Patent ID: 9057804
Filing Date: 2015-06-16
Classification: G01B,G01N,G01W,G08C

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for measuring snow structure and stability comprising: a pole having a length, a first end and a second end; a sensing unit located at the first end of the pole for probing a layer of snow, the sensing unit comprising a tip cylinder having an interior surface that defines a cylindrical channel with a longitudinal axis, a resistance sensing element disposed within the cylindrical channel, and a weather-sealing filler which fills a space between the resistance sensing element and the interior surface, wherein the weather-sealing filler contacts the resistance sensing element along a contact surface parallel to the longitudinal axis, the contact surface having a longitudinal dimension that is greater than a cross-sectional diameter of the weather-sealing filler in a plane normal to the longitudinal axis, the interior surface includes fixture grooves to prevent the weather-sealing filler from slipping inside the tip cylinder, and the weather-sealing filler is configured to deform to allow the resistance sensing element to displace along the longitudinal axis, the sensing unit configured to sense a resistance to penetration; a range sensor configured to measure a distance between the range sensor and a surface of the layer of snow; and a processor configured to