Grondmonsternemer

• US 20030089526A1
• Filed: 11/09/2001
• Published: 05/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eijkelkamp Agrisearch Equipment BV (Eijkelkamp Earth Sampling Group BV)
• Original Assignee: Eijkelkamp Agrisearch Equipment BV (Eijkelkamp Earth Sampling Group BV)
• Inventors: Beeker, Arnoldus Emanuel Ruthgerus
• Granted Patent: US 6,695,075 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 175/58
• CPC Class Codes: E02D 1/04 Sampling of soil E02D1/025 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 25/00 Apparatus for obtaining or removing undisturbed cores, e.g. core barrels or core extractors core bits E21B10/02
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 25/06 the core receiver having a flexible liner or inflatable retaining means

Abstract

Soil sampler comprising a sampling tube having a receiving space for receiving the soil sample to be taken, the receiving space being limited in radial direction by a wall, being open in distal direction for permitting soil to enter in it and in proximal direction being limited by a transverse wall, having line means for supplying and discharging fluid to the receiving space and with means for closing off the line means, a free plug or piston being placed in the receiving space closely fitting in there and moveable between the transverse wall and the distal area of the sampling tube and the transverse wall and the stopper or piston defining a sealed chamber for fluid when the stopper or piston is situated at a distance from the transverse wall.

Claims

1. Soil sampler comprising a sampling tube having a receiving space for receiving the soil sample to be taken, the receiving space being limited in radial direction by a wall, being open in distal direction for permitting soil to enter in it and in proximal direction being limited by a transverse wall, having line means for supplying and discharging fluid to the receiving space and with means for closing off the line means, a free plug or piston being placed in the receiving space closely fitting in there and moveable between the transverse wall and the distal area of the sampling tube and the transverse wall and the stopper or piston defining a sealed chamber for fluid when the stopper or piston is situated at a distance from the transverse wall.

2. Soil sampler according to claim 1, the stopper or piston having a distal surface that is a part of the target surface of the soil sampler.

3. Soil sampler according to claim 2, the stopper or piston having a conical distal surface.

4. Soil sampler according to claim 1, the stopper or piston being provided with a cavity in at least one of its axially oriented surfaces.

5. Soil sampler according to claim 4, the proximal surface of the stopper or piston being provided with a cavity.

6. Soil sampler according to claim 1, the stopper or piston at the proximal side being in liquid-sealing engagement with the wall surface of the receiving space according to a line shaped contact.

7. Soil sampler according to claim 6, the stopper or piston having a diabolo-like or hourglass shape.

8. Soil sampler according to claim 1, the line means comprising a fluid duct extending through the transverse wall, a valve that can be remote controlled being present for selectively opening the fluid duct.

9. Soil sampler according to claim 8, the valve being a one-way valve that is biassed against the distal end of the fluid duct.

10. Soil sampler according to claim 9, the valve comprising a valve disc and a valve rod connected thereto, the valve rod extending through the fluid duct to the proximal side of the transverse wall and being biassed at that location by means of a compression spring.

11. Soil sampler according to claim 10, the fluid duct being adapted for selective discharge of fluid from the receiving space.

12. Soil sampler according to claim 11, the line means comprising a separate and closable supply duct for fluid.

13. Soil sampler according to claim 1, the sampling tube at the distal end being provided with a core catcher.

14. Soil sampler according to claim 1, furthermore provided with means for at least radially enveloping the soil sample to be received in the receiving space.

15. Soil sampler according to claim 14, the enveloping means comprising a sleeve arranged at the distal end of the sampling tube such that it can be unwound and extending with a closed end over the open distal end of the receiving space.

16. Soil sampler according to 15, the stopper or piston being connected to the sleeve.

17. Soil sampler according to claim 14, a liner being placed in the sampling tube, which liner covers the inner surface of the sampling tube at the location of the receiving space.

18. Soil sampler according to claim 17, a fluid seal being placed between the liner and the sampling tube.

19. Soil sampler according to claim 17, the stopper or piston being in engagement with the inner surface of the liner.

20. Method for taking soil samples, wherein a sampling tube having an open end giving access to a receiving space for the soil sample is being filled with fluid, is forced into the ground in that state until the location is reached from where the soil sample has to be taken, the fluid is given the opportunity to escape while pushing the sampling tube deeper into the ground so that the wanted soil enters the receiving space.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein the fluid filled receiving space is sealed to the outside with a fluid sealing free piston, wherein the soil moves the piston to the inside while urging the fluid out when the soil enters.

22. Method according to claim 20, wherein the receiving space is only partially filled with soil, the fluid is stopped from escaping, the sampling tube is urged further into the ground down to a lower spaced apart location is reached where soil is present of which a sample has to be taken as well, the fluid is given the opportunity again to escape while pushing the sampling tube deeper into the ground so that there as well the wanted soil enters the receiving space.

23. Method according to claim 20 wherein after the soil sampler has been raised the receiving space is filled with a pressurised fluid to urge the soil sample taken, out of the sampling tube.