Abstract:
A system suitable for measuring air flow speed, for example wind speed, said system comprising a device (1) suitable for being used in the measurement of air flow speed, said device having a rotating element (2) and a magnetic element (16) connected to said rotating element (2) such that the magnetic element rotates when the rotating element rotates, said rotating element being designed to rotate when exposed to air flow and being designed such that the correlation between the rotation speed of the rotating element and the air flow speed is known, and a computer program for calculating the air flow speed to which said device is exposed to and arranged to be loaded on and used by a computing device (4) comprising a magnetometer and a display, said computer program performing a method comprising the steps of: capturing the fluctuations in magnetic field measured by the magnetometer of the computing device due to the rotation of the magnetic element (16), converting the fluctuations into a signal which is proportional to the rotation speed of the magnetic element (16), calculating the air flow speed based on the rotation speed of the rotating element (2) and based on the known correlation between the rotation speed of the rotating element (2) and air flow speed, and displaying the air flow speed on the display of the computing device (4). In this way, a system is provided which is low cost and robust while still providing high functionality.
Abstract:
A fluid turbine comprises a rotor rotatable in use about an axis transverse to the direction of fluid flow. The rotor has a first part carrying a plurality of arcuate blades and a second part journalled in a base structure by means of two or more bearings. All the bearings are arranged on the same side of the blades so that the first part of the rotor is cantilever supported in the base structure.
Abstract:
A safety display light device with which a car width and a driving speed can be identified without provision of a separate power source and which can function as a safety display light when the device is attached to an automobile, a bicycle and a motorcycle or to the helmet of a driver, the device comprising a generating unit (10) having a small-sized generator (12) powered by a torque of a turning blade (11) turned by a wind velocity and a display unit (20) having a light emitting diode (LED1) operated by electricity supplied from the generating unit (10).
Abstract:
A speed monitoring device (1) for monitoring the speed of a boat (2) through water, the monitoring device (1) comprising a body member (5) for mounting on the hull (6) of the boat (2), a monitoring means (17) mounted in the body member (5) for interacting with the water and being responsive to the speed of the boat (2) relative to the water, a mounting means (10, 53, 55) for mounting the body member (5) on the hull (6) adjacent an opening (8) in the hull for accommodating the centreboard (12), the mounting means (10, 53, 55) being engageable with the body member (5) and being adapted for passing through the opening (8) in the hull (6), and being anchorable to the boat (2) for securing the body member (5) to the hull (6), and a communicating means (24) for relaying signals from the monitoring means (17) to a control means (25) located within the boat (2) for providing a signal suitable for feeding to a visual display means (46) for displaying the speed of the boat (2) relative to the water.
Abstract:
A fluid turbine (10) comprises a rotor (13) rotatable in use about an axis transverse to the direction of fluid flow. The rotor has a first part carrying a plurality of arcuate blades (12) and a second part journalled in a base structure (16) by means of two or more bearings (103, 113). All the bearings (103, 113) are arranged on the same side of the blades (12) so that the first part of the rotor is cantilever supported in the base structure (16).
Abstract:
Métodos de monitorización de aerogeneradores (11) de velocidad variable que comprenden medios de control para una regulación por "pitch" siguiendo una curva de potencia vs. velocidad del generador (21) en función de la velocidad del viento expresada por una función de transferencia (TF) aplicada a la velocidad del viento medida por un sensor de viento situado en una ubicación en la que el flujo del viento está distorsionado, que comprenden los siguientes pasos: a) proporcionar una función de relación óptima (F 1 ) entre una variable (V) dependiente de la velocidad del viento y una variable (P) dependiente del rendimiento del aerogenerador; b) medir continuamente dichas variables (V, P) y obtener una función de relación (F 2 ) entre ellas; c) obtener continuamente un parámetro (D) indicativo de las diferencias entre dichas funciones (F 1 , F 2 ); d) generar un mensaje de aviso cuando el valor de dicho parámetro (D) es mayor de un valor predeterminado.
Abstract:
A through-hull speed sensor of the magnetized paddlewheel sensor type wherein a paddlewheel is rotatably supported in a cavity adjacent a magnetic sensing device which generates electrical pulses corresponding to paddlewheel speed as the wheel rotates when the vessel moves through water. The sensor has improved low speed characteristics provided by a housing which extends the paddlewheel into the water below the hull. The bow of the housing provides a new leading edge, generating a smaller thickness boundary layer at the paddlewheel, so that the paddles project beyond the layer at low speeds. High speed performance is improved by having a high ratio of paddle fore-to-aft drag coefficient shape; keeping the periphery of the paddlewheel hub within, or flush with, the bottom of the cavity; a low paddle projection versus paddlewheel radius ratio; and by keeping the ratio of paddle cross-section versus available cavity cross-sectional space within an optimum range.
Abstract:
The present invention is a one-dimensional sonic anemometer paired with a tail vane that continuously rotates the sonic anemometer to be coaligned with the prevailing wind. The one-dimensional sonic anemometer being coaligned with the wind vector can measure the total wind speed directly with the wind direction measured by detection of the relative orientation of the instrument with respect to North as the instrument is held into the wind. Rather than a conventional two-dimensional sonic anemometer, the invention is a hybrid one-dimensional sonic anemometer with a mechanical wind direction measurement.
Abstract:
A speed sensor for a marine vessel includes a correction circuit to correct any sensor non-linearities so that the sensor produces an output with a pulse stream having a constant pulse rate, and reduces the pulse-to-pulse variations of the pulse stream. The circuit can standardize the pulse stream to have a frequency corresponding to a standard rate.
Abstract:
A marine sensor device mounts in a single opening in a hull of a marine vessel. The sensor includes a housing secured in the opening. Positioned within the housing is a body containing at least two sensors. The body is removable from the housing. A magnetized paddlewheel can be disposed in a first cavity formed on a first half of the body, the paddlewheel has a plurality of paddles extending from a circular central hub and rotatably mounted on an axle extending transverse a fore and aft direction of travel of the vessel. A magnetic sensor can be located adjacent the paddles, the magnetic sensor senses the rotation of the paddles and provides speed indications. The magnetic sensor can be a Hall-effect device. A sonic transducer for depth detection can be disposed within a second cavity formed on a second half of the body. A thermal sensor for sensing water temperature can be disposed in a well formed in the body. The sonic transducer can be optimised to emit acoustic signals at 235 kHz.