pulses of constant duration, first current limiting resistor tied up to the interconnection of said diode and said capacitor, and its other end connected to a pushbutton switch to allow fast discharge of said integrating capacitor through said first current limiting resistor and another current limiting resistor connected to interconnection of said first current limiting resistor and said pushbutton switch, a calibrating rheostat connected to said common lead and its other end to the other end of said second current limiting resistor and a readout means for providing a readout of the output of said integrating means and having its other lead connected to said common lead.

Claim 7

An indicator for indicating the rate of flow of a medium through an axial aperture of a cylindrical body and comprising: a rotation axis supported by said cylindrical body and being coaxial with it and further comprising: an impeller rotatably mounted on said cylindrical body and in communications with said medium, a cam member attached to said impeller and rotatable therewith, switch contact means mounted opposite said cam member, said switch contact means being actuated by said cam member in accordance with the rotation of the impeller, an electrical power source for providing voltage for operation of electrical circuitry through a common lead and through a power switch whose other terminal is connected to the other lead supplying power to: a series connection of two resistors, one being connected with one end to said common terminal, second resistor being connected to said other lead, an n-p-n transistor having emitter, base and collector electrodes, said collector electrode being connected to said other lead, said emitter electrode being connect to a resistor whose Other end is connected to said common terminal, a capacitor connected between the base electrode of said transistor and the interconnection of said two in series connected resistors; said switch contact means being connected across said capacitor (as shown in FIG. 1) providing drive current for said transistor whenever said switch contact means is closed, said drive current causes conduction of said transistor, thus producing a rectangular voltage pulses across said resistor, a differentiator having its input lead connected to interconnection of said resistor and said transistor for accepting said rectangular voltage pulses across said resistor, having its common lead connected to said common lead, and its output lead connected to a pulse separation network input lead, allowing passage of differentiating pulses of desired polarity (differentiating pulses representing a positve going and a negative going sharp pulse produced by differentiator per each rectangular voltage pulse), and having its common lead connected to said common lead, and its output lead connected to the input lead of a means for producing rectangular pulses of same amplitude and constant duration and same in number as the rectangular pulses produced by said transistor, having its common lead connected to said common lead, its supply lead connected to said other lead to accept electric power, and its output lead connected to the input lead of a square wave amplifier having its common lead connected to said common lead, its supply lead to said other lead to receive electric power for operation and its output lead connected to the anode electrode of a diode having its cathode connected to an integrating capacitor having its other plate connected to said common lead and used to integrate said pulses of constant duration, first current limiting resistor tied up to the interconnection of said diode and said capacitor, and its other end connected to a pushbutton switch to allow fast discharge of said integrating capacitor through said first current limiting resistor and another current limiting resistor connected to interconnection of said first current limiting resistor and said pushbutton switch, a calibrating rheostat connected to said common lead and its other end to the other end of said second current limiting resistor and a readout means for providing a readout of the output of said integrating means and having its other lead connected to said common lead.