Subsurface sampler
First Claim
1. A subsurface sampler, comprising:
- a casing having a top access opening, an inner surface defining an interior cavity, and an outer surface disposed in contact with a material to be sampled;
a porthole formed through the casing so that the interior cavity may be in direct communication with the material to be sampled;
movable gate means disposed over the porthole for selectively allowing or preventing direct communication between the interior cavity and the material to be sampled;
wiper means for displacing material in a smear zone adjacent the outer surface of the casing in the vicinity of the porthole, thereby exposing a representative material sampling surface in direct communication with the interior cavity of the casing through the porthole; and
a sampling probe received through the top access opening into the interior cavity and selectively positioned at the porthole in direct communication with the material sampling surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A subsurface sampler including a cylindrical casing with portholes to provide access below ground to sample potentially hazardous substances without contaminating investigative probes that are inserted into the interior cavity of the casing. The sampler has an inner sleeve that seals the portholes on the casing during the insertion operation. After the casing is inserted into the ground, the inner sleeve is rotated such that the windows on the sleeve and casing line up exposing the soil to a variety of investigative probes. A tab or wiper is attached to the inner sleeve to clear soil blocking the portholes in the casing and to cut through the "smear" zone immediately along side of the outer surface of the casing. Once the sampler casing is in the ground and portholes are open, a sampling probe is inserted into the interior cavity of the casing following a track or guide system. When soil characterization is complete, the portholes can be closed off by turning the inner sleeve and capping the casing for future analyses, or the interior cavity may be filled with grout. The sampler casing is not intended to be removed unless the area is excavated.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. A subsurface sampler, comprising:
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a casing having a top access opening, an inner surface defining an interior cavity, and an outer surface disposed in contact with a material to be sampled; a porthole formed through the casing so that the interior cavity may be in direct communication with the material to be sampled; movable gate means disposed over the porthole for selectively allowing or preventing direct communication between the interior cavity and the material to be sampled; wiper means for displacing material in a smear zone adjacent the outer surface of the casing in the vicinity of the porthole, thereby exposing a representative material sampling surface in direct communication with the interior cavity of the casing through the porthole; and a sampling probe received through the top access opening into the interior cavity and selectively positioned at the porthole in direct communication with the material sampling surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification