Patent ID: 7631545
Filing Date: 2009-12-15
Classification: G01N,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A tensiometer apparatus for measuring the moisture content of soil and other like medium, comprising: an elongated measurement tube whose interior provides an elongated sealable measurement chamber which is normally filled with liquid; a porous tip which is sealably attached to the bottom end of the tube, wherein the tip is inserted into the soil and a passageway exists between the chamber and tip which allows liquid in the chamber to flow into the tip; a reservoir whose bottom end is sealably attached to the top end of the tube, wherein a passageway exists between the reservoir and chamber, and the reservoir is normally filled with liquid; a piston-type plunger assembly which is slidably fitted inside the reservoir and the passageway between the reservoir and chamber, wherein the plunger assembly comprises, a vacuum gauge sealably attached to the reservoir, wherein the gauge is disposed in the passageway between the reservoir and chamber, beneath the valve assembly, and wherein a passageway exists between the chamber and gauge which allows the gauge to measure the pressure in the chamber, and hence indicate the moisture content of the soil surrounding the tip.