Meter with probe for measuring the moisture content of stacked wood
AssigneeWagner Electronic Products, Inc.
InventorsRobert T. Havener, Edward D. Wagner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A meter for measuring the moisture content of wood in the center of a stack of wood has a probe with an electromagnetic wave sensor mounted near a forward end and a meter mounted at an opposite end. An extendable member is also mounted at the forward end of the probe. The extendable member is pivoted by a slide handle at the opposite end of the probe between reclined and extended positions. The forward end of the probe is inserted into a stack of wood between layers of the stack. The extendable member is extended to press the sensor against wood in the center of the stack. The meter then registers the moisture content of the wood.
Claims17
An apparatus for measuring the moisture content of stacked wood, comprising:
- an elongated probe having a forward end, an opposite end, and a thickness which is sufficiently small to fit into a gap between layers of stacked wood;
- a capacitive sensor located on the probe near the forward end of the probe, said sensor capacitively sensing the moisture content of wood in close proximity to the sensor and producing a signal related to said moisture content;
- a meter electrically connected to the sensor, the meter being operative to receive the signal and to indicate said moisture content;
- and
- an extendable member located near the forward end of the probe which is operable from the opposite end of the probe to move between a reclined position and an extended position, whereby, with the probe inserted into a gap between a first and a second layer of stacked wood, the probe is pushed away from the first layer and towards the second layer to place the sensor in closer proximity to the second layer when the extendable member is moved to its extended position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.