Electricity: measuring and testing – Impedance – admittance or other quantities representative of... – Distributive type parameters
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-11
2001-08-14
Brown, Glenn W. (Department: 2858)
Electricity: measuring and testing
Impedance, admittance or other quantities representative of...
Distributive type parameters
C324S695000, C324S665000, C324S632000, C324S637000, C324S639000, C073S073000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275046
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the non-invasive measurement of moisture content of various materials. Electronic technicians have ordinary skill in this art.
2. Description of the Related Art
The related art is replete with devices for the noninvasive measurement of moisture content by use of electromagnetic waves. Although each application varies in its exact method of operation, for the most part each of the related art devices has a radio or microwave frequency signal generator which feeds an antenna. This antenna acts to transmit an electromagnetic wave through the specimen whose moisture content is to be measured. Opposite to, or otherwise in receiving relationship to, the transmission antenna is a receiving antenna. Between the two antennas in operational relationship is a specimen space wherein the specimen to be measured is placed during the measurement procedure.
The principle of operation of the related art devices is simply that an electromagnetic wave propagates through the specimen in question. The receiving antenna receives the electromagnetic wave and calculates an amount or percentage of water in the specimen based on any of a number of characteristics of the electromagnetic wave including signal strength, polarization, attenuation or absorption of the electromagnetic wave, phase angle or scattering of the electromagnetic wave.
The antennae of the related art devices are usually horn type directional wave guides, placed as close as possible to the specimen, that direct the propagating electromagnetic wave through a small or at least a particular portion of the specimen measured. If the transmitting horn cannot direct the propagating wave across the entire specimen at one time, an accurate reading of the moisture content in the overall specimen requires an average across the specimen.
The typical frequencies of electromagnetic waves used in the related art devices are in the microwave or radio frequency ranges. Using these high frequency electromagnetic waves creates a host of problems like: complex electric circuitry to create the high frequency signal; high frequency current amplification systems; impedance matching systems; matched polarization transmission and receiving antennae; superheterodyne receiving circuitry; and all the shielding necessary in such high frequency circuits to prevent unwanted noise and cross talk.
The related art devices measure the moisture content of specimens such as gypsum board, baled material including cotton, cotton and other materials as they fall within a chute, and other fibrous substances. The term cotton includes lint cotton, that is cotton already ginned or removed from the seed, and seed cotton, which has the cotton fibers still attached to the cotton seed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Progressive Contribution to the Art
This invention measures the moisture of a specimen by generating an electric field with an electric field creation unit and then detecting that specimen's effect on the electric field with an electric field detection unit. By creating and detecting the presence or strength of an electric field, rather than having to transmit and receive an electromagnetic wave, the hardware required is not as complicated as that for the electromagnetic wave devices. Additionally, the frequencies at which the device operates can be significantly lower than the related art devices.
Objects of this Invention
An object of this invention is to measure moisture content of a specimen.
An object of this invention is to measure the moisture content of a specimen by creation and detection of an electric field through the specimen.
An object of this invention is to detect the moisture content of a specimen by measuring a field intensity increase based on the specimen's concentration of an electric field because of its moisture content.
An object of this invention is to measure the moisture content of a specimen by detecting an absence of an electric field because the moisture of a specimen placed therein directs the electric field to a ground plate.
An object of this invention is to detect the moisture content of a specimen as the specimen falls from an upper level to a lower level past a field generation plate and field detection plate.
An object of this invention is to measure the moisture content of baled cotton by detecting an increase or decrease in the electric field associated with the presence of moisture within baled cotton.
An object of this invention is to detect the moisture content of loose cotton as it falls past a detection device by detecting the attenuation or concentration of the electric field as a function of the moisture content therein.
Further objects are to achieve the above with devices that are sturdy, compact, durable, lightweight, simple, safe, efficient, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, and reliable, yet inexpensive and easy to manufacture, install, operate, and maintain.
Other objects are to achieve the above with a method that is rapid, versatile, ecologically compatible, energy conserving, efficient, and inexpensive, and does not require highly skilled people to install, operate, and maintain.
The specific nature of the invention, as well as other objects, uses, and advantages thereof, will clearly appear from the following description and from the accompanying drawings, the different views of which are not necessarily scale drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2659860 (1953-11-01), Breazeale
patent: 3644826 (1972-02-01), Cornetet, Jr.
patent: 3714560 (1973-01-01), Farr
patent: 4131845 (1978-12-01), Pakulis
patent: 4468610 (1984-08-01), Hanson
patent: 5514973 (1996-05-01), Byler et al.
patent: 5621330 (1997-04-01), Greenwald et al.
patent: 5624729 (1997-04-01), Cohen et al.
patent: 5845529 (1998-12-01), Moshe et al.
patent: 5995895 (1999-11-01), Watt et al.
Moffett Steve
Mohr Paul
Brown Glenn W.
Coffee Wendell
Hamdan Wasseem H.
Lubbock Electric Co.
Scott Mark E.
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