A biomass impact sensor for sensing impacts of biomass material may include a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face, a first layer of a first material composition directly abutting the first sensing face having a first stiffness, and a second layer of a second material composition directly abutting the second opposite face. The first layer and the second layer may be joined along opposite edges of the pressure sensitive film to envelope the sensing material layer on the opposite edges.

A biomass impact sensor for sensing impacts of biomass material may include a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face, a first layer of a first material composition directly abutting the first sensing face having a first stiffness, and a second layer of a second material composition directly abutting the second opposite face. The first layer and the second layer may be joined along opposite edges of the pressure sensitive film to envelope the sensing material layer on the opposite edges.

Embodiments of the present disclosure include a method including receiving first impact data. The method includes receiving second impact data. The method includes applying a first filter to both the first impact data and the second impact data. The method includes applying a second filter to both the first impact data and the second impact data. Filtering includes time and frequency based discriminating filter to isolate specific signatures that representatively indicate impact signatures generated by the sand on the interrogator. The method includes comparing the first impact data and the second impact data for corresponding signatures. The method includes identifying a corresponding signature in both the first impact data and the second impact data. The method includes determining the corresponding signature meets a threshold criterion. The method includes determining one or more particulate properties based at least in part on the corresponding peak.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to a flow meter for flowable material configured to be used in non-vertical orientations.

The disclosed apparatus, systems and methods relate to a flow meter for flowable material configured to be used in non-vertical orientations.

A method of determining a mass flow rate, volumetric flow and test weight of grain during harvesting operations. A sensor is disposed in the harvesting machine against which clean grain piles are thrown by the clean grain elevator flights. The sensor changes the direction of the clean grain pile such that each clean grain pile compresses into a substantially discrete, contiguous shape producing discrete grain forces resulting in discrete signal pulse magnitudes generated by the sensor. The mass flow rate is calculated by summing the signal magnitudes and dividing the summed magnitudes by the sampling period. The volumetric flow rate is calculated by multiplying the pulse width generated by the sensor by a multiplier which relates pulse width to volumetric flow. The test weight of the clean grain is calculated by dividing the mass flow rate by the volumetric flow rate.

A biomass impact sensor for sensing impacts of biomass material may include a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face, a first layer of a first material composition directly abutting the first sensing face having a first stiffness, and a second layer of a second material composition directly abutting the second opposite face. The first layer and the second layer may be joined along opposite edges of the pressure sensitive film to envelope the sensing material layer on the opposite edges.

A biomass impact sensor for sensing impacts of biomass material may include a pressure sensitive film having a first sensing face and a second opposite face, a first layer of a first material composition directly abutting the first sensing face having a first stiffness, and a second layer of a second material composition directly abutting the second opposite face. The first layer and the second layer may be joined along opposite edges of the pressure sensitive film to envelope the sensing material layer on the opposite edges.

A method of determining a mass flow rate, volumetric flow and test weight of grain during harvesting operations. A sensor is disposed in the harvesting machine against which clean grain piles are thrown by the clean grain elevator flights. The sensor changes the direction of the clean grain pile such that each clean grain pile compresses into a substantially discrete, contiguous shape producing discrete grain forces resulting in discrete signal pulse magnitudes generated by the sensor. The mass flow rate is calculated by summing the signal magnitudes and dividing the summed magnitudes by the sampling period. The volumetric flow rate is calculated by multiplying the pulse width generated by the sensor by a multiplier which relates pulse width to volumetric flow. The test weight of the clean grain is calculated by dividing the mass flow rate by the volumetric flow rate.

A method for determining a mass flow composed of bulk material, in particular grain, which is conveyed by means of a continuous, circulating conveyor, having planar conveyor elements, from a lower bulk material receiving area to a higher bulk material delivery area, in which the bulk material delivered by the conveyor is deflected by a guide surface disposed in the bulk material delivery area toward a measuring device, wherein the mass flow is determined by the measurement of a resulting force (F_G) exerted on a sensor surface of the measuring device, wherein at least two parameters having an effect on the force measurement, in particular parameters independent of bulk material properties, are compensated for. A control and regulating device for executing the method for determining a mass flow composed of bulk material is also provided.