US3318394A - Method and apparatus for obtaining soil samples - Google Patents

Description

May 9, 1967 G. R. GLEASON, JR. ETAL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SOIL SAMPLES Filed Feb. 19, 1965 000 0000006 o oo 5 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS GALE R. GLEASON JR. FREDERICK J. OHLMACHER fim M find. W

A TTOR/VEYS y 9, 1967 G. R. GLEASON, JR., ETAL 3,318,394

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SOIL SAMPLES Filed Feb. 19, 1965 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ,84 |O6 FIG-3 86 |Q8 I04 E i ao 22 ,l 48 20 Iz 46 mvewrons 4o o GALE R.GLEASON JR.

- FREDERICKJDHLMACHER BY 42 a 3 79%, 0

A7 TORNEVS y 9, 1967 G. R. GLEASON, JR., ETAL. 3,318,394

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SOIL SAMPLES Filed Feb. 19, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I: I 1 n u I :I :I 1' ll :1 II

INVENTORS GALE R. GLEASON JR. FREDERICK J. OHLNACHER A 7' TORNEVS United States Patent 3,318,394 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING SOIL SAMPLES Gale R. Gleason, Jr., and Frederick J. Ohlmacher, Mount Pleasant, Mich., assignors to Central Michigan University Board of Trustees, Mount Pleasant, Mich.

Filed Feb. 19, 1965, Ser. No. 434,048 Claims. (CI. 1755) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for obtaining soil samples such as samples of lake bottom soil and the like. Very often in benthonic exploration, it is important to obtain a sample of soil at the bottom of the sea or the bottom of inland lakes in such a way that the sample is stratified in the same way as it was stratified in situ. Due to the fact that many of the bottoms that are being explored and tested are somewhat soft and muddy, it has been extremely difficult to raise a sample to the surface without disturbing it to the point that stratification was lost.

It is an object of the present invention to permit the recovery of benthonic samples without disturbing the contents so that accurate analysis can be made for whatever purpose the sample is sought.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a device which is simple in construction and operation and which can be repeatedly used.

It is a further object to provide a benthonic sampler device which can freeze the contents of the specimen chamber while in place, permitting the sample to be raised and transported without disturbing its original condition.

Other objects and features of the invention relating to details of construction and operation will be apparent in the following description and claims.

Drawings accompany the disclosure and the various views thereof may be briefly described as:

FIGURE 1, a view of the device partially in section showing the relative position of the parts.

FIGURE 2, a sectional view online 22 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3, an outside vertical elevation of the device.

FIGURE 4, a detailed, enlarged View of a release mechanism in engaged position.

FIGURE 5, a view similar to FIGURE 4 showing parts in released position.

Referring to FIGURE 1, the basic structure is formed by a composite tube formed of a top tube and abottom tube 22 of the same diameter and axially aligned. These tubes are joined at their juncture by acollar 24 carried by thetube 20 preferably with a brazed joint and telescoping over the bottom oftube 22 in threaded relationship. At the juncture of the tubes aradial disc ring 28 is preferably brazed or soldered to thecollar 24 and this disc carries a circularcylindrical gasket 30 having a flange bolted to thedisc 28 bybolts 32 and preferably formed of a material which remains flexible at low temperatures.

The disc 23 is clamped at its peripheral edges between the lower end oftube 20 and the top end oftube 22 so that it may be removed for replacement if necessary. At the bottom oftube 22 is a short tube 34 co-axial and aligned withtube 22, this tube being brazed to acollar 36 having a threaded relationship withtube 22. Between the lower end oftube 22 and the upper end of the short tube 34 is a sealing assembly similar to that previously described having thedisc ring 28 held bybolts 32 and a flexiblecylindrical gasket member 30 extending downwardly in this case rather than upwardly. On the bottom of tube 34 is a reducer tube 33 having a reducedsection 40. Insertable into the assembly just described is asampler core tube 42 having its lower end slidably received in and projecting downwardly beyond thereducer portion 40 and having its upper end extending to a point just above the gasket and held in place by a transfixingpin 44 which projects through diametrically opposed holes in thetube 20 and thecollar 24. The tube has a snug sliding fit ingaskets 30 which support and center the tube in the assembly.

Thetube 42 is thus supported by the reduced portion and by thegaskets 30 which form anannular chamber 45 between the gaskets, thetube 22 and thecore tube 42. This chamber is opened at aside port 46 which can be closed by asuitable stopper 48 and it is the purpose of this chamber to be filled with pre-chopped /2" cubes of Dry Ice in a quantity of approximately 1b., this to be inserted through theloading port 46.

In the upper part oftube 20, there is located asyringe tube 50 which is composed of a length of copperpipe having caps 52 and 54, the lower cap being supported by a pair ofbrackets 56 having the upper end aflixed to thecap 54 and the lower end fastened to the inner walls of thetube 20 at 58. Thebottom cap 54 has anipple 60 projecting therefrom and this is connected to aflexible Y tube 62 which branches at 64 and 66 to project down through openings indisc 28 into thechamber 45 previously described. Within thetube 50 is apiston 70 actuated by apiston rod 72 projecting down through an opening inend cap 52. This piston has at the top across bracket 74 secured to the piston rod and a pair ofsprings 76 anchored at the top on thisbracket 74 are anchored at the bottom on thesupport brackets 56.

As shown in FIGURE 3, thetube 20 hasside windows 78 which permit easy removal of theflexible tube 62 so that thesyringe tube 50 can be filled through thebottom nipple 60 as the piston is raised against the action of thetension springs 76. If desired, thetubes 64, 66 can be used to fill but this necessitates dismantling the main assembly.

A U-sha-ped yoke member 80 has depending arms which are bolted to the top oftube 20 at 82 and the entire assembly is supported by a rope orcable 84 projecting down through a hole in thetop 86 of thesuspension member 80.

Returning to thecross bracket 74 at the top of the piston rod '72, this member has acentral plate portion 88 withside wings 90 extending therefrom to anchor thesprings 76.Central plate 88 is adapted to cooperate with a latching mechanism mounted at the top of theU member 80 and illustrated in detail in FIGURES 4 and 5. This latching mechanism is composed of twojaw members 92 each pivoted oncross rods 94 in the legs of themember 80 and hinged together at 96. Oneactuating arm 98 extends upwardly to a central point above thehinge 96 and this is provided with aslotted opening 100 through which passes thebight portion 102 of aU-bolt having legs 104 which pass through thetop portion 86 of theU member 80 and which are connected bytransverse plate 106 which is urged upwardly by aspring 108. Thespring 108 thus urges thejaw members 92 to the latching position shown in FIGURE 4, and it will be seen that a downward pressure on theplate 106 will effect a releasing action of the jaws as shown in FIGURE 5.

This releasing action is obtained by amessenger weight 110 threaded on the supportingstrand 84. When this messenger weight is dropped down thestrand 84, it hits thestrike plate 106, forcing the U-bolt 104 down against the action of thespring 108 and pivoting thejaws 92 through thearm 98 to the open position.

Thecore tube 42 is preferably about 13" long and formed of copper pipe approximately 1 /2" in diameter with a sampling area of approximately 1.77 sq. in. When the assembly as described is plunged into the bottom of a lake, the material will fill into thetube 42 in pretty much the same Stratification that it has in situ.

After the core tube has settled to the desired point, themessenger weight 110 is dropped to trigger the release of thepiston 70, thus injecting the acetone, previously loaded into thetube 50, through theplastic tube 62, into thechamber 45. The action of the acetone on the Dry Ice will cause rapid freezing of the sam le in thetube 42. The freezing time is from to minutes. It can be hastened by using abrass divider 112 optionally disposed diametrically in the tube '42. Thetube 22 is preferably insulated by a suitable insulation sleeve or wrapper. For example a /2" thick sheet ofplastic foam 120 is wrapped aroundtube 22 as shown in the drawings and taped in place. After the freezing time, the device may be hauled upwardly and thesampler tube 42 removed preferably after removal of thecore 48." The tube can be slightly warm to free the sample which canbe pushed out by a wooden rod and the sample can then be wrapped in aluminum foil and stored in a Dry Ice container. These samples can, accordingly, be used .for any biological or geological purpose desired.

'Itwill be seen from the above description that repeated samples can be obtained by following the described procedures.

We claim:

1. A sampler device for use in benthonic exploration and the like which comprises,

(a) an open-ended sampler tube adapted to be plunged into soil to be sampled,

(b) a mounting means for said tube comprising a a jacket for supporting said tube therein to provide a refrigerant chamber around said tube,

(c) means in said jacket to permit the introduction of refrigerant from the outside of said jacket,

(d) a second means for storing a supply of refrigerant adjacent said jacket comprising a piston and cylinder arrangement,

(e) means for cocking said piston against a resilient force in a position poised to drive refrigerant into said jacket, and

(f) releasing means for tripping said cocking means to release .said piston.

2. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said releasing means can be tripped by a messenger weight dropped from a remote control position above said device.

3.'A device as defined in claim 1 in which the jacket includes axially spaced gasket members adapted to receive said tube and seal the space Within said jacket around said tube.

4.'A sampler tube for use in benthonic exploration and the like which comprises,

(a) a straight cylindrical sampler tube adapted to be plunged into soil to be sampled,

(b) a mounting means for said tube comprising a tubular jacket for receiving said tube concentrically therein,

(c) means in said jacket to seal a chamber around said tube and simultaneously support said tube within said jacket,

(d) releasable means for locking said tube in said jackets,

(e) a piston and cylinder assembly adjacent said jacket having a tubular connection with the interior of said jacket whereby liquid refrigerant maybe injected from said cylinder by said piston into said jacket,

(f) latch means for cocking said piston against a resilient force in a position poised for injection of refrigerant,

(g) means for supporting said assembly from above for remote controlthereof, and

(h) a messenger weight on said supporting means adapted by gravity to drop to said device and trip said latching means whereby to cause injection of refrigerant into said chamber.,

5. A sampler tube as defined in claim 4 in which said jacket has an axial extension to receive and support said piston and cylinder assembly, said extension being open at portions thereof to permit access to said assembly for reloading and cocking.

6. A sampler device for use in benthonic exploration and the like which comprises,

(a) an open-ended sampler tube adapted to be plunged into soil to be sampled,

(b) mounting means for carrying said tube shaped to provide a chamber around said tube throughout a portion of its length, said chamber being adapted to receive a refrigerant, and

(c) means for hoisting and lowering said tube and mounting means from a control position,

(d) means to store a supply of liquid refrigerant in communication with said chamber, and

(e) control means selectively operable for release of said refrigerant to introduce said supply of refrigerant into said chamber after the sampler tube has reached a sampling position.

7. A device as defined in claim 6 in which the supply of refrigerant is positioned adjacent said chamber to lower and raise with said chamber, and said control means is remotely operable to release refrigerant into said chamber.

8. A sampler device for use in benthoic exploration and the like which comprises,

(a) a sampler tube adapted to be plunged into soil to be sampled,

(b) a container adjacent said tube for receiving particles of a refrigerant such as solid carbon dioxide,

(c) means for storing a quantity of liquid refrigerant,

(d) and injection means for injecting said refrigerant from said storage means into an area adjacent said tube occupied by said solid carbon dioxide to accelerate the creation of a freezing temperature around said tube whereby a cylinder of stratified soil in situ can be introduced into said tube and solidified prior to removal for examination and analysis.

9. A device as defined in claim 8 in which said means for storing refrigerant is arranged in communication with said tube, and said means for injecting said refrigerant is movable from a storage position in an injection stroke, and releasable means for latching said injection means in a storage position, and means controllable remotely from said device for releasing said releasable means to permit the injection of refrigerant.

10. The method of collecting benthonic samples and the like in which a sampler tube and coolant jacket is plunged into soil to be sampled characterized by the steps of:

(a) providing a supply of liquid coolant in communication with the coolant jacket,

(b) lowering the sampler tube and jacket into the soil to be sampled, and

(c) dumping the liquid coolant into the jacket subsequent to the positioning in the soil to be sampled.

No. 4 page 758, October 1958.

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

R. E. FAVREAU, Assistant Examiner.

Claims (1)

1. A SAMPLER DEVICE FOR USE IN BENTHONIC EXPLORATION AND THE LIKE WHICH COMPRISES, (A) AN OPEN-ENDED SAMPLER TUBE ADAPTED TO BE PLUNGED INTO SOIL TO BE SAMPLED, (B) A MOUNTING MEANS FOR SAID TUBE COMPRISING A A JACKET FOR SUPPORTING SAID TUBE THEREIN TO PROVIDE A REFRIGERANT CHAMBER AROUND SAID TUBE, (C) MEANS IN SAID JACKET TO PERMIT THE INTRODUCTION OF REFRIGERANT FROM THE OUTSIDE OF SAID JACKET, (D) A SECOND MEANS FOR STORING A SUPPLY OF REFRIGERANT ADJACENT SAID JACKET COMPRISING A PISTON AND CYLINDER ARRANGEMENT, (E) MEANS FOR COCKING SAID PISTON AGAINST A RESILIENT FORCE IN A POSITION POISED TO DRIVE REFRIGERANT INTO SAID JACKET, AND (F) RELEASING MEANS FOR TRIPPING SAID COCKING MEANS TO RELEASE SAID PISTON.

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