Abstract: A device for longitudinally cutting tubing is comprised of a block presenting an engaging surface for receiving tubing, blades and protective guards both coupled to the block and both extending beyond the engaging surface, and a handle coupled to the block. When cutting tubing, the device receives the tubing so that each of the blades cuts at an angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the tangent line of the tubing at the point where each contacts the tubing. This device may be used in a method for cutting tubing comprised of securing a section of tubing, receiving the tubing with the engaging surface of the device, contacting an end of the tubing with at least one blade wherein the blade is positioned at an angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the tangent line of the tubing at the point where the blade contacts the tubing, and cutting the tubing by pulling the block longitudinally along the tubing.

Abstract: A permeable membrane sensor probe has a housing with a gas permeable membrane. The membrane has an outer surface and an inner surface. The membrane outer surface is disposed adjacent an outer soil engaging surface of the housing. The membrane is adapted to allow the gas phase of at least one particular chemical compound found in the soil to permeate through the membrane from the membrane outer surface to the membrane inner surface while substantially preventing the transfer of liquids and solids found in the soil through the membrane. A gas detecting arrangement is disposed adjacent the membrane inner surface and inside of the housing. This detection system detects the presence of a particular compound at different soil levels.

Abstract: A ground water sampling device includes an elongated cylindrical integral hollow housing with an inner surface defining an inner bore. The housing has an opening on its lower end and the upper end of the housing is adapted to be attached to a probe rod string. The bore has a primary diameter section and a reduced diameter section. The reduced diameter section is formed adjacent the lower end of the housing. The inner surface of the housing has a shoulder positioned at a location where the primary diameter section transitions to the reduced diameter section. An elongated hollow screen is telescopically received within the housing and is capable of being placed in a stowed position completely within the housing during driving of the device into the ground and in a deployed position where it extends out of the lower end of the housing to collect ground water.

Abstract: A ground water sampling device includes an elongated cylindrical integral hollow housing with an inner surface defining an inner bore. The housing has an opening on its lower end and the upper end of the housing is adapted to be attached to a probe rod string. The bore has a primary diameter section and a reduced diameter section. The reduced diameter section is formed adjacent the lower end of the housing. The inner surface of the housing has a shoulder positioned at a location where the primary diameter section transitions to the reduced diameter section. An elongated hollow screen is telescopically received within the housing and is capable of being placed in a stowed position completely within the housing during driving of the device into the ground and in a deployed position where it extends out of the lower end of the housing to collect ground water.

Abstract: A soil probe includes an annular cutting shoe for directing soil into the probe. The cutting shoe has a connecting flange with the groove formed on its outer surface. A sample tube is removably attached at its lower end to the cutting shoe and is adopted to be removably attached at its upper end to the end of a probe rod string. The retainer has an inner surface with a lip formed thereon for engaging the groove of the connecting flange. The lip is securely maintained in the groove by the positioning of the retainer between the inner surface of the sample tube and the outer surface of the connecting flange. A liner is positioned inside of the sample tube for receiving a soil sample. The liner and the retainer are connected together so that the retainer limits buckling of the liner during sampling due to the engagement of soil being sampled with the interior surface of the liner.

Abstract: A connector couples a pair of elongated rods in axial alignment for transmitting axial and rotational forces along a longitudinal axis of the rods through the connection. The connector includes interfitting male and female sections projecting in longitudinal extension from their corresponding respective rods, with the male section including an elongated transversely polygonal member having a transversely extending notch. The female section comprises an elongated channel having a cross-section configuration for complementally receiving the male section for rotation with the latter and having a transversely extending segment configured to be received in the notch when the rods are in axial alignment to lock the rods together for axial movement as a unit. The female section also includes a pair of elongated apertures respectively positioned on opposite facing surfaces of the channel relative to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A pull cap is positioned about the exposed end of a probe rod and engages a pulling device to remove the probe rod from the ground. The pull cap has a first body section with a first concave surface disposed adjacent one end of the first section and for engaging the exposed end of the rod. The first body section also has a first channel on its outer surface adjacent the other end of the first section. A second body section has a second concave surface disposed adjacent one end of the second section and for engaging the exposed end of the rod. The second body section also has a second channel on its outer surface adjacent the other end of the second section. A hinge arrangement is disposed on both the first and second sections adjacent the other ends of the first and second sections. The hinge arrangement hinges the first and second sections together so that the pull cap has an open position and a closed position.

Abstract: An assembly for locking the drive point at the forward end of an elongated sample tube includes a tapered drive point presenting a threaded chamber, a bolt having a threaded stem, a collar disposed about the stem and a locking member disposed about the stem and adapted for engaging a recess near the forward end of the tube. The bolt head may present a tool receiving slot for remotely releasing the locked drive point assembly. The bolt stem may include a recessed groove for receiving a setscrew through the drive point to ensure that the bolt does not become completely disengaged from the drive point when the point is released from the forward end of the sample tube.

Abstract: A ground water sampling device has an elongated cylindrical hollow housing positioned at a desired depth below the ground surface. The housing has an opening formed at its lower end and an inner surface with an annular groove disposed adjacent the opening. The device has an elongated screen capable of being telescopically received in the housing and capable of being deployed through the opening of the housing. The screen has an annular slot formed on its outer surface adjacent its upper end. A resilient locking collar is compressed inwardly and received in the slot of the screen when the screen is received in the housing prior to its deployment. The collar expands outwardly into the groove of the housing when the slot of screen is longitudinally aligned with the groove during deployment of the screen. The collar in its expanded position is disposed in both the slot and the groove so that the screen is locked in its deployed position.

Abstract: A device for obtaining soil samples beneath the surface of the ground. A sample tube is provided with a removable piston tip blocking the forward opening of the sample tube. Rearward movement of the piston tip is blocked by a removable piston stop. The sample tube is driven into the soil with the piston tip blocking its forward end. Tubular probe extension may be successively added to the rear of the device to allow driving of the sample tube to the desired depth. At the desired depth, the piston stop is removed to unblock the piston tip. The piston stop may be removed by a series of threadedly connected extension rods threadedly connected via a drivehead to the piston stop. The piston stop is threadedly connected to the sample tube with left-handed threads to ensure all other connections remain tight during removal. The sample tube is then driven forward, causing the soil sample to enter the tube and the tip to slide within the tube. The tube is then withdrawn from the soil to recover the sample.