Patent ID: 6234008
Filing Date: 2001-05-22
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
A method for generating a signal that corresponds to a moisture content characteristic, which characteristic relates tension in liquid residing within a specimen of a porous material, to liquid content of the specimen, the method comprising the steps of:a. providing apparatus comprising:i. a porous body having a specimen surface and a reservoir surface, the reservoir surface facing and in hydraulic contact with a reservoir;ii. a first transducer, coupled to the reservoir and arranged upon activation to generate a signal that corresponds to tension within the reservoir; andiii. supporting the porous body, a second transducer, arranged upon activation to generate a signal that corresponds to the mass of the specimen;b. saturating the pores of the porous body and filling the reservoir with the liquid;c. placing the specimen upon the specimen surface of the porous body, in hydraulic contact with the porous body;d. monitoring a signal from the first transducer, and correlating the signal to tension within the reservoir;e. while conducting the step of monitoring the signal from the first transducer, the step of causing the liquid to exit the specimen; andf. while conducting the steps of monitoring the signal from the first transducer, and causing liquid to exit the specimen, further conducting the steps of:i. monitoring a signal from the second transducer; andii. correlating the signal from the second transducer to liquid content of the sample, to arrive at the moisture content characteristic.