The present technology generally relates to a porous medium parameter measurement device. The porous medium parameter measurement device comprises: a liquid permeable portion comprising a fluid permeable component and a polymer swellable solution; and comprises a gas permeable portion comprising a gas permeable component. The liquid permeable portion is in operative communication with the gas permeable portion through the gas permeable component; and the gas permeable component acts to purge gases from the liquid permeable component and

An apparatus for testing an object may include a test chamber, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a gas supply module. The test chamber receives a test board for testing an object. The first chamber is under the test chamber and receives a lower surface of the test board. The second chamber surrounds the first chamber to isolate the first chamber from ambient air. The gas supply module supplies a dry gas to the second chamber to provide a positive pressure higher than an ambient pressure, thereby preventing the ambient air from infiltrating into the first chamber. Thus, during the testing of the object at a low temperature, the second chamber may prevent the humid ambient air from infiltrating into the first chamber to prevent condensation of water on the lower surface of the test board.

An apparatus for testing an object may include a test chamber, a first chamber, a second chamber, and a gas supply module. The test chamber receives a test board for testing an object. The first chamber is under the test chamber and receives a lower surface of the test board. The second chamber surrounds the first chamber to isolate the first chamber from ambient air. The gas supply module supplies a dry gas to the second chamber to provide a positive pressure higher than an ambient pressure, thereby preventing the ambient air from infiltrating into the first chamber. Thus, during the testing of the object at a low temperature, the second chamber may prevent the humid ambient air from infiltrating into the first chamber to prevent condensation of water on the lower surface of the test board.

A system, comprising: a housing comprising an elongated hollow body configured to be at least partially embedded in a soil environment adjacent a plant at a desired depth; a swellable element dimensioned to be disposed within the housing, the swellable element being configured to swell when absorbing moisture; a resiliently-compressible flexible tube configured to provide water to the soil environment, the flexible tube is laced transversely through tube openings of the housing, the flexible tube is disposed adjacent to the swellable element inside the housing such that a swelling or displacement of the swellable element compresses the flexible tube, thereby limiting or preventing water flow therethrough; and a moisture transfer adapter configured to communicate moisture along its length from a desired location within the soil environment to the swellable element, as well as methods of using the system.

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for measuring the density of a material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge includes a nuclear density gauge for measuring the density of a material. A radiation source adapted to emit radiation into a material and a radiation detector operable to produce a signal representing the detected radiation. A first material property calculation function may calculate a value associated with the density of the material based upon the signal produced by the radiation detector. The material property gauge includes an electromagnetic moisture property gauge that determines a moisture property of the material. An electromagnetic field generator may generate an electromagnetic field where the electromagnetic field sweeps through one or more frequencies and penetrates into the material. An electromagnetic sensor may determine a frequency response of the material to the electromagnetic field across the several frequencies.

The subject matter described herein includes methods, systems, and computer program products for measuring the density of a material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge includes a nuclear density gauge for measuring the density of a material. A radiation source adapted to emit radiation into a material and a radiation detector operable to produce a signal representing the detected radiation. A first material property calculation function may calculate a value associated with the density of the material based upon the signal produced by the radiation detector. The material property gauge includes an electromagnetic moisture property gauge that determines a moisture property of the material. An electromagnetic field generator may generate an electromagnetic field where the electromagnetic field sweeps through one or more frequencies and penetrates into the material. An electromagnetic sensor may determine a frequency response of the material to the electromagnetic field across the several frequencies.

A sensing system and method is provided for crop material in a harvester. The sensing system includes a conveyor auger device oriented in a substantially vertical direction and having an entrance aperture, an exit aperture located upwardly above a radially oriented sensing aperture disposed therebetween. The conveyor auger device includes a conveyor auger having a flight for moving crop material upwardly, wherein the flight has a reduced radial extension adjacent the sensing aperture. A sensor disposed at or adjacent the sensing aperture senses the essentially continuously upwardly moving crop material for determining a property thereof.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining a property of construction material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge operable to determine a property of construction material is disclosed. The gauge may include an electromagnetic sensor operable to measure a response of construction material to an electromagnetic field. Further, the electromagnetic sensor may be operable to produce a signal representing the measured response by the construction material to the electromagnetic field. An acoustic detector may be operable to detect a response of the construction material to the acoustical energy. Further, the acoustic detector may be operable to produce a signal representing the detected response by the construction material to the acoustical energy. A material property calculation function may be configured to calculate a property value associated with the construction material based upon the signals produced by the electromagnetic sensor and the acoustic detector.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for determining a property of construction material. According to one aspect, a material property gauge operable to determine a property of construction material is disclosed. The gauge may include an electromagnetic sensor operable to measure a response of construction material to an electromagnetic field. Further, the electromagnetic sensor may be operable to produce a signal representing the measured response by the construction material to the electromagnetic field. An acoustic detector may be operable to detect a response of the construction material to the acoustical energy. Further, the acoustic detector may be operable to produce a signal representing the detected response by the construction material to the acoustical energy. A material property calculation function may be configured to calculate a property value associated with the construction material based upon the signals produced by the electromagnetic sensor and the acoustic detector.

A method for detecting the presence of humidity on a surface of a flat strip, in particular a bare metal strip or of a coated metal strip having the following steps: blowing on the surface an impinging air flow producing an air flow deflected by the surface, the impinging air flow not being saturated, measuring a humidity content of at least a portion of the deflected air flow, comparing the humidity content of the impinging air flow and the deflected air flow, if said humidity content of the deflected air flow is superior to the humidity content of the impinging air flow, the presence of humidity on the surface of the bare metal strip or of the coated metal strip is detected.