Dielectric methods and apparatus for in situ prediction of porosity and specific surface area (i.e., soil type) and for detection of hydrocarbons, hazardous waste materials, and the degree of melting of ice and to predict in situ stress-strain behavior
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A soil probe system comprisinga hollow, tubular cylindrical member made of insulating material, for penetrating soil in a direction along the axis of said cylindrical member, said member having a lower end which first enters the soil during penetration,three soil-contacting electrically conductive electrodes adjacent to the lower end of said cylindrical member, two on the same horizontal level and one spaced thereabove, said electrodes being mounted in said cylindrical member a short distance above its lower end,an electrical-electronic measuring system for measuring soil capacitance, connected to said electrodes by conducting means providing identical line impedance from each electrode, said measuring system having an initial electronic portion inside said cylindrical member and close to said electrodes so as to minimize line impedance, the line impedances of each electrode and said initial portion being identical, said initial portion supplying electrical voltages at radio frequencies to said electrodes and receiving electrical signals from said electrodes and having means for generating related electronic signals,a second portion of said measuring system distant from said cylindrical member and connected thereto by lines having identical line impedance, for sending signals at a wide range of radio frequencies to said initial portion, whence they go to said electrodes, and for receiving said electronic signals from said initial portion and manipulating them electronically to produce data output,the lines connecting the electrodes to the initial portion being of identical length and type for each electrode and the lines connecting the second portion to said initial portion being of identical length and type,three other electrodes mounted in said cylindrical member above said initial electronic portion in mirror-image relation to sid soil-contacting electrodes and connected to said initial portion by lines having identical line impedance to the lines connecting said initial portion to said soil-contacting electrodes, andmeans for balancing in air said three soil-contacting electrodes with said three other electrodes.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A soil probe, comprising, in one form, a cylindrical member of insulating material having a pair of metal, electrically conductive, ring electrodes mounted a short distance above a conical portion at the lower end of the probe, these ring electrodes lie flush with the outer surface of the cylindrical member and are spaced apart from each other by the insulating material. An electrical-electronic measuring system is connected to the electrodes by conductors providing identical line impedance for each ring. The system has an initial electronic portion inside the cylindrical member and close to the electrodes and has a second portion distant from the cylindrical member. A plurality of different frequencies of radio-frequency current is applied to the electrodes, for accurate determination of capacitance at the different frequencies. Therefrom are determined the dielectric dispersion characteristics of the soil. A soil probe with three electrodes in a cylindrical tube can be used to predict the stress-strain behavior in situ and properties such as λ, κ, and M from such measured properties and (A2 /f), Δε, and (e1 /et) versus κ.
50 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A soil probe system comprising
a hollow, tubular cylindrical member made of insulating material, for penetrating soil in a direction along the axis of said cylindrical member, said member having a lower end which first enters the soil during penetration, three soil-contacting electrically conductive electrodes adjacent to the lower end of said cylindrical member, two on the same horizontal level and one spaced thereabove, said electrodes being mounted in said cylindrical member a short distance above its lower end, an electrical-electronic measuring system for measuring soil capacitance, connected to said electrodes by conducting means providing identical line impedance from each electrode, said measuring system having an initial electronic portion inside said cylindrical member and close to said electrodes so as to minimize line impedance, the line impedances of each electrode and said initial portion being identical, said initial portion supplying electrical voltages at radio frequencies to said electrodes and receiving electrical signals from said electrodes and having means for generating related electronic signals, a second portion of said measuring system distant from said cylindrical member and connected thereto by lines having identical line impedance, for sending signals at a wide range of radio frequencies to said initial portion, whence they go to said electrodes, and for receiving said electronic signals from said initial portion and manipulating them electronically to produce data output, the lines connecting the electrodes to the initial portion being of identical length and type for each electrode and the lines connecting the second portion to said initial portion being of identical length and type, three other electrodes mounted in said cylindrical member above said initial electronic portion in mirror-image relation to sid soil-contacting electrodes and connected to said initial portion by lines having identical line impedance to the lines connecting said initial portion to said soil-contacting electrodes, and means for balancing in air said three soil-contacting electrodes with said three other electrodes.
-
2. A soil probe system, comprising
a hollow, tubular cylindrical member made of insulating material, for penetrating soil in a direction along the axis of said cylindrical member, said member having a lower end that first enters the soil during penetration, at least two electrically conductive electrodes mounted in said cylindrical member a short distance above its lower end, and an electrical-electronic measuring system connected to said electrodes by conducting means providing identical line impedance from each electrode, said electrical-electronic measuring system comprising an initial electronic portion of said measuring system inside said tubular cylindrical portion and close to said electrodes so as to minimize line impedance, said initial portion including a resistance, capacitance network supplied with one D-C bias voltage for said resistance and another D-C bias voltage for said capacitance, said network having means for varying the resistance and the capacitance, said measuring system also having a second portion distant from said cylindrical portion and connected to said initial electronic portion by lines having identical line impedance, for supplying radio frequency signals 180° - out-of-phase with each other to said network, for receiving said electronic signals, and for manipulating them electronically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to said electrodes and to said network, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain balance in said bias voltages to preserve the 180°
phase difference. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4)
- out-of-phase with each other to said network, for receiving said electronic signals, and for manipulating them electronically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to said electrodes and to said network, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain balance in said bias voltages to preserve the 180°
-
5. A soil probe system, comprising
a hollow, tubular cylindrical member terminating at its lower end in a conical portion, said member being made of insulating material, and used for penetrating soil along the axis of said member with said conical portion penetrating first, a pair of metal, electrically conductive, ring electrodes mounted in said cylindrical member a short distance above said conical portion, said ring electrodes lying flush with the outer surface of said cylindrical member and contacting said soil during said penetration and spaced apart from each other by said insulating material, and an electrical-electronic measuring system connected to said electrodes by conducting means providing identical line impedance for each ring, said electrical-electronic measuring system comprising an initial electronic portion of said measuring system inside said tubular cylindrical portion and close to said electrodes so as to minimize line impedance, said initial portion including a resistance-capacitance network supplied with one D-C bias voltage for said resistance and another D-C bias voltage for said capacitance, said network having means for varying said resistance and capacitance therein, said measuring system also having a second portion distant from said cylindrical portion and connected to said initial electronic portion by lines having identical line impedance, for receiving said electronic signals and manipulating them electrically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to said electrodes, said signals being 180° - out-of-phase, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain balance in said bias voltages to preserve the 180°
phase difference. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7)
- out-of-phase, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain balance in said bias voltages to preserve the 180°
-
8. A soil probe system, comprising
a probe member for said penetration having a tubular cylindrical portion made of insulating material and terminating at its lower end in a metal conical portion which first penetrates the soil, said member penetrating the soil along the cylindrical axis of said member, a pair of soil-contacting metal, electrically conductive, ring electrodes mounted in said cylindrical portion a short distance above said conical portion, the outer surfaces of said ring electrodes lying flush with the outer surface of the cylindrical portion and spaced apart from each other by said insulating material of said cylindrical portion, and an electrical-electronic measuring system connected to said electrodes by conducting means providing identical line impedances between each ring and said system, said measuring system having an initial electronic portion inside said tubular cylindrical portion and close to said electrodes so as to minimize line impedance, said initial portion including a resistance-capacitance network connected to one said electrode and supplied with one D-C bias power supply for said resistance and another D-C bias power supply for said capacitance, said network having means for varying the resistance and the capacitance therein, said measuring system also having a second portion distant from said cylindrical portion and connected to said initial electronic portion by lines having identical line impedance, for receiving said electronic signals and manipulating them electronically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to one said electrode and to said resistance-capacitance network, said signals being 180° - out-of-phase, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain a zero volt reading at the input to said detector.
- View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
-
12. A soil probe system, comprising
a probe member having a tubular cylindrical shank portion made of insulating material and terminating at its lower end in a generally sharp circular edge, for penetrating soil along the cylindrical axis of said probe member, beginning with said edge, a pair of metal, electrically conductive, soil-contacting electrodes mounted in said cylindrical portion flush with the inner surface of said cylindrical portion, said electrodes being on the same horizontal level a short distance above said edge, and a third electrode mounted in said cylindrical portion vertically above one of said pair of electrodes, all of said electrodes being spaced apart from each other by said insulating material of said cylindrical portion, and an electrical-electronic measuring system having an initial portion in said shank above and connected to said electrodes by conducting means providing identical line impedances between each electrode and said system, a mirror image group of three auxiliary electrodes corresponding in size, shape, and location to the three soil-contacting electrodes above said initial portion and connected thereto by identical line impedances, said measuring system including means for balancing in air said soil-contacting electrodes with said mirror image group, said initial electronic portion being close to all said electrodes so as to minimize line impedance, said initial portion including a resistance-capacitance network connected to all of said electrodes and supplied with one D-C bias power supply for said resistance and another D-C bias power supply for said capacitance, said network having means for varying said resistance and capacitance, said measuring system also having a second portion distant from said cylindrical portion and connected to said initial electronic portion by lines having identical line impedance, for receiving said electronic signals and manipulating them electronically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to one said electrode and to a resistance-capacitance network, said signals being 180° - out-of-phase, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain a zero volt reading at the input to said detector.
- View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
-
16. A soil probe system comprising
a hollow, tubular cylindrical member made of insulating material, for penetrating soil in a direction along the axis of said cylindrical member, said member having a lower end which first enters the soil during penetration, three soil-contacting electrically conductive electrodes adjacent to the lower end of said cylindrical member, two on the same horizontal level and one spaced thereabove, said electrodes being mounted in said cylindrical member a short distance above its lower end, an electrical-electronic measuring system for measuring soil capacitance, connected to said electrodes by conducting means said measuring system having an initial electronic portion inside said cylindrical member and close to said electrodes said initial portion supplying electrical voltages at radio frequencies to said electrodes and receiving electrical signals from said electrodes and having means for generating related electronic signals, a second portion of said measuring system distant from said cylindrical member and connected thereto for sending signals at a wide range of radio frequencies to said initial portion, whence they go to said electrodes, and for receiving said electronic signals from said initial portion and manipulating them electronically to produce data output, three other electrodes mounted in said cylindrical member above said initial electronic portion in mirror-image relation to said soil-contacting electrodes and connected to said initial portion by lines having identical line impedance to the lines connecting said initial portion to said soil-contacting electrodes, and means for balancing in air said three soil-contacting electrodes with said three other electrodes.
-
17. A soil probe system comprising
a hollow, tubular cylindrical member made of insulating material, for penetrating soil in a direction along the axis of said cylindrical member, said member having a lower end that first enters the soil during penetration, at least two electrically conductive electrodes mounted in said cylindrical member a short distance above its lower end, and an electrical-electronic measuring system connected to said electrodes and comprising, an initial electronic portion of said measuring system inside said tubular cylindrical portion and close to said electrodes, said initial portion including a resistance-capacitance network supplied with one D-C bias voltage for said resistance and another D-C bias voltage for said capacitance, said network having means for varying the resistance and the capacitance, said measuring system also having a second portion distant from said cylindrical portion and connected to said initial electronic portion by lines having identical line impedance, for supplying radio frequency signals 180° - out-of-phase with each other to said network, for receiving said electronic signals, and for manipulating them electronically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to said electrodes and to said network, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain balance in said bias voltages to preserve the 180°
phase difference.
- out-of-phase with each other to said network, for receiving said electronic signals, and for manipulating them electronically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to said electrodes and to said network, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain balance in said bias voltages to preserve the 180°
-
18. A soil probe system comprising
a hollow, tubular cylindrical member terminating at its lower end in a conical portion, said member being made of insulating material, and used for penetrating soil along the axis of said member with said conical portion penetrating first, a pair of metal, electrically conductive, ring electrodes mounted in said cylindrical member a short distance above said conical portion, said ring electrodes lying flush with the outer surface of said cylindrical member and contacting said soil during said penetration and spaced apart from each other by said insulating material, and an electrical-electronic measuring system connected to said electrodes and comprising, an initial electronic portion of said measuring system inside said tubular cylindrical portion and close to said electrodes, said initial portion including a resistance-capacitance network supplied with one D-C bias voltage for said resistance and another D-C bias voltage for said capacitance, said network having means for varying said resistance and capacitance therein, said measuring system also having a second portion distant from said cylindrical portion and connected to said initial electronic portion for receiving said electronic signals and manipulating them electrically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to said electrodes, said signals being 180° - out-of-phase, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain balance in said bias voltages to preserve the 180°
phase difference.
- out-of-phase, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain balance in said bias voltages to preserve the 180°
-
19. A soil probe system, comprising
a probe member for said penetration having a tubular cylindrical portion made of insulating material and terminating at its lower end in a metal conical portion which first penetrates the soil, said member penetrating the soil along the cylindrical axis of said member, a pair of soil-contacting metal, electrically conductive, ring electrodes mounted in said cylindrical portion a short distance above said conical portion, the outer surfaces of said ring electrodes lying flush with the outer surface of the cylindrical portion and spaced apart from each other by said insulating material of said cylindrical portion, and an electrical-electronic measuring system connected to said electrodes and having an initial electronic portion inside said tubular cylindrical portion and close to said electrodes, said initial portion including a resistance-capacitance network connected to one said electrode and supplied with one D-C bias power supply for said resistance and another D-C bias power supply for said capacitance, said network having means for varying the resistance and the capacitance therein, said measuring system also having a second portion distant from said cylindrical portion and connected to said initial electronic portion for receiving said electronic signals and manipulating them electronically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to one said electrode and to said resistance-capacitance network, said signals being 180° - out-of-phase, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain a zero volt reading at the input to said detector.
-
20. A soil probe system, comprising
a probe member having a tubular cylindrical shank portion made of insulating material and terminating at its lower end in a generally sharp circular edge, for penetrating soil along the cylindrical axis of said probe member, beginning with said edge, a pair of metal, electrically conductive, soil-contacting electrodes mounted in said cylindrical portion flush with the inner surface of said cylindrical portion, said electrodes being on the same horizontal level a short distance above said edge, and a third electrode mounted in said cylindrical portion vertically above one of said pair of electrodes, all of said electrodes being spaced apart from each other by said insulating material of said cylindrical portion, and an electrical-electronic measuring system having an initial portion in said shank above and connected to said electrodes, a mirror image group of three auxiliary electrodes corresponding in size, shape, and location to the three soil-contacting electrodes above said initial portion and connected thereto by identical line impedances, said measuring system including means for balancing in air said soil-contacting electrodes with said mirror image group, said initial electronic portion being close to all said electrodes, said initial portion including a resistance-capacitance network connected to all of said electrodes and supplied with one D-C bias power supply for said resistance and another D-C bias power supply for said capacitance, said network having means for varying said resistance and capacitance, said measuring system also having a second portion distant from said cylindrical portion and connected to said initial electronic portion impedance, for receiving said electronic signals and them electronically to produce data output, said second portion including an oscillator supplying radio-frequency signals to one said electrode and to a resistance-capacitance network, said signals being 180° - out-of-phase, a phase amplitude detector connected to said lines, and computer means connected to said detector for controlling the variation of resistance and capacitance in said network to obtain a zero volt reading at the input to said detector.
Specification
-
- Resources
Litigation Campaign Assessment
Thank you for your request. You will receive a custom alert email when the Litigation Campaign Assessment is available.
×
-
Current AssigneeRegents of the University of California (University of California)
-
Original AssigneeRegents of the University of California (University of California)
-
InventorsArulanandan, Kandiah, Arulanandan, Shiva
-
Primary Examiner(s)Strecker, Gerard R.
-
Application NumberUS06/709,592Time in Patent Office753 DaysField of Search324/57 R, 324/61 R, 324/61 P, 324/65 R, 324/65 P, 324/149, 324/323-325, 324/332, 324/333, 324/347, 324/348, 324/354, 324/355, 324/439, 324/444 , 324/446-449, 324/376US Class Current324/354CPC Class CodesG01N 27/223 for determining moisture co...G01N 33/24 Earth materials G01N33/42 t...G01N 33/241 for hydrocarbon contentG01N 33/246 for water contentG01V 3/30 operating with electromagne...
