Apparatus and method for underground sampling

Claim 1

A system for sampling underground fluids said system comprising: a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; a hollow body forming a cavity for receiving underground fluids, said hollow body removably attached to said drive cone; said body removable from said cone during a first range of upward motion of said body, wherein said cone is frictionally restrained by said ground; a tubular screen within said hollow body for filtering said underground fluids entering said cavity; said screen also being fixedly attached to said drive cone wherein said screen can slide partially out of said cavity, during said first range of upward motion of said body; and said screen being removable from said body during a second range of upward motion of said body, greater than said first range, wherein said cone remains frictionally restrained by said ground, whereby said cone and screen remain in the ground when said body is removed from said ground.

Claim 2

A system for sampling underground fluids said system comprising: a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; a hollow body forming a cavity for receiving underground fluids, said hollow body removably attached to said drive cone; said body removable from said cone during a first range of upward motion of said body, wherein said cone is frictionally restrained by said ground; a tubular screen within said hollow body for filtering said underground fluids entering said cavity; said screen also being fixedly attached to said drive cone wherein said screen can slide partially out of said cavity, during said first range of upward motion of said body; and said screen being removable from said body during a second range of upward motion of said body, greater than said first range, wherein said cone remains frictionally restrained by said ground, whereby said cone and screen remain in the ground when said body is removed from said ground.

Claim 4

A system for sampling underground fluids, said system comprising: a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; a hollow body forming a cavity for receiving underground fluids, said hollow body removably attached to said drive cone, said body removable from said cone during a first range of upward motion of said body, wherein said cone is frictionally restrained by said ground; a tubular screen within said hollow body for filtering said underground fluids entering said cavity; stop means for limiting how far said screen can slide out of said body to within said first range of upward motion of said body; said screen being removably attached to said drive cone wherein said screen can slide partially out of said cavity during said first range of upward motion of said body; and said screen being removable from said cone during a second range of upward motion said body, greater than said first range, wherein said cone remains frictionally restrained in the ground, whereby said cone remains in the ground when said body and screen are removed from said ground.

Claim 5

A system for sampling underground fluids, said system comprising: a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; a hollow body forming a cavity for receiving underground fluids, said hollow body removably attached to said drive cone, said body removable from said cone during a first range of upward motion of said body, wherein said cone is frictionally restrained by said ground; a tubular screen within said hollow body for filtering said underground fluids entering said cavity; stop means for limiting how far said screen can slide out of said body to within said first range of upward motion of said body; said screen being removably attached to said drive cone wherein said screen can slide partially out of said cavity during said first range of upward motion of said body; and said screen being removable from said cone during a second range of upward motion said body, greater than said first range, wherein said cone remains frictionally restrained in the ground, whereby said cone remains in the ground when said body and screen are removed from said ground.

Claim 6

A system for sampling underground fluids, said system comprising: a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; a hollow body forming a cavity, said drive cone being removably attached to said hollow body, said drive cone also being frictionally restrained by surrounding ground to separate from the body and remain in the ground when the body is pulled upward in the ground; an inlet port including a check valve within said hollow body; and a removable hollow cartridge comprising a flexible bag within said hollow body, said inlet port being in communication with the interior of said cartridge, wherein said underground fluids exposed to said cavity by the removal of said drive cone pass through said inlet port and into said flexible bag, said check valve preventing fluids in said cartridge from flowing out.

Claim 7

A system for sampling underground fluids, said system comprising: a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; a hollow body forming a cavity, said drive cone being removably attached to said hollow body, said drive cone also being frictionally restrained by surrounding ground to separate from the body and remain in the ground when the body is pulled upward in the ground; an inlet port including a check valve within said hollow body; and a removable hollow cartridge comprising a flexible bag within said hollow body, said inlet port being in communication with the interior of said cartridge, wherein said underground fluids exposed to said cavity by the removal of said drive cone pass through said inlet port and into said flexible bag, said check valve preventing fluids in said cartridge from flowing out.

Claim 10

A system for sampling underground fluids, said system comprising: a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; a hollow body forming a cavity having an open end at the bottom, said drive cone being removably attached to said hollow body open end, said drive cone also being frictionally restrained by surrounding ground to separate from the body and remain in the ground when the body is pulled upward in the ground; an inlet port including a check valve within said hollow body; and said check valve comprising an elongated U-shaped tube within said body, said tube having a first open end for receiving said fluids at the open end of said body, said tube extending upward near the top of said body and back down toward said open end of said body, said tube terminating in a second open end disposed in said body, whereby said fluids enter said body from said second open end of said check valve.

Claim 11

A system for sampling underground fluids, said system comprising: a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; a hollow body forming a cavity having an open end at the bottom, said drive cone being removably attached to said hollow body open end, said drive cone also being frictionally restrained by surrounding ground to separate from the body and remain in the ground when the body is pulled upward in the ground; an inlet port including a check valve within said hollow body; and said check valve comprising an elongated U-shaped tube within said body, said tube having a first open end for receiving said fluids at the open end of said body, said tube extending upward near the top of said body and back down toward said open end of said body, said tube terminating in a second open end disposed in said body, whereby said fluids enter said body from said second open end of said check valve.

Claim 12

A method for sampling underground fluids, said method comprising: providing a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; providing a hollow body forming a cavity, said drive cone being removably attached to said hollow body; driving said body into the ground to a desired depth; pulling said hollow body upward until said drive cone separates from said body; providing a flexible bag disposed within said body for containing said fluid entering said body, said flexible bag including an inlet port for permitting said fluids to enter therein, and a check valve means for preventing said fluids inside said cartridge from flowing out; removing said hollow body from the ground and replacing said flexible bag containing fluid with a new flexible bag; replacing said drive cone with a second drive cone; and driving said hollow body into the ground a second time to a desired depth.

Claim 13

A method for sampling underground fluids, said method comprising: providing a drive cone adapted to penetrate the ground; providing a hollow body forming a cavity, said drive cone being removably attached to said hollow body; driving said body into the ground to a desired depth; pulling said hollow body upward until said drive cone separates from said body; providing a flexible bag disposed within said body for containing said fluid entering said body, said flexible bag including an inlet port for permitting said fluids to enter therein, and a check valve means for preventing said fluids inside said cartridge from flowing out; removing said hollow body from the ground and replacing said flexible bag containing fluid with a new flexible bag; replacing said drive cone with a second drive cone; and driving said hollow body into the ground a second time to a desired depth.