Ground water monitoring device and method

• US 4,669,554 A
• Filed: 12/16/1985
• Issued: 06/02/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kent E. Cordry
• Original Assignee: Kent E. Cordry
• Inventors: Cordry, Kent E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Novosad, Stephen J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bagnell, David J.
• Application Number:
  US06/809,507
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 166/264, 166/162, 166/165, 166/166, 166/168, 166/169, 166/333, 166/334, 175/58, 175/59, 175/20, 175/21, 175/233, 175/234, 175/314, 73/155
• US Class Current: 175/59
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 49/081 with down-hole means for trapping a fluid sample E21B49/10 takes precedence

Abstract

A device and method are set forth to obtain a ground water sample. The device includes a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground and a main body having a closed sample chamber. The main body is movable relative to the cone between the first position where the body and cone abut for inserting the device into the ground and a second position where the cone is frictionally restrained by the ground and the body is withdrawn upwardly relative to the cone to expose a sampling tube. The tube including a plurality of openings to receive ground water into the chamber. After receiving the sample, the device is retrieved from the ground.

Claims

1. A device adapted to be inserted into the ground to obtain a ground water sample and configured to be withdrawn intact from the ground so that the ground water sample may be collected therefrom, the device comprising:

a drive cone subassembly adapted to penetrate the ground;

a body having a closed sample chamber, the body movable relative to the drive cone subassembly between a first position where the body and drive cone subassembly abut for inserting the device into the ground and a second position where the drive cone subassembly is frictionally restrained by the ground and the body is withdrawn upwardly relative to the drive cone subassembly;

a sampling tube affixed to one of said drive cone subassembly or body, the sampling tube including a plurality of apertures to receive ground water and communicating with the sample chamber, the sampling tube isolated from the ground water when the body is at the first position, withdrawal of the body to the second position exposing the sampling tube openings to deliver a ground water sample to the sample chamber; and

means for preventing the sample from reversely passing from the sample chamber through the sampling tube as the device is being withdrawn from the ground.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the sampling tube is attached at one end to the drive cone subassembly, the other end of the sampling tube disposed in the sample chamber.

3. The device of claim 2 further including means for slidably supporting the sampling tube other end in the chamber.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein the supporting means includes a slide affixed to the sampling tube other end and slidably disposed within the sample chamber.

5. The device of claim 1 wherein the sampling tube has one end affixed to the body and extends into a cavity in the drive cone subassembly when the body is at the first position.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein the preventing means includes a check valve assembly disposed at the connection between the sampling tube and sample chamber to prevent reverse flow of the sample from the sample chamber.

7. A device adapted to be inserted into the ground at the end of a pipe string to obtain a ground water sample and configured to be withdrawn from the ground intact so that the ground water sample may be collected therefrom, the device comprising:

a cone subassembly adapted to penetrate the ground to the desired depth;

a body including a chamber and connected to one end to the pipe string, the pipe string and body movable upwardly relative to the cone subassembly from a first condition where the body engages the cone subassembly for insertion of the device and string into the ground to a second condition where the body is spaced from the cone subassembly;

a sampling tube communicating with the chamber and concealed by the body and cone subassembly when the body is in the first condition, relative movement of the body to the second condition exposing the tube to receive ground water and deliver it to the chamber; and

means for preventing the sample from reversely passing from the sample chamber through the sampling tube as the device is being withdrawn from the ground.

10. The device of claim 7 wherein the sampling tube is affixed at one end of the body and the cone subassembly includes a casing with a cavity to conceal the tube when the body is in the first condition, the tube adapted to withdraw from the cavity when the body is moved to the second condition.

11. The device of claim 7 wherein the reverse sample flow preventing means includes a check valve assembly disposed at the connection between the sampling tube and the sample chamber to thereby prevent such reverse flow of the sample from the sample chamber.

12. The device of claim 7 wherein the sample chamber communicates with the interior of the pipe string, and wherein means are provided for preventing ground water which has passed through the sampling tube, through the sample chamber and into the pipe string, from reversely passing from the pipe string back into the sample chamber.

13. The device of claim 12 wherein the means for preventing flow of ground water from the pipe string back into the sample chamber includes a check valve assembly disposed at the location of the connection between the sample chamber and pipe string.

8. The device of cliam 7 wherein the sampling tube is attached at one end to the cone subassembly, the other end communicating with the chamber, the device further including means for slidably guiding the relative movement of the body relative to the cone subassembly.

9. The device of claim 8 wherein the sampling tube other end is disposed axially within the chamber, the guiding means including a slide attached to the tube other end, the chamber sildably supporting the slide and tube other end.

14. A device adapted to be inserted into the ground at the end of a pipe string to obtain a ground water sample, the device comprising:

a main body having one end connected to the pipe string and defining a hollow chamber to receive said sample and;

a cone seal assembly coaxially affixed to an other end, the cone seal assembly having an axial guide bore;

a cone subassembly adapted for penetrating the ground, the cone seal assembly abutting the cone subassembly as the device is inserted into the ground at the end of the pipe string, said pipe string, main body and its cone seal assembly movable upwardly relative to the cone subassembly to a sample position to provide said sample to the device;

a tube connected at one end to the cone subassembly and at the other end slidably guided within the chamber by guide means, the tube being concealed within the chmber and cone seal assembly guide bore during insertion of the device into the ground and being exposed when the pipe string, main body, and its cone seal assembly are at the sample position, the tube including apertures to admit ground water into the chamber; and

a check valve disposed at the tube other end to prevent discharge of the sample from the chamber through the tube.

15. A device adapted to be inserted into the ground at the end of a pipe string to obtain a ground water sample, the device comprising:

a main body having one end connected to the pipe string and defining a hollow chamber to receive said sample and;

a cone seal assembly coaxially affixed to an other end;

a cone subassembly having a cone adapted to penetrate the earth and a coaxial casing having a cavity, the cone subassembly abutting the cone seal assembly for insertion of the device into the ground;

a tube communicating with the chamber and having one end affixed to the cone seal assembly and a plurality of apertures to admit ground water into said chamber, the tube received into the cavity, wherein the pipe string, main body and cone seal assembly are movable upwardly relative to the cone subassembly to withdraw the tube from the cavity to admit ground water into the chamber; and

a check valve disposed at the tube one end to prevent discharge of the sample from the chamber through the sample tube.

16. A method for obtaining a ground water sample comprising:

inserting a device into the ground, the device including,

a main body having a chamber,

a cone subassembly adapted to break ground, the cone arranged to abut the main body, and

a tube communicating with the chamber and having apertures to receive ground water, the tube connected at one end to the cone subassembly, the tube concealed witin the main body during the inserting step;

withdrawing the main body relative to the cone subassembly to a position where the tube is exposed to provide a ground water sample to the chamber; and

retrieving the device from the ground while closing the tube to prevent the sample from discharging from the chamber through the tube during the retrieval of the device.

17. A method for obtaining a ground water sample comprising:

inserting a device into the ground, the device including,

a main body having a chamber,

a cone subassembly adapted to break ground, the cone assembly arranged to abut the main body, and

a tube communicating with the chamber and having apertures to receive ground water, the tube connected at one end to the body, the tube concealed within the cone subassembly during the inserting step;

withdrawing the main body and connected tube relative to the cone subassembly to a position where the tube is exposed to provide a ground water sample to the chamber; and

retrieving the device from the ground while closing the tube to prevent the sample from discharging from the chamber through the tube during the retrieval of the device.