US3788128A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Humidity indication
Assignee: Battelle Development Corp
•
Filing: 1972-01-10
•
Granted: 1974-01-29
•
Expires: 1992-01-10
Abstract
Abstract An enclosure comprises a cylindrical transparent plastic upper portion defining a cavity at its lower end, hermetically sealed to a pointed aluminum lower portion carrying an indicator that changes color with humidity. A transparent membrane, permeable to moisture and impermeable to bulk liquid, covers the indicator at its interface with the cavity. The device is driven into a region of soil that is to be planted several hours later, until the upper face is flush with the surface of the soil to locate small passages, communicating between the cavity and the surrounding soil, at a predetermined depth. The indicator thus provides a measure of the humidity at that depth and is visible from above. A thermometer indicates the temperature of the cavity and the soil at that depth. Just before planting, an optimum concentration of seeds is selected that will provide the desired yield at the relative humidity and temperature then indicated by the device.
Inventors
- 👤 D Strohecker
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:33
CPC Classifications
E; E02; E02D; E02D1/00; E02D1/02; E02D1/027; G; G01; G01N; G01N31/00; G01N31/22; G01N31/222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
252 words
A device for indicating the relative humidity at a predetermined depth from a surface of a moisture-containing body of soil or the like, comprising an elongate enclosure for penetration into the body normally in a substantially vertical position with an upper substantially horizontal plane surface, an upper portion extending downward therefrom with a substantially vertical and smooth outer surface, and a lower portion extending further downward and tapering inward toward its lower end, the lower portion having a substantially horizontal upper surface within the enclosure and supporting thereon an indicator comprising at least one indicating member having a composition that provides a known visible response to selected relative humidity conditions, a covering, above the indicator, having such composition and thickness as to be at least substantially transparent, permeable to the passage of moisture, and impermeable to bulk liquid, the enclosure and the covering together forming a surroundinG for the indicator that is permeable to moisture through the covering and impermeable elsewhere, the enclosure forming a cavity above and contiguous to the covering and having at least one passage communicating from the cavity outward through the side of the enclosure to the moisture-containing body, the portion of the enclosure above the cavity being at least substantially transparent so that any visible response of the indicator can be seen at the upper surface of the enclosure, and the lower portion comprising a metallic corrosion resistant member providing good conductivity of heat between the indicator and the body and hermetically sealed to the upper portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
252 words
A device for indicating the relative humidity at a predetermined depth from a surface of a moisture-containing body of soil or the like, comprising an elongate enclosure for penetration into the body normally in a substantially vertical position with an upper substantially horizontal plane surface, an upper portion extending downward therefrom with a substantially vertical and smooth outer surface, and a lower portion extending further downward and tapering inward toward its lower end, the lower portion having a substantially horizontal upper surface within the enclosure and supporting thereon an indicator comprising at least one indicating member having a composition that provides a known visible response to selected relative humidity conditions, a covering, above the indicator, having such composition and thickness as to be at least substantially transparent, permeable to the passage of moisture, and impermeable to bulk liquid, the enclosure and the covering together forming a surroundinG for the indicator that is permeable to moisture through the covering and impermeable elsewhere, the enclosure forming a cavity above and contiguous to the covering and having at least one passage communicating from the cavity outward through the side of the enclosure to the moisture-containing body, the portion of the enclosure above the cavity being at least substantially transparent so that any visible response of the indicator can be seen at the upper surface of the enclosure, and the lower portion comprising a metallic corrosion resistant member providing good conductivity of heat between the indicator and the body and hermetically sealed to the upper portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the upper portion of the enclosure comprises a right circular cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the lower portion comprises a pointed conical hard tipped member for facilitating penetration into the body.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
13 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the lower portion comprises predominantly aluminum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises an indicating member having a composition that varies in a predetermined manner over its visible area so that the proportion of the area over which the visible response extends is a known function of the relative humidity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the indicator provides visible response in the range of about 30 to 90 percent relative humidity.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises members that respond to relative humidities of at least about 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 percent respectively.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a composition that changes color in response to changes in ambient relative humidity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A device as in claim 8, wherein the composition comprises at least one cobalt salt.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the indicator comprises a positioning holder and indicating members held therein.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 10, wherein the covering is hermetically sealed to the positioning holder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein the covering comprises a membrane consisting essentially of a polymeric material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device as in claim 12, wherein the polymeric material is cellulose acetate, regenerated cellulose, ethyl cellulose, silicone rubber, or nylon.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein each passage is small enough to avoid the entry of liquid from the body into the cavity while providing substantial equilibrium between the humidity in the cavity and the humidity in the body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
A device as in claim 1, wherein each passage is about 5 to 25 mils in average diameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
A device as in claim 1, comprising also means for measuring the temperature in the cavity.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device as in claim 1, positioned in the moisture-containing body with the upper surface of the elongate enclosure substantially flush with the surface of the body to provide a predetermined depth of the at least one passage communicating between the cavity and the body.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2017376A
Cited
US2105683A
Cited
US2869359A
Cited
US3019638A
Cited
US3425388A
Cited
US3680364A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-01-28 | 1977-07-30 | 1978-01-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-28 | 1981-07-30 | 1982-01-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-28 | 1985-07-30 | 1986-01-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |