Insitu soil shear measurement apparatus

Claim 1

A testing apparatus for accurately measuring in situ the shear strength of soil through a measurement of the torque exerted on said soil by a vane to be inserted into said soil to a predetermined depth beneath the soil surface, comprising: motor means to be positioned at or near said soil surface for providing soil testing torque to said vane; a torque shaft extending downwardly from said motor means beneath said soil surface; a cable extending from said motor means and through said shaft; and a torque cell positioned immediately above said vane and adapted to provide a measurement of the torque exerted on said soil by said vane, including a fitting rigidly secured to said shaft and defining a central cavity which receives said cable, a torque transmission member by which torque is transmitted from said shaft to said vane, said transmission member including a large diameter portion nearer said shaft and a small diameter portion nearer to said vane where maximum angular deflection occurs, said large diameter portion defining a generally cylindrical chamber which securely receives said fitting and said cable. an electrical transducer mounted on said transmission member for measuring the torque applied to said torque transmission member and generating a signal representative thereof, a generally cylindrical housing surrounding said transmission member and defining an annular cavity surrounding said small diameter portion, said transducer being disposed within said cavity and attached to said small diameter portion of said torque transmission member, said housing being free to rotate relative to said transmission member at one end thereof upon angular deflection of said transmission member in response to torque provided by said motor means, said housing having a bottom end with a smaller opening therein in which said small diameter portion is received and a top end with a larger opening therein in which said large diameter portion is received, a lower seal disposed between said small diameter portion and said housing, an upper seal disposed between said large diameter portion and said housing, a first wire leading from said transducer, wherein said cable includes a second wire connected to said first wire whereby said electronic signal from said transducer can be transmitted to said soil surface whereby said apparatus measures in situ the shear strength of said soil, and a conductive tube located within said chamber and surrounding said first wire and said second wire in the area where they are connected.