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US 4,047,105 AGranted
Method and apparatus for providing an output indication proportional to the moisture content of particulate material
AssigneeThe Dolese Company
InventorBruce Olen Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Method and apparatus for providing an output indication proportional to the moisture content of particulate material wherein a probe drive signal having predetermined frequency and amplitude is applied to the particulate material and a current indicator signal proportional to the current applied to the particulate material is provided, the current indicator signal being proportional to the moisture content of the particulate material.
Claims12
An apparatus for providing an output indication proportional to the moisture content of particulate material, the apparatus comprising:
- a signal generator providing a probe drive signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude;
- a probe connected to the signal generator and having a portion contacting the particulate material, the probe receiving the probe drive signal and applying the probe drive signal to the particulate material;
- feedback control means connected to the probe and to the signal generator, the feedback control means sensing deviations of the amplitude of the probe drive signal applied to the particulate material via the probe from the predetermined amplitude and modulating the amplitude of the probe drive signal provided via the signal generator to maintain the amplitude of the probe drive signal at the predetermined amplitude;
- and
- a probe current sensor interposed generally between the signal generator and the probe, the probe current sensor measuring the current flowing from the probe to the particulate material and providing a current indicator signal proportional to the measured current, the current indicator signal being proportional to the moisture content of the particulate material.
2 more elements
An apparatus for providing an output indication proportional to the moisture content of particulate material, the apparatus comprising:
- a probe having a portion contacting the particulate material, the probe receiving a probe drive signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude and applying the probe drive signal to the particulate material;
- a signal generator providing the probe drive signal, the signal generator comprising:
- an oscillator providing a test tone signal having the predetermined frequency;
- a modulator connected to the oscillator, the modulator receiving the test tone signal and a probe command signal, and modulating the amplitude of the received test tone signal in response to the received probe command signal to provide the probe drive signal;
- and
- a probe command signal generator connected to the oscillator, to the modulator and to the probe, the probe command signal generator receiving the test tone signal from the oscillator and the probe drive signal from the probe, and providing the probe command signal having an amplitude proportional to the amplitude deviation of the received probe drive signal from the predetermined amplitude;
- and
- a probe current sensor interposed generally between the signal generator and the probe, the probe current sensor measuring the current flowing from the probe to the particulate material and providing a current indicator signal proportional to the measured current, the current indicator signal being proportional to the moisture content of the particulate material.
5 more elements
An apparatus for providing an output indication proportional to the moisture content of particulate material disposed in a metal bin, the apparatus comprising:
- a signal generator providing a probe drive signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude;
- a probe connected to the signal generator and having a portion contacting the particulate material, the probe receiving the probe drive signal and applying the probe drive signal to the particulate material, the probe comprising:
- a measurement contact connected to the signal generator, the measurement contact being positioned inside the bin with at least a portion of the measurement contact contacting the particulate material;
- and
- a measurement contact insulator having a first portion interposed between the measurement contact and a predetermined portion of the bin, the first portion of the measurement contact insulator preventing the direct flow of current between the measurement contact and the predetermined portion of the bin;
- and
- a probe current sensor interposed between the signal generator and the measurement contact, the probe current sensor measuring the current flowing from the probe to the particulate material and providing a current indicator signal proportional to the measured current, the current indicator signal being proportional to the moisture content of the particulate material.
4 more elements
An apparatus for providing an output indication proportional to the moisture content of particulate material disposed in a metal bin, the apparatus comprising:
- a signal generator providing a probe drive signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude;
- a probe connected to the signal generator and having a portion contacting the particulate material, the probe receiving the probe drive signal and applying the probe drive signal to the particulate material, the probe comprising:
- a measurement contact connected to the signal generator, the measurement contact being positioned inside the bin with at least a portion of the measurement contact contacting the particulate material;
- and
- isolation means for isolating the flow of current from the measurement contact to a predetermined portion of the particulate material;
- and
- a probe current sensor interposed between the signal generator and the measurement contact, the probe current sensor measuring the current flowing from the probe to the particulate material and providing a current indicator signal proportional to the measured current, the current indicator signal being proportional to the moisture content of the particulate material.
4 more elements
Method for providing an output indication proportional to the moisture content of particulate material comprising the steps of:
- generating a probe drive signal having a predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude;
- applying the probe drive signal to the particulate material;
- sensing deviations of the amplitude of the probe drive signal applied to the particulate material from the predetermined amplitude;
- modulating the amplitude of the probe drive signal in response to the sensed deviations to maintain the amplitude of the probe drive signal at the predetermined amplitude;
- measuring the current applied to the particulate material;
- and
- providing a current indicator signal proportional to the measured current, the current indicator signal being proportional to the moisture content of the particulate material.
4 more elements
Method for providing an output indication proportional to the moisture content of particulate material comprising the steps of:
- generating a test tone signal having a predetermined frequency;
- modulating the amplitude of the test tone signal in response to a probe command signal to provide a probe drive signal having the predetermined frequency and a predetermined amplitude;
- applying the probe drive signal to the particulate material;
- receiving the test tone signal and the probe drive signal applied to the particulate material and providing the probe command signal having an amplitude proportional to the amplitude deviation of the probe drive signal from the predetermined amplitude;
- measuring the current applied to the particulate material;
- and
- providing a current indicator signal proportional to the measured current, the current indicator signal being proportional to the moisture content of the particulate material.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.