Moisture sensing and control device
First Claim
1. A moisture sensing assembly comprising a body having therein a first zone formed of porous material with a first range of pore size having a first mean pore size and a second zone formed of a porous material with a second range of pore size having a second mean pore size such that in use said body is located within a desired soil area under surveillance whereby both said first and second zones are placed in hydraulic conduction with the desired soil area, said first mean pore size being substantially greater than said second mean pore size such that the second zone will remain hydrated when the first zone is becoming dehydrated, and control means associated with each of said first and second zones for sensing an electrical property of each of said zones, said control means including electrode elements associated with each of said first and second zones in spaced relation and defining therebetween a respective electric current flow path through each of said first and second zones, said control means further including a magnetic coupling means for electrically isolating respective pairs of said electrode elements to thereby define electric current flow paths through said respective first and second zones.
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Abstract
A moisture sensing element is provided and is constructed of a body having therein a first zone formed of porous material with a first range of pore size having a first mean pore size and a second zone formed of a porous material with a second range of pore size having a second mean pore size such that in use the body is located within a desired soil area under surveillance whereby both the first and second zones are placed in hydraulic conduction with the desired soil area. The first mean pore size is substantially greater than the second mean pore size such that the second zone will remain hydrated when the first zone is becoming dehydrated. Electrode elements are associated with each of the first and second zones in spaced relation and define therebetween respective electric current flow paths through each of the first and second zones for sensing an electrical property of each of the zones. The control devices further include a magnetic isolating device for electrically isolating respective pairs of electrode elements.
36 Citations
14 Claims
- 1. A moisture sensing assembly comprising a body having therein a first zone formed of porous material with a first range of pore size having a first mean pore size and a second zone formed of a porous material with a second range of pore size having a second mean pore size such that in use said body is located within a desired soil area under surveillance whereby both said first and second zones are placed in hydraulic conduction with the desired soil area, said first mean pore size being substantially greater than said second mean pore size such that the second zone will remain hydrated when the first zone is becoming dehydrated, and control means associated with each of said first and second zones for sensing an electrical property of each of said zones, said control means including electrode elements associated with each of said first and second zones in spaced relation and defining therebetween a respective electric current flow path through each of said first and second zones, said control means further including a magnetic coupling means for electrically isolating respective pairs of said electrode elements to thereby define electric current flow paths through said respective first and second zones.
Specification