 TRANSMITTING PRECIPITATION GAUGE• HIGH ACCURACY AND RESOLUTION • HIGH RELIABILITY OPTICAL ENCODER • SOLID STATE RELAY AND REGULATOR CIRCUITRY BUILT-IN • RUGGED, ALL-WEATHER DESIGN • REMOTE UNATTENDED OPERATION • NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE APPROVED HOUSING • SUPPORTS ELECTRONIC DATA COLLECTION FOR USE IN FLOOD CONTROL AND CLIMATE NETWORKS Belfort's Transmitting Rain Gauge brings highly accurate measurement of total precipitation to remote sites. By combining a proven mechanical design with sophisticated electrooptical encoder technology, it is possible to monitor all types of precipitation under nearly all weather conditions and without human intervention. The measuring device consists of a standard Weather Service approved housing and a weighing bucket mounted on the center column of a weighing scale. Because the gauge operates continuously with virtually no maintenance, it is ideally suited for use in flood control and climate networks, where remote operation and high accuracy are required. The Model 3000 is used extensively throughout Canada by the Atmospheric Environment Service. The Transmitting Rain Gauge collects precipitation through a standard 8-inch Weather Service orifice. Precipitation falls into a bucket which is supported by the center column of a weighing scale. The scale mechanism is designed to achieve a nearly zero temperature coefficient through the use of flexure strips (in place of hinges) and a special iso-elastic spring. A precision pully arrangement converts linear displacement of the scale mechanism to angular displacement of the optical encoder shaft. The standard model achieves a resolution of better that .01 inches of precipitation. Gauge capacity is twenty inches of precipitation. For wintertime use, the gauge is pre-charged with an anti-freeze solution each time it is emptied. Built-in relay and regulator circuitry permit the use of a wide range of supply voltage, as well as on/off switching to conserve power. All components are designed to operate over a very wide temperature range. |
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