US 4,790,392 AGranted

Soil sample core extraction tool

OwnerJames M. Clementsinventor

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Abstract

An improved soil sample core extraction tool including a handle member having a soil probe member movable within its longitudinal socket, and having a clutch means for selectively providing for extension, retraction and prevention of movement of the soil probe member with respect to the handle member so that the soil probe member can be inserted into the soil, and retracted with a soil sample, the handle member including a selectively usable jack which assists in retracting the soil probe member from the soil by incrementally lifting the handle member while the soil probe member is engaged by the clutch means, the jack including an extension arm to provide leverage for the jack. The soil probe member is elongated in length and allows for a continuous soil sample to be received in a hollow receptacle within the interior of the soil probe member. A hammer member having a rod with a collar, and a hammer section slidable on the rod, cooperates with the soil probe member to allow a hammer to assist in forcing the soil probe into the soil. A connection assembly allows an extension tube to be removably secured to the soil probe member.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A soil sample core extraction tool comprising:

a handle member;
a soil probe member having a receptacle for retention of a soil sample, said probe movably mounted on the handle member;
clutch means for selectively providing for extension, retraction and prevention of movement of the soil probe member with respect to the handle member to permit manipulation of the handle member to a constant convenient position during an entire sampling operation, the handle member being provided with a longitudinal socket, and the soil probe member being slidably deposed in the socket of the handle member, with the clutch means being mounted on the handle member for movement relative to said longitudinal socket and arranged for selectively engaging and releasing soil probe member, said clutch having means to urge said clutch to a pull position wherein said soil probe member is non-extendible but is retractable, and further having a neutral position wherein said soil probe member is both extendible and retractable, and a push position wherein the soil probe member is locked to prevent retraction;
and
jack means to assist retraction of the soil probe member from the ground and with respect to the handle member, said jack means being mounted on the handle member for movement relative to said longitudinal socket and arranged for selectively engaging and releasing the soil probe member and having means to urge said jack means to an upward jacking position wherein said soil probe member is engaged and moved upwardly in the longitudinal socket, and having means to urge said jack means to a return position wherein said jack means is positioned to repeat jacking movement of the soil probe member upwardly in the longitudinal socket

2 more elements

A hammer means for use with a soil sample core extraction tool to assist in driving a soil probe member into the soil, said extraction tool including an elongated handle member having a longitudinal axis and a hollow interior for movable retention of the soil probe member, and having first and second open ends, the hammer means comprising:

an elongated rod member having first and second ends, said first end being slidably and removably insertable through an open end into the hollow interior of the handle member and an end opening of a soil probe member, said first end being generally matably positionable within the interior of the end opening of the soil probe member and including a collar member of a outside diameter greater than the end opening the soil probe member so that the collar will abut against an end of the probe member, but less than the diameter of the open end and hollow interior of the handle member;
and
a hammer member of elongated shape having a central bore along its longitudinal axis and outside diameter less than the diameter of the open end and hollow interior of the handle member for matable sliding reception of the elongated rod member between the second end and the collar member, so that by slidably raising and then slidably accelerating and impacting the handle member along the rod member onto the collar member, when the rod member is positioned in the handle member of the extraction tool, the hammering force will be exerted through the collar member against the soil probe member to drive it into the soil.

A soil probe member extension for a soil probe member of a soil sample core extraction tool, wherein the soil probe member includes a longitudinal tube having an open longitudinal bore with a first end including a soil cutting member, and the second end being open, comprising:

an extension tube of elongated shape having first and second open ends, and an open longitudinal bore, said extension tube being of approximately the same outside diameter as the soil probe member;
an extension connection means comprising a base having a diameter greater than the inside diameters of the longitudinal bores of either the soil probe member or the extension member, an elastomeric member positioned below the base member and extending downwardly therefrom, said elastomeric member having a diameter approximately equal to the inside diameter of the longitudinal bore of the soil probe member so that it can be frictionally inserted into the longitudinal bore of the soil probe member, and means to deform the elastomeric member radially and expansively so that when the elastomeric member is inserted within the longitudinal bore of the soil probe member, the elastomeric member can be deformably expanded radially outwardly to grip and be secured within the longitudinal bore of the soil probe member;
locking means for locking the extension tube to the base member of the connection member, so that the extension member can be secured to the soil probe member, said locking means being configured so that it does not extend outside of the outside diameter of the extension tube or the soil probe member.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.