Particulate material sampling device

Claim 1

A sample probe device comprising an elongated support pole, a support arm having an inner and outer end, said support arm being pivotally connected to said support pole at the inner end thereof, an elongated hollow probe pivotally connected to the outer end of said support arm, said probe having an opening into the interior thereof adjacent each end of said probe, a sample container including a sample chamber and means to trap said sample therein and means to remove sample material from said container, vacuum conduit means connecting the end opening of said probe adjacent said outer end of support arm with said sample container, separate hydraulic means to move said support arm along the longitudinal axis of said support pole and rotate said support arm about said support pole, and suction means actuated by means responding to a pressure differential in the hydraulic means upon actuation by said hydraulic means to move the support arm about said support pole to draw a vacuum through said probe, conduit means, and said sample chamber and to continue to draw a vacuum within said sample container when the sample chamber of said container is filled with sampled material whereby when said probe is in selected predetermined locations with respect to the mass thereof said sample is drawn through said probe into said conduit means and therethrough so as to be trapped into the sample chamber of said sample container.