Wake test instrumentation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9784578-B2
Application number	US-201514751928-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2015
Priority date	Jun 26, 2015
Publication date	Oct 10, 2017
Grant date	Oct 10, 2017

Abstract

A wake test instrumentation and more particularly, systems and methods for determining wake velocities and directions are provided. The wake test instrument includes a linkage system mounted to a base and a pole pivotally mounted to the linkage system and which comprises a hydrofoil system. The wake test instrument further includes a hydrofoil system mounted to the pole. The wake test instrument further includes a water flow meter mounted to the pole which is structured to measure wake parameters.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wake test instrument, comprising:
a linkage system mounted to a base;
a pole pivotally mounted to the linkage system and which comprises a hydrofoil system; and
a water flow meter mounted to the pole which is structured to measure wake parameters.

2. The wake test instrument of claim 1 , wherein the base includes adjustable feet.

3. The wake test instrument of claim 1 , wherein the linkage system is a four bar linkage system, wherein one bar of the four bar linkage system comprises a portion of the pole which is hinge mounted to two parallel bars of the linkage system such that the pole remains in a substantially vertical orientation in a lowered position and raised position.

4. The wake test instrument of claim 3 , further comprising an inertial measurement unit mounted to the pole.

5. The wake test instrument of claim 3 , wherein the hydrofoil system is a plurality of hydrofoils rotatably mounted to the pole.

6. The wake test instrument of claim 1 , wherein the hydrofoil system includes a plurality of hydrofoils each of which are hollow, and which are mounted to the pole such that they swivel along a longitudinal axis of the pole.

7. The wake test instrument of claim 1 , wherein the hydrofoil system includes a plurality of hydrofoils at least one of which includes a watertight compartment.

8. The wake test instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a means such as winch or hydraulic actuator mounted to the base and which is structured to raise and lower the pole.

9. The wake test instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a locking system mounted to an upright bar of the linkage system, the locking system comprising a plurality of pin holes aligning with a hole of another bar of the linkage system such that a pin can be inserted through the pin holes and the hole when in alignment.

10. The wake test instrument of claim 1 , wherein the wake test instrument is mounted to a vessel that is towed or powered behind the vessel whose wake is to be measured.

11. The wake test instrument of claim 1 , further comprising a dampening system mounted to the pole.

12. A wake test instrument, comprising:
a four bar linkage system mounted to a base;
a pole pivotally mounted to two bars of the four bar linkage system such that the pole remains in a substantially vertical orientation in a lowered position and raised position;
a plurality of hydrofoils rotatably mounted to the pole; and
a water flow meter mounted to the pole which is structured to measure wake parameters.

13. The wake test instrument of claim 12 , wherein the base includes adjustable feet.

14. The wake test instrument of claim 12 , wherein the hydrofoils are hollow, include a watertight compartment, and are mounted to the pole such that they swivel along a longitudinal axis of the pole.

15. The wake test instrument of claim 12 , further comprising an inertial measurement unit mounted to the pole.

16. The wake test instrument of claim 12 , further comprising a dampening system mounted to the pole.

17. The wake test instrument of claim 12 , further comprising a winch system which is structured to raise and lower the pole via the four bar linkage system.

18. The wake test instrument of claim 12 , further comprising a locking system mounted to an upright bar of the four bar linkage system, the locking system comprising two plates with a plurality of aligned pin holes and a bar of the four linkage system includes a hole which aligns with the plurality of aligned pin holes at different height positions such that a pin is insertable therethrough at different raised and lowered positions.

19. The wake test instrument of claim 12 , wherein the pole is multiple poles connected together by a collar.

20. A wake test instrument, comprising:
a first set of parallel bars pivotally mounted to a second set of parallel bars forming a closed loop system;
a pole forming a part of the second set of parallel bars, which is pivotally mounted to end of the first set of parallel bars such that the pole remains in a substantially vertical orientation in a lowered position and raised position;
a plurality of hydrofoils rotatably mounted to the pole such that they swivel along a longitudinal axis of the pole;
a water flow meter mounted to the pole which is structured to measure wake parameters;
a winch system structured to raise and lower the pole;
a locking system mounted to an upright bar of the second set of parallel bars, the locking system comprising two plates with a plurality of aligned pin holes and a bar of the first set of parallel bars includes a hole which aligns with the plurality of aligned pin holes at different height positions such that a pin is insertable therethrough at different raised and lowered positions of the pole; and
a dampening system mounted to the pole.

Assignees

• Lockheed Corp

Inventors

• Bonitsky David J
• Briggs David C

Classifications

• G01C13/002

  Measuring the movement of open water · CPC title

• B63B71/00 Primary

  Designing vessels; Predicting their performance · CPC title

• G01C13/00 Primary

  Surveying specially adapted to open water, e.g. sea, lake, river or canal (liquid level metering G01F) · CPC title

• B63B9/00

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic