The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 19, 2000
Filed:
Apr. 09, 1997
Brian T Adams, Pleasant Hill, IL (US);
George H Hale, Naperville, IL (US);
William L Schubert, Downers Grove, IL (US);
Case Corporation, Racine, WI (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring at least one parameter including mass flow rate or moisture content of material moved by a conveyor are disclosed herein. The method includes the steps of applying an electric field to the material using a non-intrusive sensor assembly, generating signals related to the dielectric value of the material, and processing the signals to determine the parameter. The apparatus includes a capaciflector sensor assembly located along a surface of the conveyor to generate an electric field applied to the material and a processing circuit to determine the parameter based upon the signals output from the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly includes a first conductor spaced between a stationary member of the conveyor and the material, and a second conductor spaced between the first conductor and the stationary member to act as a shield for reducing parasitic capacitance between the first conductor and a reference plane. The first conductor forms a first electrode of a sensor capacitor and the material forms a second electrode, and the capacitance depends on the parameters of the material. A cover may be located between the sensor assembly and material. The processing circuit performs a frequency analysis over any number of frequencies to determine the mass flow rate, moisture content or type of material, and the conveyor's speed.