Patent ID: 9222906
Filing Date: 2015-12-29
Classification: F26B,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method for monitoring the moisture content of a collection of wood members drying in a kiln, the kiln operable for applying heat, and air circulation for drying the collection to a specified moisture content, wherein a wireless sensor in operable contact with the wood collection for forming an electrical circuit with the wood, wherein the circuit additionally includes two spaced apart conductive plates positioned within the wood collection, and wherein the sensor and the circuit are configured to establish each of a capacitance and resistance of a water content of at least a portion of the collection, the portion residing between the spaced apart conductive plates; and wherein the sensor includes: (a) a wireless transmitter for wirelessly communicating with a stationary device, the stationary device for wirelessly receiving data from the sensor related to the water content of the portion of the collection, the data including measurements of the capacitance and resistance, and (b) one or more batteries for providing electrical power to the sensor; comprising performing the following steps by computational machinery: activating a timer for determining when a first time limit is exceeded; wirelessly transmitting a first instance of the data to the device, via the wireless transmitter, when the first time limit is exceeded; evaluating, based on the data, by performing one of: (i) a comparison of an elapsed time for drying the collection in the kiln with a predetermined elapsed time limit for drying the collection in the kiln, (ii) a comparison of a humidity in the kiln with a humidity threshold, or (iii) a comparison of an impedance for the portion of the collection with an impedance threshold; obtaining, based on a result of the evaluating, information for a second time limit different from the first time limit; using the information for activating the timer to determine when the second time limit is exceeded; and wirelessly transmitting a second instance of the data to the device, via the wireless transmitter, when the second time limit is exceeded; wherein for conserving the batteries, the first time limit is longer than the second time limit.