US4953986A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Air/sea temperature probe
Assignee: NAVY United States, THE`, Secretary of
•
Filing: 1989-04-27
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Granted: 1990-09-04
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Expires: 2009-04-27
Abstract
Abstract An air/sea temperature probe is disclosed which can be deployed from a moving ship to detect the temperature profile of the atmosphere and ocean beyond the thermal influence of a ship. The probe includes a temperature transducer which utilizes a bifilar wire that provides a very quick air temperature time constant. The transducer is mounted within a radiation shield having low thermal conductance to minimize thermal and solar radiation contamination and is coupled to a signal processing network. In operation, the probe is deployed from a ship and provides temperature telemetry via an electrical data link coupled between the signal processing network and a receiving transducer located onboard the ship.
Inventors
- 👤 Jack R. Olson
- 👤 Herbert V. Hitney
- 👤 Richard A. Paulus
- 👤 Kenneth D. Anderson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 09:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01K; G01K13/00; G01K1/00; G01K1/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 45
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A probe for measuring the temperatures of air and water at the air/sea interface, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting said air and water to flow therethrough; first means positioned within said shield for detecting said temperatures; and second means operably coupled to said first means and mounted to said shield for providing a first output functionally related to said detected temperatures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
72 words
A probe for measuring the temperatures of air and water at the air/sea interface, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting said air and water to flow therethrough; first means positioned within said shield for detecting said temperatures; and second means operably coupled to said first means and mounted to said shield for providing a first output functionally related to said detected temperatures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
The probe of claim 1 wherein: said first means has an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The probe of claim 2 wherein: said shield has a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The probe of claim 3 wherein: said first means comprises: an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield; and an electrically conductive winding wound around said frame.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
114 words
A probe for measuring the temperatures of air and water at the air/sea interface, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting said air and water to fluid flow therethrough and having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7; first means positioned within said shield for detecting said temperatures and having an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds, said first means comprising an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield and a bifilar winding wound around said frame; and second means operably coupled to said first means and mounted to said shield for providing a first output functionally related to said detected temperatures.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
114 words
A probe for measuring the temperatures of air and water at the air/sea interface, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting said air and water to fluid flow therethrough and having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7; first means positioned within said shield for detecting said temperatures and having an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds, said first means comprising an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield and a bifilar winding wound around said frame; and second means operably coupled to said first means and mounted to said shield for providing a first output functionally related to said detected temperatures.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
The probe of claim 5 wherein: said winding is wound in a plurality of loops around said frame.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
119 words
The probe of claim 6 wherein said second means further includes: a voltage divider bridge operably coupled to said bifilar winding for providing second and third outputs, said second and third outputs having a difference functionally related to said detected temperature; a differential amplification network operably coupled to said voltage divider bridge for providing a fourth output proportional to said difference between said second and third outputs; a voltage-to-frequency converter operably coupled to receive said fourth output for providing a fifth output having a frequency which is proportional to said fourth output; and an opto-isolator operably coupled to receive said fifth output and to provide said first output having said frequency and being electrically isolated from said fifth output.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
The probe of claim 7 wherein: said opto-isolator includes: a photodiode operably coupled to receive said fifth output and to provide an optical signal in response to receiving said second output; and a photocell positioned to receive said optical signal and to provide said first output.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The probe of claim 8 wherein said probe further includes: a weight mounted to said shield for providing said shield with negative buoyancy.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The probe of claim 9 wherein: said shield has a thermal conductivity of no more than about 0.0035 cal-cm/sec-cm 2 -C°.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for detecting an air temperature profile and ocean temperature profile beyond the thermal influence of a moving ship, comprising the steps of: deploying a temperature transducer mounted within a solar radiation shield beyond said thermal influence of said moving ship, said transducer having an air temperature time constant of less than 100 milliseconds, said solar radiation shield having a thermal conductivity of no more than about 0.0035 cal-cm/sec-cm 2 -C° and a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7; detecting said air temperature profile and said ocean temperature profile with said transducer; providing a plurality of output signals functionally related to said air temperature profile and to said ocean temperature profile; receiving said detected output signals; and recording said air temperature profile and said ocean temperature profile.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
128 words
A method for detecting an air temperature profile and ocean temperature profile beyond the thermal influence of a moving ship, comprising the steps of: deploying a temperature transducer mounted within a solar radiation shield beyond said thermal influence of said moving ship, said transducer having an air temperature time constant of less than 100 milliseconds, said solar radiation shield having a thermal conductivity of no more than about 0.0035 cal-cm/sec-cm 2 -C° and a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7; detecting said air temperature profile and said ocean temperature profile with said transducer; providing a plurality of output signals functionally related to said air temperature profile and to said ocean temperature profile; receiving said detected output signals; and recording said air temperature profile and said ocean temperature profile.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the steps of providing and receiving include: propagating said output signals to a receiving transducer.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the step of deploying includes: launching said transducer at a substantially 45 degree angle with respect to the horizontal into a parabolic trajectory.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the step of deploying further includes: deploying said transducer within said solar radiation shield wherein said shield is tubular having open ends.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
A probe for measuring air and water temperature, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting fluid flow therethrough upon deployment of said probe, said shield having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7 and a thermal conductivity of no ore than 0.0035 cal-cm/sec-cm 2 -C°; and first means for detecting temperature being positioned within said shield to permit total immersion of said first means within said fluid flow.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
77 words
A probe for measuring air and water temperature, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting fluid flow therethrough upon deployment of said probe, said shield having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7 and a thermal conductivity of no ore than 0.0035 cal-cm/sec-cm 2 -C°; and first means for detecting temperature being positioned within said shield to permit total immersion of said first means within said fluid flow.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The probe of claim 15 wherein: said first means has an air temperature time constant of less than 100 milliseconds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
24 words
The probe of claim 16 wherein: said first means comprises: an electrically nonconductive open frame; and an electrically conductive winding wound around said frame.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
85 words
A probe for measuring the temperatures of air and water at the air/sea interface, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting said air and water to flow therethrough and having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7; first means positioned within said shield for detecting said temperatures and having an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds, said first means comprising an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield and wound around said frame.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
A probe for measuring the temperatures of air and water at the air/sea interface, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting said air and water to flow therethrough and having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7; first means positioned within said shield for detecting said temperatures and having an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds, said first means comprising an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield and wound around said frame.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
The probe of claim 18 wherein: said winding is wound in a plurality of loops around said frame.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The probe of claim 19 wherein said probe further includes: a weight mounted to said shield for providing said shield with negative buoyancy.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
100 words
A probe for measuring fluid temperature, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting fluid to flow therethrough, said shield having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7 and a thermal conductivity of no more than 0.0035 cal-cm/sec-cm 2 -C°; first means for detecting said fluid temperature being positioned within said shield to permit total immersion of said first means within said fluid; and second means mounted to said shield, said second means being operably coupled to said first means for providing a first output functionally related to said detected fluid temperature.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
100 words
A probe for measuring fluid temperature, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting fluid to flow therethrough, said shield having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7 and a thermal conductivity of no more than 0.0035 cal-cm/sec-cm 2 -C°; first means for detecting said fluid temperature being positioned within said shield to permit total immersion of said first means within said fluid; and second means mounted to said shield, said second means being operably coupled to said first means for providing a first output functionally related to said detected fluid temperature.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
19 words
The probe of claim 21 wherein: said first means has an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
28 words
The probe of claim 22 wherein: said first means comprises: an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield; and an electrically conductive winding wound around said frame.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
79 words
A probe for measuring fluid temperature, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting said fluid to flow therethrough and having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7; first means positioned within said shield for detecting said fluid temperature and having an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds, said first means comprising an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield and a bifilar winding wound around said frame.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
79 words
A probe for measuring fluid temperature, comprising: a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting said fluid to flow therethrough and having a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7; first means positioned within said shield for detecting said fluid temperature and having an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds, said first means comprising an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield and a bifilar winding wound around said frame.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
18 words
The probe of claim 24 wherein: said winding is wound in a plurality of loops around said frame.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
119 words
The probe of claim 25 wherein said second means further includes: a voltage divider bridge operably coupled to said bifilar winding for providing second and third outputs, said second and third outputs having a difference functionally related to said detected temperature; a differential amplification network operably coupled to said voltage divider bridge for providing a fourth output proportional to said difference between said second and third outputs; a voltage-to-frequency converter operably coupled to receive said fourth output for providing a fifth output having a frequency which is proportional to said fourth output; and an opto-isolator operably coupled to receive said fifth output and to provide said first output having said frequency and being electrically isolated from said fifth output.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
47 words
The probe of claim 26 wherein: said opto-isolator network includes: a photodiode operably coupled to receive said fifth output and to provide an optical signal in response to receiving said second output; and a photocell positioned to receive said optical signal and to provide said first output.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
The probe of claim 27 wherein said probe further includes: a weight mounted to said shield for providing said shield with negative buoyancy.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
93 words
A probe for measuring temperature, comprising; a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting fluid flow therethrough upon deployment of said probe; a temperature transducer for detecting fluid temperature positioned within said shield to permit total immersion of said temperature transducer within said fluid flow, said temperature transducer having an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds; and second means mounted to said shield, said second means being operably coupled to said temperature transducer for providing a first output functionally related to said detected temperature.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
93 words
A probe for measuring temperature, comprising; a tubular, electrically nonconductive, solar radiation shield having first and second open ends for permitting fluid flow therethrough upon deployment of said probe; a temperature transducer for detecting fluid temperature positioned within said shield to permit total immersion of said temperature transducer within said fluid flow, said temperature transducer having an air temperature time constant less than 100 milliseconds; and second means mounted to said shield, said second means being operably coupled to said temperature transducer for providing a first output functionally related to said detected temperature.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
16 words
The probe of claim 29 wherein: said shield has a surface reflectivity of at least 0.7.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
28 words
The probe of claim 30 wherein: said temperature transducer comprises: an electrically nonconductive open frame positioned within said shield; and an electrically conductive winding wound around said frame.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
12 words
The probe of claim 31 wherein: said winding is a bifilar winding.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The probe of claim 32 wherein: said winding is wound in a plurality of loops around said frame.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
119 words
The probe of claim 33 wherein said second means further includes: a voltage divider bridge operably coupled to said bifilar winding for providing second and third outputs, said second and third outputs having a difference functionally related to said detected temperature; a differential amplification network operably coupled to said voltage divider bridge for providing a fourth output proportional to said difference between said second and third outputs; a voltage-to-frequency converter operably coupled to receive said fourth output for providing a fifth output having a frequency which is proportional to said fourth output; and an opto-isolator operably coupled to receive said fifth output and to provide said first output having said frequency and being electrically isolated from said fifth output.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
46 words
The probe of claim 34 wherein: said opto-isolator includes: a photodiode operably coupled to receive said fifth output and to provide an optical signal in response to receiving said second output; and a photocell positioned to receive said optical signal and to provide said first output.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
The probe of claim 35 wherein said probe further includes: a weight mounted to said shield for providing said shield with negative buoyancy.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
The probe of claim 36 wherein: said shield has a thermal conductivity of no more than about 0.0035 cal-cm/sec-cm 2 -C°.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-09-03 | 1994-03-05 | 1994-09-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-09-03 | 1998-03-05 | 1998-09-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-09-03 | 2002-03-05 | 2002-09-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |