US3572129A - Free-fall bottom sampler - Google Patents

Free-fall bottom sampler Download PDF

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Publication number
US3572129A
US3572129A US711792A US3572129DA US3572129A US 3572129 A US3572129 A US 3572129A US 711792 A US711792 A US 711792A US 3572129D A US3572129D A US 3572129DA US 3572129 A US3572129 A US 3572129A
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United States
Prior art keywords
sampler
jaws
jaw
water
sample
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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US711792A
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English (en)
Inventor
Thomas N Walthier
Andre Marcel Rosfelder
Clifford E Schatz
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Kennecott Corp
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Bear Creek Mining Co
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Assigned to KENNECOTT COPPER CORPORATION reassignment KENNECOTT COPPER CORPORATION MERGER (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). EFFECTIVE DEC., 31, 1980 NEW YORK Assignors: BEAR CREEK MINING COMPANY
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    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21C—MINING OR QUARRYING
    • E21C50/00—Obtaining minerals from underwater, not otherwise provided for
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B49/00—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells
    • E21B49/02—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells by mechanically taking samples of the soil
    • E21B49/025—Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells by mechanically taking samples of the soil of underwater soil, e.g. with grab devices

Definitions

  • a pair of clam shell jaws are pivotally connected to the base of an upright frame of the sampler. Hollow buoyant spheres are retained within the upright portion of the frame. The jaws are latched in an open position against the bias of resilient elements which close the jaws when the latch is released in response to impact with the bottom. Two weights, one on the back of each jaw stabilize the sampler during descent and fall off when the jaws close.
  • a camera located within one of the hollow spheres photographs the bottom of the body of water from which the sample is taken.
  • a unique signal-Hare and smoke producing device automatically actuates when the sampler returns to the surface. Other day or night signal devices such as a radio or flasher can also be used and provision is made to attach such devices to the sampler.
  • This invention relates generally to a bottom sampler to obtain a sample of the bottom of a body of water, and more particularly to such a sampler of the recoverable free-fall type which does not require a retrieving line between the sampler and the vessel from which it is launched or dropped.
  • the invention relates to a unique freefall sea bottom sampler having clam shell type jaws which dig into and grab a sample of the bottom and the sampler then returns to the surface of the water with the sample.
  • the sampler of this invention has other uses, it is of particular utility for obtaining samples of an ocean bottom to determine the presence of manganese modules in anticipation of sub-sea mining.
  • the bottom sampler of this invention are a pair of clam shell jaws adjacent the bottom of an upright frame, oatation means in the form of hollow glass or plastic spheres retained by the frame, resilient means to close the jaws to obtain a sample of the ocean bottom, and a latch assembly actuated in response to impact of the bottom sampler with the ocean bottom to release the jaws so they close under the influence of the resilient means.
  • the jaws are so arranged so that the weights which cause the sampler to sink to the bottom, are merely supported on each of the jaws and these weights create force moments which assist the resilient means during initial closing of the jaws.
  • the weights fall off the jaws at an intermediate point during closing and hence, the sampler is returned to the surface by the iloatation devices.
  • One of the spheres is transparent and provides a housing for a flash bulb equipped camera to photograph the portion of the ocean bottom from which the sample is taken. The camera is operated in a unique manner.
  • a signicant advantage of the sampler of this invention over the previously known coring type samplers is that this sampler takes a significantly larger sample than these prior known devices.
  • the back of each jaw of the sampler is completely closed and the entire grabbed sample is retained.
  • a mesh sack which allows washing out of the lines, extends 3,572,129 Patented Mar. 23, 1971 ice across the back of each jaw and clean samples of the nodules are recovered at the surface.
  • the bottom sampler includes a structure which sinks in the water in a stable vertical position throughout its travel to the bottom. Such vertical stability is attributable, at least in part, to the location of the ballast weights adjacent the bottom of the sampler and the location of the floatation spheres above the weights.
  • a distinct advantage of the arrangement is that the sampler is actuated to allow the jaws to close wholly by a mechanical system which is completely fool proof. Hence, even if a malfunction occurs the sarnpler will return to the surface where it can be recovered. Even where the sampler encounters a rough or uneven bottom with substantial slant, at least a small sample is taken and the sampler returns to the surface where it can be recovered.
  • a known disadvantage of the coring type samplers is loss of the sampler where the coring device is driven into the bottom at an angle. Since the sampler of this invention does not rely on a coring tube or other similar device to take the sample its reliability is far better than the prior known devices.
  • the signal and flare device which forms a portion of this invention, includes a unique mechanical blocking mechanism to prevent its actuation until the bottom sampler returns to the surface.
  • FIG. l is a pictorial view of the sampler of this invention.
  • FIG. 2 is a partial enlarged side elevational view, with portions in section, of the jaw release mechanism
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;
  • FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view, with portions thereof cut away, of the upper portion of the bottom sampler of this invention, and shows the mode of mounting a camera in the transparent sphere, and the fluid lens of the sphere;
  • FIG. 5 is a side elevational view showing a second type of jaw of the sampler, and showing the position of the various parts of the sampler immediately after the jaws are released;
  • vFlG. 6 is a view corresponding to FIG. 5 but showing the jaws closed
  • FIG. 7 is a side elevational view of the are and smoke signal device of the bottom sampler
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along lines 8--8 of FIG. 7;
  • FIGS. 9-11 are side elevational views of the signal device, with FIG. 9 showing forces acting on the device during descent of the sampler, FIG. 10 showing forces acting on the device during ascent of the sampler, and FIG. 1l showing the signal device actuated; and
  • FIG. 12 is a wiring diagram of the camera shutter operating circuit of the bottom sampler.
  • FIG. l there is shown a sampler I1 constructed in accordance with this invention having a frame 2 including a base 3 and an upright portion or cage 4. Pivotally connected to base 3 are jaws 5 and 6 which are movable from the open position of FIG. 1 to the closed position of FIG. 6.
  • Jaws 5 and 6 are normally urged to the closed position by a plurality of resilient elements 7 which are advantageously formed from surgical tubing (of the type used in underwater spear guns) because of its high strength and elasticity.
  • law actuating mechanism S interconnects the jaws when in the open position of FIG. 1 and maintains the jaws open until the bottom sampler hits the bottom of the body of water from which the sample is to be taken, whereupon the jaws are released, and close in a manner which will subsequently be described in detail.
  • hollow spherical buoyant elements 9-11 Disposed within upright portion 4 are hollow spherical buoyant elements 9-11.
  • Weights 12 and 13 are supported, respectively, on jaws and 6 and cause the bottom sampler to sink to the bottom of the body of water in which it is dropped. The weights fall off when the jaws close to take a sample of the bottom, and the sampler is buoyed upwardly by spheres 9-11 and returns to the surface.
  • a combined flare and smoke producing device 14 connected to the top of upright portion 4 of the frame is actuated when the sampler surfaces and provides a signal to assist locating the sampler.
  • Base 3 is generally rectangular and includes horizontally elongated, upright rectangular side plates 15 and i16 in spaced apart parallel relation to each other and connected together by tubular cross members 17-19 which extend perpendicularly between the side plates.
  • Tubular member 17 is welded at its ends to side plates 15 and 16 at a location adjacent the top edge of the side plates but centrally along their length.
  • Tube 18 is welded to the side plates so it extends slightly below the bottom edge of the plates and is located adjacent one end of the plates.
  • Tube 19 is similarly welded to the side plates adjacent the opposite end of the base.
  • the tubular cross members 17-19 are each parallel with each other, and cross members y18 and 19 are disposed in the same horizontal plane.
  • Tubular members 18 and 19 cooperate with side plates 15 and 16 to provide a base 3 of generally rectangular configuration as viewed in plan.
  • tubular connectors 2() and 21 Welded to tubular cross member 18 and curving inwardly and then upwardly from the tubular member are a pair of tubular connectors 2() and 21 which extend approximately one fourth the height of upright portion 4 of the frame.
  • Connectors 20 and 21 are fixed to tubular cross member 18 by welding and are in spaced apart parallel relation to each other.
  • a second pair of tubular connectors 22 and 23 curve, rst inwardly and then upwardly, in the same manner as connectors 20 and 21 and are welded to tubular cross member 19 so they extend upwardly in spaced parallel relation to connectors 20 and 21.
  • the arrangement is such that the upper ends of the connectors form a rectangular array.
  • Upright portion 4 of the frame includes elongated upright tubes 24-27, the lower ends of which extend respectively into the upper ends of tubular connectors 20-23 and are secured against longitudinal movement by lock pins or screws 28.
  • IEach screw 28 extends through the wall of a tubular connector and through the wall of an upright tube to key the tubes to the connector.
  • each retaining stud 32-34 are fixed to clamp ring and project radially outwardly from the ring in equally spaced circumferential relation to each other.
  • Each retaining stud has an enlarged head 35 by which a clamp assembly 36 is connected to clamp ring 30.
  • Clamp assembly 36 has three equally spaced arms 37- 39 having upper ends secured to a threaded boss 40 ⁇ positioned above the vertical axis of sphere 9.
  • Each arm generally follows the curvature of sphere 9, has openings 41- 43 serially located adjacent the ends of the arms, the several openings of the respective arms each being spaced the same distance from the ends of the arms. Openings 41-43 are each slightly larger than the heads 35 of studs 34.
  • Suction cup 46 acts as a cushion between the sphere and clamp bolt 44 and prevents slipping.
  • Sphere 9 is comprised of two identical hemispherical shells, including an upper hemisphere 48 and a lower hemisphere 48, which are tightly held together by clamp assembly 36 and clamp ring 30. As shown at FIG. 4, the hemispherical shells abut along a horizontal joint 49. The surfaces of the halves at the joint are smoothly polished. A seal is provided between the abutting surfaces and may take the form of a thin metal or plastic gasket or silicone grease. Clamp ring 30 has an inside diameter slightly less than the diameter of sphere 9 so that lower hemisphere 48 seats in the clamp ring.
  • Hemispheres 47 and 48 are advantageously formed from relatively thick glass or transparent plastic such as Plexiglas or Lucite which have good compressive strength.
  • Mounted in the bottom of hemisphere 47 is a flat transparent plate 50 of circular outline which is cemented to the inside of the hemisphere.
  • a reinforcing strut 51 with a flat top edge and a curved lower edge conforming to the curvature of the inside 0f hemisphere 47 extends across the center of plate 50 between the plate and the hemisphere to brace the plate against bending.
  • Mounted on plate 50 is a bracket including clamps 52 and 53 which engage the opposite ends of and hold a camera 54 securely to the plate.
  • Plate 50 is so mounted in hemisphere 47 that the plate extends at an angle of 30 to horizontal when the sampler is in its normal upright position.
  • Lens 55 of camera 54 is a parallel with plate 50 and thus, the axis of the lens extends at a angle with horizontal. It will be observed with reference to FIG.
  • Camera 54 advantageously has a selfcontained flashbulb unit 56 synchronized with the shutter of the camera to illuminate the portion of the bottom which is photographed.
  • the space between plate 50 and the inside surface of hemisphere 47 is filled with a transparent fluid 53 to provide a fluid lens 54'.
  • the fluid lens provides a unique way to eliminate the distorting effect of imperfections in the inner surface of the hemisphere and also avoids distortion of a picture taken by the camera due to the curvature of the hemisphere.
  • the refractive index of fluid 53 is so chosen as to eliminate, so far as is pOssible, the adverse effects of differences between the refractive index of the hemisphere material and the refractive index of sea water. It has been found that water works quite well as fluid 53 and matches the refractive indices mentioned above sufficiently well that no extensive distortion of a photograph taken at the bottom occurs.
  • the iiuid lens 54 has two significant functions, first, it eliminates the effect of imperfections of the inner surface of the hemisphere on light travelling from the inside to the outside of the hemisphere, and second, it eliminates considerably distortions due ⁇ to the curvature lof the hernisphere.
  • a ring 55 of a diameter essentially the same as the diameter of plate 50 is cemented to the outside of hemisphere 47 with its axis aligned with the center of plate 50.
  • Fitted into ring 55 is an outer plate 57 which is spaced slightly from the outside surface of hemisphere 47.
  • Strut l is advantageously painted completely black.
  • the absorptive effect of a black color on light substantially eliminates reverberation of light through the fluid 53 from flash unit 56 to the lens of camera 54, when the flash unit is fired.
  • the shutter of camera 54 is actuated in a unique manner.
  • a solenoid 57 is connected in series circuit relation with a switch 58 and a battery 59, all contained within sphere 9.
  • Solenoid 57 has a plunger 60 connected to the shutter of the camera to operate the shutter when solenoid 57 is energized.
  • Switch 58 is a magnetically actuable glass enclosed reed switch, of the normally open type, having a movable magnetic contact 61 and a stationary contact 62.
  • Switch 58 is mounted on the inside surface of hemisphere 57.
  • Engaging hemisphere 47 on the outside immediately opposite switch 58 is an actuator tube ⁇ 63 formed of nonmagnetic material such as stainless steel, which is readily weldable and has an open top end and a bottom end with a small, centrally located opening therein.
  • Located within tube 63 is a cylindrical magnet 64 and a spring 65 disposed between the magnet and the lower end of tube 63.
  • a string 66 is connected to the bottom of the magnet and extends through the opening in the bottom of the tube. String 66 is maintained taut (before the jaws are released) to hold magnet 64 in a lowered position within tube 63, and spring 65 is under compression. Since magnet 64, in this position, is substantially below switch 58, the switch contacts remain open.
  • .law 5 is fabricated from a pair of parallel side plates 67 and 68 spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the distance between the outside surfaces of side plates and 16 of base 3.
  • Side plates 67 and 68 are each formed from heavy gauge sheet metal and have rear edges 69 and 70 respectively, which form the rear face of jaw 5.
  • Side plates 67 and 68 also have front edges 71 CII which form a front face of jaw 5, the front edges being sharpened along a substantial portion of their length to form a knife edge 72 which assists cutting or slicing a sample when the jaws close.
  • Side plates 67 and 68 each have a first side edge 73 which extends at an acute angle to front edge '71 and merges with both the front edge and the rear edge of the respective plates at smoothly rounded corners 74 and 75.
  • a side edge 76 which extends generally perpendicularly to front edge 71.
  • Adjacent corners 75 of side plates 67 and 68 is a tubular cross-member 77 which is welded to the inwardly facing surfaces of the side plates.
  • Bolts 7S and 79 which pass through openings in the side plates adjacent corners 74, 75 pivotally mount jaw 5 on the base.
  • a toothed cutter Sti extends between side plates 67 and 68; is secured to the side plates and lies against side edge 76, cutter blade S0 is so mounted on the side plates that it is tangent to a circle about the pivotal axis of the jaw.
  • Rear edges 69 and 70 of side plates ⁇ 67 and 68 each slope rst downwardly toward front edges 71 of the plates and then curve arcuately upwardly before merging with side edge 76 to form upwardly facing arcuate cradles 82 and 83 in the respective side plates.
  • weight l2 has a cylindrical body 84 with enlarged cylindrical ends S5 and 86.
  • Body 84 is slightly longer than the distance between plates 67 and 68 and thus, the inwardly facing transverse surfaces 87 of ends 85 and 86 extend beside the outer surfaces of side plates 6'/ and 68.
  • jaw 6 is identical to jaw 5 and in the position shown at FIG. 1, jaw 6 is merely jaw 5 rotated 180 in a horizontal plane.
  • jaw 6 includes spaced apart side plates 87 and 88, a cross-member 89 extending between secured side plates, and a sample slicing or cutting blade 90 secured to and extending between the side plates.
  • the side plates 87 and 83 have front edges 91 with sharpened knife edges 92, and rear edges 93 each having a weight receiving cradle 94 which faces upwardly when the jaws are in the open position of FIG. 1.
  • Jaw 6 is pivotally mounted on base 3 with bolts 94.
  • Weight 13 is identical to weight 12 and has a body 95 with enlarged ends 96 and 97. Ends 96 and 97 extend on each side of side plates 87 and 88 in the same manner as described for weight 12, when weight 13 is placed in cradles 94.
  • jaws 5 and 6 have both an open front and an open back.
  • the open back of jaw 6 is closed by a sample retaining sack or bag 98 which extends across the side plates and is secured to them at the rear edges 93.
  • Sack 98 also extends to and is secured to rear edge 99 of cutter blade 90.
  • a series of spaced apart openings formed adjacent the rear edges of the side plates and cutter blade 90 provide for sewing or tying the sack to the jaw with cord by threading the cord through the openings.
  • Sack 93 is formed from a flexible imperforate web or can also be net or other mesh material sewn and dimensioned to bulge outwardly when the jaws are closed, as shown at FIG. 6.
  • sack 98 is formed from a flexible non-elastic material such as canvas or line mesh fish net.
  • An identical sack 161 extends across the rear face of jaw 5 and is similarly secured to the jaw.
  • FIGS. 5 and 6 show jaws 5 and 6 in modified form as well as base 3' in modified form.
  • side plates 15 have bottom edges -17 and 18 which slope downwardly to meet at an apex 19'.
  • Jaw 5' while essentially the same as jaw 5, shown at FIG. 1, has a side plate 67' with a front edge 71 comprised of edges 72' and 73 which slope toward each other and meet at a point 74'.
  • edge '72 extends to the front edge of cutter blade ⁇ 80, edge 72' being sharpened to facilitate slicing a sample when the jaws are closed.
  • J aw 6 is identical to jaw 5 and includes a modified side plate S7 with a bottom edge 8S comprised of edges 89' and 90 which extend at an angle to each other and meet at a point 91. Edge 90 extends to the front edge of cutter blade 90. Except for these modications of jaws 6', and base 15', the sampler of FIGS. 5 and 6 is identical to that of FIG. l.
  • each band has an end 106 which is looped over cross tube tube 77 and extends downwardly under cross tube 1S, a second end 107 which is looped over cross tube 89 and extends downwardly across tube 19 and legs 108 and 109, which extend respectively between cross tubes 18 and 19, with leg 109 extending over cross tube 17.
  • Iaws 5 and 6 are held in the open position against the biasing action of resilient element 7 by jaw actuating mechanism 8 located vertically above the horizontal center of these three.
  • the jaw actuating mechanism includes a horizontal connector 111 (FIG. 2) to which arms 112 and 113 are connected adjacent their upper ends for pivotal movement about horizontal axis by pins 114 and 115.
  • connector 111 is H-shaped as viewed in plan and arms 112 and 113 extend into the vertical slots of the connector.
  • Arm 112 has a notch 116 adjacent its upper end, the notch being defined in part by an inwardly extending cable retaining nger 117.
  • arm 113 has a downwardly facing notch 11S which is dened in part by an inwardly extending cable retaining finger 119.
  • Arm 112 has an elongated downwardly extending tapered leg 120 and arm 113 has an elongated downwardly extending tapered leg 121.
  • the lower ends of legs 120 and 121 extend into an upwardly facing recess 122 of a retaining cup 123.
  • An elongated rod 124 is xed to the center of the cup and extends upwardly through an opening centrally located in connector 111, the rod having its upper end threaded to permit threading the rod into a nut 125 imbedded in the bottom of a suction cup 126.
  • suction cup 126 is adhered to the bottom of sphere 11 with its center along the vertical axis of the sphere.
  • a retaining cable 127 Fixed to the center of cross-tube 77 of jaw 5 is a retaining cable 127 having a loop 128 at its inner end.
  • a cable 129 is xed to the center of cross-tube 89 of jaw 6 and also has a loop 130 at its inner end. Cables 127 and 129 hold jaws 5 and 6 in the open position with loop 128 extending into notch 116 and loop 130 extending into notch 118.
  • the inwardly extending portions of fingers 117 and 119 prevent the cables from slipping downwardly off the ingers, so long as arms 120 and 121 are held by cup 123.
  • the resilient elements 7 which normally tend to close jaws 5 and 6, maintain cables 127 and 129 taut and in position in the notches. It will be noted, with reference to FIG.
  • sphere is connected to sphere 11 by a double ended suction cup which lies along the vertical axes of the spheres.
  • Spheres 10 and 11 are each formed from glass or plastic and are hollow but have considerable mass.
  • the sampler descends quite rapidly through the water because of ballast weights 12 and 13 and when base 3 of the sampler strikes the bottom, spheres 10 and 11 momentarily continue to move downwardly because of their inertia, as shown at FIG. 5.
  • Retaining cup 123 is thus pushed downwardly relative to the arms (downward movement of the arms being prevented by the cables) so the legs are released and arms are free to pivot outwardly thereby releasing the cables and allowing jaws 5 and 6 to close.
  • flare and signal assembly 14 is secured to the upper end of upright tube 24.
  • the upper end of tlare assembly 14 extends above the upper end of sphere 9.
  • the lower end of flare assembly 14 has a diameter slightly less than the inside diameter of the tube 24 and has self cutting threads 141 to permit threading the llare assembly into the tube.
  • End 140 merges with a cylindrical body 142 at a shoulder 143 which acts as a stop to limit the amount the flare can be threaded into tube 24.
  • Body 142 is cylindrical and has a reduced diameter portion 144 that merges with body 142 at transverse upwardly facing shoulder 145 which provides a seat for the lower end of a closure sleeve 146.
  • Projecting from the upper end of portion 144 is an integral tube 147 which is internally threaded to receive the threaded tip of a primer assembly 148 of a are and smoke cartridge 149.
  • sleeve 146 The upper end of sleeve 146 is closed by a bushing 150 having a plug portion 151 that extends into the sleeve. A transverse shoulder 152 of the bushing abuts the end of the sleeve.
  • the bushing is permanently and hermetically fixed to the sleeve by an epoxy cement 152 solidied in opposed annular grooves around the bushing and the upper end of the sleeve, as shown at FIG. 8.
  • Bushing has a central opening 153 that is closed by a plug 154 which is friction t in the opening.
  • a retaining string or wire 154 is connected between plug 154 and bushing 150 to retain the plug against loss when the are is fired.
  • Suitable O-ring seals are provided between the head of plug 154 and the top face of bushing 150 as well as around the stem of plug 154 to prevent leakage of water through bore 153.
  • a suitable O-ring is also provided between body 142 and the lower end 0f sleeve 146 to prevent leakage of water into the flare assembly at the joint between the body 142 and the sleeve.
  • Body 142 has a bore 155 which terminates a short distance from the bottom of lower end 140.
  • a tiring pin 156 is slideable in bore 155 and a helically wound spring 157 extends between the bottom of tiring pin 156 and the lower end of bore 155.
  • Firing pin 156 has an upwardly facing tapered shoulder 158 and a rounded tip 159 projecting upwardly up from the shoulder.
  • a transverse bore 160 is formed in body 142 and has its axis tangent to the circumferential surface of bore 155.
  • a shear pin 161 extends into and is journalled for rotation in bore 160.
  • Shear pin -161 has a ilat 162 formed therein, as by milling, the ilat being aligned with a surface of bore 155.
  • Opposite flat 162 is a rounded portion 163 of the shear pin which, in the position shown, extends radially into bore 155 and engages shoulder 158 of firing pin 156 to maintain the pin in a depressed or loaded position in which spring 157 is compressed.
  • lShear pin 161 has an enlarged head 164 by which the shear pin is connected to an operating assembly 165.
  • Operating assembly 165 includes a straight arm 166 to which head ⁇ 164 is connected intermediate the ends of the arm. Fixed to the lower end of arm 166 is a flexible vane 167 which extends upwardly and curves outwardly away from the arm. A loat 168 is secured to the upper end of arm 166 and extends beside sleeve 146 when operating assembly 165 is in the position of FIGS. 7-10 in which the tiring pin is cocked. It will be noted that arm 166 is connected to float 168 at a position olf-set to one side of the center of the oat.
  • a vane 169 Connected to and extending downwardly from the opposite side of iloat 168 is a vane 169, vane 169 curving outwardly.
  • a stop pin 170 is secured to float 1168 and prevents counter-clockwise movement of operating assembly 165 (as shown at FIG. 9) relative to flare 14 by engagement of the pin with sleeve 146 of the flare.
  • Cartridge 149 includes an elongated cylinder of smokeproducing compound 171 which extends upwardly within sleeve 146 from primer 148 to bushing 1-50.
  • Smokeproducing compound 171 has a central opening the upper end of which is closed by a are cartridge 172.
  • tiring pin 156 strikes primer 173 at the base of primer tube 1148 and ignites the Primer, which in turn ignites smoke producing compound 171 and ilare cartridge 172.
  • -Operating assembly 165 prevents rotation of shear pin 161 to the position in which tiring pin 156 is released, until the sampler has surfaced.
  • the water through which the sampler passes exerts a force, as shown by arrows 174, on the underside of vane 169 thereby bowing the vane outwardly and exerting a counter-clockwise moment of force on operating assembly 165.
  • This counter-clockwise moment of force merely urges pin 170 against the side of sleeve 146 and thus, oat 168 remains upright and the operating assembly does not rotate.
  • vane 167 During descent, vane 167 is pressed inwardly toward arm -166 by the water through which the sampler passes and thus, vane 167 creates only a minimal clockwise moment of force on operating assembly 165. Thus, operating assembly 165 prevents firing flare 14 while the sampler is descending.
  • a shallow water seal arrangement is provided between bore 160 and shear pin 161.
  • This seal arrangement includes an annular groove 173 in which an O-ring 174 is seated. At shallow depths, O-ring 173' prevents leakage of water between shear pin 161 and bore 160.
  • a high pressure seal arrangement is also provided.
  • a seal ring i175 is disposed between the inside surface of head 164 of shear pin 161 and the outer surface of body 142 of the lower end of the ilare.
  • shear pin 161 is slightly shorter than bore 161D so that the shear pin can move axially in the bore. Since the area within seal ring 175 is substantially less than the area of head 164 exposed to Water pressure, the pressure of the water exerts a substantial force tending to push shear pin 161 further into bore 160, when the sampler reaches a substantial depth in the water.
  • seal 175 is forced tightly against the surface of body 142 to provide a high pressure seal and there is suiicient friction between seal i175 and body 142 to prevent rotation of the shear pin 161 or operating assembly 165 after the sampler reaches a substantial depth.
  • Flare assembly 14 in some instances, is quite desirable as Iwhere a number of samplers are dropped in the same area and where ocean currents do not cause considerable drift of the samplers,
  • a radio homing device can also be used to advantage.
  • Such a homing device may take the form of a small transmitter located within sphere 9, the transmitter being arranged to either provide a signal from the time the sampler is dropped, or to be set into operation when camera 54 is triggered or as magnet 64 reaches a position opposite switch 58'.
  • direction finding equipment is provided on the mother ship from which the sampler is dropped, and since several ships are frequently used to obtain representative samples of a certain area of the ocean lloor, a second direction finder on another ship facilitates locating the surfaced sampler.
  • the homing device of course can take the form of a radio transmitter in a sealed package mounted on the frame of the sampler.
  • a flashing light may be located either inside sphere 9 and arranged to operate in the same manner described for the radio homing device, or can be located in a pressure type case and mounted on one of legs 24-27.
  • a retrieving line is advantageously provided between the ends of legs 25 and 27, as shown at FIG. l. This retrieving line facilitates catching the sampler with a boat hook.
  • jaws 5 and 6 are moved to the open position of FIG. l using a suitable jaw-loading tool to open the jaws against the bias of resilient element '7, and the jaws are latched in position by connecting cables 127 and 129 to jaw actuating mechanism 8. Since the weight of spheres 10 and 11 tends to normally release jaw actuating mechanism 8 when the sampler is out of the water, the jaw actuating mechanism is temporarily locked in the latched position of FIG. 2 with rubber bands that extend under cup 123, and are cut after the sampler is lowered into the water but before it is released.
  • Weights 112 and 13 ⁇ are placed in the cradles of the respective jaws and sampler 1 is then ready to be used.
  • the sampler In use the sampler is merely lowered into the water at the desired location where a sample of the bottom is to be taken, in the upright position of FIG. l, and is then released. With weights 12 and 13 in position, the sampler has a negative buoyancy sufficient to cause the sampler to sink at a rate of l0() ft./min. to 300 ft./min., depending of course on the density of the water in which the sarnpler is dropped, and the mass of the weights. As soon as spheres 10 and 11 are in the water, an upward pull is exerted 0n rod 124 and cup 123 remains engaged with the arms 112 and 113 of the operating assembly. Thus, the jaws are held in the open position after the rubber bands are cut and throughout descent of the sampler.
  • the instant sampler 1 hits bottom ⁇ 177 of the body of water in which the sampler is dropped,
  • string 66 is connected to cross member S9 of jaw 6.
  • the string is made taut so magnet 64 is pulled to the position of FIG. 4 wherein the magnet is below reed switch 58 and spring 65 is compressed.
  • the string is preferably made of a thin thread which readily breaks as jaws 5 and 6 close. As soon as the string 66 breaks, the magnet is free to move upwardly under the iniiuence of spring 65.
  • front edges 71 and 91 of the respective jaws extend at an acute angle to the surface of bottom 177 upon initial impact of the sampler with the bottom.
  • the resilient elements initiate closing of the jaws, and weights 12 and 13 exert downwardly acting forces which assist the initial closing of the jaws into bottom 177.
  • sacks 98 and 101 begin to till and are forced outwardly beyond the rear faces of the jaws thereby unseating weights 12 and 13 which merely roll out of the cradles in the respective jaws.
  • the buo-yant force of spheres 9-11 tends to lift the sampler.
  • the points 74' and 91 of the jaws 5' and 6 sink slightly into bottom 177 as does point 19 of base plate 1S.
  • the sloping edges 87 and 91 of jaw 6 and the sloping edges 72' and 73 of jaw 5 cooperate with the sloping edges 17 and 19 of the base to provide an inherently stable base which virtually eliminates any possibility of tipping of the sampler even where bottom 177 slopes substantially.
  • a free-fall sampler to obtain a sampler of the bottom of a body of water comprising:
  • first and second jaws mounted on said frame for movement between an open position, and a closed position in which said jaws oppose each other and present a sample retaining cavity; jaw moving means carried by said frame to move said jaws from said open position to Said closed position; means to operate said jaw moving means to close Said jaws when said sampler is on the bottom of the body of water; ballast means releasably supported by said frame; means to release said ballast means in response to movement of said jaws toward said closed position; and
  • buoyant means on said frame to return the sampler to the surface of the body of water after the ballast means are released.
  • resilient energy storing means carried by said frame to move said jaws from said open position to said closed position.
  • said means to operate said jaw moving means comprises:
  • said jaws are mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about horizontal axes;
  • said retaining means comprises:
  • said operating means includes:
  • force transmitting means associated with said connector and operable to release same in response to landing of said sampler on the bottom of the body of water.
  • said resilient means comprises:
  • a bottom sampler according to claim 1 which further includes:
  • a free fall sampler to obtain a sample of the bottom of a body of water comprising:
  • a jaw moving means carried by said frame to move said jaws from said open position to said closed position
  • ballast means releasably supported by said frame and released in response to movement of said jaws toward said closed position
  • buoyant means on said frame to return the sampler to the surface of lthe body of water after the ballast means are released;
  • said jaws are mounted on said frame for pivotal movement about horizontal axes;
  • ballast means are supported on said jaws, in said open position of the jaws, outwardly of said horizontal axes to exert a moment of force assisting said jaw moving means to move said jaws to said closed position.
  • said buoyant means includes:
  • support means supporting said camera in said buoyant element in a position to photograph the bottom of the body of water when the sampler is landed on the bottom.
  • a free fall sampler to obtain a sample of the bottom of a body of water comprising:
  • jaw moving means carried by said frame to move said jaws from said open position to said closed position
  • ballast means releasably supported by said frame and released ⁇ in response to movement of said jaws toward said closed position
  • buoyant means on said frame to return the sampler to the surface of the body of water after the ballast means are released;
  • said first and second jaws each comprise:
  • irst and second spaced apart side members delining a jaw with an open front and an open back, a cutting element extending between and connected to said side members, and a flexible sample retaining web extending across said open back of said side members.
  • said flexible sample retaining web of said first and second jaws is a fine mesh net.
  • said side members of said irst jaw have aligned recesses adjacent the back of the jaw and the recesses face upwardly when the jaws are in said open position; said side members of said second jaw have aligned recesses adjacent the back of the jaw and the recesses face upwardly, when the jaws are in said open position; said ballast means comprises:
  • a recoverable 4free-fall sampler to obtain a sample of the bottomv of a body of water comprising:
  • a frame comprising:
  • each of said jaws including:
  • said means mounting said jaws on said base for pivotal movement comprises:
  • said upright portion of said frame comprises:
  • buoyant means includes:
  • one of said spheres comprises:
  • said buoyant means includes: a plurality of buoyant elements; at least one of said plurality of buoyant elements having substantial mass and being movable vertically along the upright porfion of said frame; said at least one of said buoyant elements being operaatively connected to said actuating means to operate same upon impact of said sampler with the bottom of a body of water.
  • said buoyant means includes: a plurality of buoyant elements; at least one of said plurality of buoyant elements having substantial mass and being movable vertically along the upright porfion of said frame; said at least one of said buoyant elements being operaatively connected to said actuating means to operate same upon impact of said sampler with the bottom of a body of water.
  • a sampler according to claim 13 which further includes:
  • a signal device mounted on said frame to indicate surfacing of the sampler after a sample taking operation
  • said signal device is a flare assembly and includes:
  • an ignitable are projectile, and an ignitable smoke producing substance; and said means to operate said signal device includes:

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  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
  • Geology (AREA)
  • General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
  • Soil Sciences (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
  • Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
  • Sampling And Sample Adjustment (AREA)
  • Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)
US711792A 1968-03-08 1968-03-08 Free-fall bottom sampler Expired - Lifetime US3572129A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US71179268A 1968-03-08 1968-03-08

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US3572129A true US3572129A (en) 1971-03-23

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US711792A Expired - Lifetime US3572129A (en) 1968-03-08 1968-03-08 Free-fall bottom sampler

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US (1) US3572129A (fr)
JP (1) JPS4931161B1 (fr)
DE (1) DE1911782C3 (fr)
FR (1) FR2003511A1 (fr)
GB (1) GB1262522A (fr)

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3885440A (en) * 1972-07-19 1975-05-27 Nickel Le Free-grab device for collecting underwater samples
US3949497A (en) * 1974-08-23 1976-04-13 Trippensee Corporation Releasable latching apparatus for a benthic grab
US4019380A (en) * 1976-03-08 1977-04-26 Benthos, Inc. Underwater sampler
US4116069A (en) * 1976-07-16 1978-09-26 Georgy Mikhailovich Lezgintsev Device for taking bottom soil samples from deep water basins
US4127950A (en) * 1977-06-02 1978-12-05 Brown & Root, Inc. Bottom jetting device
US4150503A (en) * 1972-08-22 1979-04-24 Pierre Lespinasse Apparatus for excavation and earth removal from aquatic bottoms
US4196531A (en) * 1977-02-25 1980-04-08 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Independent unit for the collection and upward transfer of nodules which rest on an underwater bed
US4480569A (en) * 1983-01-12 1984-11-06 Veen Abraham V D Container for ground material removed by a ground working device from the bottom of a watercourse
US4557697A (en) * 1982-07-22 1985-12-10 Institut Okeanologii Imeni P.P. Shirshova Method of delivering to ocean bottom and raising to surface of station for deep water researches and design of station delivered using said method
US4924698A (en) * 1989-01-27 1990-05-15 Echert Douglas C Method and apparatus for remote monitoring of oceanographic conditions
US7832125B1 (en) * 2008-12-30 2010-11-16 Palmby Chris D Plant transplanting apparatus
CN104355230A (zh) * 2014-11-12 2015-02-18 中国海洋石油总公司 一种吊装物穿越飞溅区的缓冲装置
RU2545233C1 (ru) * 2014-02-13 2015-03-27 Федеральное Государственное Автономное Образовательное Учреждение Высшего Профессионального Образования "Сибирский Федеральный Университет" Автономное устройство для подъема полезных ископаемых со дна акватории
RU2549656C1 (ru) * 2014-02-27 2015-04-27 Федеральное Государственное Автономное Образовательное Учреждение Высшего Профессионального Образования "Сибирский Федеральный Университет" Автономное устройство для подъема полезных ископаемых со дна акватории
US20170096207A1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2017-04-06 Vladyslav Stanislavovych Kvyatkovskyy Underwater transport module
RU2626490C1 (ru) * 2016-05-30 2017-07-28 Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Сибирский федеральный университет" Автономное устройство для подъема полезных ископаемых со дна акватории
RU2651660C1 (ru) * 2017-05-30 2018-04-23 Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Сибирский федеральный университет" Устройство автономной добычи твердых полезных ископаемых со дна континентального шельфа
US10012568B1 (en) * 2015-07-31 2018-07-03 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Biblade sampler
CN112857905A (zh) * 2021-02-26 2021-05-28 深圳市优昌宝贸易有限公司 一种野外水质取样装置
CN115901361A (zh) * 2023-03-09 2023-04-04 山东环保产业研究院有限公司 一种生态环境检测装置

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CA1075491A (fr) * 1975-07-11 1980-04-15 Stanislav J. Istoshin Echantillonneur de boues deposees au fond de bassins profonds
JPS58195191U (ja) * 1982-06-22 1983-12-26 山清電気株式会社 伸びる水道凍結防止帯
FR2930984A1 (fr) * 1994-03-15 2009-11-13 Poudres Et Explosifs Snpe Sa S Procede et munitions de contre-mesure par ecran a vision unidirectionnelle
CN111426505A (zh) * 2020-06-01 2020-07-17 江西中烟工业有限责任公司 一种用于烟草制丝线储丝柜的烟丝取样器
CN113588321B (zh) * 2021-07-21 2024-07-16 南京睿通芯安企业管理咨询有限公司 一种具有扶正机构的海底石油钻探用地下土壤取样装置

Cited By (22)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3885440A (en) * 1972-07-19 1975-05-27 Nickel Le Free-grab device for collecting underwater samples
US4150503A (en) * 1972-08-22 1979-04-24 Pierre Lespinasse Apparatus for excavation and earth removal from aquatic bottoms
US3949497A (en) * 1974-08-23 1976-04-13 Trippensee Corporation Releasable latching apparatus for a benthic grab
US4019380A (en) * 1976-03-08 1977-04-26 Benthos, Inc. Underwater sampler
US4116069A (en) * 1976-07-16 1978-09-26 Georgy Mikhailovich Lezgintsev Device for taking bottom soil samples from deep water basins
US4196531A (en) * 1977-02-25 1980-04-08 Commissariat A L'energie Atomique Independent unit for the collection and upward transfer of nodules which rest on an underwater bed
US4127950A (en) * 1977-06-02 1978-12-05 Brown & Root, Inc. Bottom jetting device
US4557697A (en) * 1982-07-22 1985-12-10 Institut Okeanologii Imeni P.P. Shirshova Method of delivering to ocean bottom and raising to surface of station for deep water researches and design of station delivered using said method
US4480569A (en) * 1983-01-12 1984-11-06 Veen Abraham V D Container for ground material removed by a ground working device from the bottom of a watercourse
US4924698A (en) * 1989-01-27 1990-05-15 Echert Douglas C Method and apparatus for remote monitoring of oceanographic conditions
US7832125B1 (en) * 2008-12-30 2010-11-16 Palmby Chris D Plant transplanting apparatus
RU2545233C1 (ru) * 2014-02-13 2015-03-27 Федеральное Государственное Автономное Образовательное Учреждение Высшего Профессионального Образования "Сибирский Федеральный Университет" Автономное устройство для подъема полезных ископаемых со дна акватории
RU2549656C1 (ru) * 2014-02-27 2015-04-27 Федеральное Государственное Автономное Образовательное Учреждение Высшего Профессионального Образования "Сибирский Федеральный Университет" Автономное устройство для подъема полезных ископаемых со дна акватории
US20170096207A1 (en) * 2014-03-31 2017-04-06 Vladyslav Stanislavovych Kvyatkovskyy Underwater transport module
US9650118B2 (en) * 2014-03-31 2017-05-16 Vladyslav Stanislavovych Kvyatkovskyy Underwater transport module
CN104355230A (zh) * 2014-11-12 2015-02-18 中国海洋石油总公司 一种吊装物穿越飞溅区的缓冲装置
US10012568B1 (en) * 2015-07-31 2018-07-03 The United States Of America As Represented By The Administrator Of The National Aeronautics And Space Administration Biblade sampler
RU2626490C1 (ru) * 2016-05-30 2017-07-28 Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Сибирский федеральный университет" Автономное устройство для подъема полезных ископаемых со дна акватории
RU2651660C1 (ru) * 2017-05-30 2018-04-23 Федеральное государственное автономное образовательное учреждение высшего образования "Сибирский федеральный университет" Устройство автономной добычи твердых полезных ископаемых со дна континентального шельфа
CN112857905A (zh) * 2021-02-26 2021-05-28 深圳市优昌宝贸易有限公司 一种野外水质取样装置
CN112857905B (zh) * 2021-02-26 2023-03-10 贵州亮钜源环保科技有限公司 一种野外水质取样装置
CN115901361A (zh) * 2023-03-09 2023-04-04 山东环保产业研究院有限公司 一种生态环境检测装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB1262522A (en) 1972-02-02
DE1911782B2 (fr) 1973-10-31
DE1911782A1 (de) 1969-10-09
FR2003511A1 (fr) 1969-11-07
DE1911782C3 (de) 1980-12-18
JPS4931161B1 (fr) 1974-08-20

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