Variable-length sampling device

Claim 1

A variable-length sampling device capable of obtaining a plurality of samples from a mineral deposit, said variable-length sampling device comprising a bottom section which includes an elongated tubular member, an elongated cylindrical storage member rotatably positioned within said elongated tubular member, and a pointed conical member attached to the lower end of the cylindrical storage member; said elongated tubular member including a tubular wall having a plurality of window sets which are spaced apart along the length thereof; said elongated cylindrical storage member having a plurality of diametrically-extending compartments which are spaced apart along the length thereof which are registerable with the window sets in said tubular member, each compartment including a spring-like tooth member which is capable of extending through a corresponding window in said tubular member when aligned therewith, said elongated cylindrical storage member also including a blind indentation in the upper end, an extension section which includes an elongated tubular element and an elongated cylindrical storage element rotatably positioned with said elongated tubular element; said elongated tubular element including a tubular wall having a plurality of window sets which are spaced apart along the length thereof and an integral floor portion at the lower end thereof, said floor portion including an extension flange capable of attachment to the upper end of said tubular member and a cylindrical hole extending axially therethrough with respect to said tubular wall, said cylindrical hole having a larger diameter than the largest dimension of said indentation in the upper end of said cylindrical storage member; said elongated cylindrical storage element having a plurality of diametrically-extending compartments which are spaced apart along the length thereof which are registerable with the window sets in said tubular element, each compartment including a spring-like tooth member which is capable of extending through a corresponding window in said tubular element when aligned therewith, said elongated cylindrical storage element also including a blind indentation in the upper end identical in size and shape to said indentation in the upper-end of said cylindrical storage member, as well as an axial bore extending from the lowermost compartment to the lower end thereof, said bore having a cross section equal in size and shape to said indentation in the upper end of said cylindrical storage member, and a connection pin which is positionable to extend through said bore in said cylindrical storage element and said cylindrical hole in said tubular element to fit within said indentation in the upper end of said cylindrical storage member, said connection pin having a cross section of similar size and identical shape to the indentation in the upper end of said cylindrical storage member so as to positively interconnect the cylindrical storage element with said cylindrical storage member.