Device for determining the water content of a target

A device for determining the water content of a target (1), the device comprising at least one source of target radiation (2), at least one source of reference radiation (4) oriented toward a target surface (10), and at least one detecting element (3) for measuring the intensity of radiation reflected back by the target surface, the at least one source of target radiation (2), the at least one source of reference radiation (4), and the at least one detecting element (3) being arranged immediately opposite the target surface (10) during use, and a pressurizing device using a gas by which an artificial movement of a gas atmosphere is created in an area of optical paths between the at least one source of target radiation (2) and the target surface (10) and/or between the at least one source of reference radiation (4) and the target surface (10) and/or between the target surface (10) and the at least one detecting element (3);

• wherein the source of target radiation (2), the source of reference radiation (4), and the detecting element (3) are arranged in a housing (15), in which corresponding passages are formed in a wall (18) of the housing (15), through which passages beams emitted by the source of target radiation (2) and the source of reference radiation (4) exit and a beam reflected by the target surface (10) enters;
• wherein the passages in the wall (18) of the housing (15) are formed as through holes (41, 42, 43) in a holder element (31, 31′), at the ends of which inside the housing (15) the source of target radiation (2), the source of reference radiation (4), and the detecting element (3) are arranged, while their opposite ends are directed towards the target surface (10) during use;
• wherein optical axes of the source of target radiation (2), the source of reference radiation (4), and the detecting element (3) are oriented along central axes (21, 22, 23) of the through-holes (41, 42, 43);
• wherein the through holes (41, 42, 43) of the holder element (31, 31′) each have at least one side inlet (71, 72, 73) connected to the pressurizing device and oriented perpendicularly with respect to the central axes (21, 22, 23) through which the gas is introduced into the through holes (41, 42, 43);
• and
• wherein a diameter of the through-holes (41, 42, 43) and a diameter of the at least one side inlet (71, 72, 73) are approximately equal.