Patent ID: 7437957

Claim:
A porous medium tensiometer comprising: a housing defining a fluid chamber therein, having a fluid channel and a gas exit channel extending therethrough, the fluid channel having a first fluid port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and a second fluid port in fluid communication with the atmosphere, and the gas exit channel having a first gas port in fluid communication with the fluid chamber and a second gas port in fluid communication with the fluid channel, the gas exit channel merging with the fluid channel at the second gas port and being in fluid communication with the atmosphere through the second fluid port, the housing being adapted to be at least partially inserted in a porous medium; and a liquid injector insertable in the fluid channel through the second fluid port of the fluid channel for injecting a liquid into the fluid chamber through the first fluid port of the fluid channel and simultaneously ejecting gas contained in the fluid chamber in the atmosphere through the gas exit channel and the second fluid port.