Abstract: An opto-mechanical anemometer is particularly adapted to measure fluctuations in the flow of a turbulent fluid such as can be applied in the measurement of wind turbulence for meteorological purposes, the turbulent flow of fluid through a pipe or conduit, or the flow of air through a tube from the breath of a patient for medical diagnostics. An optical fiber is positioned in the flow path of the fluid and fixed motionless at one end. The free end is caused to bend in response to fluctuations in the flow. A beam of light is projected out the free end of the optical fiber toward a stationary optical detector placed in the path of the beam, which is sensitive to the point of maximum intensity of the beam of light. Deflection of the optical fiber translates into movement of the light beam over the detector, allowing measurement of the speed and direction of the fluid flow in two orthogonal planes.

Abstract: An opto-mechanical anemometer is particularly adapted to measure fluctuations in the flow of a turbulent fluid such as can be applied in the measurement of wind turbulence for meteorological purposes, the turbulent flow of fluid through a pipe or conduit, or the flow of air through a tube from the breath of a patient for medical diagnostics. An optical fiber is positioned in the flow path of the fluid and fixed motionless at one end. The free end is caused to bend in response to fluctuations in the flow. A beam of light is projected out the free end of the optical fiber toward a stationary optical detector placed in the path of the beam, which is sensitive to the point of maximum intensity of the beam of light. Deflection of the optical fiber translates into movement of the light beam over the detector, allowing measurement of the speed and direction of the fluid flow in two orthogonal planes.