Apparatus for measuring the moisture content of snow particles
US4799379A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 22, 1987 |
| Grant date | Jan 24, 1989 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 22, 2007 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02A90/10
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for measuring the moisture content of falling snow has a sheet of water-absorbing material containing a material which generates a color upon having water added thereto and which is movable from a snow receiving position to a first observation position and then to a heating position and then to a second observation position. A first light receiving sensor in said first observation position is directed toward the surface of the sheet for measuring the area of color formed by absorption of moisture from snow particles received on the sheet when the sheet is in the snow receiving position, a heater is positioned at the heating position for heating the sheet to melt the snow particles thereon, a second light receiving sensor in the second observation position is directed toward the surface of the sheet for measuring the area of color formed by the melted snow particles, and a processor is connected to the light receiving sensors for calculating the ratio of the measured areas as a measurement of the moisture content of the snow particles.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.