HYPSOMETER FOR CONSTANT LEVEL BALLOON
Abstract
A RECENTLY-DEVELOPED HYPSOMETER WAS MADE TO MEASURE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURES IN THE STRATOSPHERE DURING BALLOON FLIGHTS OF 5 TO 12 DAYS DURATION. DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS, VARIOUS PERFORMANCE DATA, AND SOURCES OF ERROR ARE DISCUSSED. IN THIS INSTRUMENT A PURE LIQUID IS ELECTRICALLY PREHEATED TO ITS BOILING POINT AND THE ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE IS DETERMINED FROM THE KNOWN BOILING TEMPERATURE-PRESSURE CHARACTERISTIC OF THE LIQUID. TEMPERATURE IS DETECTED BY A BEAD THERMISTOR WHOSE RESISTANCE IS MEASURED AT PREDETERMINED INTERVALS BY A MODIFIED WHEATSTONE BRIDGE, AND THE DATA ARE TELEMETERED. RESULTS INDICATED THAT THE HYPSOMETER WAS AN ACCURATE AND HIGHLY SENSITIVE DEVICE FOR DETERMINING LOW PRESSURES. AN IMPROVED MODEL, IN WHICH THE LOW-PRESSURE RANGE AND DURATION TIME ARE EXTENDED AND THE CALIBRATION AND DATA-REDUCTION PROCEDURES SIMPLIFIED, IS READY FOR FLIGHT TEST
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 01, 1960
- Accession Number
- AD0250583
Entities
People
- Walter C. Wagner
Organizations
- Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories