Apparatus for the measurement of physiologic evaporative water loss

Claim 1

APPARATUS FOR MEASUREMENT OF PHYSIOLOGIC EVAPORATIVE WATER LOSS COMPRISING: (A) AN INSULTED HOUSING ENCLOSING A THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY CELL, AIR CIRCULATING MEANS, HEAT SUPPLY AND THERMAL SENSING MEANS; (B) A CAPSULE MEMBER HAVING AN INLET AND AN OUTLET, SAID CAPSULE MEMBER INCLUDING A BODY PORTION HAVING A CAVITY THEREIN, THE CAVITY COMMUNICATING WITH SAID INLET AND OUTLET AND OPENING DOWNWARDLY TO ENCLOSE A TEST SURFACE, SAID INLET EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY INTO SAID CAVITY; (C) A PLURALITY OF CONDUITS PASSING THROUGH SAID INSULATED HOUSING AND CONNECTED TO SAID THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY CELL; (D) AIR SUPPLY MEANS INCLUDING DEHYDRATING MEANS CONNECTED THROUGH SDAID CAPSULE MEMBER TO A FIRST PAIR OF SAID PLURALITY OF CONDUITS CONNECTEDD TO SAID THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY CELL, THE INLET OF SAID CAPSULE MEMBER DIRECTING DEHYDRATED AIR TO A TEST SURFACE, THE OUTLET CONNECTED TO THE FIRST PAIR OF SAID PLURALITY OF CONDUITS FOR EXHAUSTING HUMID AIR FROM SAID CAPSULE MEMBER INTO SAID CELL; (E) A SECOND PAIR OF SAID PLURALITY OF CONDUITS CONNECTED THROUGH A DEHYDRATING MEANS TO SAID FIRST PAIR OF CONDUITS AND DIRECTING DEHYDRATED AIR THROUGH SAID THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY CELL, SAID SECOD PAIR OF CONDUITS CONNECTED THROUGH A FLOW METER SEQUENTIALLY TO A PRESSURE DAMPING AND PUMP MEANS; (F) TERMINAL CONNECTOR MEANS CONNECTED TO SAID THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY CELL FOR APPLYING THE OUTPUT OF SAID THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY CELL TO A BRIDGE CIRCUIT; AND (G) RECORDING MEANS CONNECTED TO THE OUTPUT OF SAID BRIDGE CIRCUIT.