Probing for detection of decay in wood

Claim 2

Probing apparatus for measuring cation concentration in wood structure comprising, means including first and second insulatedly separated wires defining a probing element for establishing a portion of a current path in the interior of wood, the probing element defining means comprising means forming an axially elongated insertable end thereof with spaced points thereon for conductive contact with internal walls of said wood, said means defining an insertable end being yieldable to within a first compressed geometric cross-section envelope for insertion through narrow internal passages within the wood and expandable to positively contact internal walls of the wood when measuring, means defining a flexible, stiff major length portion of the probing elEment, and means for essentially insulating said wires from the wood except in the region of said spaced points.

Claim 3

Probing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said probing element defining means comprise two insulated conductors which are cyclically deformed over major portions of their respective lengths.

Claim 4

Probing apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said conductors are helically twisted in opposite senses to form a twisted pair.

Claim 5

Probing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the said conductors comprise bowed out regions thereof with respect to the probing element axis, the said bowed out regions of the respective conductors being longitudinally displaced from each other, the said spaced points being located at peaks of said bowed out regions.

Claim 6

Probing apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said cross-section envelope has an area no greater than that of corresponding essentially to a circle of 1/4 inch diameter.

Claim 7

Probing apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein said envelope is a bore of 1/16 inch diameter and said conductors comprise 19 to 21 gauge wire helically twisted at 11 to 13 turns per inch over a majority of a length of 6 to 12 inches within the insertable end of the probing element.

Claim 8

Probing apparatus in accordance with claim 6 and further comprising, means for generating a pulse current through said multiple conductors, means for measuring impedance in the wood in a current carrying path therein which is part of a circuit loop including said conductors and said pulse current generating means.

Claim 9

Probing apparatus in accordance with claim 1 and further comprising, means for generating a pulse current through said multiple conductors, means for measuring impedance in the wood in a current carrying path therein which is part of a curcuit loop including said conductors and said pulse current generating means.

Claim 10

Method of measuring cation concentration in wood utilizing a probing element including first and second insulatedly separated wires defining a probing element for establishing a portion of a current path in the interior of wood and comprising means forming an axially elongated insertable end thereof with spaced points thereon for conductive contact with internal walls of said wood with the means forming an insertable end being yieldable to within a first compressed geometric cross section envelope for insertion through narrow internal passages within the wood and expandable to positively contact internal walls of the wood when measuring and a flexible stiff major length portion of the probing element with means for essentially insulating the wires from the wood except in the region of the spaced points, which method includes the steps of forming an axially elongated hole in the wood to and beyond a depth of an internal region of the wood to be measured, inserting the probing element to a depth such that said spaced points of the element reach said internal region of the wood to be measured, and passing a current through said conductors and measuring the resistance to current flow.

Claim 11

Method of measuring cation concentration in wood utilizing a probing element including first and second insulatedly separated wires defining a probing element for establishing a portion of a current path in the interior of wood and comprising means forming an axially elongated insertable end thereof with spaced points thereon for conductive contact with internal walls of said wood with the means forming an insertable end being yieldable to within a first compressed geometric cross section envelope for insertion through narrow internal passages within the wood and expandable to positively contact internal walls of the wood when measuring and a flexible stiff major length portion of the probing element with means for essentially insulating the wires from the wood except in the region of the spaced points, which method includes the steps of forming an axially elongated hole in the wood to and beyond a depth of an internal region of the wood to be measured, inserting the probing element to a depth such that said spaced points of the element reach said internal region of the wood to be measured, and passing a current through said conductors and measuring the resistance to current flow.

Claim 12

Cation concentration measuring method in accordance with claim 9 and further comprising, adding polar liquid to the internal region of the wood to be probed to exceed saturation limits of wood fibers in the probed region.