AU746507B2

AU746507B2 - Dual-depth soil sampler

Info

Publication number: AU746507B2
Application number: AU17288/99A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Fred Henry Williams
Original assignee: WILLIAMS WENDY MURIEL
Current assignee: Williams Wendy Muriel
Priority date: 1998-07-16
Filing date: 1999-02-15
Publication date: 2002-05-02
Anticipated expiration: 2019-02-15
Also published as: AU1728899A

Description

AUSTRAL IA Patents Act 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT DUAL DEPTH SOIL SAMPLER The following statement is a full description of this invention including the best method of performing it known to me: 17288/99 This invention relates to the improvements in the devices used for soil sampling.

For many years people have used devices that sampled the soil but it was time consuming, performed in the heat of the day, only one sample was taken at a site, or not done at all. With the advent of better fertilizers and the requirement of an understanding of the land, a far quicker and more accurate method of soil sampling was needed for both top soils and sub soils.

These problems are overcome by the present invention, whether it is used automatically or manually- by cutting the time taken dramatically, has the ability to drill through all types of soils, take soil samples in a designated site and to take two separate, uncontaminated depths of soil samples in one operation using this invention attached to a lightweight vehicle and air compressor.

This patent application describes the ground contacting or lower part of the soil sampling machine which is designed to obtain uncontaminated soil samples at one or more different depths in one drilling and deposit them into separate compartments for collection and testing.

The main part of the automatic machine, which is not described here, can be operated from the cab of the vehicle via a switch which allows the ground contacting and soils sampling parts to be either raised or lowered to any height or depth required and the Sauger/screw 3 to rotate and enter the soil to predetermined depths. The main part of the machine automatically turns the directional guide/tube 2 in the lower section, at a S predetermined depth, allowing the soil particles 10 taken from the top soil at a set depth to enter compartment 6 and the sub-soil particles to enter the second compartment 7.

This patent application resides in the ground contacting or lower end of the Dual Depth Soil Sampler and is described below.

oi.. The lower end of the complete soil sampling machine Fig. 1 is fitted with a rotating auger/screw 3 of any desired size or length, which may be stopped or started as required from the cab of the vehicle, is capable of drilling/rotating in the soil and the action causes the soil particles to be loosened and lifted upwards. These soil particles will be collected into a positioned compartment 6 or 7 via an opening in the auger guide/tube 2, through which the auger/screw 3 moves. This auger guide/tube 2 is in itself is able to rotate automatically, at a predetermined depth, such that when it is turns to another position the opening is also rotated until it is adjacent to the second compartment 7. The soil particles being lifted will be directed via the now repositioned opening into the second compartment.

An actual soil sampling action whereby two different samples may be obtained at different depths is described below.

The lower end of the composite soil sampling machine Fig. 1 is lowered until it makes contact on the ground. The auger/screw 3 commences to rotate and move down through the auger guide/tube 2 into the soil which allows the auger guide/tube 2 to follow the auger/screw 3 into the soil for a predetermined level to prevent contamination by top soil particles. The auger/screw 3 continues into the soil causing the loosened soil particles to be lfted into a compartment 6 via an opening in the auger guide/tube 9. After reaching the 7 u ired depth, the auger guide/tube 2 is automatically rotated until the opening is adjacent to r u 1 17288/99 the second compartment 7 and the rotating auger/screw 3 is lowered further such that the loosened soil being lifted is directed into this second compartment 7. In this way, two uncontaminated soil samples may be obtained at two different depths in one drilling action.

To assist the understanding of the invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 shows one example of the outer side of the container 1 composed of dual compartments 6 and 7 with the auger/screw 3 through the auger guide/tube 2 which protrudes through the compartments to follow the auger screw 3 to a predetermined depth to prevent contamination of the soil.

Fig. 2 shows the auger guide/tube 2 with opening 9 on one side to allow the soil particles to drop into the compartment.

-Fig. 3 shows a cut-a-way section revealing the two compartments 6 and 7 of the container 1 and the soil 10 being lifted by the auger/screw 3 to the opening on the auger guide/tube 2 and falling into the desired compartment 6.

0: 0 Fig. 4 shows the cut-a-way with the auger guide/tube 3 rotated toward the second compartment 7 and the auger/screw rotating further into the soil to retrieve the lower soil particles 11 into the second compartment 7. The doors 12 at the bottom allow for retrieval of the samples to a catcher.

*Q Fig. 5 shows the underneath of the container 1 and the two doors shut 12A and sliding open 12B to allow collection of the separate soil samples.

ao Referring to Fig 1. It can be seen that the auger guide/tube 2 protrudes through the bottom of the container. This prevents any top soil from contaminating the subsoil sample.

The auger/screw 3 slides down and up in the auger guide/tube which is held firmly in a perpendicular line by the bearing 4.

The turning attachment 5 is attached by an automatic switch on the main machine which turns automatically at the predetermined depth Compartments 6 and 7 are the separate boxes in which the soil particles are collected for the two different levels of soil. For the top soil sample only, the compartment 6 is used.

To take two depths of uncontaminated soil particles in one drilling both compartments 6 and 7 must be used. The uncontaminated samples may be transferred to a catcher via the doors 12 which slide open to release the soil. The floor of the compartments are sloped to allow free flow of all the soil before commencing the next sample site. The frame connects the lower end of the machine to the main driving part of the automatically driven machine for raising or lowering the container and directing the auger/tube 2 from one compartment to the other.

Referring to Fig. 3. In the cutaway section showing the soil particles being drawn up by the rotating action of the auger/screw and out of the opening in the auger guide/tube ,,0ti he first compartment (6) 17288/99 Referring to Fig. 4 The bearing 4 at the top of the auger guide/tube has been automatically turned at the predetermined depth of the 1st sample and the opening is positioned toward the second compartment 7. The auger/screw continues down to take the 2nd sample and lift it via the auger/screw into the second compartment.

*O 00* 0 *o 0

Claims

1. A ground contacting or lower part of a dual depth soil sampler is a device for collecting two composite uncontaminated soil samples for testing and analysis from two different depths in a container consisting of two separate compartments, said device having an auger guide/tube held by a bearing in which the auger/screw moves through and down to predetermined depths to drill into the soil loosening and lifting the uncontaminated soil particles into set compartments where they are collected until released through a door into a catcher

2. The ground contacting or lower part of the dual depth soil sampler device of Claim I wherein the soil sample is taken, the auger guide/tube 2 is able to be rotated towards either compartment by an automatic switch on the main machine (which is not claimed here) allowing for two predetermined depths of uncontaminated soil particles to be taken.

3. The ground contacting or lower part of a dual depth soil sampler device of Claim 1 where in the rotating auger/screw 3 of any desired length or size, can be started or stopped as required, and is capable of drilling/rotating in the soil.

4. The ground contacting or lower part of the dual depth soil sampler device of Claim 3 wherein the rotating auger/screw drilling action causes the soil particles to be loosened and lifted upwards. 0 0.

5. The ground contacting or lower part of the dual depth soil sampler device of Claim 1 wherein the soil sample is taken, the auger guide/tube 2 comprises an opening on one side to allow the soil to leave the auger/screw 3 and fall into the set compartment 6.

6. The ground contacting or lower part of the Dual Depth Soil sampler device of Claims 3 or Claim 5 wherein the rotatable auger/screw 3 deposits the soil particles into the positioned compartment 6 or 7 via the auger guide/tube 2.

7. The ground contacting or lower part of the dual depth soil sampler device of Claim 4 wherein the auger guide/tube 2 extends below the container so that it follows the auger/screw 3 into the top soil for a predetermined depth to prevent the top soil from contaminating the subsoil.

8. The ground contacting or lower part of the dual depth soil sampler device of Claim 1 wherein the soil particles 10 or 11 are released through doors 12 under the compartments 6 or 7 into a catcher.

9. The ground contacting or lower part of the dual depth soil sampling device substantially as herein been described with reference to the accompanying drawings. APPLICANTS 8TH November 2001 Fred Henry Williams Wendy Muriel Williams