Moisture sensor for layers

• US 6,507,200 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2001
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh
• Original Assignee: Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe Gmbh
• Inventors: Hübner, Christof, Brandelik, Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Benson, Walter
• Application Number:
  US09/754,584
• Publication Number:
  US 20010002105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 739 Days
• Field of Search: 324/658, 324/661, 324/662, 324/664, 324/687, 324/694, 324/634, 324/696
• US Class Current: 324/696
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 22/04 Investigating moisture content

Abstract

In a moisture sensor for monitoring the moisture content of layers, at least two parallel electrical conductors connected to a measuring apparatus are disposed adjacent the layers to be monitored. The conductors are surrounded by an insulating material and carry, at their side remote from the layer whose dielectric coefficient is to be monitored, a metal shielding layer for limiting the measurement field of the sensor.

Claims

1. A moisture sensor for sensing the moisture in layers, said moisture sensor including a conductor arrangement comprising two parallel electrical cables, a measuring apparatus for determining dielectric coefficients connected to said conductor arrangement, each cable including two spaced conductors connected in a three-conductor circuit, in which the conductors of said two cables disposed adjacent each other are at the same potential the space between the two inner conductors of said cables being selected so as to provide for a certain impedance of said conductor arrangement, said electrical conductors of each cable being surrounded by an insulating material layer of a predetermined thickness and carrying at one side, which is remote from the layer whose dielectric coefficient is to be measured, a metal shielding layer, the space between said inner conductors, the thickness of the insulating material and said metal shielding layer determining the measurement field of the moisture sensor in the layer in which the moisture is to be sensed.

2. A moisture sensor according to claim 1, wherein said conductors with said insulating layer and said metal shielding are flexible.

3. A moisture sensor according to claim 1, wherein said conductors have a measuring field and they are arranged at a distance from each other, which is so selected, that the measuring depth of the measuring field is comparable to the thickness of the layer whose moisture content is to be determined.

4. A moisture sensor according to claim 1, wherein said conductors with the insulating layer and the metal shielding have a wave resistance which during measurement is adapted to the characteristic resistance of the measuring apparatus.

5. A moisture sensor according to claim 1, wherein a water permeable metal layer is disposed on top of the layer whose dielectric coefficient is to be monitored.

6. A moisture sensor according to claim 1, wherein said layer to be monitored consists of a porous water-retaining material.

7. A moisture sensor according to claim 6, wherein said moisture sensor is disposed adjacent the ground for determining ice formation on the ground and on objects close to the ground.

8. A moisture sensor according to claim 1, wherein said moisture sensor is disposed adjacent a betonite layer for determining the water content thereof.