The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 17, 1991
Filed:
Dec. 19, 1989
Michael M Ladd, Renton, WA (US);
The Boeing Company, Seattle, WA (US);
Abstract
An apparatus and method of determining the humidity of ambient air surrounding an aircraft in flight are disclosed. Air is captured as the aircraft flies. Measurements for calculating the mass flow rate of the captured air are made. The captured air is dehumidified in a moisture extractor. A flow of moisture and aa flow of dehumidified air exit from the water extractor. The mass flow rate of the moisture exiting from the moisture extractor is measured. The humidity of the captured air is calculated based on the respective mass flows and the efficiency of the moisture extractor. Because the mass flow measurements and the efficiency of the moisture extractor depend, in part, on the humidity of the captured air, an assumed humidity value is used at the beginning of the calculations. The assumed humidity is compared to the calculated humidity. If the newly calculated humidity is approximately equal to that used in the calculations, the value is output as the humidity of ambient air. If they are not approximately equal, the calculations are repeated until the calculated humidity value and the assumed humidity value are approximately equal. As the aircaft flies, new ambient air is constantly capatured, measurements are made, and the humidity value is recalculated. The crew and equipment are thus provided with an accurate and constantly updated humidity value of ambient air during the flight.