Volumetric moisture tester

A moisture tester for grain and the like comprising a walled test chamber including an inclined pour spout and an inclined conical distributor funnel affixed upon and extending into the chamber of the chamber top, and spaced apart electrodes forming an electrical capacitor at the chamber bottom, the electrodes being located so that the dielectric constant of the capacitor is modified in accordance with the dielectric constant of the test material sample due to moisture therein, an electrical circuit including the capacitor for generating a signal which varies systematically in accordance with the capacitor dielectric constant, the funnel distributor extending into the test chamber interior but spaced apart from the test chamber walls for uniformly distributing the material which comprises the sample introduced into the test chamber and thereby minimizing corresponding variations in the sensed test material dielectric constant the pour spout being defined in part by an inclined wall extending from the chamber at a point above the electrodes and below the funnel in a direction substantially parallel to the distributor funnel to encourage a rapid, uncongested pour-out of test sample material when the test has been completed, and conical means having a tip aligned with the funnel means axis to encourage uniform deflection, flow and packing of test material into the test chamber.