US2825533A - Bore hole sampler - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 m 7 mm 7 m0 0 7 W a Egg I a March 4, 1958 LE ROY E. cox

BORE HOLE SAMPLER Filed Aug. 30, 1955 f?! 13 1 I I I I I I i 0 0 V1 5 n .kl! Z 1 z u I II llll f g a 3 fififlflfl H Z8 6 7 9 5 5 5 12 w. a. 1M1 255 mw a United {States Patent BORE HOLE SAMPLER Le Roy E. Cox, Grand Junction, Coin.

Application August 30, 1955, Serial No. 531,458

Claims. (Cl. 255 -1.4)

This invention relates to geological and mining exploratory and test equipment, and more particularly to a device for taking an earth sample from a hole of minimal bore made by a plug bit or a bore of any larger diameter at any time during .or subsequent to the sinking of the bore in the ground. By Way of example, but not by way of limitation, the invention is'useful in prospecting for uranium.

As is generally known to those familiar with the art, most test drilling for uranium is done by the plug bit method which provides a hole large enough for the insertion of a radiation-sensitive probe but too small to permit the practical taking of an actual core sample. The holes are drilled, then probed and radiometric readings taken to reveal the possible presence of uranium. When a reading of sufficient value is obtained, it is then necessary either to enlarge the bore with acore drill and take an actual sample at the proper level for chemical assay or to'core-drill a new hole. Obviously, this second drill ing operation increases the prospecting cost considerably.

A somewhat similar problem exists in connection with bores drilled during thev past by engineers in search of some other mineral. Here too, the bore must be probed and core drills of proper size used to obtain samples when promising readings are obtained. This involves the use of core drills of various sizes and a rather considerable amount of rigging and equipment in the case of larger bores and small shafts.

As a result, there are thousands of test bores, so-called dry. holes and open shafts on which no. geophysical or geochemical stratigraphic data are available 'and which are too small for obtaining samples by conventional methads but which appear deserving of further investigation in view of the radiometric readings obtained by probing.

The present invention has been made with the foregoing in mind, and has a plurality of separate and important objects.

One main object of this invention is the provision of' a device. for obtaining. samples from a plug bit hole without the necessity of enlarging the hole with a core drill.

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a device adapted to take a sample from a bore from within a limited vertical range so that the sample will be. representative of the deposits at a certain definite level and will not be diluted by non-typical material from above or below.

Yet another object isthe provision of a sampler adapted for forming a cavity from which the sample is dislodged that is long enough and of suitable conformation to keep theside. wall of the bore from caving into the bore when the sampler is removed.

Another equally important object of this invention is the provision of a borehole sampling device as previously described adapted; to carry adequate integrated pressure generating means not requiring the use of elec- Patented Mar. 4, 1958 tricity, compressed air or other external power source for forcibly removing the sample from the bore wall at any desired depth.

In brief, the bore hole sampling device of my invention includes an elongate assembly which can be lowered into a plug bit hole. The upper portion of the device consists of a plurality of interfitting longitudinal segments in which is disposed at triggering means, operable from the surface of the ground by a trigger line, to fire a cartridge and drive a chisel-edged projectile into the wall of the bore hole breaking fragments therefrom which fall through an opening in the side wall into a hollow section at the bottom of the device.

Other important objects and distinguishing features of this invention will be apparent upon reading the following description of one preferred embodiment and modifications thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevational view of the sampling device according to my invention, with a portion of the outer wall cut away to show the hollow sample chamber in the bottom thereof.

Figure 2 is a view on a larger scale than Figure 1, showing an axial section of the device taken on the line 2-2 in Figure 1;

Figure 2a is an enlarged schematic view of the trigger member and plunger after release thereof by pulling the trigger line from above;

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to Figure 2 showing an alternate embodiment in which an electrically fired cartridge is used to expel a separate and spaced projectile from the muzzle of the firing chamber;

Figure 4 is alsoa'schematic sectional View showing the firing chamber components provided with a solenoid for imparting force to the firing pin; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 showing a further variation of my invention in which a blasting cap is used to move the firing pin into contact with the detonator of the cartridge.

Reference is again made to Figure 1 in. which the numeral 1t) designates the complete bore sampler assembly which is seen to be longitudinally extended normally vertically in space and of rod-like conformation, rounded at both ends 11 and 12, and having an eye member 13 disposed axially from its upper end 11- to which a line is attached for lowering and raising; the device in a bore hole. Intermediate of the ends 11 and .22 are two apertures in the side wall, the smaller being the opening of a firing muzzle 14; and the larger, lower opening 15 providing ingress to a generally tubular sample receiving chamber or pocket 16' in the lower half'of the assembly. More specifically, the rod-like body portion 10 is neither a solid rod nor a hollow tube, but is actually a plurality of longitudinal isegments'assembled by means of threaded joints at the points indicated in Figures 1 and 2 by the numerals'17, 18', 1:9 and 29.

The operating principle of the device may be seen in Figure 2 in which the sampler'lll is shown entered in a bore in the surrounding formation 21'. In the central portion of the sampler adjacent the joint 1 9 is a relatively solid longitudinal section 22' having a diagonal breech plate 22a pivotally mounted'at 225 to permit the loading of a cartridge into, and removal of a shell from a diag onally disposed gun bore 23 in the solid section 22. The cartridge 24' is fitted with a generally cylindrical pro jectile 25 which is truncated at its end spaced from the cartridge toprovide a chisel-like leading edge 26, the point 27 of which is positioned adjacent the muzzle opening 14 which, inturn, is in close juxtaposition with the side of thebore hole-28.

Firing the cartridge 24 forces the projectile 25' out wardly of the chamber 23 causing the point 27 to perm A name formation atXdislodging the material bounded: by thedotted line XYZ from theborewall 28. This.

dislodged material falls in the direction of the arrows in Figure 2 through the opening 15 into, thesarnple receiy l zchamrber, bestseenlat IGin Figure 1;-

Afterbeing liftedto the surface of the g'rolund; body to a conventional electric fuse in the cap 68 f the car tridge;69. A small, generally; cylindrical space '70 is' 7 provided in the lower'face 71 of the segment 67 'to' facilitate connecting the wire 65 to the cap '68 and to pro'-.

.Cit

- assembly is separated at'the screw joint 20,1and the sample .material removedforinspection andas'sayl V I l 'Vanous embodiments of my invention are shown in other figures in the drawings, but all use the same general type of pro ectile; Inthe-embodiment shown in Figure 3 'the projectile' 29. isgprovided with a circumferential inwardly by a spring 32 anchored witha set screw 33 in a'radially disposedbor{e34; v A

Theother difljerlences. in. thegvarious embodiments re- 7 side mainly in the means employed; to fire the cartridge or;otherwise actuate'the expulsion of. the projectile.

I L Returning again to Figure 2 the firing means employed inthis embodiment are entirely mechanical and include a ro. ;v.30, whichris l engaged by a ball detent 31 urged the same as those of the embodiment shQWninFigure Z. '1 In the'emoodiment'of Figure- 4,.however,- an electrically V.

in? li ep n :1

massive hammer member 35 movable longitudinally ina cylinder. 36 and with arod 37 extending upwardly and axially of the hammer .35 through a bore 38. The rod is 'lterminated upwardly'in a ball knob 40 disposedwithin the hollow dome-shaped cap member 11. a. a

'7 Around the rod 37 is'ra coil compression spring 41 stantly urged downwardly withinlth'e cylinder. 36 by the spring 41 but is restrained from movement by the engage- 'ment of a sear 45, pivoted at 46 and rotatable upwardly from the stop pini47 by means of a trigger. line 48 which, inturmis movable through the bore 49in the body portion 39 and bore 50 in the cap portion 11. v To cock the firing'rnechanism, the device isheld in a vertical position with the cap member 11 removed, then the ball-knob '40 is pulled upwardly of thebodysegment 39 until the sear 45' drops by gravity-'(or conventional spring means" not shown) against the stop pin 47 and under thecollar 44. As shown in Figure 2a, pulling the v trigger'line 48 rotates the sear 45 upwardly about the pivot 46a. in the direction of the arrow d-a, out of engagement with the collar 44, thereby permitting "the :shown in Figure 2a...

When soreleased, the hammer-'35 .is thrust downwardly i against a firing pin shank 51- which isislidably positioned in the counterbore 52 disposed downwardly. from the cylinder 36. The downwardly moving shank 51 compresses the coil spring 53, forcing the firing'pin 54, which is fixedly attached'to and extended downwardly from the shank 51; through the pin bore 55 and into contact with .the detonator 56 of the cartridge 24. The cartridge v24 hammer to move downwardly to the relative position single strand of wire, such as 77 in Figure 4; hasibeen .shown it is to be understood that the diagrams were'not intended to show'anygdetails of the circuitry; towhich e no claims of invention are made, and the electricalcircuit' may be completed by the use of metalshielding on the 1 outside of the line 76 as the groundconnection,lor thel strand 77 may, if preferred, contain'a pair of insulated j 'fconductors; i i

.is fired; the projectile 25 is driven outwardly of the muzzle 14; fragments, from the. arcuatearea of the bore wall bounded by the line X-'.YZ.are 'dislo dgedfand fall through the opening i15into the sample chamber 16.

which are drawn together by set screws 62 and 63'above :the load-bearing sheath of the line 57.

i the collar 64, the latter being the lower termination of An electrically conductive insulated wire 65 is disposed at the center of the line 57 and is'carried through "a bore 66 in a generally solideupper segment 67 and; connected cap '1001of the cartridge in' assembly 80.

vide space for slack in the wire when the longitudinal segments 67 andj72 are threaded together at the joint 73.

The opposite; normally-above-ground end of the wire 65 is connected through a suitable firing switch to'a suitable. current supply abovethe ground neither of which is shown in the drawings; r

. The embodiment of my device' shown iq Figure 4 in- F I eludes an elongated upper cap; segment 74 iniwhich is' disposed an assembly'75, for attachingthe surface line 5 76, substantially the same; as vthatpreviously:described with reference to Figure}. The arrahgemenhoflthe 5' central-segment 79-rand the details 'ofthe cartridge cham i her and breech cap assembly 80in Figure 3"a'rc generally operated solenoid is employed to depress instead of the hammer shown in Figure 2.

To the the device showningFigure l,electric current;

is supplied, throughralwire 77 extending-trom-the' line '76, to a magnetic coil 81 enclosedjwithin "a vcylindrical casing 82 having an axial bore 83 in the topfthereofi and a smaller bore 84 in the bottom. The casing 82 is5fixcdly 7 attached to the rigid str'uetureo f 'the entire assembly and the bores'83 and 84 therein are centerbore 850i the coil 81..

Slidably disposed within the cylindrical wall fof the device above the casing'82 is a'hammerl86 havingfa circular groove 87 in the 'underface 88 thereofllan'd -a core 89 extended axiall'y downwardly therefrom through the'bore 83 inthe casingr82 and into themagnetic'coil shownin Figure 4.

Directly belowthe adjacent the bore 84 therein to hold the .samejretract ed Althoughin Figuref4, and in other figures 'only a 7 In either case, whenythe electrical circuit iscompleted V 7 by the operation of switching means abovethe surfaceof the ground, the magnetic coil 81 is'energized, drawing the rod'89 downwardlythrough the'bore 'of'thej coil c 81, and bringing the. circular end face 92 off the rod 189 into sharp impact against theopposed face .of the-shank the detonator- '93, thereby driving the firing pin 94 against Another variation of my invention isset forth in the, jembodimentshown inFigure 5 in which ja-rblasting' cap'f Q 101 is disposed in a hollowachambe'r 102 in-the upper portion 104 ct thesampler. assembly being'connected and. Suspended therein by. means of 'a cable andclamp;

assembly 103 similar to that shown at 75 inFigu're' 4. jIn

the next: lower segment-105, is' an axially disposed bore 106 andz counterbo're 107 opening into the liottomofthe chamber 102;- .A piston'108, generally cylindricalin cona y l nec im e,

end face. 92fof the core 89 is a. generally cylindrical shank 93 having a firingfpin 94 ex tended therefrom. The shank-93 is slidableaiiiallyl within, e: the coil bore 85; and thefiring pin 94' is similarly s'lidable a a in the bore 84 and in;continuations' 96 and 9,8 -thereof,'

through the lower. portion'97 of the longitudinal"segment V -78','and through the breechca'p 99; to;the percussion gdetonator pm the 'face of thecartridge shell. A helical f; compression spring'95 is disposed 'around 'the"firingjpina 94 andl the inner face of the bottom of the casing-'82 formation and'having a rodlike firing pin 109, extended downwardly therefrom, positioned 'slid'ably "the counterbore 107 with the pin member 109 'slidal'ale'j /itliih the throughbore 106. A coil spring 11 hpttonie'd ip'the counterbore 107 serves to hold the piston 1 08 upwardly of the bottom of the counterbore andthe tip .111 of the firing pin 109 out of contact with the'detpnator 112 on the upwardly disposed end-face of the cartridge in the firing'assembly 113 which is substantially'a counterpart of that shown at 30 in Figure "4 and described in detail above in reference to Figure 2.

Electrical firing of the blasting cap 101 generates pressure in the chamber 102 sufiicient to drive the hammer member 108 downwardly in the counterbore 107 and simultaneously drive the end 111 of the firing pin 109 into the detonator end 112 .of the cartridge inthe firing assembly at 113. Since the detonation .of a blasting cap is usually too sharp to .be employed directly to. propel the projectile, the chamber 102 is provided .and made large enough in volume to absorb a part of the detonating shock and prevent damage to the casing. The gas pressure in the chamber 102 escapes relatively slowly after detonation, through bleed holes 102a. Test experience indicates the advisability of using a cartridge similar to standard small arms ammunition of suitable calibre, replacing the conventional lead or steel jacketed bullet portion with the projectile of truncated cylindrical conformation previously described herein.

While the forms shown and described herein are fully capable of achieving the advantages hereinbefore stated, they are capable of some modification without departure from the spirit of the invention. For that reason I do not mean to be limited to the forms shown and described above, but rather to the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a chamber formed therein with an enlarged opening to receive material dislodged from the wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; gunmeans in said body having a projectile supporting bore directed obliquely from the axis of said body and against said wall, the muzzle of said projectile bore being directly above said enlarged opening when said body is suspended as aforesaid said enlarged opening being substantially larger than said projectile bore; means to suspend said body adjacent the wall of an earth bore; and means to fire a projectile through said gun bore against said wall, said projectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening, to dislodge material from the wall into said opening.

2. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a chamber formed therein with an enlarged opening to receive material dislodged from the Wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; gun means in said body having a projectile supporting bore directed obliquely from the axis of said body and against said wall, the muzzle of said projectile bore being directly above said enlarged opening when said body is suspended as aforesaid said enlarged opening being substantially larger than said projectile bore, said elongate body being separable intermediate its ends to permit breech loading of said bore; means to suspend said body adjacent the wall of an earth bore; and means to fire a projectile through said gun bore against said wall, said projectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening, to dislodge material from the wall into said opening.

3. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a chamber formed therein with a lateral enlarged opening to receive material dislodged from the Wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; means to suspend said body at a predetermined depth in an earth bore; means forming an oblique gun bore in said body having a muzzle above said chamber opening said opening being substantially larger than the muzzle of said gun bore; an

. 6 explosive charge positioned'in the breech end of said gun bore; a projectile in said gun bore between said charge and muzzle; and means actu'atable from the earth surface'to explode said charge and drive'said projectile into said wall, said projectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening, to dislodge material from the wall into said opening.

4. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a sampler chamber formed therein with a lateral enlarged opening to receive material dislodged from the wall of an earth bore in which said body is'suspended; means to suspend said body at apredetermined depth in an earth bore; means forming an oblique gun bore in said body havingarnuzzle above said chamber opening said opening being substantially larger than the muzzle of said gun bore; an explosive charge positioned in the breech end of said gun bore; a truncated cylindrical lprojectile positioned in said bone between said charge and muzzle, said projectile having a chisel-shaped point disposed to penetrate said wall when said projectile is fired from said bore and dislodge material by a cutting action from said wall downwardly and inwardly through the enlarged opening into said sample chamber; and means actuatable from the earth surface to explode said charge and drive said projectile into said wall, said projectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening, to dislodge material from the wall into said opening.

5. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a pocket formed therein with a lateral enlarged opening to receive material dislodged from the wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; means to suspend said body in an earth bore at a predetermined depth therein; gun means in said body including a bore having an explosive charge-receiving chamber substantially parallel to the axis of said body, and an oblique projectile bore communicated with such chamber portion and with the muzzle thereof directly above said opening said opening being substantially larger than the muzzle of said gun bore, said body being separable adjacent said chamber to permit the loading thereof; an explosive charge in said chamber; a separate projectile in said bore; and means actuatable from the surface to explode said charge and drive said projectile into said wall, said projectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening, to dislodge material from the wall into said opening.

6. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a pocket formed therein with a lateral opening to receive material dislodged from the wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; means to suspend said body in an earth bore at a predetermined depth therein; gun means in said body including a bore having an explosive charge-receiving chamber portion substantially parallel to the axis of said body, and a downwardly oblique projectile bore communicated with such chamber portion and having the muzzle thereof positioned directly above said opening, said body being separable adjacent said charge-receiving portion to permit the loading thereof; detent means in said body adjacent said projectile bore to retain a projectile therein when loaded through said muzzle; an explosive charge in said gun chamber; a separate projectile in said gun bore; and means actuatable from the surface to explode said charge and drive said projectile into said wall, said projectile following a downward path in said wall immediately adjacent said enlarged opening to dislodge material from the wall into said opening.

7. A bore hole sampler comprising: an elongate body having a pocket formed therein with an enlarged lateral opening to receive material dislodged from the wall of an earth bore in which said body is suspended; means forming an oblique gun bore in said body having a muzzle above said pocket opening, said opening being substantially larger than said gun bore, said bore being adapted to receive a percussion-fired cartridge-'projectilmja firing pih 'rnovblysupportd'in said bodyfto firea cartrfdgefih trs aidrblor'e; mean'sito'suspend said bodyma predetermined @depthin a bdre hole; andpowe'r 'inczins in'fs'aid body Vact'uatable from the ground sur facerto move said .pin and "fire? said'cartridg'c as aforesaid twherebylo drive a 'p'ro tjectile obliquely through sid bore against-said wal l fsaid projectile followinga'downward path in said 'wall in'irne- 1 'diately' adjacent said enlarged opening, to'dislodge'mate 7' 10 surfaceto pressurize said chamber and drive tsaid'firing pin against a cartridge, in said borer to fire the same' 'as "rial from the wall into'said opening.

7 '18. The construction of claim ,7 wherein said power 7 me'ansvincludes a solenoid insaid body, a hammer driven v by said solenoid and adapted tofstrikeis'aid'firing pin, and 1 electricaL'conductor'm'eans extending from 'saidbodyto "the ground surface. whereby to: energize said solenoid. 7

' 9.-The construction of claim] wherein: said power means includes a movable hammersupporte'd in said Bodyfadjacent'tsaid'firing pin, 'aspring'fpositioned and eagues from saidfiring pin and, against the urgingof saidtspringg .and trigger means extending from said sear means to the ground surfalce and adapted when'actuateld'tofreleasetsgidj hammer and permit said spring to drive saidfhammer;

vagainst said firing pin ttorfire snidtcirtridge' as aforesaid. r i

10. The construction of claim [7 wherein said power 1 means include's 'an expansible fluid chamber: in said bodv' having 'a movable wall portion connected to. said firing .pin, and a fluid pressure source 'actuatable' from the ground aforesaid V References Cited in the' file of this patent;

15 Q "QTUNITED STATES PATENTS 7 it 7 1,515,497 1 [Lamnr Novl ll", 1924 v- 2,020,856 V 'Schl umberge Nov; 11,1935 2,313,369 Spencer Mar. 9,"l943t r 20 2 ,344,77s

Keplinger'e Mar. 2 1 1 944

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