Particulate material sampling device

Abstract

This invention is a device for removing a sample of particulate material from predetermined locations in the mass of said material. .Iadd.

What is claimed is:  .[.1. A sample probe device comprising an elongated support pole, a support arm having an inner and outer end, said support arm being pivotally connected to said support pole at the inner end thereof, an elongated hollow probe pivotally connected to the outer end of said support arm, said probe having an opening into the interior thereof adjacent each end of said probe, a sample container including a sample chamber and means to trap said sample therein and means to remove sample material from said container, vacuum conduit means connecting the end opening of said probe adjacent said outer end of support arm with said sample container, separate hydraulic means to move said support arm along the longitudinal axis of said support  pole and rotate said support arm about said support pole, and suction means actuated by means responding to a pressure differential in the hydraulic means upon actuation by said hydraulic means to move the support arm about said support pole to draw a vacuum through said probe, conduit means, and said sample chamber and to continue to draw a vacuum within said sample container when the sample chamber of said container is filled with sampled material whereby when said probe is in selected predetermined locations with respect to the mass thereof said sample is drawn through said probe into said conduit means and therethrough so as to be trapped into the sample chamber of said sample container..]. .Iadd. 2. A sample probe device for obtaining samples of particulate material comprising an elongated support pole; a support arm having an inner end and an outer end, said support arm being mounted at the inner end thereof on said support pole for movement with respect thereto in both vertical and horizontal planes, an elongated probe pivotally connected to said outer end of said support arm, said probe having an opening in each end portion thereof and being hollow between said openings, conduit means connected to one of said openings in one end of said probe, means for moving said support arm both horizontally and vertically relative to said support pole for horizontally positioning said probe relative to a mass of such particulate material to be sampled and reciprocating said probe downwardly and upwardly through said mass, and means, including a normally inoperative vacuum pump operatively connected to said conduit means for creating a vacuum therein and thereby causing particulate material to be drawn from said mass through said opening in the other end of said probe, the interior of said probe, said opening in said one end of said probe and said conduit means when said other end of said probe is disposed in said mass, and control means operatively connected to said pump and adapted to render said pump operable to create said vacuum in said conduit means during movement of said probe upwardly through said mass. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 3. A sample probe device as defined in claim 2, and in which said means for creating a vacuum in said conduit means includes a sample container, for receiving said particulate matter so drawn through said conduit means, operatively connected between and to said pump and said conduit means. .Iaddend..Iadd. 4. A sample probe device as claimed in claim 3, and in which said sample container is separated into two chambers by perforated means disposed therein, said pump is operatively connected to one of said chambers, and said conduit means is connected to the other of said chambers. .Iaddend..Iadd. 5. A sample probe device as defined in claim 2, and in which said means for moving said support arm comprises hydraulic means operatively connected thereto, and control means operatively connected to said hydraulic means for selectively controlling movement of said support arm horizontally and vertically independently of each other. .Iaddend..Iadd. 6. A sample probe device as defined in claim 5, and in which said first mentioned control means is operatively connected to said hydraulic means for actuation thereby effective to so render said pump operable to create said vacuum during movement of said probe upwardly. .Iaddend. .Iadd. 7. A sample probe device for obtaining a sample of particulate material comprising an elongated support pole, a support arm having an inner and outer end, said support arm being pivotally connected to said support pole at the inner end thereof, an elongated hollow probe pivotally connected to the outer end of said support arm, said probe having an opening into the interior thereof adjacent each end of said probe, a sample container including a sample chamber and means to trap the sample therein and means to remove sample material from said container, vacuum conduit means connecting the end opening of said probe adjacent said outer end of said support arm with said sample container, separate hydraulic means to move said support arm along the longitudinal axis of said support pole and rotate said support arm about said support pole, control means, and suction means selectively operable by said control means to draw a vacuum through said probe, said vacuum conduit means, and said sample chamber and to continue to draw a vacuum within said sample container when said sample chamber of said container is filled with sampled material, whereby when said probe is in selected predetermined locations with respect to the mass thereof said sample is drawn through said probe into said conduit means and therethrough so as to be trapped into said sample chamber of said sample container. .Iaddend.