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US3833075A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Expendable core nose and core catcher retainer

Assignee: United States Department of the Navy
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Filing: 1973-10-12
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Granted: 1974-09-03
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Expires: 1993-10-12
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Abstract

Abstract An improved corer for taking a core sample of marine sediment is dropped onto and embedded in the ocean floor. During penetration, a core sample fills an elongate barrel member. As the corer is withdrawn, a tapered corer nose remains in the sediment while the elongate barrel member is pulled free. Simultaneously, a cylindrically shaped array of flexible fingers are drawn together by an elastic band to retain the core sample inside the barrel member. Since the flexible fingers are held outside of the path of the core sample as it enters the barrel member, there is no disturbance or commingling of the different layers of the core sample when it is being taken. A one-way valve and the flexible fingers cooperate to retain the intact core sample while it is being lifted to the surface to provide an undisturbed specimen for later study by marine geologists and oceanographers.

Inventors

  • 👤 R Bachman
  • 👤 Mara L O

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-24 22:15
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B25/00; E21B25/08; E21B25/18

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 160 words
An apparatus for retaining a core sample comprising: means for containing the core sample therein; means coupled to the containing means for driving it a sufficient length of penetration to allow the admission of the core sample; means releaseably held on the inside of a first end of the containing means for ensuring the admission of the core sample during penetration, the ensuring means is adapted to be pulled from the containing means during withdrawal of the containing means; means interposed between the containing means and the ensuring means for remaining in an open position to alloW the unimpeded admission of the core sample during penetration and a closed position to retain the core sample in the containing means during withdrawal after the ensuring means has been pulled from the containing means; and means disposed adjacent the remaining means for urging the remaining means to the closed position to ensure the retention of the core sample in the containing means.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 160 words
An apparatus for retaining a core sample comprising: means for containing the core sample therein; means coupled to the containing means for driving it a sufficient length of penetration to allow the admission of the core sample; means releaseably held on the inside of a first end of the containing means for ensuring the admission of the core sample during penetration, the ensuring means is adapted to be pulled from the containing means during withdrawal of the containing means; means interposed between the containing means and the ensuring means for remaining in an open position to alloW the unimpeded admission of the core sample during penetration and a closed position to retain the core sample in the containing means during withdrawal after the ensuring means has been pulled from the containing means; and means disposed adjacent the remaining means for urging the remaining means to the closed position to ensure the retention of the core sample in the containing means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 42 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 further including: means coupled to the opposite second end of the containing means for allowing the evacuation of the containing means during penetration and the retention of the core sample during withdrawal of the containing means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 24 words
An apparatus according to claim 2 further includinng: means connected to the containing means for permitting the penetration and withdrawal of the containing means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 47 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 in which the ensuring means is a hollow conical frustum joined to a rigid sleeve, an annular rim of and exposed surface of the conical frustum are shaped to provide sufficient drag to be pulled from the containing means during withdrawal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 57 words
An apparatus according to claim 4 in which the remaining means is a cylindrically shaped array of flexible fingers arranged in a juxtaposed relationship, said rigid sleeve is disposed and formed to position the flexible fingers out of the path of the core sample during the admission of the core sample to avoid disturbing the core sample.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 40 words
An apparatus according to claim 5 in which the urging means is an elastic band disposed and sized to bend the flexible fingers together to the closed position after the rigid sleeve has been pulled out of the containing means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 56 words
An apparatus according to claim 6 in which the containing means is an elongate barrel member having at least one lateral hole at the first end and the array flexible fingers are formed with at least one keeper tab inserted in the lateral hole to couple the array of flexible fingers to the elongate metal barrel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 in which the allowing means is a butterfly valve mounted across an opening in the elongate barrel member at the opposite second end.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 in which there is disposed a tubular liner inside of the elongate barrel member to expedite the removal of the core sample from the elongate barrel member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 66 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 in which the inner diameter of the hollow conical frustum and rigid sleeve and the inner diameter of the elongate barrel member are selected to control internal friction during penetration and the outer diameter of the annular rim of the hollow conical frustum and the outer diameter of the elongate barrel member are selected to control external friction during penetration.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US1655644A Cited
US3008529A Cited
US3299969A Cited
US3301336A Cited
US3313357A Cited
US3372760A Cited
US3383131A Cited
US3409094A Cited
US3525409A Cited
US3647009A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1977-09-02 1978-03-04 1978-09-03 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1981-09-02 1982-03-04 1982-09-03 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1985-09-02 1986-03-04 1986-09-03 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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