IP Library Granted Patent US 7,290,444
Granted Patent B2
US 7,290,444 · App. 11/268,509 · Granted Nov 6, 2007

Measurement object for wind tunnel test

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,290,444
App. No.
11/268,509
Granted
Nov 6, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A pressure sensitive paint is applied to the surface of a measurement object main body of a wind tunnel and is irradiated with an excitation light from a luminescent sheet and excited to generate phosphorescence so that an intensity of the phosphorescence that corresponds to the pressure on the surface of the measurement object main body can be measured to determine a pressure distribution on the surface. The luminescent sheet is disposed within the measurement object main body made of a light transmitting material. The entirety of the pressure sensitive paint can be uniformly irradiated with the excitation light without applying the excitation light from a plurality of light sources disposed outside the measurement object main body, thereby enhancing the accuracy with which the pressure distribution is measured. The flexible luminescent sheet conforms to the shape of the three-dimensional curved surface of the measurement object main body.

Claims (26)

1. A measurement object for a wind tunnel test, comprising:

a measurement object main body; and

a pressure sensitive paint applied on a surface of the measurement object main body;

a light source irradiating an excitation light to the pressure sensitive paint and exciting the pressure sensitive paint to generate phosphorescence so that an intensity of phosphorescence that varies according to pressure on the surface of the measurement object main body can be measured to determine a pressure distribution on the surface of the measurement object main body,

wherein the light source is made of a light transmitting material and disposed within the measurement object main body.

2. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 1 , wherein the light source comprises a luminescent sheet including a flexible transparent sheet and a plurality of luminous bodies embedded within the flexible transparent sheet.

3. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure sensitive paint is disposed along an outer wall face of the measurement object main body, the luminescent sheet of the light source is disposed along an inner wall face of the measurement object main body which is hollow, and a filling member is disposed along an inner side of the luminescent sheet.

4. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 2 , wherein the plurality of luminous bodies are arranged in a predetermined lattice pattern in the flexible transparent sheet, and are spaced a predetermined distance relative to each other.

5. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 2 , wherein the flexible transparent sheet is formed of a flexible transparent silicone base with a light diffusion layer formed thereon.

6. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 5 , wherein the light diffusion layer is silicon.

7. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 4 , and further including an electrical connector being provided for operatively connecting the plurality of luminous bodies relative to each other.

8. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 7 , wherein the electrical connector is selected from the group consisting of a copper wire, an etched pattern and a conductive polymer.

9. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 3 , wherein the filling material is a low repulsion urethane material.

10. The measurement object for a wind tunnel test according to claim 1 , wherein the light transmitting material is flexible and conforms to a three-dimensional shape of the measurement object main body.

11. A system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test, comprising:

a pressure sensitive paint adapted to be applied on a surface of a measurement object main body;

a light source adapted to be positioned within the measurement object main body for irradiating an excitation light to the pressure sensitive paint and exciting the pressure sensitive paint to generate phosphorescence so that an intensity of phosphorescence that varies according to pressure on the surface of the measurement object main body can be measured to determine a pressure distribution on the surface of the measurement object main body, said light source being made of a light transmitting material.

12. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 11 , wherein the light source comprises a luminescent sheet including a flexible transparent sheet and a plurality of luminous bodies embedded within the flexible transparent sheet.

13. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 12 , wherein the luminescent sheet of the light source is sandwiched between an inner wall face of the measurement object main body and a filling member which fills a hollow portion of the measurement main body inside of the luminescent sheet.

14. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 12 , wherein the plurality of luminous bodies are arranged in a predetermined lattice pattern in the flexible transparent sheet, and are spaced a predetermined distance relative to each other.

15. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 12 , wherein the flexible transparent sheet is formed of a flexible transparent silicone base with a light diffusion layer formed thereon.

16. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 15 , wherein the light diffusion layer is silicon.

17. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 14 , and further including an electrical connector being provided for operatively connecting the plurality of luminous bodies relative to each other.

18. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 17 , wherein the electrical connector is selected from the group consisting of a copper wire, an etched pattern and a conductive polymer.

19. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 13 , wherein the filling material is a low repulsion urethane material.

20. The system for measuring an object in a wind tunnel test according to claim 11 , wherein the light transmitting material is flexible and conforms to a three-dimensional shape of the measurement object main body.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 21, 2022
From: HONDA PATENTS & TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA, LLC
To: AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO., INC.
Reel/Frame 061497/0609 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INCORRECT INSERTION OF A COMMA FROM THE ASSIGNEE COMPANY NAME PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 027470 FRAME 0322. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE CORRECT NAME OF THE ASSIGNEE IS HONDA PATENTS & TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA, LLC. Recorded Jan 9, 2013
From: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
To: HONDA PATENTS & TECHNOLOGIES NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 029598/0189 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 3, 2012
From: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
To: HONDA PATENTS & TECHNOLOGIES, NORTH AMERICA, LLC
Reel/Frame 027470/0322 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 23, 2006
From: KOBAYASHI, MASAKI
To: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 017208/0201 →