Systems and methods for confining ballast samples
AssigneeBNSF Railway Company
InventorsDarrell R. Krueger, Michael A. Wnek, William Dombrow
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A sample confinement tool includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the sample confinement tool is coupled to a driving tool. The driving tool is coupled to a heavy-duty vehicle. The sample confinement tool is operable to insert a predetermined depth below a ballast surface and collect a ballast sample within the second end of the sample confinement tool. The sample confinement tool is also operable to confine the ballast sample within the second end of the sample confinement tool by mechanically compressing the ballast sample. The sample confinement tool is further operable to release the ballast sample into a sample receptacle by mechanically decompressing the ballast sample.
Claims20
A sample confinement tool, comprising:
- a first member comprising:
- a first end coupled to a driving tool, the driving tool coupled to a heavy-duty vehicle;
- and
- a C-shaped second end opposite the first end;
- a second member mechanically coupled to the first member by a fastener, the second member configured to move relative to the first member by pivoting about an axis of the fastener, the second member comprising a C-shaped end that overlaps the C-shaped second end of the first member, thereby forming an end of the sample confinement tool;
- and
- a hydraulic actuator operably configured to control the movement of the second member relative to the first member,
- wherein the sample confinement tool is operable to:
- insert a predetermined depth below a ballast surface,
- collect a ballast sample within the end of the sample confinement tool, and
- confine the ballast sample within the end of the sample confinement tool by mechanically compressing the ballast sample.
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first end;
- a second end;
- a first member comprising a first C-shaped end;
- a second member coupled to the first member by a fastener, the second member configured to move relative to the first member by pivoting about an axis of the fastener, the second member comprising a second C-shaped end that overlaps the first C-shaped end of the first member, thereby forming the second end of the apparatus;
- and
- a controller configured to receive a location of the second end of the apparatus,
- wherein the apparatus is operable to:
- insert a predetermined depth below a ballast surface,
- collect a ballast sample within the second end of the apparatus, and
- release the ballast sample into a sample receptacle by mechanically decompressing the ballast sample.
A method, comprising:
- inserting an end of a sample confinement tool a predetermined depth below a ballast surface, the sample confinement tool comprising:
- a first member having a first end and a C-shaped second end;
- a second member coupled to the first member by a fastener, the second member configured to move relative to the first member by pivoting about an axis of the fastener, the second member comprising a C-shaped end that overlaps the C-shaped second end of the first member, thereby forming the end of the sample confinement tool;
- confining a ballast sample within the end of the sample confinement tool by mechanically compressing the ballast sample;
- releasing the ballast sample by mechanically decompressing the ballast sample.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.