US2753717A

US2753717A - Soil density gauge and sampler

Info

Publication number: US2753717A
Application number: US408192A
Authority: US
Inventors: Vladimir F Obrcian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-02-04
Filing date: 1954-02-04
Publication date: 1956-07-10
Anticipated expiration: 1973-07-10

Description

July 10, 1956 v. F. OBRCIAN sou DENSITY GAUGE AND SAMPLER Filed'Fe b. 4, 1954 mvsmozg. Vlad/m1!" F Obrclan A TTO NEY United States Patent SOIL DENSITY GAUGE AND SAMPLER Vladimir F. Obrcian, New York, N. Y. Application February 4, 1954, Serial No. 408,192

7 Claims. 01. 7s--42s.2

This invention relates to a device useful for determining soil density and more particularly to a device capable of undisturbed sampling of soil for the purpose of determining the density thereof.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a soil sampling device capable of removing a sample of soil and maintaining the original density thereof during such removal. v

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a soil sampling device incorporating a measuring element whereby the soil is received directly by the measuring element.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of an undisturbed soil sampling and density measuring device of simple sturdy construction usable in the field in connection with various types of soils.

A still further object of the invention is .the provision of a soil density sampler, the several portions of which may be used in cooperative relationship in extracting a sample of soil and removing the same from the sampling portion of the device.

I The .soil density gauge and sampler disclosed herein comprises an improvement in the art of undisturbed soil sampling and in the art relating to determining the density of various soils. Those skilled in the art will be familiar with the sand cone method wherein an excavation of predetermined size is made in the soil to be tested and the excavation filled with sand, the weight of which is known to provide comparable factors useful in determining the density of the soil removed from the volume of the excavation.

Other methods, equally cumbersome in practice, include the method wherein a rubber balloon is positionedin an excavation of predetermined size in the soil to be tested and the balloon filled with a liquid to determine the exact volume which may then be compared with the weight of the removed soil to determine the density thereof. A third method heretofore practiced comprises filling an excavation with oil and getting the volume of excavation by means of the known weight of the oil. Paraflin wrapped specimens arealso used in a similar method.

All of'these methods are time consuming and relatively inaccurate in that the density of the soil being tested must be determined by the foreign element introduced into theexcavation and by the known weight thereofas. comparedwith the volume used.

The present device permits the direct samplingof the soil through the use of a hollow measuring element of predetermined capacity which is driven, pushed or otherwise positioned in the soil to be tested from whence it is easily removed, the excess soil removed from the measuring element and the soil in the sleeve weighed.

The density of the soil in pounds per cubic foot can be easily determined by dividing or multiplying the weight by an appropriate factor. Thus, no foreign element is introduced into the procedure, a minimum of time is sulficient to take the sample and weight the same and no laborious careful excavation is necessary as in the past.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being the intention to cover all changes and modifications of the example of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure, which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the soil density gauge and sampler.

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view in enlarged detail of a portion of the soil density gauge and sampler shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic view of the soil density gauge and sampler in use.

By referring to the drawing and Figure 1 in particular it will be seen that the soil density gauge and sampler comprises a tripod frame, the legs 10 of which are structural members formed for rigidity throughout their length. The outer ends of the legs 10 are outturned as at 11 to form feet which in turn are provided with downturned points 12-12.

Two of the legs 10 are permanently aflixed at their uppermost ends to a collar 14 while the third leg is removably afiixed thereto as by fasteners 15 to ease shipment. The collar 14 has a central opening 16 therein which forms a vertically aligned guideway for a drive shaft 17 which is positioned therethrough in a movable manner. The upper end of the drive shaft 17 is preferably threaded into a driving cap 18 and which cap 18 is provided with oppositely disposed facets 19 so that a wrench can be applied thereto and the wrench rotated with respect to the drive shaft 17. i

The lower end of the drive shaft 17 is frictionally secured in a socket member 20 of inverted cup-like shape, as best shown inenlarged cross sectional detail in Figure 2 of the drawings. The socket member 20 has a central opening 21 in its upper central area in which the lower end of the drive shaft 17 is received.- A set screw 22 is rotatably engaged in a transverse opening 23 in the socket member 20 so that an inner end of the set screw 22 directly engages the, drive shaft 17 and secures the parts in assembled relation. The lower annular skirt of the socket member 20 is tapered as at 24 and provided with bayonet slots 25 and an annular shoulder 26 on its inner surface.

- By referring again to Figure l of the drawings it will be seen that the socket member 20 has a pair of oppositely disposed arms 2727 extending outwardly therefrom. Each of the arms 27 is preferably threaded into threaded openings 28 in the upper portion of the member 20, as also shown in the cross sectional detail of Figure 2 of the drawings. The openings 2828 also provide for the escape of air from the socket member 20.

The outer ends of the arms 27 are provided with cross pieces 29-29 so that they can be readily turned thereby and the arms 27 are provided toprevent rotation ofthe member '20 and the drive shaft 17 with'respeet posed pins 3131 which engage the bayonet slots 25 and act to secure the sleeve 30 in position partially within the socket member and with its upper annular edge in direct engagement with the shoulder 26 of the socket member. The lower edge of the cutter cylinder 30 is 'annularly tapered to form an annular knife-like edge 32. Positioned within the socket member 20 and the cutter cylinder 30 there is 'a spring pressed disc 33 and a coil spring 34 which is of a length normally comparable with the total inner distance of the cutter cylinder 30 and socket member 20 and compressible to a distance less than the length of the socket member 20 and above the shoulder 26 therein.

The spring pressed disc 33 and coil spring 34 are loosely positioned in the socket member 29 and cutter cylinder 30 when a soil sample is to be taken with the device. In taking such a sample, the device is positioned on the ground, the points 12 driven thereinto to secure the tripod-like unit in stationary position, the spring pressed'disc 33 is positioned within the sleeve 30 and the same secured to the socket 20. The socket 20 and cutter cylinder 30 are then moved downwardly into the soil to be tested by striking the drive cap 18 with a suitable object until the cutter cylinder 30 is completely driven into the ground.

"It will occur to those skilled in the art that as this occurs, a sample of the soil is separated from the soil of the area by the cutter cylinder 30 and the same rises within the cutter cylinder 30 against the relatively mild resistance of the spring pressed disc 33. The disc 33 serves to maintain minimum pressure on the sample K being taken to prevent it from flying apart or becoming displaced and increasing its volume as might otherwise occur as a resultof the driving action of the cutter cylinder 30. If necessary, soil around the cutter cylinder 30 may be and preferably is excavated, as in Figure 3, to facilitate the driving action and thus assist in obtaining a better undisturbed soil sample.

At such time as the cutter cylinder 30 has penetrated "the soil a sufficient depth, a trowel or other suitable article is slipped under the bottom edge of the cutter cylinder 30 and the device twisted upwardly and away from the area to secure the sample within the cutter cylinder 30. The cutter cylinder 30 is then detached from the socket member 20 and the soil extending beyond the ends of the cutter cylinder 30 is removed and the remaining soil and cutter cylinder weighed thereby determining the actual "weight of the known volume of the soil obtained as a sample.

an the preferred form and size of the device, the cutter cylinder comprises a tubular member having a 2% innerdi'ameter and being 4 in length. The sample 'of soil contained in the cutter cylinder 30 is weighed to determine its weight in grams and that weight divided by the numeral 7 to yield the actual pounds per cubic foot of the soil and thereby determine its density. The density of the soil is obtained from the following equation:

where D is the inside diameter of the sleeve 30 and H is the height of the sleeve 30. Constant K can be thus chosen as an integer number such as 7. Different numbers can be assigned to the constant K depending on the diameter of the sleeve used; but a minimum ratio of H D equals 1 and a maximum ratio of H D equals 2 should be chosen because of the usual requirements on the sample size during various soil testing procedures.

It will thus be seen that the soil density gauge and sampler disclosed herein may be conveniently and easily used to quickly and efficiently determine the soil density and meets the several objects of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A soil sampler comprising a rigid frame including radially extending circumferentially spaced legs, a drive shaft positioned for vertical movement in said frame, a socket secured to the lower end of said drive shaft and a cutter cylinder detachably secured to said socket.

2. The soil sampler set forth in claim 1 and further characterized by the formation of said cutter cylinder with its projecting end tapered to a thin sharp annular edge.

3. The soil sampler set forth in claim 1 and further characterized by oppositely disposed arms removably positioned in said socket for engaging said legs to limit rotation of said socket.

4. The combination of the soil sampler set forth in claim 1 and a spring and a soil retaining disc loosely positioned in said cutter cylinder and socket, said spring and disc being movable inwardly completely out of said cutter cylinder and completely into said socket.

5. The soil sampler set forth in claim 1 wherein said socket has a plurality of openings therein above said cutter cylinder and oppositely disposed arms detachably positioned in said openings acting to limit rotation of said socket and cutter cylinder.

6. The soil sampler set forth in claim 1 wherein said legs comprise angularly positioned longitudinally trussed structures having horizontally disposed end portions, downturned prongs on said end portions inwardly from the ends thereof.

7. A soil sampler comprising a tripod frame of inverted semi-conical configuration and including a central body having a vertical opening therethrough, a drive shaft positioned through said vertical opening for movement with respect to said body member, a drive cap on the upper end of said drive shaft and a socket removably secured on the lower end of said drive shaft, an open ended hollow measuring element positioned in said socket and depending therefrom and forming with said socket a chamber for the reception of soil, said socket having openings therein and arms normally positioned in said openings and extending outwardly with respect to said socket for registry with said tripodframe to limit rotation of said socket and measuring element, and resilient retractable means in said socket and measuring element for engaging a soil sample in said measuring element and acting to maintain the original density of the said soil sample therein.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 146,901 Harrison Jan. 27, 1874 1,109,446 Melberg Sept. 1, 1914 2,301,478 Tibbals et a1 'Nov. 10, 1942