Linear variable differential pitot tube

1 . A linear variable differential pitot tube, comprising:

a primary solenoid;

a first secondary solenoid;

a second secondary solenoid, wherein the primary solenoid is positioned in between the first secondary solenoid and the second secondary solenoid, wherein the first secondary solenoid and the second secondary solenoid have identical geometries; and

a high permeability magnetic core, the high permeability magnetic core being structured to move relative to the primary solenoid, the first secondary solenoid, and the second secondary solenoid; and

a cylindrical housing having a wall and an inner bore, wherein the primary solenoid, the first secondary solenoid, and the second secondary solenoid are provided within the wall, and wherein the magnetic core is movable linearly along a longitudinal axis of the housing within the bore, wherein the longitudinal axis defines a flow direction through the housing, wherein the housing includes: (i) a static inlet provided in the wall adjacent a first end of the housing, the static inlet having a longitudinal axis that extends transversely to the longitudinal axis and the flow direction through the housing, and (ii) a stagnation pressure inlet provided at a second, terminal end of the housing opposite the first end of the housing, wherein the stagnation pressure inlet comprises an axial opening about the longitudinal axis of the housing that faces and is aligned with the flow direction through the housing, and wherein the primary solenoid, the first secondary solenoid and the second secondary solenoid are positioned in between the static inlet and the stagnation pressure inlet.

2 . The linear variable differential pitot tube according to claim 1 , wherein the first secondary solenoid is positioned adjacent to a first end of the primary solenoid and the second secondary solenoid is positioned adjacent to a second end of the primary solenoid opposite the first end of the primary solenoid.

3 . The linear variable differential pitot tube according to claim 2 , further comprising a spring having a first end coupled to an end of the magnetic core and a second end coupled to a first end of the housing.

4 . The linear variable differential pitot tube according to claim 3 , further comprising a spring tension adjuster coupled to the first end of the housing and to the spring for adjusting a tension of the spring prior to implementation in a flow of fluid surrounding the linear variable differential pitot tube.

5 . The linear variable differential pitot tube according to claim 4 , wherein the spring is located immediately adjacent to the static inlet.

6 . A system for measuring a localized velocity of a flow of a fluid, comprising:

a linear variable differential pitot tube according to claim 1 ;

an AC current source coupled to the primary solenoid for providing an alternating current to the primary solenoid for exciting the primary solenoid;

a voltage sensing assembly for sensing a first voltage of the first secondary solenoid and outputting a first signal indicative of the first voltage and sensing a second voltage of the second secondary solenoid and outputting a second signal indicative of the second voltage; and

a controller coupled to the voltage sensing assembly, the controller being structured and configured to receive the first signal and the second signal and to determine the localized velocity based on the first signal and the second signal.

7 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the first secondary solenoid is positioned adjacent to a first end of the primary solenoid and second secondary solenoid is positioned adjacent to a second end of the primary solenoid opposite the first end.

8 . The system according to claim 6 , wherein the linear variable differential pitot tube comprises a spring having a first end coupled to an end of the magnetic core and a second end coupled to a first end of the housing.

9 . The system tube according to claim 8 , wherein the linear variable differential pitot tube comprises a spring tensions adjuster coupled to the first end of the housing and to the spring for adjusting a tension of the spring.

10 . The system according to claim 9 , wherein the spring is located immediately adjacent to the static inlet.

11 . A method of measuring a localized velocity of a flow of a fluid, comprising:

providing an alternating current to the primary solenoid of a linear variable differential pitot tube according to claim 1 for exciting the primary solenoid;

sensing a first voltage of the first secondary solenoid and outputting a first signal indicative of the first voltage and sensing a second voltage of the second secondary solenoid and outputting a second signal indicative of the second voltage; and

receiving the first signal and the second signal and determining the localized velocity based on the first signal and the second signal.