Device for measuring the water content of ink samples
US4658207A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 28, 1985 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 28, 2005 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01N33/32
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A device for measuring the water content in small samples of an ink-water mixture. The sample is used as the dielectric for a capacitor cell which includes inner and outer concentric electrodes. The ink sample fills a gap between the electrodes, thereby controlling the total capacitance of the cell. The cell is connected as part of an oscillator circuit, the output frequency of which varies in a known manner with the dielectric constant of the ink mixture, which in turn is determined by the mixture's water content. A display is provided which varies with the frequency of the output signal, thereby indicating the sample's water content. A mechanism is provided for conveniently removing the inner electrode so that a sample can be introduced, and then returning the inner electrode so that the sample floods the gap between the two electrodes. The ends of the electrodes are enclosed by conductive members to contain stray electric field, while thin, removable insulative liners are provided for the opposed electrode surfaces to impede electrolysis and double layer effects, and to facilitate cleaning.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.