Helical sensor for testing a composite medium
AssigneeSoilmoisture Equipment Corp.
InventorWhitney Skaling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sensor is provided for testing a composite medium. The sensor includes a tube and three or more conductors which are wound in a continuously parallel helix around the tube such that the conductors are interleaved. The tube is non-porous and electrically insulative. Both the proximal end and the distal end of the tube are open. Each turn of each conductor is equally spaced from the adjoining turns of the other conductors, and the conductors have a common helical length. The sensor can also include a first cap which seals the proximal end of the tube and a second cap which seals the distal end of the tube such that the interior of the tube is always filled with air.
Claims23
A helical sensor for testing a composite medium, comprising:
- a tube which is non-porous and electrically insulative;
- and
- conductors consisting of an odd number thereof greater than one, wherein,
- the conductors are wound in a continuously parallel helix around the tube using a prescribed winding angle such that the conductors are interleaved,
- each turn of each conductor is equally spaced from adjoining turns of the other conductors,
- the conductors comprise a common helical length, and
- both a proximal end of the tube and a distal end of the tube are open.
A helical sensor for testing a composite medium, comprising:
- a tube which is non-porous and electrically insulative;
- a first cap which is non-porous and electrically insulative;
- a second cap which is non-porous and electrically insulative;
- and
- three or more conductors which are wound in a continuously parallel helix around the tube using a prescribed winding angle such that the conductors are interleaved, wherein,
- the first cap seals a proximal end of the tube and the second cap seals a distal end of the tube such that an interior of the tube is always filled with air,
- each turn of each conductor is equally spaced from adjoining turns of the other conductors, and
- the conductors comprise a common helical length.
A helical sensor for testing a composite medium, comprising:
- a first helical conductive means for propagating a first original electrical pulse from a proximal end of the sensor toward a distal end of the sensor, and for propagating a first reflected electrical pulse from the distal end of the sensor back toward the proximal end of the sensor;
- a second helical conductive means for propagating a second original electrical pulse from the proximal end of the sensor toward the distal end of the sensor, and for propagating a second reflected electrical pulse from the distal end of the sensor back toward the proximal end of the sensor;
- a third helical conductive means for providing an electrical return path for the first and second original electrical pulses, and for the first and second reflected electrical pulses, wherein,
- the first, second and third helical conductive means are wound in a continuously parallel helix such that they are interleaved, and
- the first, second and third helical conductive means comprise a common helical length;
- and
- a non-porous and non-conductive tubular means for maintaining the structural arrangement and positioning of the first, second and third helical conductive means, and for preventing the first, second and third helical conductive means from coming into direct electrical contact with each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.