Patent ID: 7688215
Filing Date: 2010-03-30
Classification: G01M,G01N

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting moisture comprising: detecting moisture within an absorbent material of a moisture permeable element of a building construction; and detecting surface moisture on an exposed surface of the absorbent material of the moisture permeable element of the building construction by: providing a tape formed by a substrate of dielectric, hydrophobic material, a layer of a mounting adhesive on a rear surface of the substrate and three spaced apart, elongate, generally parallel conductors mounted on a front surface of the substrate and extending therealong; attaching a rear surface of the tape by the adhesive on to the exposed surface of the material so as to mount the conductors on the exposed surface of the material; providing a plurality of pairs of conductive probes arranged at respective spaced locations along the length of the tape; at each spaced location, engaging into the absorbent material through the exposed surface of the absorbent material the respective pair of conductive probes such that each of the respective pair conductive probes penetrates the exposed surface of the absorbent material and engages into the absorbent material; electrically connecting each of the respective pair of probes to a respective one of the three conductors such that two conductors of the three conductors of the tape are connected to a respective one of the pair of probes and one of the three conductors is free from connection to the probes; one only of the two conductors of the three conductors of the tape being covered with a moisture impermeable covering material; such that said one covered conductor of the three conductors of the tape is prevented from engagement with said surface moisture on the tape; and such that two of the of the three conductors of the tape exposed to engagement with said surface moisture on the tape; applying a voltage across the two connected conductors of the three conductors of the tape which are electrically connected to the pairs of probes and monitoring currents passing between the connected conductors so as to detect changes in resistance between the connected conductors caused by said moisture within the material changing the resistance between the pairs of probes; and applying a voltage across the two exposed conductors of the three conductors of the tape and monitoring currents passing between the two exposed conductors so as to detect changes in resistance between the exposed conductors caused by said surface moisture on the exposed surface of the absorbent material migrating onto the tape.