Abstract:
1,242,635. Clear air turbulence detectors. BARNES ENG CO. Jan.31, 1969 [Feb.2, 1968], No. 5329/69. Heading G1A. A clear air turbulence detector based on sensing the temperature of the distant atmosphere (40-50 miles) comprises an infrared detector 16, Fig. 5, a chopping and filtering arrangement 20 positioned in front of the detector and having at least two different filters for passing radiation, of two different wavelengths within the broad 15Á carbon dioxide band, one being in the centre of the band in an area of high absorption and the other in a region of relatively low absorption, to the detector which develops signals in accordance with incident radiation, optical means including a movable mirror element 12 for directing radiation from a horizontal line of sight on to the detector and for stabilizing the horizontal line of sight, and, means 34 for indicating the difference in magnitude between the signals. The arrangement is made to operate an alarm 36 at a predetermined difference and to connect a sawtooth generator 38 to the mirror servo input whereby the mirror is made repeatedly to scan vertically in order to determine the relative height of the irregularity. The apparatus may comprise a combined filter chopper having a rotating disc with the differing filters occupying adjacent quadrants, or may have separate chopping and filtering elements. The centre of the 15Á band indicates the temperature in the vicinity of an aircraft which may be carrying the apparatus and the low absorption band indicates distant temperature. The detector may be a hyper immersed thermistor bolometer.