Core Catcher Apparatus and Method

A method of catching a core drilled from an elevated deck, comprising:

• determining a core drilling location (H1) in an upper deck (D) elevated above a lower bearing surface (B1);
• determining a core catching location (L1) on the lower bearing surface beneath the core drilling location;
• positioning on the lower bearing surface at the core catching location a landing foot (112) of a core catching apparatus (100), wherein the landing foot is connected to a lower end of a support column (110) for a receptacle (104) mounted at an upper end (116) of the support column;
• independently pivoting a plurality of stabilizing legs, having connected ends (144) pivotally connected to a like plurality of leg brackets (130) radially positioned about the support column near the lower end and spaced above the landing foot, to engage respective free ends of the stabilizing legs with one or more stabilizing surfaces (B1, B2) in an extended position (118) to stabilize the core catching apparatus;
• extending a length of the support column to raise the receptacle to engage an underneath surface (D1) of the upper deck about the core drilling location;
• with the receptacle in engagement with the underneath surface, coring the upper deck at the core drilling location and catching a core (C) in the receptacle;
• retracting the length of the support column to lower the receptacle;
• removing the core from the lowered receptacle;
• and
• independently pivoting the plurality of stabilizing legs to position the respective free ends adjacent the support column in a retracted position (102).

A core catcher apparatus (100), comprising:

• a support column (110) having a landing foot (112) at a lower end (114) and a receptacle (104) mounted at an upper end (116), the support column comprising an internal lift member (132) slidably received in an outer tubular member (126);
• a lift assembly (122) to selectively raise and lower the internal lift member with respect to the outer tubular member to lengthen the support column to raise the receptacle and to shorten the support column to lower the receptacle, the lift assembly comprising a winch (170) to wind up or play out a cable (138) connected to the internal lift member, a mounting (172) on the outer tubular member intermediate the landing foot and an upper end of the outer tubular member to attach the winch, a ratchet (182) and a ratchet lock pawl (188) for engagement to hold the support column in a lengthened configuration (119) and for disengagement for the shortening of the support column;
• a longitudinal slot (136) formed in the outer tubular member;
• a cable connector plate (134) on the internal lift member projecting radially outwardly into the longitudinal slot and connected to the cable;
• and
• a pulley (190) mounted in a pulley support (192) positioned adjacent the longitudinal slot on the outer tubular member above the lift assembly, the cable passing from the winch over the pulley to the cable connector, wherein winding the cable up in the winch raises the internal lift member with respect to the outer tubular member to raise the receptacle, and playing the cable out of the winch lowers the internal lift member with respect to the outer tubular member to lower the receptacle.