Abstract: A bucket wheel assembly for use in a flow measuring device is disclosed wh comprises a one-piece, lightweight molded plastic disk having a plurality of roughly conical cups connected to a central ring. The central ring is mounted on a shaft and the disk rotates in response to fluid pressure in order to generate a signal proportional to flow velocity. The bucket wheel is advantageous over prior art versions in that it is responsive only to the horizontal component of flow velocity, when rigidly held, and thus gives truer and more accurate information with regard to current flow, particularly when used in current meters measuring flowing streams and rivers.

Abstract: A wading rod for use in measuring depth and current flow velocity in streams, rivers, and the like is disclosed which comprises a base, a lightweight, non-metallic main rod extending from the base having gradations for measuring depth, a lightweight, non-metallic adjustable sliding rod having a locking means, a tailfin receiving means, a receiving means for a current meter, signal transmission means capable of transmitting a signal proportional to flow velocity from a current meter to a signal receiving means, said signal transmission means being disposed inside of said sliding rod, and a level indicator. The wading rod of the present invention is lighter, reads depth more accurately, is more convenient to use, and is more durable, accurate and versatile than prior art wading rods. This rod also operates in rivers of high specific electrical conductance, an improvement over prior art rods which tended to shunt out the meter signal when collecting velocity data in such rivers.

Abstract: A current meter for measuring velocity in a moving fluid is disclosed which omprises a one-piece plastic bucket wheel retained by a yoke or other suspension device and a signal generating device comprised of fiber optic cables which make and break an infrared light path in order to generate a signal. The fiber optic cables are connected to a vertical shaft which rotates when the pressure of a moving fluid is applied to the bucket wheel, and the signal generated thereby is proportional to the velocity of the fluid. The current meter of the present invention is adapted to be used with a variety of support equipment, such as a wading rod, an ice rod, or a sounding cable with a hanger strap, and thus can be used to measure flow velocity in deep, shallow, slow, or swift streams, as well as in ice-covered rivers.

Abstract: A lightweight plastic reel for retaining and dispensing tagline used in the measurement of small wadable streams and rivers is disclosed which comprises an outer plastic casing, a hollow plastic handle connected to the casing capable of receiving a support rod used in stationing the reel on the bank of a river, an inner plastic spool having spool locking means, a central shaft, and a simplified drag assembly comprised primarily of two metal plates which when brought together provide a braking action on the rotation of the spool. The drag assembly of the reel is constructed so as to be virtually maintenance-free, and, unlike prior art reels, will not foul up when it encounters mud, dirt, grit or other conditions normally encountered in stream measurements.