US3690389A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and an apparatus for taking an undisturbed soil sample
Assignee: ADRIAAN B MANN
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Filing: 1970-02-02
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Granted: 1972-09-12
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Expires: 1990-02-02
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for taking an undisturbed soil sample are described, by means of which the soil sample, which, during the introduction of a sampling tube into the soil, is surrounded by a hose, is supported substantially over its full length by means of a supporting tube which, after removing the sampling tube from the soil, is also used for transporting the sample to a laboratory. This supporting tube may consist of separate tube selections connected together by adhesive tape, so that the sample may be divided in easily transportable sections by cutting the adhesive tape and the sample. For facilitating the penetration of the sample into the sampling tube, a lubricating liquid may be used, and the sample may be supported near the lower end of the sampling tube by means of a supporting liquid, both liquids being immiscible. The lower part of the sampling tube is provided with means for pinching off the sample, and the corresponding secton of the supporting tube is weakened so that it may be deformed correspondingly, said pinching means being provided with means for locking it in its extreme positions, and with means for transferring pressing and pulling forces. Means are provided for closing the upper end of the hose and for guiding this end coaxially with the supporting tube for allowing the lubricating liquid to be uniformly distributed around the hose.
Inventors
- 👤 Roelof Van De Beld
- 👤 Heinrich K S P Begemann
- 👤 Hendrikus J Bos
- 👤 Adriaan B Mann
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 09:54
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B49/00; E21B49/02; E02; E02D; E02D1/00; E02D1/02; E02D1/04; E21B25/00; E21B25/06
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for taking an undisturbed soil sample with the aid of a cutting tube with a sharp cutting mouth, an annular chamber being disposed round the bottom end of this tube, in which chamber a transversely stretchable hose may be arranged which may enter into the interior of the sampling tube through a slot near the cutting mouth, and may be carried along with the penetrating sample, as a result of which this sample is completely enclosed by the hose, characterized by the steps of introducing a coaxial supporting tube into the cutting tube, which coaxial supporting tube extends down to the vicinity of the slot of the hose chamber, the inner diameter of this tube being only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sample surrounded by the hose, and introducing a lubricating fluid at the upper end of said supporting tube in order to fill the space between the hose and the supporting tube.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
158 words
A method for taking an undisturbed soil sample with the aid of a cutting tube with a sharp cutting mouth, an annular chamber being disposed round the bottom end of this tube, in which chamber a transversely stretchable hose may be arranged which may enter into the interior of the sampling tube through a slot near the cutting mouth, and may be carried along with the penetrating sample, as a result of which this sample is completely enclosed by the hose, characterized by the steps of introducing a coaxial supporting tube into the cutting tube, which coaxial supporting tube extends down to the vicinity of the slot of the hose chamber, the inner diameter of this tube being only slightly larger than the outer diameter of the sample surrounded by the hose, and introducing a lubricating fluid at the upper end of said supporting tube in order to fill the space between the hose and the supporting tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
72 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein a supporting liquid is introduced into the hose chamber at least in the vicinity of its exit slot for keeping the hose free of the slot and transversely supporting the sample at least in the vicinity of said slot, characterized in that the supporting liquid is poured into the interspace between the supporting tube and the cutting tube, the latter communicating with the hose chamber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the lubricating liquid is immiscible with the supporting liquid in order to avoid that the supporting liquid be carried along with the hose.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the surface tension and the viscosity of the lubricating liquid and the width of the interspace between the supporting tube and the sample are such that, as the sample penetrates into the supporting tube, the lubricating liquid remains in said interspace, but a transverse inward deformation of the sample in consequence of the static pressure of said liquid and the expulsion of the liquid layer by the outward pressure of the sample is avoided.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the lubricating liquid has a greater adhesion to the wall of the supporting tube than to the wall of the hose.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
122 words
The method according to claim 1 characterized by the steps of extending, during the cutting, the supporting tube by supporting extension tubes disposed within the cutting tube proper, the length of said supporting extension tubes corresponding to that of the extension tubes of the cutting tube proper, said supporting extension tubes being placed with their terminal faces abutting each other and being connected to each other in a sealed manner by means of an adhesive tape, and after withdrawal of the cutting tube from the soil and the subsequent loosening of the extensions of the cutting tube, separating the individual supporting extension tubes from each other by cutting the adhesive tape and the sample, and covering the cutting planes with covering plates.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 6, characterized by cutting the adhesive tape with the aid of a covering plate having a sharp edge.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method according to claim 6, characterized in that the sample is transported within the supporting tube and supporting extension tubes.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
158 words
The apparatus for taking an undisturbed soil sample, comprising a cutting tube Having a cutting mouth, an annular chamber disposed round the interior of the lower end of said cutting tube, into which a hose can be inserted, a sample tube arranged within said cutting tube, said annular chamber communicating with the interior of the sample tube by means of a circular slot disposed in the vicinity of said cutting mouth, fitting means disposed in the vicinity of said circular slot, and a detachable rigid supporting tube sealingly fitting into said fitting means, and being coaxially supported in said cutting tube, said sample tube defining said hose chamber and is provided at the inside with longitudinal grooves, the ribs between said grooves contacting said supporting tube, said grooves connecting the lower end of said hose chamber with the interspace between the supporting tube and the portion above the hose chamber of the cutting tube proper and its extensions.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
158 words
The apparatus for taking an undisturbed soil sample, comprising a cutting tube Having a cutting mouth, an annular chamber disposed round the interior of the lower end of said cutting tube, into which a hose can be inserted, a sample tube arranged within said cutting tube, said annular chamber communicating with the interior of the sample tube by means of a circular slot disposed in the vicinity of said cutting mouth, fitting means disposed in the vicinity of said circular slot, and a detachable rigid supporting tube sealingly fitting into said fitting means, and being coaxially supported in said cutting tube, said sample tube defining said hose chamber and is provided at the inside with longitudinal grooves, the ribs between said grooves contacting said supporting tube, said grooves connecting the lower end of said hose chamber with the interspace between the supporting tube and the portion above the hose chamber of the cutting tube proper and its extensions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the sample tube includes a thin-walled inner tube disposed round a cage consisting of longitudinal rods which contact said inner tube and the supporting tube.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
105 words
The apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that, at their lower ends, the rods of the cage are mounted in a lower fitting ring supported in the circular slot of the hose chamber and, at their upper ends, are mounted in an upper fitting ring supported in the inner wall of said cutting tube above said hose chamber, said fitting rings being provided with recesses between the fixing points of the rods, which recesses communicate with the interspace between the cutting tube and the supporting tube above said chamber, the ring portions between these recesses forming guiding and supporting faces for the supporting tube.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 11, characterized in that the upper fitting ring is secured in the cutting tube by means of a ball joint, the lower fitting ring being separate from the cutting tube and being supported by the rods only.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the lower fitting ring is provided with an inner shoulder forming the fitting for the supporting tube, the diameter of the opening in this fitting means ring below said shoulder being at least about equal to the inner diameter of the supporting tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
62 words
The apparatus according to claim 12, characterized in that the lower edge of the lower fitting ring is widened outwardly and downwardly, defining, together with a ring which is correspondingly bevelled at its inside and is secured in the cutting mouth portion of the cutting tube, the circular slot of the hose chamber, the latter extending substantially tangentially to the entering sample.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the fitting ring ends in a resilient lip, and in that the adjacent inner wall of the lower fitting ring extends substantially parallel to it.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
78 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized in that the supporting tube consists of separate tube sections, the length of which being about the same as that of the extension tubes of the cutting tube proper, which tubes sections may be placed together with their terminal faces against each other, the lower tube section fitting into the fitting at the lower end of the cutting tube having a length corresponding to the length of the cutting tube proper.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
48 words
The apparatus according to claim 16, characterized by covering plates for the tube sections of the supporting tube by which the sample pieces present in these tube sections can be covered at the location of the connection between two tube sections after the sample has been cut through.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
164 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, provided with a flexible sleeve disposed above the hose chamber, said sleeve being fastened with both ends in a ring, the lower end of which being unrotatably connected to the lower cutting tube portion, and the upper end being coupled to a coupling tube which is rotatable but not slidable with respect to the cutting tube, which coupling tube may be firmly connected to the first extension tube in order to twist said flexible sleeve by rotation of said coupling tube and thereby pinching the sample disposed within said sleeve, said upper ring and coupling tube being provided with locking means for maintaining said torsion sleeve in its twisted position, characterized in that at the location of the torsion sleeve the supporting tube possesses a wall portion, the thickness of which is reduced from the outside in order to make the supporting wall yieldable in that region so that it can be pinched flat by the torsion sleeve.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
155 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the coupling between the coupling tube and the lower cutting tube comprises two grooves in the outer surface of the coupling tube, which are symmetrically distributed over the surface, and have an arc length of about 170*, which grooves are axially extended at their ends, the inner wall of the cutting tube being provided with two lugs fitting into a corresponding groove, all this in such a manner that in their extreme positions the coupling tube and the cutting tube are non-rotatably coupled to each other, but are axially movable with respect to one another, so that, in one extreme position, when the cutting tube is pressed into the soil, and in the other position, when this tube is withdrawn, transverse stopping faces of the coupling tube and the cutting tube proper are capable of contacting each other for transmitting the compressive and pulling forces respectively.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
54 words
The apparatus according to claim 19, characterized in that the grooves in the cutting tube have such a helical shape, that the coupling tube in being rotated is axially displaced over a distance which is about equal but is opposite to the free travel of the coupling tube between its pressing and pulling positions.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The apparatus according to claim 18, characterized in that the lower ring of the torsion sleeve is non-rotatably but axially movably coupled to the cutting tube by means of a longitudinal key.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 21, characterized in that the lower ring of the torsion tube can be maintained in its lower position by means of a snap lock, until, during twisting of the sleeve, a certain pulling force has been exceeded.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
60 words
The apparatus according to claim 9, characterized by a clamp for closing the upper end of the hose and provided with guiding lugs which are connected to the clamp and which abut the inner wall of the supporting tube so that the upper side of the hose is held substantially symmetrically with respect to the wall of the supporting tube.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 23, characterized in that the clamp comprises a circular clamping plate provided with lugs, which plate, while interposing the free edge of the hose, may be clamped on a closing plug disposed within the hose.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that the guiding lugs are spaced from the clamping plate by means of axially extending connecting pieces.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus according to claim 24, characterized in that in the center of the clamping plate and vertically directed thereto a pin is disposed, to which a pulling string can be fixed for guiding the upper end of the sample.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 26, characterized in that in the vicinity of its free end the pin is provided with a number of symmetrical guiding lugs abutting the inner wall of the supporting tube.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
257 words
An apparatus for taking an undisturbed soil sample, comprising a cutting tube operable for being pressed into the soil without rotation from the soil surface and having a cutting mouth at the lower end thereof, coaxial extension tubes removably connectable to the upper end of said cutting tube and extending uninterruptedly to the soil surface, the bore of said extension tubes being substantially equal to the bore of said cutting mouth and thereby to the diameter of the sample to be taken, an annular recEss provided in the inner wall of said cutting tube in the vicinity of said cutting mouth, said annular recess being terminated at its lower end with a rounded annular groove, a coaxial inner tube disposed within said cutting tube so as to define with said annular recess an annular chamber for a hose communicating with the interior of said inner tube by a circular slot resulting between the lower end of said inner tube and said annular groove, a removable, rigid, sample support tube insertable into said inner tube, fitting means provided on said inner tube for sealingly supporting said sample support tube near said slot and for axially spacing said sample support tube from said inner tube, the inner diameter of said sample support tube being substantially equal to the bore of said cutting mouth and being in alignment therewith, whereby said extension tubes are usable as a transport container for the sample cut by said cutting mouth and surrounded by said hose drawn from said annular chamber through said slot.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
257 words
An apparatus for taking an undisturbed soil sample, comprising a cutting tube operable for being pressed into the soil without rotation from the soil surface and having a cutting mouth at the lower end thereof, coaxial extension tubes removably connectable to the upper end of said cutting tube and extending uninterruptedly to the soil surface, the bore of said extension tubes being substantially equal to the bore of said cutting mouth and thereby to the diameter of the sample to be taken, an annular recEss provided in the inner wall of said cutting tube in the vicinity of said cutting mouth, said annular recess being terminated at its lower end with a rounded annular groove, a coaxial inner tube disposed within said cutting tube so as to define with said annular recess an annular chamber for a hose communicating with the interior of said inner tube by a circular slot resulting between the lower end of said inner tube and said annular groove, a removable, rigid, sample support tube insertable into said inner tube, fitting means provided on said inner tube for sealingly supporting said sample support tube near said slot and for axially spacing said sample support tube from said inner tube, the inner diameter of said sample support tube being substantially equal to the bore of said cutting mouth and being in alignment therewith, whereby said extension tubes are usable as a transport container for the sample cut by said cutting mouth and surrounded by said hose drawn from said annular chamber through said slot.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
46 words
An apparatus according to claim 28 further comprising piercing means within said cutting tube, said extension tubes being rotatably connected to said cutting tube and operable for actuating said piercing means while said cutting tube is stationary due to the friction cause by the surrounding soil.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-12 | 1976-03-13 | 1976-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-12 | 1980-03-13 | 1980-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-12 | 1984-03-13 | 1984-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |