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Capacitance monitor for soil moisture

  • US 5,260,666 A
  • Filed: 09/23/1991
  • Issued: 11/09/1993
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/23/1991
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A capacitance sensing probe for measuring the moisture content of soil through an access tube embedded in the soil, said capacitance sensing probe having a generally cylindrical body comprising:

  • first and second substantially rigid structural components formed of aluminum and shaped as right circular cylinders and defining, respectively, first and second electrically conductive capacitance sensing electrodes;

    a dielectric spacer formed of polypropylene and shaped on a right circular cylinder securely attached to each of said first and second structural components such that said components are dielectrically and longitudinally spaced apart at opposite ends of said spacer;

    an internal cavity formed within at least one of said structural components;

    an electronic circuit located within said internal cavity and electrically connected to each of said first and second electrodes;

    a first circumferentially spaced apart plurality of means extending radially outwardly from said probe body for engaging the side wall of the access tube and centering said probe body within the tube; and

    a second circumferentially spaced apart plurality of means extending radially outwardly from said probe body for engaging the side wall of the access tube and centering said probe body within the tube, said second means being longitudinally spaced from said first means.

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