US3766471A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for determining moisture content of tobacco
Assignee: Liggett Group LLC
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Filing: 1971-12-03
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Granted: 1973-10-16
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Expires: 1991-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for determining the moisture content of freshly prized remoistened tobacco compressed into hogs-heads. An alternating voltage is applied to a pair of electrodes connected in a circuit and thrust into the hogshead. A phase sensitive voltmeter connected to the electrode circuit measures the component of the current in that circuit which is in phase with the alternating voltage, and hence the resistive component of the impedance between the electrodes. A logarithmic converter transforms this resistive component into a signal varying linearly with moisture content.
Inventors
- 👤 J Pullman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 17:24
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/04; G01N27/048; G01N27/22; G01N27/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for determining the moisture content of freshly remoisturized tobacco, comprising the steps of: a. placing a quantity of said tobacco in a container, b. inserting a pair of separated electrodes connected in a circuit into the tobacco, said circuit partially comprising said tobacco, c. applying a reference alternating voltage to said electrodes through said circuit to thereby generate an alternating current in said circuit, said alternating current passing through said tobacco, d. measuring the relative magnitude of that component of said alternating current which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage by means of a phase-sensitive voltmeter, e. placing other quantities of tobacco separately into said container, each of said other quantities being equal to said quantity, each of said other quantities having a known moisture content, each of said moisture contents being different, f. repeating steps (b) through (d) on each of said other quantities of tobacco, and g. determining from the measurements of steps (e) and (f) the relation between the magnitude of in-phase alternating current measured in said quantity of tobacco and the moisture content thereof, and h. determining from said relation of step (g) the moisture content of said quantity of tobacco.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
199 words
A method for determining the moisture content of freshly remoisturized tobacco, comprising the steps of: a. placing a quantity of said tobacco in a container, b. inserting a pair of separated electrodes connected in a circuit into the tobacco, said circuit partially comprising said tobacco, c. applying a reference alternating voltage to said electrodes through said circuit to thereby generate an alternating current in said circuit, said alternating current passing through said tobacco, d. measuring the relative magnitude of that component of said alternating current which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage by means of a phase-sensitive voltmeter, e. placing other quantities of tobacco separately into said container, each of said other quantities being equal to said quantity, each of said other quantities having a known moisture content, each of said moisture contents being different, f. repeating steps (b) through (d) on each of said other quantities of tobacco, and g. determining from the measurements of steps (e) and (f) the relation between the magnitude of in-phase alternating current measured in said quantity of tobacco and the moisture content thereof, and h. determining from said relation of step (g) the moisture content of said quantity of tobacco.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 1, in which the tobacco is compressed in a hogshead and said electrodes have an elongated rod configuration, in which: the step of inserting the electrodes into the tobacco comprises fOrcing the electrodes through the walls of the hogshead.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1, in which the step of applying an alternating voltage comprises: applying an alternating voltage having a frequency of 1 KHz.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
119 words
The method of claim 1, in which step (d) comprises: a. passing said alternating current through a resistor b. applying the voltage drop across said resistor to a second input of a phase sensitive voltmeter, said voltmeter having first and second voltage inputs and being capable of producing an output proportional to the magnitude of the component of the voltage across said second input which is in phase with the voltage across said first input, c. applying said alternating reference voltage to said first input of said phase sensitive voltmeter, and d. measuring at the output of said phase sensitive voltmeter the magnitude of the component of said voltage drop which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
160 words
The method of claim 1, in which step (d) comprises: a. passing said alternating current through a resistor b. applying the voltage drop across said resistor to a second input of a phase sensitive voltmeter, said voltmeter having first and second voltage inputs and being capable of producing an output proportional to the magnitude of the component of the voltage across said second input which is in phase with the voltage across said first input c. applying said alternating reference voltage to said first input of said phase sensitive voltmeter, and d. measuring at the output of said phase sensitive voltmeter the magnitude of the component of said voltage drop which is in phase with said reference alternative voltage e. applying said output of said voltmeter to a logarithmic converter which produces an output proportional to the logarithm of the output of said voltmeter, so that the output of said converter is proportional to the moisture content of the tobacco.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1, in which step (a) comprises: placing the tobacco in a hogshead and positioning the hogshead beneath said electrodes, for insertion of said electrodes into said tobacco.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of freshly prized tobacco comprising: a. a frame b. a pair of electrodes connected in a circuit and movably mounted to said frame for selective insertion into the tobacco, c. power means connected to said circuit for applying an alternating voltage between said electrodes to generate an alternating current in said circuit, d. means connected to said power means to said circuit for measuring the magnitude of said alternating current which is in phase with said alternating voltage whereby the relative magnitude of the resistive component of the impedance between said electrodes may be measured, and the moisture content of said tobacco may be determined by comparing the relative magnitude of said resistive component with the relative magnitude of the resistive component of the impedance between said electrodes when said electrodes are inserted into tobacco having a known moisture content.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
146 words
Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of freshly prized tobacco comprising: a. a frame b. a pair of electrodes connected in a circuit and movably mounted to said frame for selective insertion into the tobacco, c. power means connected to said circuit for applying an alternating voltage between said electrodes to generate an alternating current in said circuit, d. means connected to said power means to said circuit for measuring the magnitude of said alternating current which is in phase with said alternating voltage whereby the relative magnitude of the resistive component of the impedance between said electrodes may be measured, and the moisture content of said tobacco may be determined by comparing the relative magnitude of said resistive component with the relative magnitude of the resistive component of the impedance between said electrodes when said electrodes are inserted into tobacco having a known moisture content.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
94 words
The apparatus of claim 7, in which said measuring means comprises: a. a resistor serially connected in said circuit, and b. a phase sensitive voltmeter having i. a first input connected to said power means to receive said alternating voltage, ii. a second input connected across said resistor to apply the voltage drop of said alternating current across said resistor to said second input, and iii. means for producing an output signal whose magnitude is proportional to the magnitude of the component of said voltage drop which is in phase with said alternating voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising: a logarithmic converter having an input connected to the output of said phase-sensitive voltmeter for producing an output which is proportional to the logarithm of said output signal of said phase-sensitive voltmeter, WHEREBY the output of said logarithmic converter is proportional to the moisture content of the tobacco.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 7, in which said electrodes have an elongated rod configuration.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising: means connected to said electrodes for forcing said electrodes into said tobacco, whereby said electrodes may be forced through the walls of a container into which the tobacco is placed.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus of claim 11, in which said forcing means comprises: a. a pneumatic cylinder connected between said frame and said electrodes, and b. pneumatic power means for actuating said pneumatic cylinder.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 7, in which: said power means comprises: a. a square wave generator having its output connected to the input of a selective amplifier to convert said square waves to sine waves.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
219 words
A method for determining the moisture content of freshly re-moisturized tobacco, comprising the steps of: a. inserting a pair of electrodes connected in a circuit into the tobacco, b. applying a reference alternating voltage to said electrodes through said circuit to generate an alternating current in said circuit, c. determining the relative magnitude of the component of said alternating current which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage, said determination further comprising the steps of: i. passing said alternating current through a resistor, ii. applying the voltage drop across said resistor to a second input of a phase sensitive voltmeter, said voltmeter having first and second voltage inputs and being capable of producing an output proportional to the magnitude of the component of the voltage across said second input which is in phase with the voltage across said first input, iii. applying said alternating reference voltage to said first input of said phase sensitive voltmeter, and iv. measuring at the output of said phase sensitive voltmeter the magnitude of the component of said voltage drop which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage, and d. comparing said relative magnitude of said in-phase component of said alternating current with the in-phase magnitude of said alternating current when said electrodes are inserted into tobacco having a known moisture content.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
219 words
A method for determining the moisture content of freshly re-moisturized tobacco, comprising the steps of: a. inserting a pair of electrodes connected in a circuit into the tobacco, b. applying a reference alternating voltage to said electrodes through said circuit to generate an alternating current in said circuit, c. determining the relative magnitude of the component of said alternating current which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage, said determination further comprising the steps of: i. passing said alternating current through a resistor, ii. applying the voltage drop across said resistor to a second input of a phase sensitive voltmeter, said voltmeter having first and second voltage inputs and being capable of producing an output proportional to the magnitude of the component of the voltage across said second input which is in phase with the voltage across said first input, iii. applying said alternating reference voltage to said first input of said phase sensitive voltmeter, and iv. measuring at the output of said phase sensitive voltmeter the magnitude of the component of said voltage drop which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage, and d. comparing said relative magnitude of said in-phase component of said alternating current with the in-phase magnitude of said alternating current when said electrodes are inserted into tobacco having a known moisture content.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
259 words
A method for determining the moisture content of freshly re-moisturized tobacco, comprising the steps of: a. inserting a pair of electrodes connected in a circuit into the tobacco, b. applying a reference alternating voltage to said electrodes through said circuit to generate an alternating current in said circuit, c. determining the relative magnitude of the component of said alternating current which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage, said determination further comprising the steps of: i. passing said alternating current through a resistor, ii. applying the voltage drop across said resistor to a second input of a phase sensitive voltmeter, said voltmeter having first and second voltage inputs and being capable of producing an output proportional to the magnitude of the component of the voltage across said second input which is in phase with the voltage across said first input, iii. applying said alternating reference voltage to said first input of said sensitive voltmeter, iv. measuring at the output of said phase sensitive voltmeter the magnitude of the component of said voltage drop which is in phase with said reference alternative voltage, and v. applying said output of said voltmeter to a logarithmic converter which produces an output proportional to the logarithm of the output of said voltmeter, so that the output of said converter is proportional to the moisture content of the tobacco, and d. comparing said relative magnitude of said in-phase component of said alternating current with the in-phase magnitude of said alternating current when said electrodes are inserted into tobacco having a known moisture content.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
259 words
A method for determining the moisture content of freshly re-moisturized tobacco, comprising the steps of: a. inserting a pair of electrodes connected in a circuit into the tobacco, b. applying a reference alternating voltage to said electrodes through said circuit to generate an alternating current in said circuit, c. determining the relative magnitude of the component of said alternating current which is in phase with said reference alternating voltage, said determination further comprising the steps of: i. passing said alternating current through a resistor, ii. applying the voltage drop across said resistor to a second input of a phase sensitive voltmeter, said voltmeter having first and second voltage inputs and being capable of producing an output proportional to the magnitude of the component of the voltage across said second input which is in phase with the voltage across said first input, iii. applying said alternating reference voltage to said first input of said sensitive voltmeter, iv. measuring at the output of said phase sensitive voltmeter the magnitude of the component of said voltage drop which is in phase with said reference alternative voltage, and v. applying said output of said voltmeter to a logarithmic converter which produces an output proportional to the logarithm of the output of said voltmeter, so that the output of said converter is proportional to the moisture content of the tobacco, and d. comparing said relative magnitude of said in-phase component of said alternating current with the in-phase magnitude of said alternating current when said electrodes are inserted into tobacco having a known moisture content.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2661734A
Cited
GB910152A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-10-15 | 1977-04-16 | 1977-10-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-10-15 | 1981-04-16 | 1981-10-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-10-15 | 1985-04-16 | 1985-10-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |