A pivoted-vane, current meter

The design and application of a pivoted-vane, current meter are described. The purpose of the meter is to measure turbulence parameters in natural waters, such as estuaries or the ocean. The self-aligning instrument can be cable suspended and is capable of simultaneously measuring horizontal and vertical components of velocity and their turbulent fluctuations. A variable frequency oscillator using a pendulum potentiometer as the sensing device provides a signal specifying the angular deviation of the velocity vector from horizontal. An axial, ducted impeller indicates the speed of the flow in the direction of the mean current. Contemporary integrated circuits and solid state components are used in the electronic circuit design to provide digital output signals. Coaxial cables, 150m in length, transmit the data from a remote collection area to a control point where the data storage and read out systems are located.