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US-12625157-B2 - Anemometer with pivoting mount and integrated beacon

US12625157B2US 12625157 B2US12625157 B2US 12625157B2US-12625157-B2

Abstract

An anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds includes a housing ( 16 ) and/or frame. A shaft ( 20 ) is mounted such that it can rotate in a bearing of the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame. Wind capturing means ( 14 ) are arranged on the shaft ( 20 ), said wind capturing means ( 14 ) setting the shaft ( 20 ) to rotate in the wind. Detecting means ( 43 ) detect the rotational speed (ω) of the shaft ( 20 ). Issuing means ( 49 ) are also provided for issuing the detected rotational speed (ω).

Inventors

  • Volker Jahn
  • Pawel Knitter

Assignees

  • Fernsteuergeräte Kurt Oelsch GmbH

Dates

Publication Date
20260512
Application Date
20220308
Priority Date
20210412

Claims (15)

  1. 1 . An anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds comprising: a housing ( 16 ) and/or frame, a shaft ( 20 ) rotatably mounted in a bearing of the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame, wind capturing means ( 14 ) arranged on the shaft ( 20 ), wherein the wind capturing means ( 14 ) rotate the shaft ( 20 ) in response to wind, detection means ( 43 ) for detecting a rotation speed (ω) of the shaft ( 20 ), output means ( 49 ) for outputting the detected rotation speed (ω), a mount ( 60 ) for attaching the anemometer ( 10 ) to an object, a pivoting device ( 50 ) around which the anemometer ( 10 ) is pivotably mounted, the pivoting device ( 50 ) extending along a horizontal pivot axis ( 61 ) between the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame and the mount ( 60 ); and a pendulum weight ( 62 ) connected to a bottom ( 66 ) of the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame, the pendulum weight ( 62 ) acting a counterweight to prevent the anemometer from swinging sideways about the pivot axis ( 61 ), wherein the housing ( 16 ) and/or the frame have an electrical illuminating means ( 44 ) as a signal light, and wherein, for operation, the illuminating means ( 40 ) is supplied with voltage from a voltage source ( 46 ).
  2. 2 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the anemometer ( 10 ) is designed as a cup anemometer, wherein the wind capturing means ( 12 ) are formed as hemisphere-like cups ( 18 ).
  3. 3 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the anemometer ( 10 ) is designed as a vane anemometer, wherein the wind capturing means ( 12 ) are formed as vanes- or turbine-like vanes.
  4. 4 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the illuminating means ( 40 ) is designed as an LED.
  5. 5 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the illuminating means ( 44 ) is designed to illuminate in multiple colors.
  6. 6 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein electronic control means ( 40 ) are provided to control an illumination duration and color of the illuminating means.
  7. 7 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein at least two illuminating means are provided which are controlled simultaneously or alternately.
  8. 8 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage source ( 46 ) comprises an accumulator ( 42 ).
  9. 9 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage source ( 46 ) comprises a solar module ( 48 ) for voltage generation.
  10. 10 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein a twilight and/or proximity sensor for actuating the illuminating means.
  11. 11 . An anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds, comprising: a housing ( 16 ) and/or a frame, a shaft ( 20 ) rotatably mounted in a bearing of the housing ( 16 ) and/or the frame, a wind rotor ( 14 ) arranged on the shaft ( 20 ), wherein the wind rotor ( 14 ) rotates the shaft ( 20 ) in response to wind, a detector ( 43 ) for detecting a rotation speed (ω) of the shaft ( 20 ), an output ( 49 ) for outputting the detected rotation speed (ω), a signal light arranged in the housing ( 16 ) and/or on the frame, a voltage source ( 46 ) that supplies a voltage to the signal light, a mount ( 60 ) for attaching the anemometer ( 10 ) to an object, a pivoting device ( 50 ) around which the anemometer ( 10 ) is pivotably mounted, the pivoting device ( 50 ) extending along a horizontal pivot axis ( 61 ) between the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame and the mount ( 60 ); and a pendulum weight ( 62 ) connected at a bottom ( 66 ) of the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame, the pendulum weight ( 62 ) acting a counterweight to prevent the anemometer from swinging sideways about the pivot axis ( 61 ).
  12. 12 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the pendulum weight ( 62 ) is arranged below the bottom ( 66 ) of the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame and connected thereto by a rod ( 64 ).
  13. 13 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the voltage source ( 46 ) is an accumulator ( 42 ) arranged in the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame, and wherein the anemometer ( 10 ) includes a twilight sensor ( 47 ) configure to activate the illuminating means ( 40 ) upon darkness.
  14. 14 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the pivoting device ( 50 ) is mounted to a central main body ( 38 ) of the housing ( 16 ) and/or frame substantially centrally between the wind capturing means ( 14 ) and the pendulum weight ( 62 ).
  15. 15 . The anemometer ( 10 ) for measuring wind speeds according to claim 1 , wherein the wind capturing means ( 14 ) include a wind rotor ( 12 ), wherein the mount ( 60 ) include an attachment flange ( 58 ) configured to be rigidly and immovably connected to an object, wherein the anemometer ( 10 ) can pivot about the horizontal pivot axis ( 61 ) relative to the object, and wherein the pendulum weight ( 62 ) causes the wind rotor to remain in a substantially horizontal orientation.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application is a national stage application, filed under 35 U.S.C. § 371, of International Patent Application PCT/DE2022/100185, filed on Mar. 8, 2022, which claims the benefit of German Patent Application DE 20 2021 101 938.7, filed on Apr. 12, 2021. BACKGROUND Anemometers are devices for measuring wind speed. One of the most common types of anemometer is the so-called cup anemometer. In the cup anemometer, wind speed is measured using a wind rotor mounted on a shaft, wherein the wind rotor has a horizontal plane of rotation and a vertically oriented rotation axis. This wind rotor, typically consisting of at least two, but often three or four hemisphere-like cups, is driven by the wind. These hemisphere-like cups are arranged in a star-like pattern around a shaft. The shaft is rotatably mounted within a housing or frame. The wind interacts with the hemisphere-like cups and thus drives the shaft around its axis of rotation. The wind speed can be determined through the rotation speed of the shaft. The cup anemometer is a preferred measurement system due to its simple construction, relative maintenance-free nature, and robust mechanical design. Additionally, the system operates without requiring wind direction guidance. Furthermore, complex measurement techniques are not necessary, as a signal is directly generated either through optical or electromagnetic impulses. Cup anemometers are known, which have a mechanically functioning display, whose number of revolutions is represented by a clockwork mechanism. Only the wind strength causes the speed of the cup anemometer's rotation, which can be determined through the latter. For electromagnetic pulse generation, for example, a voltage generator is coupled with the shaft. The voltage generator produces an electric voltage proportional to the rotation speed, which can be converted into wind speed and then displayed using analog or digital evaluation and display means. A similar principle is employed by the so-called wind vane anemometer. The wind sets an impeller in motion, which rotates around a horizontal axis. The rotation speed of the impeller represents the wind speed. At very low wind speeds, the measurement can be somewhat imprecise due to the necessary overcoming of the starting resistance, which is still present even with relatively low frictional resistance in the pivot bearing of the wind vane. Modern wind vane anemometers are typically compact handheld devices designed for mobile operation. Larger, stationary wind vane assemblies with a weather vane for alignment with the wind direction are used at some weather stations. Otherwise, they are stationary and used for measuring relatively weak flows for research purposes in wind tunnels. Furthermore, ultrasonic anemometers are often used. Ultrasonic anemometers operate based on the principles of time-of-flight measurement or acoustic resonance. In time-of-flight measurement, it takes advantage of the fact that ultrasonic waves are carried by the medium in which they propagate, so the time of flight of signals over a fixed-length path depends on the flow through the measurement path. In acoustic resonance, multiple oscillating membranes are present within a cavity, which generate and receive acoustic ultrasonic waves. Through repeated reflection between reflectors, a quasi-standing wave perpendicular to the wind direction and a transverse wave parallel to the wind direction are generated. When air flows along the axis between the reflectors, it influences the wave propagation speed and creates a phase shift, from which the wind speed can be calculated. Beacons are also known to signal the position of mobile or stationary objects. Beacons are mostly electrically powered light sources that generate pulsating or continuously radiating light signals. These light signals are often of different colors and also have varying meanings. They are used particularly for determining the position of an object or drawing attention to an object at a specific location. Such beacons are often employed on tall buildings, chimneys, antennas, construction machinery, cranes, or power plants, such as wind turbines. They signal to airplanes or helicopters, for example, that a tall object is located there. In maritime navigation, beacons, especially for position determination, are well-known. In road traffic, beacons are used for heavy transport operations. DE 36 05 462 A1 describes a method for ensuring safe operation of self-propelled boom cranes by forming stability signals from the sensors of the supports and axes, and strength signals from the sensors of the crane components. Strength sensors can also be installed in the supports and axes. The sensors can also be designed as inclinometers to limit the crane inclination, as anemometers to limit wind influence on the crane, and the like. From DE 10 2014 000 652 A1, it is known that a wind turbine and a crane are arranged on the same pla