Patent ID: 8607618
Filing Date: 2013-12-17
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An electronic level sensor and timer-based falling head soil permeameter for measuring precisely the permeability of a soil sample, said permeameter comprising: a glass burette ( upper and lower liquid level sensor assemblies ( a chamber assembly of three vertically stacked chambers, said assembly including: a top, vertically oriented tubular chamber ( a middle, vertically oriented tubular chamber ( a bottom chamber ( wherein said top chamber discharges water only through said top chamber outlet; wherein said middle chamber discharges water only through said middle chamber outlet; wherein at least said top and middle chambers are made of copper; a first, perforated Teflon disk located in said top chamber ( a second, perforated Teflon disk seated in said upper cylindrical portion of said bottom chamber ( wherein said upper, middle, and bottom chambers may be disassembled from one another; wherein said sensor assemblies each comprise a photo sensor, an LED, and a clear plastic dome positioned relative to one another such that, when air covers the dome, light emitted by the LED is directed substantially towards the photo sensor so that the photo sensor is on; and positioned such that, when water covers the dome, some of the light emitted by the LED which would otherwise reach the photo sensor escapes into the liquid such that the photo sensor turns off; and an electronic timer unit (