Sampling probe for granular material

A sampling probe for obtaining a sample of granular material from a bulk quantity of such material to facilitate inspection of the sample, said probe comprising sampling tube means including a pair of elongate inner and outer tubes, said inner tube being disposed within said outer tube and defining at least one compartment therein, said inner tube having at least one opening therein communicating with said compartment, delivery tube means defining a conveying passage internally thereof, means connecting said sampling tube means and said delivery tube means and defining a mixing chamber therebetween, said inner and outer tubes being rotatable relative to each other and defining first cooperable openings therein facilitating entry of granular material into said compartment when the probe is inserted into a quantity of granular material and when said inner and outer tubes are in first positions relative to each other, said inner and outer tubes being relatively rotatable to second positions blocking entry of granular material into said compartment and defining second cooperable openings facilitating passage of granular material from said compartment into said mixing chamber, said delivery tube means having an entrance opening communicating with said conveying passage and with said mixing chamber to facilitate entry of granular material from said mixing chamber into said conveying passage, said delivery tube means having a transfer opening therein communicating with said conveying passage and facilitating removal of said granular sample material from said conveying passage, and means operatively associated with said sampling tube means for effecting rotation of said inner and outer tubes between their said first and second positions relative to each other.

Apparatus comprising:

• sampling means for taking a sample from a container of granular material;
• means for transferring said sample from said sampling means into a receiving chamber;
• a tube connected to said receiving chamber;
• and
• pneumatic means for removing said sample from said receiving chamber through said tube.

A sampling device comprising:

• a first tube having at least one opening in one side thereof;
• a second tube disposed within said first tube, a port formed in said second tube, said second tube having a first position with respect to said first tube whereby said port is in communication with the opening in said first tube and a second position whereby said port is not in communication with the opening in said first tube, and a partition connected to said second tube, said partition having an angled surface thereon that extends from the inside wall of said second tube below the bottom of said port in said second tube, upwardly to the opposite inside wall of said second tube;
• an opening disposed in the other side of said first tube whereby said opening in said other side of the first tube is in communication with said port of said second tube when the second tube is in said second position;
• a vacuum tube connected to said sampling device and having an opening therein;
• pneumatic means connected to said vacuum tube for creating a less than atmospheric pressure in said vacuum tube;
• means for receiving a sample of material from said sampling device;
• and
• connecting chamber means for connecting the receiving means with said vacuum tube opening.