Particulate sampler and method of using same

A sampler for use in the controlled extraction of material samples from a flow stream of particulate material within a tubular conveyor having an intake and a discharge defining a linear travel path and distance of the flow stream therein, wherein the conveyor comprises:

• a) a material flow assistance device within a tubular body for the movement of the flow stream within the conveyor, said flow assistance device having two ends corresponding to the intake and a discharge of the tubular conveyor;
• and
• b) a sample aperture allowing material flow from the flow stream to the outside of the conveyor body at a sample location in a mid-point of the tubular body located between the two ends of the linear travel path of the flow stream;
• the sampler comprising:
• a) a mount for attachment of the sampler to the body of the conveyor at the sample location;
• b) a rotatable extractor which is configured to be actuated to permit the periodic capture and discharge of particulate material samples of a controlled size from the flow stream to a sample discharge outlet outside of the conveyor, said rotatable extractor comprising:
• a. an extractor tube rotatably attached to the mount and having an intake end in communication with the flow stream through the sample aperture and having a discharge end comprising the sample discharge outlet;
• and a rotational power source operatively connected to the extractor tube for rotating same;
• wherein selective rotation of the extractor tube will result in the extraction of a sample quantity of particulate material from the flow stream for discharge at the sample discharge outlet;
• and
• wherein during operation of the conveyor:
• the rotational power source is actuated to yield the discharge of an evenly extracted particulate sample from the flow stream at the sample discharge outlet from a mid-point of the operating flow stream during operation thereof;
• the rotatable extractor does not interfere with any material flow assistance device within the conveyor during operation thereof;
• and no component of the rotatable extractor will move closer to or further away from the material flow assistance device, eliminating the risk of equipment damage or fouling of the material flow assistance device by the rotatable extractor.