Device for monitoring a probe for measuring the pressure of a flow

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9574963-B2
Application number	US-201514638623-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 4, 2015
Priority date	Mar 4, 2014
Publication date	Feb 21, 2017
Grant date	Feb 21, 2017

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for monitoring a probe for measuring the pressure of a flow; the probe comprising an internal volume; the device comprising: an acoustic transmitter and receiver, a connection intended to connect the device to the probe, for the transmitter to transmit an acoustic signal in the internal volume and for the receiver to pick up an acoustic signal in the internal volume. The device also comprises an electronic module comprising: an audio transmission and reception circuit, linked to the transmitter and to the receiver by analog link, a non-erasable memory comprising a digital encryption key, an erasable read-only memory, a digital communication interface, configured to transmit or receive digital signals between the outside of the device and the audio circuit, the non-erasable memory and the erasable read-only memory.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for monitoring a probe for measuring the pressure of a flow; the probe comprising an internal volume and at least one orifice connected with the outside of the volume; the device comprising:
an acoustic transmitter and receiver,
connection means connecting the device to the probe, so that the transmitter transmits an acoustic signal that is propagated in the internal volume and so that the receiver picks up an acoustic signal observed in the internal volume,
an electronic module comprising:
an audio transmission and reception circuit, linked to the transmitter and to the receiver by an analog link,
a non-erasable memory comprising a digital encryption key,
an erasable read-only memory,
a digital communication interface, configured to transmit or receive digital signals between the outside of the device and the audio circuit, the non-erasable memory and the erasable read-only memory.

2. The device according to claim 1 , in which the electronic module further comprises a sensor capable of measuring a temperature in proximity to the transmitter; the digital communication interface being configured to transmit the temperature measured by the sensor to the outside of the device.

3. The device according to claim 1 , in which the audio circuit has a sampling frequency greater than or equal to 22 kHz.

4. The device according to claim 1 , in which the digital communication interface is a USB port.

5. The device according to claim 1 , configured to monitor a total pressure probe, static pressure probe, Pitot/static probe or totally or partially pneumatic incidence probe.

6. The device according to claim 1 , in which the electronic module comprises a connection circuit making it possible to couple the interface to at least one other element of the device out of: the audio transmission and reception circuit, the non-erasable memory, the erasable read-only memory, and the digital communication interface.

7. The device according to claim 6 , in which the connection circuit is driven by the digital communication interface.

8. Apparatus for monitoring a probe for measuring the pressure of a flow, comprising:
a monitoring device according to claim 1 ,
a processing unit comprising a digital communication interface,
digital link means between the digital communication interfaces of the monitoring device and of the processing unit.

9. Apparatus according to claim 8 , in which the processing unit is a computer, a tablet or a smart phone.

10. Apparatus according to claim 8 , in which the digital communication interfaces are two USB ports, and the digital link means of which are a USB cable.

11. Apparatus according to claim 8 , in which the processing unit is configured to:
control, via the audio circuit, the transmission of an acoustic signal that is propagated in the internal volume of the probe,
receive and analyze an acoustic signal observed in the internal volume, picked up by the receiver and transmitted by the audio circuit.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11 , in which the electronic module further comprises a sensor capable of measuring a temperature in proximity to the transmitter; the digital communication interface being configured to transmit the temperature measured by the sensor to the outside of the device, and the processing unit of which is configured to receive the temperature measured by the sensor and to correct the observed acoustic signal as a function of the measured temperature.

13. Apparatus according to claim 11 , in which the processing unit is configured to receive and analyze the encryption key stored in the device, and authorize the analysis of the acoustic signal transmitted by the audio circuit.

14. Apparatus according to claim 11 , in which the processing unit is configured to deliver a diagnosis of operation of the pressure measurement probe, based on the analysis of the acoustic signal transmitted by the audio circuit.

Assignees

• Thales Sa

Inventors

• Robert François

Classifications

• G01P21/025

  for measuring speed of fluids; for measuring speed of bodies relative to fluids (for measuring volume flow G01F25/10) · CPC title

• G01P5/16 Primary

  using Pitot tubes {, e.g. Machmeter} · CPC title

• G01L27/00 Primary

  Testing or calibrating of apparatus for measuring fluid pressure · CPC title

• G01L11/04

  by acoustic means · CPC title