Patent US2122611A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6237405B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Apparatus and method for predicting clear air turbulence
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
•
Filing: 1999-11-01
•
Granted: 2001-05-29
•
Expires: 2019-11-01
Abstract
Abstract The invention provides a system for passive measurement of atmospheric temperature using a passive direction detector for detecting the energy of a narrow wavelength band emanating from a volume of atmospheric gas. The resulting signal can be associated with an effective temperature. The effective temperature can be associated with an effective range. The system generates a temperature map which can determine, at predetermined time intervals, atmospheric temperatures in an azimuth plane associated with a predefined range from the detector. The temperature map can then be used to calculate temperature gradients that in turn can be used to compute the average Richardson number over an atmospheric layer and other atmospheric conditions to predict the presence of clear air turbulence.
Inventors
- 👤 Kenrick R. Leslie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 23:52
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01J; G01J5/00; G01J5/0014; G01S; G01S11/00; G01S11/02; G01W; G01W1/00; G01W2001/003
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
An apparatus for determining atmospheric conditions based on the calculation of the layered average Richardson number, Ri L , comprising: first temperature measurement means for measuring a plurality of temperatures at an altitude Z 1 ; and means for calculating ∇T, the vector temperature gradient, over said altitude Z 1 ; second temperature measurement means for determining Δθ/Δz , the vertical lapse rate of the potential temperature, where θ is the potential temperature and z is the vertical direction; wind shear computational means for determining ∂V/∂z, the vertical wind shear, said wind shear computational means generates said ∂V/∂z signal according to the relation ∂ V ∂ z = f ∂ V g ∂ z - V 2 ∂ K ∂ z 2 VK + f where V is the gradient wind, V g is the geostrophic wind, f is the Coriolis parameter resulting from the earth's rotation, K is the curvature of the flow which is the reciprocal of the radius of curvature of a streamline; and ∂V g /∂z is the vertical shear of the geostrophic wind; and calculation means responsive to said second temperature measurement means and said wind shear means for calculating Ri L using the equation: Ri L = ( g θ ) ( Δ θ Δ z ) Δ V Δ z 2 where g is acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
239 words
An apparatus for determining atmospheric conditions based on the calculation of the layered average Richardson number, Ri L , comprising: first temperature measurement means for measuring a plurality of temperatures at an altitude Z 1 ; and means for calculating ∇T, the vector temperature gradient, over said altitude Z 1 ; second temperature measurement means for determining Δθ/Δz , the vertical lapse rate of the potential temperature, where θ is the potential temperature and z is the vertical direction; wind shear computational means for determining ∂V/∂z, the vertical wind shear, said wind shear computational means generates said ∂V/∂z signal according to the relation ∂ V ∂ z = f ∂ V g ∂ z - V 2 ∂ K ∂ z 2 VK + f where V is the gradient wind, V g is the geostrophic wind, f is the Coriolis parameter resulting from the earth's rotation, K is the curvature of the flow which is the reciprocal of the radius of curvature of a streamline; and ∂V g /∂z is the vertical shear of the geostrophic wind; and calculation means responsive to said second temperature measurement means and said wind shear means for calculating Ri L using the equation: Ri L = ( g θ ) ( Δ θ Δ z ) Δ V Δ z 2 where g is acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 , further comprising calculation means responsive to said wind shear means for calculating the strength of the turbulence, ε, using the equation: ɛ = ( K H ( Δ V Δ z ) ) 2 ( K M K H - Ri L ) .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus recited in claim 2 , further comprising means for predicting clear air turbulence comprising: means for comparing Ri L against a threshold value; means for determining whether ε is increasing or decreasing; and means for indicating the probability for clear air turbulence when Ri L is equal to or less than the threshold value and ε is increasing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus recited in claim 3 , wherein said threshold value is 0.5.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is positioned in an aircraft.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein said apparatus is fixed to the ground.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 , wherein said first temperature measurement means includes a passive infrared detector for generating a plurality of temperature signals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said first temperature measurement means includes a passive millimeter wave or passive micrometer wave detector for generating a plurality of temperature signals.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said first temperature measurement means further determines said temperatures in a map at an effective range R eff from said apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus recited in claim 1 wherein said first temperature measurement means comprises: detector means for detecting radiation L(λ) having a wavelength λ from a predetermined direction; and computational means, responsive to said detector means, for computing a value T eff representing the temperature of the atmosphere at an effective range R eff from said detector means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said detector means includes a passive infrared detector for detecting said radiation L(λ).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus recited in claim 10 wherein said detector means includes a passive millimeter wave or a passive micrometer wave detector for detecting said radiation L(λ).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus recited in claim 11 wherein said radiation L(λ) corresponds to the energy resulting from the emission of atmospheric CO 2 at said wavelength λ from a portion of the atmosphere.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus recited in claim 11 , wherein said wavelength λ is between 12.2 μm and 13.0 μm.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus recited in claim 11 , wherein said wavelength λ is 12.3 μm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus recited in claim 15 , wherein said effective range R eff is approximately 120 km.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus recited in claim 10 , further comprising mapping means, responsive to said computational means, for mapping said temperatures T eff along said predetermined direction.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus recited in claim 17 , wherein said mapping means includes means for generating said values T eff at predetermined time intervals.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus recited in claim 17 , wherein said mapping means includes scanning means for varying said predetermined direction in order to generate a planar temperature map.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus recited in claim 19 , wherein said scanning means further varies said predetermined direction vertically so as to generate said temperature map for a plurality of altitudes.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus recited in claim 19 , wherein said scanning means is geographically fixed and said temperature map represents isotherms at a predetermined altitude.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
The apparatus recited in claim 21 , wherein said predetermined altitude is a function of R eff .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus recited in claim 19 , wherein said scanning means is secured to an aircraft and said predetermined direction is scanned in the azimuth plane resulting in a horizontal temperature map.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus recited in claim 23 , wherein said scanning means further additionally varies said predetermined direction vertically so as to generate a plurality of said horizontal temperature maps for a plurality of altitudes.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus recited in claim 21 , wherein said wavelength λ is between 12.2 μm and 13 μm and wherein said detector means includes an infrared radiometer and scanning means for scanning said radiometer in vertical and horizontal directions.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for determining atmospheric conditions based on the calculation of the layered average Richardson number, Ri L , comprising: first temperature measurement means for measuring a plurality of temperatures at an altitude Z 1 ; means for calculating ∇T, the vector temperature gradient, over said altitude Z 1 ; second temperature measurement means for determining Δθ/Δz, the vertical lapse rate of the potential temperature, where θ is the potential temperature and z is the vertical direction; wind shear computational means for determining ∂V/∂z, the vertical wind shear, said wind shear computational means generates said ∂V/∂z signal according to the relation ∂ V ∂ z = f ∂ V g ∂ z 2 VK + f where V is the gradient wind, V g is the geostrophic wind, f is the Coriolis parameter resulting from the earth's rotation, K is the curvature of the flow and ∂V g /∂z is the vertical shear of the geostrophic wind; and calculation means responsive to said second temperature measurement means and said wind shear means for calculating Ri L using the equation: Ri L = ( g θ ) ( Δ θ Δ z ) Δ V Δ z 2 where g is acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
217 words
An apparatus for determining atmospheric conditions based on the calculation of the layered average Richardson number, Ri L , comprising: first temperature measurement means for measuring a plurality of temperatures at an altitude Z 1 ; means for calculating ∇T, the vector temperature gradient, over said altitude Z 1 ; second temperature measurement means for determining Δθ/Δz, the vertical lapse rate of the potential temperature, where θ is the potential temperature and z is the vertical direction; wind shear computational means for determining ∂V/∂z, the vertical wind shear, said wind shear computational means generates said ∂V/∂z signal according to the relation ∂ V ∂ z = f ∂ V g ∂ z 2 VK + f where V is the gradient wind, V g is the geostrophic wind, f is the Coriolis parameter resulting from the earth's rotation, K is the curvature of the flow and ∂V g /∂z is the vertical shear of the geostrophic wind; and calculation means responsive to said second temperature measurement means and said wind shear means for calculating Ri L using the equation: Ri L = ( g θ ) ( Δ θ Δ z ) Δ V Δ z 2 where g is acceleration due to gravity.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
57 words
The apparatus recited in claim 26 , further comprising calculation means responsive to said wind shear means for calculating the strength of the turbulence, ε, using the equation: ɛ = ( K H ( Δ V Δ z ) ) 2 ( K M K H - Ri L ) .
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus recited in claim 27 , further comprising means for predicting clear air turbulence comprising: means for comparing Ri L against a threshold value; means for determining whether ε is increasing or decreasing; and means for indicating the probability for clear air turbulence when Ri L is equal to or less than the threshold value and ε is increasing.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3380055A
Cited
US3359557A
Cited
US4266130A
Cited
US4346595A
Cited
US5117689A
Cited
US5974875A
Cited
US6000285A
Cited
US6070460A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-05-28 | 2004-11-27 | 2005-05-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-05-28 | 2008-11-27 | 2009-05-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-05-28 | 2012-11-27 | 2013-05-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |