US3761712A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Gauge for determining the percentage by weight of moisture contained in a bulk material transported on a moving conveyor
Assignee: Ohmart Corp
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Filing: 1971-05-11
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Granted: 1973-09-25
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Expires: 1991-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A moisture gauge including a radiation source for irradiating with fast neutrons and gamma radiation a bulk substance having moisture contained therein, an analog detector responsive to gamma radiation which has interacted with a predetermined fractional cross-sectional area of the bulk substance to produce a first electrical signal of an analog-type, the amplitude of which is correlated to the instantaneous total weight of the bulk substance including contained moisture, and a pulse-type detector which is responsive to slow neutrons generated by the interaction of fast neutrons and hydrogen atoms of the contained moisture in said predetermined fractional cross-sectional area to produce a second electrical signal of a pulse-type, the pulse rate of which is correlated to the weight of the moisture contained in the bulk substance. The electrical signals generated by the pulse-type slow neutron detector and the analog-type gamma detector are separately accumulated for predetermined intervals, with the slow neutron and gamma accumulating intervals being both equal and synchronized and preferably in the range of 20-80 seconds. An electrical circuit divides the successive moisture weight accumulation signals and the successive total weight accumulation signals to provide successive outputs correlated to the percentage by weight of moisture contained in the bulk substance passing through the gauge during the successive accumulation intervals.
Inventors
- 👤 P Listerman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:45
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N23/00; G01N23/02; G01N23/06; G01N23/09; G01N23/12
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
292 words
A gauge for determining the weight percentage moisture of a bulk substance transported in a longitudinal direction on a moving conveyor, said gauge comprising: a source of fast neutrons for directing fast neutrons into said bulk substance transported thereby, a source of gamma radiation for directing gamma radiation into said bulk substance transported thereby, a detector for detecting neutrons emanating from said bulk material and producing a first electrical signal correlated thereto, and for detecting gamma radiation emanating from said bulk material and generating a second electrical signal correlated thereto, and a signal processing circuit including a. a moisture channel responsive to said first electrical signal and having a first accumulator for providing successive outputs correlated to the number of neutrons detected during successive intervals In1, In2, . . . , which intervals are associated with successive masses of moisture ma, mb, . . . contained in said bulk material passing through said gauge; b. a total weight channel responsive to said second electrical signal and having a second accumulator for providing successive outputs correlated to the gamma radiation detected during successive intervals Ig1, Ig2, . . . , which intervals are associated with successive masses of bulk material m1, m2, . . . passing through said gauge; c. a timer connected to each of said channels for synchronizing and equalizing the neutron accumulating intervals In1, In2, . . . and the gamma accumulating intervals Ig1, Ig2, . . . to provide a condition in which moisture masses ma, mb, . . . are contained in bulk material masses m1, m2, . . . ; and d. an arithmetic circuit responsive to said successive outputs of each channel for providing an output correlated to the weight percentage moisture of said bulk material.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
292 words
A gauge for determining the weight percentage moisture of a bulk substance transported in a longitudinal direction on a moving conveyor, said gauge comprising: a source of fast neutrons for directing fast neutrons into said bulk substance transported thereby, a source of gamma radiation for directing gamma radiation into said bulk substance transported thereby, a detector for detecting neutrons emanating from said bulk material and producing a first electrical signal correlated thereto, and for detecting gamma radiation emanating from said bulk material and generating a second electrical signal correlated thereto, and a signal processing circuit including a. a moisture channel responsive to said first electrical signal and having a first accumulator for providing successive outputs correlated to the number of neutrons detected during successive intervals In1, In2, . . . , which intervals are associated with successive masses of moisture ma, mb, . . . contained in said bulk material passing through said gauge; b. a total weight channel responsive to said second electrical signal and having a second accumulator for providing successive outputs correlated to the gamma radiation detected during successive intervals Ig1, Ig2, . . . , which intervals are associated with successive masses of bulk material m1, m2, . . . passing through said gauge; c. a timer connected to each of said channels for synchronizing and equalizing the neutron accumulating intervals In1, In2, . . . and the gamma accumulating intervals Ig1, Ig2, . . . to provide a condition in which moisture masses ma, mb, . . . are contained in bulk material masses m1, m2, . . . ; and d. an arithmetic circuit responsive to said successive outputs of each channel for providing an output correlated to the weight percentage moisture of said bulk material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gauge of claim 1 wherein said equal intervals In1, In2, . . . and Ig1, Ig2, . . . have a duration in the approximate range of 1 to 100 seconds.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gauge of claim 2 wherein said equal intervals In1, In2, . . . and Ig1, Ig2, . . . have a duration in the approximate range of 20 to 80 seconds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
292 words
A gauge for determining the bone dry weight of a bulk substance transported in a longitudinal direction on a moving conveyor, said gauge comprising: a source of fast neutrons for directing fast neutrons into said bulk substance transported thereby, a source of gamma radiation for directing gamma radiation into said bulk substance transported thereby, a detector for detecting neutrons emanating from said bulk material and producing a first electrical signal correlated thereto, and for detecting gamma radiation emanating from said bulk material and generating a second electrical signal correlated thereto, and a signal processing circuit including a. a moisture channel responsive to said first electrical signal and having a first accumulator for providing successive outputs correlated to the number of neutrons detected during successive intervals In1, In2, . . . , which intervals are associated with successive masses of moisture ma, mb, . . . contained in said bulk material passing through said gauge; b. a total weight channel responsive to said second electrical signal and having a second accumulator for providing successive outputs correlated to the gamma radiation detected during successive intervals Ig1, Ig2, . . . , which intervals are associated with successive masses of bulk material m1, m2, . . . passing through said gauge; c. a timer connected to each of said channels for synchronizing and equalizing the neutron accumulating intervals In1, In2, . . . and the gamma accumulating intervals Ig1, Ig2, . . . to provide a condition in which moisture masses ma, mb, . . . are contained in bulk material masses m1, m2, . . . ; and d. an arithmetic circuit responsive to said successive outputs of each channel for providing an output correlated to the bone dry weight of said bulk material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
292 words
A gauge for determining the bone dry weight of a bulk substance transported in a longitudinal direction on a moving conveyor, said gauge comprising: a source of fast neutrons for directing fast neutrons into said bulk substance transported thereby, a source of gamma radiation for directing gamma radiation into said bulk substance transported thereby, a detector for detecting neutrons emanating from said bulk material and producing a first electrical signal correlated thereto, and for detecting gamma radiation emanating from said bulk material and generating a second electrical signal correlated thereto, and a signal processing circuit including a. a moisture channel responsive to said first electrical signal and having a first accumulator for providing successive outputs correlated to the number of neutrons detected during successive intervals In1, In2, . . . , which intervals are associated with successive masses of moisture ma, mb, . . . contained in said bulk material passing through said gauge; b. a total weight channel responsive to said second electrical signal and having a second accumulator for providing successive outputs correlated to the gamma radiation detected during successive intervals Ig1, Ig2, . . . , which intervals are associated with successive masses of bulk material m1, m2, . . . passing through said gauge; c. a timer connected to each of said channels for synchronizing and equalizing the neutron accumulating intervals In1, In2, . . . and the gamma accumulating intervals Ig1, Ig2, . . . to provide a condition in which moisture masses ma, mb, . . . are contained in bulk material masses m1, m2, . . . ; and d. an arithmetic circuit responsive to said successive outputs of each channel for providing an output correlated to the bone dry weight of said bulk material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gauge of claim 4 wherein said equal intervals In1, In2, . . . and Ig1, Ig2, . . . have a duration in the approximate range of 1 to 100 seconds.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
The gauge of claim 5 wherein said equal intervals In1, In2, . . . and Ig1, Ig2, . . . have a duration in the approximate range of 20 to 80 seconds.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-24 | 1977-03-26 | 1977-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-24 | 1981-03-26 | 1981-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-24 | 1985-03-26 | 1985-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |