Dual mass dynamic cone penetrometer

Abstract

The invention is a dynamic cone penetrometer for measuring soil shear strength which includes an elongated cylindrical rod having a tip end and a handle end. An anvil portion is mounted to the rod at a selected distance from the handle and a penetrometer tip having a conical free end is secured to the tip end of the rod for engaging the soil or sample. A two weight drop hammer having a cylindrical through bore is slidably mountable on the rod at the handle end for striking the anvil with a selected force when released from a fixed distance from said anvil. The drop hammer is formed in two parts including a cylindrical core portion of a first diameter, and a cylindrical support portion extending from the core portion to a second diameter. The second weight has a through bore and is sleevable over the core for engaging and resting upon the support portion. A releasable fastener secures the second weight to the core so that proper measurements may be performed with the first weight alone for weak soils or with both weights for stronger soils and surfaces. The penetrometer tip may be disposable and releasably secured to the tip end of the rod.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.