Soil sampler apparatus

Claim 2

Soil sampler apparatus comprising a drive head having a bore extending axially therethrough and an axial inner terminal annular edge, a barrel having first and second axially split barrel sections, each of said barrel sections having axially outer, reduced diameter end portions extending into the head bore and providing a shoulder abutting against the drive head inner terminal edge, and an axially opposite threaded end portion, and an annular drive shoe threaded on the barrel sections threaded end portions, the first barrel section reduced diameter end portion having an axially outer, annular end portion substantially axially spaced from the first barrel section shoulder and the second barrel section reduced diameter end portion terminating in the head bore axially intermediate and axially spaced from the first section annular portion and the second barrel section shoulder, and transversely extending means for removably securing the first section annular portion to the head.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 further characterized in that the barrel sections reduced diameter portions have smooth radially outer surfaces of radii of curvature to form a close fit with the radial adjacent portions of the wall defining the head bore, the portions of the head bore wall radially adjacent the barrel section reduced diameter portions defining a smooth cylindrical surface.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 2 further characterized in that the axially outward terminal end of the second barrel section is planar and inclined radially inwardly in an axially inward direction, the angle of taper being sufficiently great to permit the second section pivoting about a point, closely adjacent the juncture of the head axially extending surface and the head inner terminal edge, relative the head and barrel first section when the dirve shoe is removed from the barrel sections.

Claim 5

The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the barrel sections have soil sample receiving portions axially inwardly of the barrel sections reduced diameter portions of inner radii of curvature greater than the radii of curvature of the radially outer surface of the barrel reduced diameter portions, the axially extending terminal edges of the barrel sections having interfitting, axially extending tongues and grooves.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 further characterized in that the head is of a substantially constant outer diameter along the axial length thereof and that the barrel sections axially between the reduced diameter portions and their threads are of a substantially constant outer diameter and of substantially the same outer diameter as the outer diameter of the head.

Claim 7

Soil sample apparatus comprising an axially elongated drive head having a substantially constant diameter outer cylindrical surface, a bore extending axially therethrough, and an axially inner terminal edge, a barrel having first and second axially split barrel sections each of said barrel sections having reduced diameter end portions extending a substantial distance into the head bore and providing a shoulder abutting against the drive head inner terminal edge and opposite externally threaded end portions, the diameter of the barrel sections axially extending outer surfaces axially between the barrel reduced diameter portions and the threads being substantially the same as the head outer diameter, the reduced diameter barrel sections portions having axially extending, radial outer surfaces that are smooth along the axial lengths thereof and form a close fit with the radially adjacent part of the head bore, the axial length of the first section reduced diameter portion being substantially greater than the axial length of the second section reduced diameter portion, transverse means for removably securing the first section reduced diameter portion to the head, the second section reduced end portion being freely slidably located in the head bore, and an annular drive shoe threaded on the barrel sections threaded end portions, the barrel sections axially inwardly of the reduced diameter portions having axially extending terminal edge portions having interfitting tongues and grooves.

Claim 8

Soil sample apparatus comprising an axially elongated drive head having a substantially constant diameter outer cylindrical surface, a bore extending axially therethrough, and an axially inner terminal edge, a barrel having first and second axially split barrel sections each of said barrel sections having reduced diameter end portions extending a substantial distance into the head bore and providing a shoulder abutting against the drive head inner terminal edge and opposite externally threaded end portions, the diameter of the barrel sections axially extending outer surfaces axially between the barrel reduced diameter portions and the threads being substantially the same as the head outer diameter, the reduced diameter barrel sections portions having axially extending, radial outer surfaces that are smooth along the axial lengths thereof and form a close fit with the radially adjacent part of the head bore, the axial length of the first section reduced diameter portion being substantially greater than the axial length of the second section reduced diameter portion, transverse means for removably securing the first section reduced diameter portion to the head, the second section reduced end portion being freely slidably located in the head bore, and an annular drive shoe threaded on the barrel sections threaded end portions, the barrel sections axially inwardly of the reduced diameter portions having axially extending terminal edge portions having interfitting tongues and grooves.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 further characterized in that the second section reduced diameter end portion has a generally semi-circular terminal edge that is tapered radially inwardly in an axially inward direction at an angle to permit the second section being pivoted about an axis closely adjacent the intersection of the head cylindrical surface and the head terminal edge from a position in which the tongues and grooves are in interfitting relationship to a position nearly 90* relative thereto when the drive shoe is removed from the barrel sections.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in the first section reduced diameter end portion has an axially outer, annular end portion, of an outer diameter to form a close fit with the radially adjacent part of the head bore, and a semi-annular portion joined to and extending between the annular end portion and the first barrel section shoulder.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the second section reduced diameter end portion has an axially outer terminal end that is inclined radially inwardly in an axially inward direction at an angle of taper that is sufficiently great to permit the second section being freely pivoted up to about 90* about a point adjacent the juncture of the head cylindrical surface and the head inner terminal edge from a position the tongues and grooves are interfitted when the drive shoe is removed from the barrel sections.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the barrel sections have an axially elongated sample receiving bore portion opening to the drive shoe, and an axially elongated, reduced diameter bore portion of a substantially shorter axial length than the sample receiving bore portion axially between the barrel section shoulders and the sample receiving bore portion providing thickened wall portions, said thickened wall portions having planar, axially extending edges forming Mating fits, and that the second section inclined surface intersects the second section thickened wall axial extending edges in substantial radial alignment with the second section shoulder.

Claim 13

The apparatus of claim 7 further characterized in that the barrel sections and the drive shoe respectively have an axially inwardly facing shoulder and an axially outer edge abutting against the last mentioned shoulder to directly transmit an axially inwardly driving force from the sections to the drive shoe at the shoe outer edge.