United S ta tes Pa tent

US 007156744B2
( 12) ( 10) Pa tent N 0. : US 7,156,744 B2
Metni et a ] . ( 45) Da te o f Pa tent: J a n. 2, 2007
( 54) RECIRCULATIN G VERTICAL WIN D 5,046,3 58 A 9 / 19 9 1 Wulf et a l.
TUN N EL S KYDIVIN G S IMULATOR 5,209 ,702 A 5/ 19 9 3 Ar ena s
5,417,615 A 5/ 19 9 5 Bea r d
( 75) Inv ento r s : N . Ala n Metni, Or la ndo , FL ( US ) ; 5,452,609 A 9 / 19 9 5 Bo llis
Willia m J _ Kitc h en Or la ndo FL ( Us ) ; 5,59 3 ,3 52 A 1/ 19 9 7 Meth f es s el et a l.
Kenneth Mo r t Mo r ga n H ill CA ( Us ) ; 5,59 7,3 58 A * 1/ 19 9 7 Ma r c u . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472/ 50
Ch a r les Ea s tla k e, Po r t Or a nge, FL 5,655,9 09 A 8 / 19 9 7 Kltc h ell 8 t 3 1'
( US ) ; Mic h a el Pa lmer , Po q uo s o n, VA 5,753 ,8 11 A 5/ 19 9 8 Co ns o h m
( Us ) 5,9 64,666 A * 10/ 19 9 9 Uemur a . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472/ 50
( 73 ) As s ignee: S k y v entur e, LLC, Aus tin, TX ( US ) ( Co ntinued)
( * ) N o tic e: S ub j ec t to a ny dis c la imer , th e ter m o f th is FOREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
p a tent is extended o r a dj us ted under 3 5 CA 1 2109 59 9 / l9 8 6
U. S . C. 154( b ) b y 54 da y s .
( 21) Ap p l. N 0. : 10/ 9 09 ,0s s ( Co ntinued)
( 22) Filed: J ul. 3 0, 2004 OTH ER PUBLICATION S
Metni, Ala n, Rec ir c ula ting Ver tic a l Wind Tunnel Tr a ining Dev ic e
( 65) Pl iOl Pllb liC? tiOIl Da ta Th is is a n un? led p a tent s p ec i? c a tio n.
US 2006/ 0025227 A1 Feb . 2, 2006 ( Co ntinued)
( 51) Int. Cl. Pr ima r y Exa miner iKien N guy en
A63 G 3 1/ 12 ( 200601) ( 74) Atto r ney , Agent, o r Fir miRic k Ma r tin; Pa tent La W
( 52) us . Cl. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472/ 50; 472/ 68 ; 472/ 13 7 O? ic es Of Rlc k Ma mn, PC
( 58 ) Field o f Cla s s i? c a tio n S ea r c h . . . . . . . . . . . . 472/ 59 i6l,
472/ 49 , 50, 13 7,68 ; 43 4/ 247; 73 / 147 ( 57) ABS TRACT
S ee a p p lic a tio n ? le f o r c o mp lete s ea r c h h is to r y .
A v er tic a l Wind tunnel ? igh t s imula to r c o mp r is es a ? igh t
( 56) Ref er enc es Cited
U. S . PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
2,48 6,28 7 A 10/ 19 49 J a c k s o n
2,560,63 4 A 7/ 19 51 Co lley
2,78 8 ,020 A 4/ 19 57 Da v ie, J r .
2,79 9 ,161 A 7/ 19 57 Gr eene et a l.
2,9 3 3 ,9 22 A 4/ 19 60 Da v is
3 ,48 4,9 53 A 12/ 19 69 N o r h eim, J r .
4,3 08 ,748 A 1/ 19 8 2 J a c o c k s
4,457,509 A 7/ 19 8 4 S t. Ger ma in
4,48 7,410 A 12/ 19 8 4 S a s s a k
4,545,574 A 10/ 19 8 5 S a s s a k
4,578 ,03 7 A 3 / 19 8 6 Ma c a ngus et a l.
4,700,565 A 10/ 19 8 7 Alb us c h k a t
c h a mb er Wh er ein a ? ier ma y exp er ienc e a f r eef a ll s imula
tio n. Air ? o W to s up p o r t th e ? ier is induc ed b y f a ns c o n
nec ted a b o v e th e ? igh t c h a mb er th r o ugh a duc t. A s ta ging
a r ea h a v ing o p enings to th e ? igh t c h a mb er is a dj a c ent to th e
? igh t c h a mb er . One o r tWo r etur n a ir duc ts a r e us ed to r etur n
a ir f r o m th e f a ns o utlet to th e f a ns inlet. Op p o s ed lo uv er s a r e
inc luded o n a t lea s t o ne duc t s egment th er eb y r egula ting th e
temp er a tur e v ia f o r c ing a mb ient a ir into th e s imula to r . Th e
us e o f ma ny duc t s egments h a v ing div er ging Wa lls a dds
c o mmer c ia l v a lue to th e s y s tem b y lo Wer ing th e h eigh t.
Mo unting c o mp o nents o n th e r o o f a nd b eh ind Wa lls c r ea tes
a s p ec ta c ula r p edes tr ia n v ieWing s c ene o f p eo p le in ? igh t.
3 4 Cla ims , 16 Dr a wing S h eets
US 7,156,744 B2
Pa ge 2
US . PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
6,08 3 ,110 A 7/ 2000 Kitc h en et a 1.
6,3 15,672 B1 * 11/ 2001 Gillo t et a l. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 472/ 50
2004/ 011559 3 A1 6/ 2004 H a ltes ta d
FOREIGN PATEN T DOCUMEN TS
FR 2659 620 9 / 19 9 1
FR 28 43 9 40 3 / 2004
WO PCT/ GB8 2/ 0029 8 10/ 19 8 2
OTH ER PUBLICATION S
DD Fo r m 13 9 1c Ar my , FY 19 8 5 Milita r y Co ns tr uc tio n Pr o j ec t Da ta ,
da ted Dec . 12, 19 8 4, Ft. Br a gg, N C, Titled: Uns p ec i? ed Mino r
Co ns tr uc tio n Fr ee Fa ll S imula tio n Fa c ility , Pr o j ec t N o . T8 9 7.
Aga r d Memo r a ndum, Pa p er s Pr es ented a t th e S ixth Meeting o f th e
Wind Tunnel a nd Mo del Tes ting Pa nel, Pa r is Fr a nc e, N o v . 6, 19 54,
Des ign a nd Op er a ting Tec h niq ues o f Ver tic a l S p in Tunnels , A. I.
N eilh o us e, p p . 3 9 9 - 420.
Aga r d Memo r a ndum, Pa p er s Pr es ented a t th e S ixth Meeting o f th e
Wind Tunnel a nd Mo del Tes ting Pa nel, Pa r is Fr a nc e, N o v . 6, 19 54,
Th e Ver tic a l S p inning Tunnel a t th e N a tio na l Aer o na utic a l Es ta b
lis h ment, Bedf o r d , A. E. Cla r k e a nd R. L. Ma ltb y , p p . 421- 440.
Glen L. Ma r tin Wind Tunnel, Univ er s ity o f Ma r y la nd, Co llege Pa r k ,
Ma r y la nd 20742, S o lv ing Pr o b lems Th r o ugh t Adv a nc ed Tec h no l
o gy , 7 p a ges .
Ca ls p a n Co r p o r a tio n, Buf f a lo , N ew Yo r k , 14221, 8 - Fo o t Tr a ns o nic
Wind Tunnel , Ca ls p a n Rep o r t N o . WTO- 3 00, Rev is ed Oc t. 19 71
p p . 1- 67.
N a s a Ames Res ea r c h Center , Mo lf et Field, CA 9 403 5, Guide f o r
Pla nning Inv es tiga tio ns in th e Ames 40- b y 8 0 f t. Wind Tunnel
Op er a ted b y th e Lo w S p eed Wind Tunnel Inv es tiga tio ns Br a nc h
( FH W) . Rev is ed Ma r . 19 8 4, p p . 1- 52 a nd Ap p endix A, J un. 19 8 2,
r ev is ed J a n. 19 8 4, p p . 1- 42; a nd Ap p endix B, r ev is ed Feb . 19 8 4, p p .
1- 5.
PCT Inv ita tio n to Pa y Additio na l Fees ( in c o r r es p o ndingPCT Ap p li
c a tio n) 5 p a ges .
Inter na tio na l s ea r c h r ep o r t a nd Wr itten Op inio n f o r c o r r es p o nding
PCT a p p lic a tio n.
* c ited b y exa miner
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 2, 2007 S h eet 1 0f 16 US 7,156,744 B2
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 2, 2007 S h eet 2 0f 16 US 7,156,744 B2
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U. S . Pa tent J a n. 2, 2007 S h eet 9 0f 16 US 7,156,744 B2
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 2, 2007 S h eet 10 0f 16 US 7,156,744 B2
U. S . Pa tent J a n. 2, 2007 S h eet 11 0f 16 US 7,156,744 B2
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US 7,156,744 B2
1
RECIRCULATIN G VERTICAL WIN D
TUN N EL S KYDIVIN G S IMULATOR
CROS S REFEREN CE PATEN TS
US . Pa t. N o . 6,08 3 ,110 is inc o r p o r a ted h er ein b y r ef er
enc e.
FIELD OF TH E IN VEN TION
Th e p r es ent inv entio n r ela tes to th e ? eld o f v er tic a l Wind
tunnels , mo r e p a r tic ula r ly , to temp er a tur e c o ntr o lled r etur n
? o W v er tic a l Wind tunnels us ed a s s k y div ing s imula to r s a nd
a mus ement dev ic es .
BACKGROUN D OF TH E IN VEN TION
Wind tunnels a r e Well k no Wn in th e a r t. Wind tunnels a r e
a v a ila b le in ma ny ty p es a nd s ty les dep ending up o n th e needs
o f th e us er . Th es e inc lude s ub s o nic Wind tunnels With a nd
With o ut r etur n ? o W, tr a ns o nic Wind tunnels With a nd With o ut
r etur n ? o W, v er tic a l s ub s o nic Wind tunnels With a nd With o ut
r etur n ? o W, s up er s o nic a nd h y p er s o nic Wind tunnels With
a nd With o ut r etur n ? o W, a nd c o mp r es s ib le ? o W Wind tun
nels .
Th e ma j o r ity o f th e Wind tunnels a r e us ed f o r r es ea r c h a nd
tes ting p ur p o s es . Th es e inc lude tes ting o f c o nv entio na l
a ir c r a f t, h elic o p ter s , p a r a c h utes a nd o th er a er o dy na mic
dev ic es , Wing s ur f a c es , c o ntr o l s ur f a c es , s ub ma r ines , r o c k
ets a nd o th er la unc h v eh ic les , gr o und v eh ic les , b uildings a nd
o th er b a s ic ? o W inv es tiga tio ns .
H o r iz o nta l Wind tunnels ( th o s e in Wh ic h th e a ir in th e f ull
s p eed s ec tio n o f th e tunnel ? o W gener a lly h o r iz o nta lly ) a r e
us ed f o r a er o dy na mic r es ea r c h a nd tes ting a nd a r e gener a lly
o Wned b y ma j o r def ens e o r iented c o r p o r a tio ns , th e Feder a l
go v er nment, o r educ a tio na l ins titutio ns a nd univ er s ities .
S o me o f th es e h a v e b een c o nv er ted o r a da p ted f o r v er tic a l
o p er a tio n ( in Wh ic h th e a ir in th e f ull s p eed s ec tio n o f th e
tunnel ? o Ws gener a lly v er tic a lly ) b ut mo s t o r a ll p er f o r m
p o o r ly in th a t r o le. Des ign c o ns tr a ints th a t a p p ly to v er tic a l
Wind tunnels us ed f o r f r eef a ll s imula tio n dif f er f r o m th o s e o f
h o r iZ o nta l tes ting tunnels . In a v er tic a l Wind tunnel/ f r eef a ll
s imula to r , it is imp o r ta nt th a t th e o b j ec ts in th e f ull s p eed
s ec tio n o f th e Wind tunnel ( in th is c a s e th e h uma n b eings in
? igh t) b e a b le to mo v e a b o ut ins ide th a t s ec tio n to exp er i
enc e o r p r a c tic e h uma n b o dy ? igh t. In a h o r iZ o nta l tes t
tunnel, th e o b j ec ts p la c ed in th e tunnel a r e us ua lly s ta tic
o b j ec ts o b s er v ed o r mea s ur ed b y o th er s . Fo r th is r ea s o n, th is
f a s tes t p a r t o f a h o r iZ o nta l Wind tunnel is c a lled a tes t
s ec tio n . In a v er tic a l Wind tunnel, th is s a me a r ea is ins tea d
r ef er r ed to a s th e ? igh t c h a mb er .
In a v er tic a l Wind tunnel, it is imp o r ta nt th a t p eo p le ? y ing
ins ide th e tunnel b e a llo Wed to r o ta te in a nd o ut o f th e ? igh t
c h a mb er With o ut s to p p ing th e a ir ? o W. In c o ntr a s t, th er e is
little need to mo v e th e s ta tic o b j ec ts in th e tes t s ec tio n o f a
h o r iZ o nta l Wind tunnel dur ing its o p er a tio n. Fur th er mo r e,
s inc e ? ier s in a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a r e f r ee to mo v e a b o ut
ins ide ? igh t c h a mb er , it is nec es s a r y to c o ns tr a in th eir
mo v ement to a p p r o p r ia te p a r ts o f th e s y s tem. Wh ile it is
p o s s ib le to p ut a s a f ety net o n b o th th e up s tr ea m a nd
do Wns tr ea m ends o f th e ? igh t c h a mb er , th es e p r o duc e a n
eno r mo us a mo unt o f dr a g Wh ic h c r ea tes no is e a nd inc r ea s es
th e p o Wer r eq uir ed to a tta in a ny giv en s p eed. In f a c t, s uc h a
p a ir o f nets c a n c o ns ume a s muc h a s 3 0% to 50% o f th e to ta l
p o Wer r eq uir ed to o p er a te s uc h a Wind tunnel. It is a ls o
imp o r ta nt to p r ev ent o c c up a nts f r o m ? y ing la ter a lly o uts ide
o f th e a ir c o lumn a nd f a lling uns up p o r ted to th e ? o o r b elo W.
20
25
3 0
3 5
40
45
50
55
60
65
2
Fo r th is r ea s o n, th e mo s t a dv a nc ed v er tic a l Wind tunnels a r e
des igned s uc h th a t th e a ir c o lumn extends c o mp letely f r o m
o ne Wa ll o f th e ? igh t c h a mb er to th e o th er . Th is is no t
nec es s a r y in h o r iZ o nta l Wind tunnels .
Ver tic a l Wind tunnels us ed f o r f r eef a ll s imula tio n o f ten
h a v e to o p er a te in no is e s ens itiv e env ir o nments s uc h a s
a mus ement p a r k s a nd s h o p p ing ma lls . H o r iZ o nta l tes ting
tunnels c a n b e lo c a ted a Wa y f r o m th e c r o Wds Wh er e th ey a r e
f r ee to ma k e a s muc h no is e a s is nec es s a r y .
As a mus ement dev ic es , f r eef a ll s imula to r s mus t c o mp ete
With o th er a mus ements o n th e b a s is o f p r ic e a nd c a n o f ten
b e o p er a ted o n a nea r c o ntinua l b a s is . Th es e tWo f a c to r s
ma k e ener gy e? ic ienc y c r itic a l to s uc c es s f ul c o mmer c ia l
o p er a tio n o f a f r eef a ll s imula to r . Ener gy e? ic ienc y is muc h
les s imp o r ta nt f o r h o r iZ o nta l tes ting tunnels in Wh ic h o ne
o f ten ta k es h o ur s o r da y s to s et up a n exp er iment a nd th en
o nly r uns th e tunnel f o r a f eW minutes to c o llec t th e
nec es s a r y da ta .
H eigh t is a ma j o r c o ns tr a int o f f r eef a ll s imula to r s Wh ic h
s ta nd up r igh t a nd o f ten mus t b e s ited in h igh - dens ity enter
ta inment v enues th a t h a v e s ev er e h eigh t limita tio ns . Th is is
no t tr ue o f h o r iZ o nta l tes ting tunnels Wh ic h s it o n th eir s ide
a nd c a n b e s uc c es s f ully lo c a ted f a r a Wa y f r o m a ny c r o Wds .
Fina lly no k no Wn p r io r a r t h a s f o c us ed o n des igning th es e
s y s tems to o p timiZ e v is ib ility to p ub lic s p ec ta to r s in a
s h o p p ing ma ll o r o th er h igh dens ity enter ta inment v enue.
To ma k e a c o mmer c ia lly v ia b le v er tic a l Wind tunnel f o r
s k y div ing s imula tio n, o ne mus t ( 1) mo v e eno ugh a ir a nd do
s o s mo o th ly eno ugh to a deq ua tely s imula te f r eef a ll f o r o ne
o r mo r e p er s o ns in th e ? igh t c h a mb er ; ( 2) With a dev ic e th a t
is s h o r t eno ugh a nd q uiet eno ugh to b e lo c a ted Wh er e la r ge
numb er s o f p o tentia l c us to mer s tend to b e; a nd, ( 3 ) a t p o Wer
c o ns ump tio n lev els lo W eno ugh to ma k e th e p r ic e o f th e
exp er ienc e a c c ep ta b le to th e p ub lic .
Th e inv entiv e c h a llenge o f s a tis f y ing th es e c o mp eting
r eq uir ements is met b y th e p r es ent inv entio n. H igh a ir s p eeds
a r e r eq uir ed a t th e ? igh t c h a mb er to ? o a t o ne o r mo r e h uma n
b eings . H o Wev er , mo v ing a ir th r o ugh duc tWo r k a t h igh
s p eeds c r ea tes a n eno r mo us a mo unt o f s o und a nd h ea t a nd
r eq uir es a h uge a mo unt o f p o Wer . Co ns eq uently , mo s t mo d
er n Wind tunnels exp a nd a nd s lo W th e a ir j us t do Wns tr ea m o f
th e ? igh t c h a mb er to dec r ea s e p o Wer c o ns ump tio n, no is e
o utp ut a nd h ea t gener a tio n. Do ing s o c a n r educ e p o Wer
c o ns ump tio n b y mo r e th a n 60%, a nd o nly b y do ing s o Will
v er tic a l Wind tunnels b ec o me c o mmer c ia lly v ia b le a s enter
ta inment dev ic es o r s k y div ing s imula to r s .
H o Wev er , if o ne exp a nds th e a ir ? o W in a ny s ec tio n o f a
Wind tunnel to o r a p idly , th e ? o W Will s ep a r a te a nd b ec o me
tur b ulent r a th er th a n la mina r . Th is Will ma k e th e entir e
s y s tem p er f o r m p o o r ly , inc r ea s ing p o Wer c o ns ump tio n a nd
dec r ea s ing ? o W q ua lity to th e p o int th a t th e dev ic e Will no t
a deq ua tely s imula te tr ue f r eef a ll. Th e th r es h o ld a t Wh ic h th is
? o W s ep a r a tio n o c c ur s in a n exp a nding duc t is f a ir ly Well
de? ned in th e liter a tur e; in s imp le ter ms , th e Wa lls o f s uc h
a n exp a ns io n c o ne c a nno t div er ge a Wa y f r o m o ne a no th er a t
gr ea ter th a n 9 * 12 degr ees . Fo r th a t r ea s o n, inc r ea s ing th e
length o f h o r iZ o nta l tes t tunnels o r th e h eigh t o f v er tic a l
Wind tunnels tends to imp r o v e e? ic ienc y . Unf o r tuna tely ,
Wh ile th is is ea s ily do ne f o r a h o r iZ o nta l s y s tem, do ing s o in
a v er tic a l s y s tem dr a ma tic a lly inc r ea s es th e c o ns tr uc tio n a nd
o p er a tio n c o s t a nd r educ es th e numb er o f p la c es a t Wh ic h
o ne c a n ga in go v er nmenta l a p p r o v a l to b uild. Co ns eq uently ,
minimiZ ing h eigh t Wh ile ma ximiZ ing th e exp a ns io n a nd
dec eler a tio n o f th e a ir ? o W do Wns tr ea m o f th e ? igh t c h a mb er
is th e k ey to ma k ing a v er tic a l Wind tunnel c o mmer c ia lly
US 7,156,744 B2
3
s uc c es s f ul. S imila r ly , c o ns tr a ining th e o c c up a nts to th e s a f e
a r ea s o f th e Wind tunnel With o ut inc r ea s ing dr a g a nd p o wer
c o ns ump tio n is es s entia l.
Th e p r io r a r t Wind tunnels do no t o f f er a des ign th a t is
q uiet a nd s h o r t eno ugh to b e b uilt in h igh dens ity s h o p p ing
a nd enter ta inment v enues Wh ile r ema ining e? ic ient eno ugh
to a llo W c o mmer c ia lly v ia b le o p er a tio n.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing a ? igh t c h a mb er o n th e inlet s ide o f
th e f a ns f o r imp r o v ed a ir ? o w, s p eed a nd q ua lity , a t lo Wer
p o Wer c o ns ump tio n a nd h igh er s a f ety f o r th e ? ier s .
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing a s ea led a nd p r es s ur e b a la nc ed s ta g
ing a r ea a dj a c ent a nd c o nnec ted to th e ? igh t c h a mb er in a
Wa y th a t a llo Ws p eo p le to mo v e in b etWeen th e tWo With o ut
s to p p ing th e a ir ? o W.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing tr a ns p a r ent Windo Ws a llo Wing s p ec
ta to r s , ins tr uc to r s o r o th er s o uts ide th e ? igh t c h a mb er to s ee
into it.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing a p lur a lity o f s ma ller f a ns r a th er th a n
a s ingle, mo r e exp ens iv e a nd di? ic ult to ma inta in f a n.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing o ne o r mo r e r etur n a ir duc ts to
c o ns er v e h ea t, r educ e ener gy c o ns ump tio n, r educ e no is e a nd
a llo W a ll- Wea th er o p er a tio n.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing o nly o ne o r tWo r etur n duc ts ev en
th o ugh it ma y h a v e a gr ea ter numb er o f f a ns th a n r etur n
duc ts .
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing f a ns h o us ed in lo W p r o ? le c a s ings
th a t a llo W th em to b e mo unted a s c lo s ely to geth er a s p o s s ib le
s o th a t mo r e th a n o ne f a n c a n b e c o nnec ted to ea c h r etur n a ir
duc t With o ut th e need f o r lo ng tr a ns itio n duc ts th a t Wo uld
inc r ea s e th e h eigh t o r Width o f th e entir e s y s tem.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing a p a s s iv e a ir exc h a nge s y s tem th a t
ej ec ts h ea ted a ir a nd dr a Ws in c o o ler a mb ient a ir in o r der to
mo s t e? ic iently c o ntr o l th e temp er a tur e ins ide th e Wind
tunnel.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing a p a s s iv e a ir exc h a nge s y s tem th e
c o mp o nents o f Wh ic h f o r m a no Z Z le o r ? o W c o nta c tio n
th a t no t o nly mec h a nic a lly ej ec ts th e a ir f r o m ins ide th e Wind
tunnel b ut a ls o c r ea tes th e p r o p er p r es s ur e gr a dient b etWeen
th e ins ide a nd o uts ide o f th e Wind tunnel a nd th er eb y
enc o ur a ges th e ef f ic ient exc h a nge o f a ir b etWeen th e Wind
tunnel a nd th e a mb ient a ir .
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing a mes h ? o o r ma de o f s p ec ia lly
des igned c a b les th a t p r o duc e les s dr a g a nd, th er ef o r e, les s
no is e th a n c o nv entio na l c a b les .
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing a t lea s t o ne Z er o - dr a g elec tr o nic
up p er b a r r ier ins tea d o f a p h y s ic a l net to p r ev ent ? ier s f r o m
mo v ing to o h igh in th e ? igh t c h a mb er a nd q uic k ly mo du
la ting th e s p eed o f th e a ir to b r ing th em b a c k do Wn to a nd
h o ld th em a t a s a f e lev el.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e h a v ing th e lo Wes t p o s s ib le to ta l h eigh t f o r
a ny giv en e? ic ienc y in o r der to r educ e c o ns tr uc tio n c o s ts
a nd meet c o mmo n go v er nmenta l c o ns tr a ints o n b uilding
h eigh t.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e o p timiZ ed f o r h eigh t b y h a v ing mo s t o r a ll o f
20
25
3 0
3 5
40
45
50
55
60
65
4
th e c o mp o nents do Wns tr ea m o f th e ? igh t c h a mb er exp a nd
th e a ir a s r a p idly a s p o s s ib le With o ut c r ea ting ? o W s ep a r a
tio n.
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e o p timiZ ed f o r h eigh t b y p r o v iding a n
o p tio na l ? igh t c h a mb er in Wh ic h th e a ir is exp a nded a s muc h
a s p o s s ib le With o ut c r ea ting s ep a r a tio n a s it p a s s es th r o ugh
th e ? igh t c h a mb er s ec tio n o r a ? igh t c h a mb er th a t is a c tua lly
s h a p ed lik e a dif f us er .
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e o p timiZ ed f o r h eigh t a nd o v er a ll s iZ e b y
mo unting th e f a ns in c o nic a l duc ts th a t th ems elv es a c t a s
di? us er s .
Wh a t is needed is a v er tic a l Wind tunnel a mus ement a nd
tr a ining dev ic e th a t a llo Ws ins ta lla tio n c o n? gur a tio ns Wh ic h
o p timiZ e s p ec ta to r v ieWing a r ea s o f th e ? ier s to p edes tr ia ns
in a s h o p p ing ma ll.
Th e p r es ent inv entio n meets th es e needs .
S UMMARY OF TH E IN VEN TION
An a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a v er tic a l
Wind tunnel a mus ement dev ic e h a v ing a ? igh t c h a mb er
s itua ted o n th e inlet s ide o f a p lur a lity o f f a ns Wh ic h a r e in
tur n c o nnec ted to a p lur a lity o f exp a nding r etur n a ir duc ts ,
th er eb y ma ximiz ing e? ic ienc y Wh ile minimiZ ing th e h eigh t
o f th e a mus ement dev ic e.
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel h a v ing a ? igh t c h a mb er o n th e inlet s ide
o f th e f a ns f o r imp r o v ed a ir ? o W s p eed a nd q ua lity , a t lo Wer
p o Wer c o ns ump tio n a nd h igh er s a f ety f o r th e ? ier s .
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel h a v ing a tWo - s ta ge s ta ging a r ea a dj a
c ent a nd c o nnec ted to th e ? igh t c h a mb er in a Wa y th a t a llo Ws
p eo p le to mo v e in b etWeen th e tWo With o ut s to p p ing th e
a ir ? o W.
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel h a v ing tr a ns p a r ent Windo Ws a llo Wing
s p ec ta to r s , ins tr uc to r s o r o th er s o uts ide th e ? igh t c h a mb er to
s ee into it, inc luding in a s h o p p ing ma ll v enue.
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel h a v ing a p lur a lity o f s ma ller f a ns a ngled
in a no n- p a r a llel a lignment r a th er th a n a s ingle, mo r e
exp ens iv e a nd di? ic ult to ma inta in f a n.
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel h a v ing o ne o r mo r e r etur n a ir duc ts to
c o ns er v e h ea t, r educ e ener gy c o ns ump tio n, r educ e no is e a nd
a llo W a ll- Wea th er o p er a tio n.
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel h a v ing o nly o ne o r tWo r etur n duc ts
ev en th o ugh it ma y h a v e a gr ea ter numb er o f f a ns th a n r etur n
duc ts .
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel h a v ing f a ns h o us ed in lo W p r o ? le,
dif f us ing c a s ings th a t a llo W th em to b e mo unted a s c lo s ely
to geth er a s p o s s ib le s o th a t mo r e th a n o ne f a n c a n b e
c o nnec ted to ea c h r etur n a ir duc t With o ut th e need f o r lo ng
tr a ns itio n duc ts th a t Wo uld inc r ea s e th e h eigh t o r Width o f
th e entir e s y s tem.
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel h a v ing a p a s s iv e a ir exc h a nge s y s tem
With a dj us ta b le inlet/ o utlet do o r s th a t mec h a nic a lly ej ec ts
h ea ted a ir f r o m th e s y s tem a nd dr a W in c o o ler a mb ient a ir in
o r der to mo s t e? ic iently c o ntr o l th e temp er a tur e ins ide th e
Wind tunnel With minima l extr a Wo r k b y th e f a ns .
Ano th er a s p ec t o f th e p r es ent inv entio n is to p r o v ide a
v er tic a l Wind tunnel in Wh ic h th e a dj us ta b le inlet/ o utlet