Method and means for moisture measurement

• US 6,278,412 B1
• Filed: 03/03/1999
• Issued: 08/21/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sipco Pty Limited
• Original Assignee: Vomax Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: Kuchar, Krzysztof Marian, Kelly, Richard Kingswood
• Primary Examiner(s): Ho, Tan
• Assistant Examiner(s): VANNUCCI, JAMES
• Application Number:
  US09/262,152
• Time in Patent Office: 902 Days
• Field of Search: 343/878, 343/703, 343/786, 324/637, 324/639, 324/501, 324/640, 324/644, 324/376, 324/840
• US Class Current: 343/786
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/04 Investigating moisture content

Abstract

A microwave transmission antenna arrangement for transmission of microwave signals from a position located in the adjacent vicinity of a bale transfer apparatus for transporting bales past the antenna for assessment of bale characteristics such as moisture in cotton including an antenna supported by a forgiving support by being relatively movable in position if a bale intercepts the antenna. The antenna is supported so as to be restored to a transmission and/or receiving position subsequent to any dislodgment as a result of any interception of a bale.

Claims

1. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement for transmission of microwave signals from a position located in the adjacent vicinity of a bale transfer apparatus for transporting bales past the antenna for assessment of bale characteristics, comprising a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, at least one of which is supported by a support having means to restore the position of the antenna to a transmitting or receiving position subsequent to any dislodgement as a result of being engaged by a bale, wherein the support is a spring loaded mounting holding the antenna in position by reason of alignment of a first face with respect to a second face, the first face being provided on a plate and the second face being provided on a bracket.

2. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 1 further comprising microwave absorption surfaces positioned in the vicinity of an entry location of signals into the receiving antenna.

3. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 2, wherein the microwave absorbing surfaces surround the antenna and are positioned to be more likely to absorb microwaves which are being directed in a direction other than those passing directly into the antenna.

4. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 2, wherein the microwave absorption surfaces comprise microwave absorbing foam slabs having an effective and substantial absorption of microwave in the 2.40 gigahertz range of at least 20 dB.

5. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 1, wherein each of the antennas is in the shape of a horn.

6. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 5, wherein there is microwave absorption material providing a microwave absorption surface being a collar surrounding an end of the horn shape of each antenna, the position of the internal surfaces of the collar defining a passageway of approximately rectangular dimensions matching an outer rectangular dimension of the horn and having parallel sides aligned so as to be also parallel to sides of the horn.

7. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 5, wherein there is microwave absorption material providing a microwave absorption surface being a collar surrounding an end of the horn shape of each antenna, the position of the internal surfaces of the collar defining a passageway of approximately rectangular dimensions matching an outer rectangular dimension of the horn and having parallel sides aligned so as to be also parallel to sides of the horn, wherein the microwave absorption surfaces exhibit substantial absorption at a frequency of at least 5 dB.

8. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 1, wherein each of the antennas is adapted to be used at a frequency within the range from 2.40 to 2.45 gigahertz.

9. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 1, wherein there is a microwave absorber shield behind each of the transmitters or receivers adapted to reduce stray transmissions or reflections.

10. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 1 wherein each antenna is in the form of a horn and such that there are two antennas of this shape each of which respectively act as either a transmitter or a receiver in connection with microwave energy selected to be within the range of from 2.40 to 2.45 gigahertz, and are each supported so that in their normal position they are aligned so as to coincide with the respective transmissions or receiving microwaves of the other antenna.

11. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 1, wherein the spring loaded mounting comprises a spring return, a flat plate having a forward face engaging against a matching face of a bracket and a tongue located to fit into a slot whereby to ensure appropriate alignment of the antenna in a forward to rearward direction as well as appropriate orientation for measuring using microwave purposes.

12. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 1 further comprising a position detector which is arranged to be effected upon a displacement of one or more of the two antennas whereby an electrical signal warning of such displacement can be effected.

13. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement as in claim 1, wherein one only of the antennas is provided with said spring loaded mounting.

14. A microwave transmission antenna arrangement for transmission of microwave signals from a position located in the adjacent vicinity of a bale transfer apparatus for transporting bales past the antenna for assessment of bale characteristics, comprising a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna, at least one of which is supported by a support having means to restore the position of the antenna to a transmitting or receiving position subsequent to any dislodgement as a result of being engaged by a bale, wherein the support is a spring loaded support system in which a spring is aligned by a bolt and contained within a channel so as to keep alignment thereby.