Patent ID: 7117735

Claim:
A fluid flow direction and velocity sensor comprised of: A rigid base securely positioned in a substantially horizontal orientation; an elongated three dimensional component secured to said rigid base and extending substantially perpendicularly from said base with said three dimensional component being substantially freestanding and designed to be physically deflected when placed in a fluid flow stream, the amount of deflection being proportional to the velocity of any such fluid flow, and in the direction of any such fluid flow; A sensor platform spaced apart from said rigid base, said sensor platform defining an opening of greater dimension than said three dimensional component, and with said three dimensional component extending through said platform opening for deflection within said opening in response to any such fluid flow; At least two motion sensors carried by said platform, each said motion sensor being at an angle to at least one other said motion sensor, and each motion sensor having contact with said three dimensional component extending through said platform,each said sensor including means of detecting and measuring any deflection in said three dimensional component and each said sensor including means for transmitting any such measured deflection data; and Means for simultaneously receiving any such measured deflection data from at least two said motion sensors and to a system including means to compute the speed and direction of any fluid flow.