Sample-holder for measuring draft and moisture in porous objects

Abstract

The invention concerns a sample-holder (1) for measuring parameters of porous objects, comprising a draft cell including a microwave frequency (C), through which the object passes so as to be able to measure moisture content before and/or after measuring draft.

1 . Sample-holder for measuring parameters of porous objects, this sample-holder comprising a draw measurement cell, and a hyperfrequency cavity for humidity measurement integrated within the cell so as to surround the object present in said cell over at least part of its height, to enable measurement of humidity before and/or after draw measurement.  
   
   
       2 . Sample-holder as in  claim 1 , intended to measure parameters of a cigarette comprising a tobacco rod wrapped in cigarette paper and a filter, said sample-holder comprising a tubular body comprising: 
 an access orifice provided with an iris diaphragm enabling separation of the top of the tobacco rod from the atmosphere so as to channel the flow of paper ventilation for its measurement using first suitable flow measuring means,    a cavity surrounding the tobacco rod over at least a fraction of its height so as to allow determination of the humidity content of the tobacco through the analysis of hyperfrequency signals, and    at least a first sphincter to hold the cigarette in place by encapsulating the filter end, so as to perform draw measurements using aspiration means associated with said sphincter and second means for measuring pressure,    the distance between the iris diaphragm and the lower end of the sphincter being slightly shorter than the length of a cigarette.    
   
   
       3 . Sample-holder as in  claim 2 , comprising a second sphincter enabling encapsulation of the filter opposite the first sphincter with respect to a ventilation zone of the filter so as to channel the ventilation flow of the filter for its measurement.  
   
   
       4 . Sample-holder as in  claim 1 , comprising a processor able to control an operative sequence successively comprising measurements of: 
 humidity before draw,    standardized draw,    filter ventilation,    paper ventilation,    draw with filter ventilation closed,    humidity after draw.    
   
   
       5 . Sample-holder as in  claim 4 , comprising, firstly, a cylindrical structure made of three tubular parts assembled onto one another, namely: 
 a first part comprising a hopper whose central coaxial cavity comprises a part of flattened cone shape followed by a cylindrical part whose diameter is substantially that of the cigarette, the lower part of this hopper comprising an iris diaphragm,    a second part consisting of a hyperfrequency cavity, this part comprising a cylindrical casing whose two circular walls comprise two coaxial circular orifices into which the two respective ends of a tube in dielectric material fit with gas-tight assembly, the inner diameter of this tube being slightly larger than the cigarette diameter,    a third part comprising a cylindrical central passage with several bore levels carrying a first sphincter intended to encapsulate the cigarette at the upper end of the filter, and a second sphincter intended to encapsulate the lower end of the filter.    and secondly,    aspiration means connected downstream of the second sphincter, these aspiration means comprising means for measuring the flow of aspirated air,    a first air flow duct leading into a chamber located in the space between the first and second part, to channel and measure the paper ventilation flow rate,    a second air flow duct leading into a chamber located in the space between the two sphincters, to channel and measure the filter ventilation flow rate.