System and method for mobile soil sampling
First Claim
1. A method of sampling soil, comprising the steps of:
- providing a cutting shoe having a soil cutting edge arranged in a closed geometric shape, and a soil collection trough positioned behind the cutting shoe;
moving the cutting shoe and soil collection trough through soil substantially horizontally with the closed geometric shape of the in cutting edge at a controlled depth beneath the soil surface to collect a first soil core sample from a desired sampling depth;
raising the cutting shoe and soil collection trough out of the soil;
moving the first soil sample contained in the soil collection trough into contact with a sensor for measuring a property of the soil;
lowering the cutting shoe and soil collection trough back into the soil; and
moving the cutting shoe and soil collection trough through the soil substantially horizontally to collect a second soil sample while causing the first soil sample to be ejected out of the sampler trough.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A soil sampling implement and method have a sampler assembly supported from an implement frame for movement across a field. The sampler assembly includes a tapered cylindrical cutting shoe and a soil collection trough. The cutting shoe has a leading cutting edge arranged for movement through soil in a horizontal direction to cut a cylindrical core sample. A sensing device is provided for measuring at least one soil property. The sampler assembly is moved between a lowered position in which the cutting shoe is positioned at a selected sampling depth, and a raised position in which the cutting shoe is positioned above the soil surface and a soil sample contained in the soil collection trough is brought into contact with the sensing device. A cutting shoe scraper engages and cleans the leading cutting edge of the cutting shoe when the sampler assembly is moved between the lowered and raised positions.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A method of sampling soil, comprising the steps of:
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providing a cutting shoe having a soil cutting edge arranged in a closed geometric shape, and a soil collection trough positioned behind the cutting shoe; moving the cutting shoe and soil collection trough through soil substantially horizontally with the closed geometric shape of the in cutting edge at a controlled depth beneath the soil surface to collect a first soil core sample from a desired sampling depth; raising the cutting shoe and soil collection trough out of the soil; moving the first soil sample contained in the soil collection trough into contact with a sensor for measuring a property of the soil; lowering the cutting shoe and soil collection trough back into the soil; and moving the cutting shoe and soil collection trough through the soil substantially horizontally to collect a second soil sample while causing the first soil sample to be ejected out of the sampler trough. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of sampling soil, comprising the steps of:
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moving a cutting shoe and soil collection trough through soil substantially horizontally at a controlled depth to collect a first soil sample; raising the cutting shoe and soil collection trough out of the soil; moving the first soil sample into contact with a sensor for measuring a property of the soil; lowering the cutting shoe and soil collection trough back into the soil; and moving the cutting shoe and soil collection trough through the soil substantially horizontally to collect a second soil sample while causing the first soil sample to be ejected out the rear of the sampler trough; wherein said cutting shoe comprises a tapered cylindrical cutting member that cuts a cylindrical core sample as the cutting shoe is moved substantially horizontally through the soil.
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13. A soil sampling implement, comprising:
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a sampler assembly supported from an implement frame, said sampler assembly including a cutting shoe and a soil collection trough positioned behind said cutting shoe, said cutting shoe having a soil cutting edge arranged in a closed geometric shape for movement through soil in a substantially horizontal direction to cut a soil core sample; a sensing device for measuring at least one soil property; and a means for moving the sampler assembly between a lowered position in which the closed geometric shape of the soil cutting edge of the cutting shoe is positioned at a selected sampling depth beneath the soil surface, and a raised position in which the cutting shoe is positioned above the soil surface and in which a soil core sample contained in the soil collection trough is brought into contact with the sensing device. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A soil sampling implement, comprising:
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a sampler assembly supported from an implement frame, said sampler assembly including a cutting shoe and a soil collection trough said cutting shoe having a leading cutting edge arranged for movement through soil in a substantially horizontal direction to cut a soil sample; a sensing device for measuring at least one soil property; and a means for moving the sampler assembly between a lowered position in which the cutting shoe is positioned at a selected sampling depth beneath the soil surface, and a raised position in which the cutting shoe is positioned above the soil surface and in which a soil sample contained in the soil collection trough is brought into contact with the sensing device;
comprises a tapered cylindrical cutting member arranged to cut a cylindrical core sample as the cutting shoe is moved through the soil.
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28. A soil sampling implement comprising:
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a soil sampler assembly supported from an implement frame, said soil sampler assembly including a soil engaging device having a leading cutting edge arranged for movement through soil in a substantially horizontal direction to cut a soil sample; means for moving the sampler assembly between a lowered position in which the soil engaging device is positioned at a selected sampling depth beneath the soil surface, and a raised position in which the soil engaging device is positioned above the soil surface; and a scraper arranged to engage and clean the leading cutting edge of the soil engaging device when the sampler assembly is moved between the lowered and raised positions.
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Specification