Abstract: An on-line sensor mount assembly for monitoring one or more physical properties of a particulate material that is free flowing in the ductwork of a processing installation. The sensor mount assembly includes a vertical housing with an upwardly open inlet opening and a uniform vertical sensing passage/chamber. An outlet opening is located at the lower end of the housing. A flow metering apparatus is installed at the lower end of the housing and includes a flow metering element positioned in blocking relationship between the sensing chamber and the outlet opening. Continuous operation of the flow metering element transports material from the sensing chamber through the outlet opening at a regulated rate. This assures that the sensing chamber is full and that there is a uniform flow of material past one or more sensor elements installed on the housing and positioned to monitor the particulate material passing through the sensing chamber.

Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a sensor housing or mounting apparatus for positioning in a free flowing stream of particulate matter in order to accomplish on-line measurement of a physical property of the material such as moisture content. The housing has an inlet nozzle, a mid-section or sensing chamber, and a discharge section. The inlet nozzle has flow deflector plates that intercept a sample of material from the process stream from a single plane and channel it to the sensing chamber. A sensor is embedded in the walls of the sensing chamber and positioned to sense the material property of the passing sample. A discharge nozzle extends from the sensing chamber and has a constricted discharge opening in order to regulate flow through the sensing chamber. The discharge nozzle has a pair of downwardly convergent deflector plates such that the flow of particulate matter is restricted in a single vertical plane that is perpendicular to the vertical plane referenced by the inlet section.