Moisture Meter Heating-Time Diagnosis for Accurate Moisture Testing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing moisture meters are influenced by factors beyond the mass measurement unit, particularly the state of the heating unit, leading to increased measurement time due to issues like contamination or failure in the heating means or glass cover.
Innovation Solution
A moisture meter with a control arithmetic unit that diagnoses abnormalities in both the mass measurement and heating units by comparing measured moisture content and heating time with predetermined thresholds, using a standard substance like sodium tartrate dihydrate for calibration and displaying diagnostic results.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If only mass measurement unit state is considered for diagnosis, then diagnostic simplicity is maintained, but diagnostic accuracy deteriorates because heating unit abnormalities cannot be detected
Solution Approach 1:
The abnormality diagnosis unit serves multiple diagnostic functions: it evaluates both mass measurement unit abnormalities (by comparing measured moisture content with theoretical values) and heating unit abnormalities (by comparing heating time with predetermined values). This multi-functional approach enables comprehensive device diagnostics without requiring separate diagnostic systems, thereby improving diagnostic accuracy while controlling system complexity.
2Reliability
If heating unit performance degrades due to contamination or failure, then measurement reliability is maintained temporarily, but measurement time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary diagnosis by measuring heating time during the moisture content measurement process and comparing it with predetermined heating time values stored in the storage unit. This preliminary detection of heating unit abnormalities allows for early identification of performance degradation, enabling timely maintenance before measurement reliability is significantly compromised or measurement time becomes excessively long.
3Measurement precision
If comprehensive abnormality diagnosis is implemented for both mass measurement and heating units, then device state diagnosis accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The abnormality diagnosis unit combines multiple diagnostic functions into a single integrated system. It simultaneously evaluates mass measurement unit abnormalities through moisture content comparison and heating unit abnormalities through heating time comparison, merging these diagnostic capabilities into one unified unit that interfaces with the control arithmetic unit. This integration improves comprehensive diagnosis accuracy while avoiding the complexity increase that would result from separate diagnostic systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The meter can accurately diagnose and address abnormalities in both units, ensuring precise moisture content measurement by identifying and correcting issues in the heating unit, thus reducing measurement time and improving device performance.
Implementation Method 1
a heating unit placed in the heating chamber and configured to heat the specimen
Implementation Method 2
a mass measurement unit configured to measure a mass of a specimen placed on a weighing dish
Implementation Method 3
measures the moisture content of the specimen from a change (decrease) in the mass of the specimen before and after heating
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a moisture meter including a mass measurement unit for measuring the mass of a specimen, a heater for heating the specimen, a control arithmetic unit configured to control the heating unit to heat the specimen until a change in the mass of the specimen becomes not more than a predetermined threshold and calculate the moisture content of the specimen, a timepiece for measuring a heating time, and a storage unit. The control arithmetic unit measures the moisture content of a standard substance for inspection and a heating time, diagnoses the presence/absence of an abnormality in the heating unit by comparing a measured heating time with a predetermined time as a set heating time stored in the storage unit in advance.