US2527187A - Scale for the determination of the moisture content of solid bodies - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 24, 1950 F. HAAB 2,527,187

SCALE FOR mi; D RMINATIoN OF THE mozswuns CONTE 0F soup BODIES Filed Aug. 26, 1947 FRED HAAB INVENTOR ATTORNE i atented Oct. 24,

SCALE FOR THE DETERMINATION THE MOISTURE CONTENT OF SOLID BODIES Fred Haab, Milan, Italy, assignor to firm; Fratelli Buehler, Milan, Italy Application August 26, 1947, Serial No. 770,713 In Italy August 9, 1946 Section 1, Public Law 690, August 8, 1946 Patent expires August 9, 1966 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for measuring the moisture content in solid bodies and particularly in cereals in general.

The apparatus of the present invention differs from those already known, wherein the separation of moisture from the solid, is effected by means of heat, and the weight-loss thereafter measured, in that the features of heat source, transmissio means, the sample tank, and the measuring apparatus are contained in a single unit so as to ensure good operational conditions being maintained at all times. Thus the several conditions which are liable to produce error as, for example, varying room conditions such as temperature, humidity, air currents, and the speed of operation, are eliminated, whilst the present invention will permit of an increased drying-up temperature of the products; thus reducing the period of time involved to effect the same result.

The scale according to the present invention is characterised by a vertically displaceable drying-chamber into which penetrates one end of a rod to sustain the plate for the dried material, when the drying chamber is lowered, the other end of said rod projecting downwardly to support the moist material, an indicator being yoked to the rod intermediate of its ends.

In one embodiment of the invention, illustrated by Way of example in the accompanying drawing, the apparatus consists of a supporting tripod I, provided with adjusting screws for the true levelling of a central body 2 containing the measuring device, and a thermostatic drier 3 consisting of an insulated metal box provided with heating elements not shown for the sake of clarity.

In the base of the drier, three holes are provided for the passage therethrough of the trident end 4 of the rod 5. On this trident end rests the plate 8 on which is placed the sample to be examined, the said plate being suspended by suitabl lowering the drier 3. Whilst this simple mechanical movement requires no special mechanism and may be performed by manual means, there is here illustrated, by way of example and not of limitation, one arrangement for conveniently raising and lowering the drier 3.

The oven or drier 3 rests upon cylindrical supporting columns ID, ID, which are slidably disposed within suitable sleeves H, H. From a lateral wall of oven 3 projects a rotata'bly mounted shaft or rod l2, near the outer extremity of which is affixed eccentric l3. A driving cord [4 is partly coiled about the peripher of eccentric I3 and passes through a well l5 to any convenient point of control.

In the drawing, for the sake of clarity, oven 3 is shown in raised position, but normally the nethermost surface of eccentric I3 will rest against the upper extremity of well l5 and oven 3 Will assume the lowest possible corresponding position, under the influence of gravitational attraction. When cord i4 is forcibly retracted, rotation of eccentric l3 will thereby be brought about. This will elevate rod I2, thereby causing oven 3 to be raised against gravity, whilst columns Ill, Ill correspondingly emerge upwardly through sleeves H, H. The lid of drier carries a vent 6 for the outlet of the steam generated from the sample during its drying-up. The moisture percentage may be read from a suitably graduated dial it.

It has frequently been found that when a sample has been Weighed before drying upon a given balance and then Weighed after drying upon a different balance, an error of either balance may be unnoticed. B the instant invention it becomes possible to utilize a single balance for the performance of both weighings, thus automatically compensating for fixed or temporary balance faults, an advantage not presented by prior art devices of this general type.

To accomplish this desirable result, there is provided, at or near the nethermost extremity of rod 5, a second plate, or sample pan, 8, upon which a moist sample may be placed, and the weight thereof determined at an instant when the oven is in a lowered position, in which position the upper pan 8 has ceased to be dependent or acting upon any portion of the weighing system proper, as hereinafter described in detail.

The rod 5 has a knife-edge engagement with the yoke 1 of the indicating device, and it will be apparent that the said rod will support both, the lower plate 8 and the plate 8' located in the drier 3, when said drying chamber is lowered to cause the plate 8' to be lifted from its supports 9 by means of the trident end 4.

When the scale is in operation, with the thermal drying chamber displaced, that is, during the drying-up of a sample under examination, the same scale will allow net weight measurement being made of the damp materials, thus making possible a continuous operation which has not hitherto been possible with apparatus of this kind. 7

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention and what ner the same is to be performed, We declare that i .t We claim is:

Moisture determination apparatus of the type wherein a Weighed sample is dried in an oven and recharacterized in that a single balance is provided for the performance of both weighings, said apparatus including an upper oven section, a medial balance-containing section and a nethermost section containing a weighing an ior moist materials, means for predeterminedly altering the distance between said upper and said medial section, a substantially vertical connectng rod provided at the upper extremity thereof vith pan-engaging and loosingmeans and at the nether extremity thereof with said Weighing pan for moist materials, permanently affixed to said rod, engaging means at a medial portion of aid rod, permanently connecting it to said 0 since, a pan for dried materials, situated within said upper oven section so as to be engageable by said pan-engaging means When said upper and medial sections are moved to- Wards one another, and means permanently within said upper section for supporting said dried materia1 pan when said upper and medial sections are moved away from each other, whereby said last separation of sections permits said balance to become operative solely by said nether weighing pan, independently of said upper weighing pan.

HAAB,

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,089,826 Emerson Mar. 10, lsl 'l 2,047,765 Brabender July 14, 1936 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 424,544 Italy Aug. 28, 19-27

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