Moisture tester

Abstract

A moisture tester for measuring the total moisture content of high moisture feed products such as corn, silage and cut hay including a probe or sensor having spaced apart electrodes in contact with the product. A VCO is coupled to the electrodes for producing a variable frequency signal proportional to the resistance across the electrodes. A time base signal generator produces a relatively slow fixed frequency time base signal. A gate timer produces latch and reset signals from the time base signal for use in a BCD counter incorporating latch, multiplex and BCD counter portions. The resulting output from the BCD counter drives a display device to provide the user with a relative indication of the amount of moisture over a range of moistures in the feed product. Also disclosed are several types of probes. One flat plate type includes coaxially-mounted annular electrodes for measuring the moisture of newly cut hay. Another sensor measures the moisture of loose feed products using a conical bucket having electrodes mounted on its interior walls.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.