Systems and methods for determining wind velocity

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10935564-B2
Application number	US-201916295094-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2019
Priority date	Mar 7, 2019
Publication date	Mar 2, 2021
Grant date	Mar 2, 2021

Abstract

In one embodiment, a system includes a vehicle, one or more probes coupled to the vehicle, and a controller. The vehicle is operable to traverse a distance. The one or more probes are operable to measure wind pressure and generate one or more wind pressure measurements. The controller is operable to receive the one or more wind pressure measurements from the one or more probes, determine a wind angle relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements, and determine a wind speed relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements and the wind angle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a vehicle operable to traverse a distance;
one or more probes coupled to the vehicle, wherein the one or more probes are operable to measure wind pressure and generate one or more wind pressure measurements; and
a controller, wherein the controller is operable to:
receive the one or more wind pressure measurements from the one or more probes;
determine a wind angle relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements;
determine a wind speed relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements and the wind angle; and
determine whether the vehicle is susceptible to wind-induced tip-over based at least in part on the wind angle and the wind speed.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the controller is located within the vehicle; and
the controller determines the wind speed when the vehicle is in motion.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the one or more probes coupled to the vehicle are located in compliance with one or more Association of American Railroads (AAR) clearance plate diagram standards.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein:
the one or more probes comprise a first probe and a second probe;
the first probe is coupled to a top surface of a front portion of the vehicle on a first side of the top surface;
the second probe is coupled to the top surface of the front portion of the vehicle on a second side of the top surface opposite the first side; and
at least one of the first probe and the second probe is coupled to the vehicle outside of aerodynamic separation zones over 360 degrees of relative wind angles of the vehicle.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more probes is coupled to the vehicle by at least one of the following:
one or more magnets;
one or more welds; and
one or more bolts.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the one or more probes is fixed to the vehicle such that each of the one or more probes is restricted from movement independent of the vehicle.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle is one of the following:
a locomotive;
a railroad car;
a bus;
a truck;
an aircraft; or
a shipping vessel.

8. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a controller, one or more wind pressure measurements from one or more probes, wherein:
the one or more probes are coupled to a vehicle; and
the vehicle is operable to traverse a distance;

determining, by the controller, a wind angle relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements;
determining, by the controller, a wind speed relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements and the wind angle; and
determine whether the vehicle is susceptible to wind-induced tip-over based at least in part on the wind angle and the wind speed.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the controller is located within the vehicle; and
the controller determines the wind speed when the vehicle is in motion.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the one or more probes coupled to the vehicle are located in compliance with one or more Association of American Railroads (AAR) clearance plate diagram standards.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein:
the one or more probes comprise a first probe and a second probe;
the first probe is coupled to a top surface of a front portion of the vehicle on a first side of the top surface;
the second probe is coupled to the top surface of the front portion of the vehicle on a second side of the top surface opposite the first side; and
at least one of the first probe and the second probe is coupled to the vehicle outside of aerodynamic separation zones over 360 degrees of relative wind angles of the vehicle.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more probes is coupled to the vehicle by at least one of the following:
one or more magnets;
one or more welds; and
one or more bolts.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the one or more probes is fixed to the vehicle such that each of the one or more probes is restricted from movement independent of the vehicle.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the vehicle is one of the following:
a locomotive;
a railroad car;
a bus;
a truck;
an aircraft; or
a shipping vessel.

15. One or more computer-readable storage media embodying instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
receiving one or more wind pressure measurements from one or more probes, wherein:
the one or more probes are coupled to a vehicle; and
the vehicle is operable to traverse a distance;

determining a wind angle relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements;
determining a wind speed relative to the vehicle using the one or more wind pressure measurements and the wind angle; and
determine whether the vehicle is susceptible to wind-induced tip-over based at least in part on the wind angle and the wind speed.

16. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein:
the controller is located within the vehicle; and
the controller determines the wind speed when the vehicle is in motion.

17. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein the one or more probes coupled to the vehicle are located in compliance with one or more Association of American Railroads (AAR) clearance plate diagram standards.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein:
the one or more probes comprise a first probe and a second probe;
the first probe is coupled to a top surface of a front portion of the vehicle on a first side of the top surface;
the second probe is coupled to the top surface of the front portion of the vehicle on a second side of the top surface opposite the first side; and
at least one of the first probe and the second probe is coupled to the vehicle outside of aerodynamic separation zones over 360 degrees of relative wind angles of the vehicle.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more probes is coupled to the vehicle by at least one of the following:
one or more magnets;
one or more welds; and
one or more bolts.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media of claim 15 , wherein each of the one or more probes is fixed to the vehicle such that each of the one or more probes is restricted from movement independent of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Bnsf Railway Co
• Airflow Sciences Corp

Inventors

• Dumont Brian J
• Paul James
• Fleming Matthew
• Harris Paul
• Wills Corey D
• Pasta Corey T
• Gabler Paul K
• Morgart Dennis W

Classifications

• G01P5/14 Primary

  by measuring differences of pressure in the fluid · CPC title

• B61C5/00

  Locomotives or motor railcars with IC engines or gas turbines (characterised by power transmission B61C9/00; engines F02) · CPC title

• B61F9/005

  by use of non-mechanical means, e.g. acoustic or electromagnetic devices · CPC title

• G01P13/045

  with speed indication · CPC title

• B61L15/0081

  On-board diagnosis or maintenance · CPC title