Method and system for monitoring soil properties
First Claim
1. A vadose zone probe adapted to be mounted on an inflatable sleeve for installation in a borehole formed in the vadose zone, comprising:
- a fluid cell having one or more conduits connected thereto for externally accessing its interior, and a porous medium installed in, or formed on, one of its walls for allowing passage of liquid between the interior of said fluid cell and the borehole soil, wherein said vadose zone probe is made from an elongated body having a front and rear sides, and wherein said rear side is substantially flat and said front side is made from a deformable and permeable material, or having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said borehole.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present application is directed to a method and apparatus for monitoring soil hydraulic properties, and for collecting soil pore-water samples, in relatively undisturbed soil conditions, by means of a vadose zone probe (10) adapted to be mounted on an inflatable sleeve (18) for installation in a borehole (14) formed in the vadose zone, said vadose zone probe comprises a fluid cell (15) having one or more conduits (13a, 13b, 13c) connected thereto for externally accessing its interior, and a porous medium (11) installed in, or formed on, one of its walls for allowing passage of liquid between the interior of said fluid cell and the borehole soil, wherein said vadose zone probe is made from an elongated body having a front (10f) and rear (10r) sides, and wherein said rear side is substantially flat and said front side is made from a deformable and permeable material, or having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said borehole.
29 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A vadose zone probe adapted to be mounted on an inflatable sleeve for installation in a borehole formed in the vadose zone, comprising:
- a fluid cell having one or more conduits connected thereto for externally accessing its interior, and a porous medium installed in, or formed on, one of its walls for allowing passage of liquid between the interior of said fluid cell and the borehole soil, wherein said vadose zone probe is made from an elongated body having a front and rear sides, and wherein said rear side is substantially flat and said front side is made from a deformable and permeable material, or having a curvature corresponding to the curvature of said borehole.
- View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for determining the quality and/or purity of soil and pore-water in the vadose zone, comprising:
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drilling a borehole across a section of the vadose zone; lowering into said borehole an inflatable sleeve comprising one or more vadose zone probes mounted thereon, said inflatable sleeve adapted to be installed in a borehole formed in the vadose zone, and each of said vadose zone probes comprises a fluid cell having one or more conduits connected thereto for externally accessing its interior, and a porous medium installed in, or formed on, one of its walls for allowing passage of liquid between the interior of said fluid cell and the borehole soil; filling said inflatable sleeve with a filling material such that a continuous pressure is applied over said one or more vadose zone probes, thereby pressing them against the wall of the borehole and obtaining hydraulic continuity therebetween through said porous medium; introducing a volume of liquid into said fluid cells via said one or more conduits; and whenever needed, removing volumes of liquid from said fluid cell via said one or more conduits. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for determining the quality and/or purity of soil and pore-water in the vadose zone, comprising:
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an inflatable sleeve adapted to be installed in a borehole formed in the vadose zone; and one or more vadose zone probes mounted on said inflatable sleeve, said vadose zone probes comprises a fluid cell having one or more conduits connected thereto for externally accessing its interior, and a porous medium installed in, or formed on, one of its walls for allowing passage of liquid between the interior of said fluid cell and the borehole soil. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification