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Process for continuously determining the moisture content of spoilable grain products
Assignee: BEBRUDER BUHLER AG CH-9240 UZWIL SWITZERLAND A CORP OF
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Filing: 1982-06-25
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Granted: 1985-02-12
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Expires: 2002-06-25
Abstract
Abstract A process and apparatus are disclosed for continuously determining the moisture content of a spoilable grain product which is moved along a processing line as a product stream and passed, at least in part, downwardly through a measuring section of a housing in accordance with the process, a pourable average of the product stream is created continuously within the measuring section, and the product moisture content of this product average is measured electrically on a continuous basis. In accordance with the device, the measuring housing has a capacitor as a continuous-flow measuring section and a device for continuously controlling the creation of a pourable product average.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Oetiker
- 👤 Emanuel Kummer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 06:50
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01N; G01N33/00; G01N33/02; G01N33/10; G01N27/00; G01N27/02; G01N27/22; G01N27/223
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
A process for continuously determining the moisture content of a spoilable grain product moving along a processing line as a product stream and, at least in part, passing downwardly through a measuring section, said process comprising the steps of continuously diverting a portion of said product stream, reducing the flow rate of said portion relative to the remainder of said product stream so that said portion corresponds to a pourable average of said product stream, electrically measuring the moisture content of said pourable average as it passes through the measuring section, passing said remainder of said product stream downwardly through a passageway forming a bypass section in parallel with said measuring section, and controlling the flow of product in said bypass section to maintain a constant product level therein, whereby a constant quantity of product accumulation in said measuring section is obtained.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
A process for continuously determining the moisture content of a spoilable grain product moving along a processing line as a product stream and, at least in part, passing downwardly through a measuring section, said process comprising the steps of continuously diverting a portion of said product stream, reducing the flow rate of said portion relative to the remainder of said product stream so that said portion corresponds to a pourable average of said product stream, electrically measuring the moisture content of said pourable average as it passes through the measuring section, passing said remainder of said product stream downwardly through a passageway forming a bypass section in parallel with said measuring section, and controlling the flow of product in said bypass section to maintain a constant product level therein, whereby a constant quantity of product accumulation in said measuring section is obtained.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process in accordance with claim 1, wherein a constant percentage of the product stream is diverted as a product stream portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the movement of the product stream portion in the measuring section is free of pressure, occurring as a result of gravity alone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the product stream portion is passed in a trickling manner through the measuring section and is measured during this passage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein movement of the product stream portion through the measuring section is retarded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein said product stream portion is conducted by the force of gravity alone through the measuring section and said remainder of the stream is conducted, also by gravity alone, through the bypass section, the product being retarded in its downward movement through the measuring and bypass sections, and being retarded by a different amount in each.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
A process in accordance with claim 2, wherein the percentage is preset to a predetermined constant value.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein said product stream portion and said remainder are reunited beneath the measuring section, and a controlled product backlog in the measuring section is created in the area where the two product stream portions are brought together.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process in accordance with claim 7, wherein the percentage is preset by preselecting the size of an outlet aperture from the measuring section.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein capacitance in the measuring section, which is designed as a measuring capacitor, is measured directly, measurement values so obtained being delivered to an electronic evaluator for determining the moisture content of the product.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
93 words
A process in accordance with claim 10, wherein the measuring capacitor is charged in a first phase to a predetermined voltage, and in a second phase a reference capacitor is connected to the measuring capacitor, the measuring capacitor is discharged into the reference capacitor, and the voltage across the reference capacitor is measured and delivered to electronic evaluator, these two phases being cyclically repeated, with the reference capacitor being charged during the first phase and the voltage across the reference capacitor being delivered to a memory at the end of the second phase.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process in accordance with claim 11, wherein an average of several measured values is created in the memory for determining the moisture content of the product.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the instantaneous weight of the product is determined during its electrical measurement, and the product flow in the measuring section is controlled to maintain the measuring section essentially full at all times.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process in accordance with claim 1 or 2, wherein the two product stream portions are reunited to form an enclosed product column, and the instantaneous throughput of the enclosed product column is measured continuously.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A process in accordance with claim 14, wherein from the product moisture content value obtained and the instantaneous throughput value, the required amount of water relative to a desired moisture content value is determined in a computer, the value determined for the amount of water required being used to directly control a subsequent device for moistening the grain product.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-02-12 | 1988-08-13 | 1989-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-02-12 | 1992-08-13 | 1993-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-02-12 | 1996-08-13 | 1997-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |