Dickey-john Corporation

Norman F Marsh

William T Eng

Warren H Kelly

Maurice J Snell

A moisture tester is provided for testing a sample of feed of the silage, haylage, and like compressible variety. The tester includes a chamber for receiving a feed sample. A compressible piston compresses the feed sample in the chamber to a predetermined density to provide accurate, reliable, reproducible results. The chamber comprises spaced electrodes constituting a capacitor such that the dielectric constant of the capacitor is modified in accordance with moisture within the feed sample. A circuit functionally including the capacitor develops a signal in accordance with the moisture content of the sample. A readout, responsive to the circuit signal, provides a visual indication of the feed sample moisture content. A circuit trigger is automatically operated by the compression exerted upon the feed sample to start circuit operation and provide the feed sample moisture content readout.

Haylage/silage moisture tester

A moisture tester for grain and like materials is disclosed. The tester includes a walled test chamber including spaced apart electrodes which form an electrical coaxial capacitor, the electrodes being located so that the dielectric constant of the capacitor is modified in accordance with the dielectric constant of a test material sample introduced into the test chamber. To limit the volume, and to configure and pack the volume of test material introduced into the tester in a predetermined way, a funnel arrangement is provided at the tester top. A lower portion of the funnel directs inflowing grain over an axially aligned, centrally located finger which forms one of the electrodes. A pour spout is provided for pouring test sample material from the test chamber after test completion.

Volumetric moisture tester

A device for monitoring the amount or depth of silage or similar material retained in a silo or like structure is disclosed. A number of sensors are vertically arrayed in and on a silo wall, and each sensor senses the presence or absence of silage in its immediate vicinity. An electrical circuit includes a visual display device such as a liquid crystal display for indicating the amount of material in the silo.

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Auburn, IL, United States of America

Norman F Marsh