Abstract: A soil-sampling tool extends along a longitudinal axis and includes a barrel having a soil-penetrating distal end, and a cap for closing the end. In the improvement, the barrel has a seal surface spaced from the end and also has a tapered lead portion between the surface and the end. The lateral dimension of the lead portion is less than that of the seal surface. The cap includes an abutment face and a seal spaced therefrom. The barrel seal surface is spaced from the barrel end by a dimension not greater than that between the cap seal and its abutment face. In a highly preferred embodiment, the barrel has a stop shoulder between the barrel seal surface and the barrel end. The cap includes a lip bearing against the stop shoulder and a tapered cap face substantially contacting the barrel face of the tapered lead portion. The tool also relates to a new method.

Abstract: The disclosure involves a soil-sampling tool having a barrel with a distal end for insertion into soil, and a plunger mounted for movement in the barrel. The plunger includes a soil-contact surface spaced from the distal end by a dimension when the barrel is filled with a soil sample having a volume. The improved tool includes a locking mechanism setting the dimension equal to a reference dimension, thereby establishing the volume of the soil sample to be equal to a predetermined or reference volume. In a more specific embodiment, there is an annular space between the barrel wall and the plunger head. Such head includes plural resilient sealing rings for sealing against the wall and closing the space. The tool also includes a feature for venting air otherwise trapped between the barrel/soil sample and the cap being mounted to the barrel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a soil sampling tool having a barrel and a plug in the barrel for expelling a soil sample from the barrel. In the improvement, the plug is imperforate and includes a frangible section attached to the barrel. When the soil sample is expelled as, e.g., into a lab vial, force is applied to the plug, breaking the frangible section and urging the plug and the soil sample out of the barrel. Since it is imperforate, the plug prevents VOC vapors from migrating out of the mouth portion and the barrel is thereby made suitable for a single use and is disposable. The advantages include avoidance of sample "cross-contamination." A new method for analyzing a soil sample including the steps of providing a sampling tool having a barrel, a mouth portion and a plug retained in the barrel by a frangible section. The mouth portion is filled with a soil sample and the plug is urged toward the mouth portion, thereby breaking the frangible section and expelling the soil sample from the tool.

Abstract: The invention is an improvement in a soil sampling tool of the type having a handle and a cylindrical sampling barrel with an aperture in the upper end. An ejector extends through the aperture and is attached to a plunger for urging the soil sample out of the barrel. In the improvement, the ejector and aperture define an annular clearance between them so that when a soil sample is taken (and the plunger thereby urged toward the barrel upper end), air can exhaust from the barrel. The plunger includes a boss which extends into and seals the aperture when the plunger is at or near its uppermost position. In that way, vapors of volatile organic compounds are prevented from escaping through the aperture. The tool also includes a cap for sealing the lower end of the barrel so that such vapors cannot escape from the barrel.