Patent · US Active

Porous medium tensiometer

US7437957B2 · kind B2 · utility

7Cited by
25References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 15, 2006
Grant dateOct 21, 2008
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 24, 2026

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01N33/246
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A porous medium tensiometer has a filling mechanism which allows to fill a fluid chamber and simultaneously withdraw gas contained in the fluid chamber. A self-priming tensiometer includes a porous material tip having a first section surrounded by a fluid-impermeable membrane, a second section, a threshold suction range and pores, the pores auto-filling with liquid when in fluid communication with a porous medium having a liquid potential being at least equal, in absolute value, to the threshold suction range, the liquid contained in the pores having a liquid pressure representative of the liquid potential; a one-way fluid control device in fluid communication with the porous material tip and allowing fluid contained in pores of the porous material to exit therethrough when the porous material tip auto-fills with liquid; and a pressure transducer in liquid communication with the porous material tip.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.