Moisture measuring method and apparatus

Claim 2

Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of material, said apparatus comprising: first conductor means disposed in spaced facing relation to said material; second conductor means disposed in spaced facing relation to said material and in adjacent spaced relation to said first conductor means; third conductor means disposed in facing relation to said material and positioned opposite said first and second conductor means while being generally separated from said first and second conductor means by said material during the presence of said material; receiving means; means for energizing said first and third conductor means in out of phase relation with respect to a common reference whereby coupling between first and second conductor means and coupling between second and third conductor means create a potential in said second conductor means during the presence or absence of said material; and means for connecting said second conductor means to said receiving means for registering said potential of said second conductor means with respect to a fixed reference potential whereby moisture in said material is disposed in coupling relation between said second and third conductor means to alter the potential of said second conductor means so that moisture can be detected according to the change in potential of said second conductor means.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said third conductor means comprises at least one grounded conductive bar positioned beneath the path of said material, said first and second conductor means being located above the path of said material such that said material passes between said third conductor means and the other conductor means.

Claim 6

Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of material being conveyed on a conveyor along a generally horizontal path, said apparatus comprising: a detector conductor adjacent the path of said material on a first side of said conveyor so as to face a first side of said material conveyed on said conveyor; a first transmitting conductor positioned generally opposite said detector conductor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can be coupled between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, said first transmitting conductor being adjacent the path of said material on a second side of said conveyor so as to face a second side of material as conveyed on said conveyor; an additional transmitting conductor positioned adjacent said detector conductor on said first side of said conveyor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can also be coupled between said additional transmitting conductor and said detector conductor; receiving means; means for providing a source of radio frequency energy connected between said first transmitting conductor and said additional transmitting conductor for energizing said first and additional conductors in opposite phase relation with respect to one another whereby coupling between said transmitting conductors and said detector conductor creates a potential in said detector conductor; and means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means for registering said potential of said detector conductor whereby when moisture in said material is disposed in coupling relation between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, the potential of said detector conductor is altered so that moisture can be detected according to the change in potential of said detector conductor.

Claim 7

Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of material being conveyed on a conveyor along a generally horizontal path, said apparatus comprising: a detector conductor adjacent the path of said material on a first side of said conveyor so as to face a first side of said material conveyed on said conveyor; a first transmitting conductor positioned generally opposite said detector conductor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can be coupled between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, said first transmitting conductor being adjacent the path of said material on a second side of said conveyor so as to face a second side of material as conveyed on said conveyor; an additional transmitting conductor positioned adjacent said detector conductor on said first side of said conveyor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can also be coupled between said additional transmitting conductor and said detector conductor; receiving means; means for providing a source of radio frequency energy connected between said first transmitting conductor and said additional transmitting conductor for energizing said first and additional conductors in opposite phase relation with respect to one another whereby coupling between said transmitting conductors and said detector conductor creates a potential in said detector conductor; and means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means for registering said potential of said detector conductor whereby when moisture in said material is disposed in coupling relation between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, the potential of said detector conductor is altered so that moisture can be detected according to the change in potential of said detector conductor.

Claim 8

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first transmitting conductor comprises at least one grounded bar positioned beneath the path of said material.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first transmitting conductor comprises a pair of grounded bars positioned beneath the path of said material, and wherein said additional transmitting conductor comprises a pair of plates positioned above the path of said material.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said detector conductor is positioned between said pair of plates.

Claim 11

Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of material being conveyed on a conveyor along a generally horizontal path, said apparatus comprising: a detector conductor adjacent the path of said material on a first side of said conveyor so as to face a first side of said material conveyed on said conveyor; a first transmitting conductor positioned generally opposite said detector conductor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can be coupled between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, said first transmitting conductor being adjacent the path of said material on a second side of said conveyor so as to face a second side of material as conveyed on said conveyor; an additional transmitting conductor positioned adjacent said detector conductor on said first side of said conveyor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can also be coupled between said additional transmitting conductor and said detector conductor; receiving means; means for providing a source of radio frequency energy connected between said first transmitting conductor and said additional transmitting conductor whereby coupling between said transmitting conductors and said detector conductor creates a potential in said detector conductor; wherein said means for providing a source of radio frequency energy includes first and second output terminals coupled respectively to said first and additional transmitting conductors; means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means for registering said potential of said detector conductor whereby when moisture in said material is disposed in coupling relation between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, the potential of said detector conductor is altered so that moisture can be detected according to the change in potential of said detector conductor; wherein said means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means includes a return path at a reference level intermediate said first and second terminals of said source of high frequency energy; a signal plate connected to said return path and positioned on the remote side of said detector conductor from said first transmitting conductor; and a grounding plate located on the remote side of said signal plate from said first transmitting conductor.

Claim 12

Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of material being conveyed on a conveyor along a generally horizontal path, said apparatus comprising: a detector conductor adjacent the path of said material on a first side of said conveyor so as to face a first side of said material conveyed on said conveyor; a first transmitting conductor positioned generally opposite said detector conductor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can be coupled between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, said first transmitting conductor being adjacent the path of said material on a second side of said conveyor so as to face a second side of material as conveyed on said conveyor; an additional transmitting conductor positioned adjacent said detector conductor on said first side of said conveyor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can also be coupled between said additional transmitting conductor and said detector conductor; receiving means; means for providing a source of radio frequency energy connected between said first transmitting conductor and said additional transmitting conductor whereby coupling between said transmitting conductors and said detector conductor creates a potential in said detector conductor; wherein said means for providing a source of radio frequency energy includes first and second output terminals coupled respectively to said first and additional transmitting conductors; means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means for registering said potential of said detector conductor whereby when moisture in said material is disposed in coupling relation between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, the potential of said detector conductor is altered so that moisture can be detected according to the change in potential of said detector conductor; wherein said means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means includes a return path at a reference level intermediate said first and second terminals of said source of high frequency energy; a signal plate connected to said return path and positioned on the remote side of said detector conductor from said first transmitting conductor; and a grounding plate located on the remote side of said signal plate from said first transmitting conductor.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said means for providing a source of radio frequency energy includes first and second output terminals coupled respectively to said first and additional transmitting conductors, and wherein said means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means includes a return path at a reference level intermediate said first and second terminals of said source of high frequency energy.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 9 further including a signal plate connected to said return path and positioned on the remote side of said detector conductor from said first transmitting conductor.

Claim 15

Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of material being conveyed on a conveyor along a generally horizontal path, said apparatus comprising: a detector conductor adjacent the path of said material on a first side of said conveyor so as to face a first side of said material conveyed on said conveyor; a first transmitting conductor positioned generally opposite said detector conductor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can be coupled between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, said first transmitting conductor being adjacent the path of said material on a second side of said conveyor so as to face a second side of material as conveyed on said conveyor, wherein said first transmitting conductor comprises a pair of grounded bars positioned beneath the path of said material; an additional transmitting conductor positioned adjacent said detector conductor on said first side of said conveyor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can be coupled between said additional transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, wherein said additional transmitting conductor comprises a pair of plates positioned above the path of said material and wherein said detector conductor is positioned between said pair of plates; receiving means; means for providing a source of radio frequency energy connected between said first transmitting conductor and said additional transmitting conductor whereby coupling between said transmitting conductors and said detector conductor creates a potential in said detector conductor; means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means for registering said potential of said detector conductor whereby when moisture in said material is disposed in coupling relation between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, the potential of said detector conductor is altered so that moisture can be detected according to the change in potential of said detector conductor; and further including a grounding plate located above said detector conductor on the remote side of said detector conductor from said first transmitting conductor.

Claim 16

Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of material being conveyed on a conveyor along a generally horizontal path, said apparatus comprising: a detector conductor adjacent the path of said material on a first side of said conveyor so as to face a first side of said material conveyed on said conveyor; a first transmitting conductor positioned generally opposite said detector conductor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can be coupled between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, said first transmitting conductor being adjacent the path of said material on a second side of said conveyor so as to face a second side of material as conveyed on said conveyor, wherein said first transmitting conductor comprises a pair of grounded bars positioned beneath the path of said material; an additional transmitting conductor positioned adjacent said detector conductor on said first side of said conveyor in sufficiently close proximity to said detector conductor so that radio frequency energy can be coupled between said additional transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, wherein said additional transmitting conductor comprises a pair of plates positioned above the path of said material and wherein said detector conductor is positioned between said pair of plates; receiving means; means for providing a source of radio frequency energy connected between said first transmitting conductor and said additional transmitting conductor whereby coupling between said transmitting conductors and said detector conductor creates a potential in said detector conductor; means for connecting said detector conductor to said receiving means for registering said potential of said detector conductor whereby when moisture in said material is disposed in coupling relation between said first transmitting conductor and said detector conductor, the potential of said detector conductor is altered so that moisture can be detected according to the change in potential of said detector conductor; and further including a grounding plate located above said detector conductor on the remote side of said detector conductor from said first transmitting conductor.