Abstract: A soil imaging probe has a housing with an interior cavity and an outer surface exposed for sliding contact with soil. A window is mounted in the outer surface for providing optical communication between the soil and the interior cavity. An optical module is positioned within the interior cavity. The optical module includes at least one light source and a camera mounted in a block. An indexing surface is defined in the interior cavity to maintain the optical module at a predetermined fixed distance from the window to keep the camera focused on the soil outside the window. An elastomeric fill material fills the interior cavity and substantially surrounds the optical module to reduce energy transference from the housing of the probe to the optical module. An image processing method is also provided to identify pixels in an image captured by the camera that show potential hydrocarbon contamination.

Abstract: A soil imaging probe has a housing with an interior cavity and an outer surface exposed for sliding contact with soil. A window is mounted in the outer surface for providing optical communication between the soil and the interior cavity. An optical module is positioned within the interior cavity. The optical module includes at least one light source and a camera mounted in a block. An indexing surface is defined in the interior cavity to maintain the optical module at a predetermined fixed distance from the window to keep the camera focused on the soil outside the window. An elastomeric fill material fills the interior cavity and substantially surrounds the optical module to reduce energy transference from the housing of the probe to the optical module. An image processing method is also provided to identify pixels in an image captured by the camera that show potential hydrocarbon contamination.

Abstract: A liner assembly for use in a soil sampling system comprises a thin sheet of flexible plastic that can be laid flat for shipping and rolled into a cylindrical shape with overlapping edges for use as a liner. The rolled sheet can be inserted into a soil sample tube to line the sample tube during soil sampling operations. A wedge assembly comprising a split holding ring and a wedge ring holds the liner in place at the bottom of the soil sample tube. After the soil sampling system is advanced into the subsurface to collect a soil sample, the soil sample is removed by removing the cutting shoe from the sample tube and sliding the rolled liner sheet out the bottom end of the sample tube. The liner sheet can be unrolled to access and remove the soil sample. The liner sheet can be reused after removing the soil sample.

Abstract: A split tube soil sampling system includes a sample tube having an upper end and a lower end, a drive head attached to the upper end of the sample tube, and a cutting shoe attached to the lower end of the sample tube. The sample tube has a first generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a first pair of longitudinal edges, and a second generally semi cylindrical tube segment comprising a second pair of longitudinal edges. The first and second tube segments are configured to be joined together along their respective longitudinal edges to form a cylinder having a through bore. The longitudinal edges of the tube segments have interlocking fingers that are mated together to hold the first and second tube segments together.

Abstract: A mobile drill rig has a drill mast, a carriage mounted to the drill mast for vertical movement, and a vibratory drill head having a sine generator and a rotation mechanism for imparting vibration and rotation to a drill rod string. An elastomeric torsion coupler couples the rotation mechanism to the sine generator to transmit rotational force to the drill rod string while isolating vibrations of the sine generator from the rotation mechanism. Another coupler connects the drill head to the carriage in a manner that allows floating vertical movement of the drill head relative to the carriage while isolating vibrations of the sine generator from the carriage. Elastomeric bumpers limit the vertical movement of the drill head relative to the carriage. Elastomeric spacers located between the rotation mechanism and the sine generator handle the vertical loading and maintain the proper spacing between the sine generator and the rotation mechanism.

Abstract: A hydraulic head clamp assembly is integral with a drill head mounted on a mobile drill rig. A side-shift carriage is provided for shifting the drill head from side-to-side relative to a centerline of a drill rod string. The clamp assembly includes a rigid jaw mounted on the side of the drill head, and a movable jaw mounted adjacent to said rigid jaw with a space between the jaws for receiving the drill rod string. The movable jaw is connected to a pair of hydraulic cylinder actuators that are actuated via a hydraulic circuit to control the clamp action between the rigid jaw and the movable jaw. The clamp assembly can be used to retract a drill rod string from the ground without limiting access to the inner diameter of the drill rod, and can also be used to advance the drill rod into the ground via a static push.

Abstract: A snap-lock bushing is provided for use with prepacked screens for monitoring wells. The bushing has an inner bore for sliding over a tubular well casing member and a raised lip protruding from the inner bore for engaging corresponding grooves at each end of the well casing member. The raised lip includes a plurality of lip segments with gaps or slots formed between the lip segments, which allow the raised lip to flex outward during assembly. A prepacked screen is assembled using a snap-lock bushing at each end of the well casing member. A mesh screen is placed in a concentric relationship around the well casing member with the ends of the mesh screen secured over the outer cylindrical surfaces of the bushings. A filter pack of granular material is placed in the concentric space between the well casing member and the screen member during assembly.

Abstract: A soil sampling system is provided that allows headspace screening of soil samples at spaced intervals along a soil sample liner without disturbing the soil samples to be collected and shipped to a laboratory for further testing. The soil sample liner includes a plurality of cylindrical liner sections positioned end-to-end in a linear array, with each liner section having a sidewall and open ends. A shrink-wrap material covers the liner sections and holds the liner sections together as an assembled unit. Some of the liner sections have access openings formed in a sidewall thereof for providing access to the soil samples contained therein. The liner sections having access openings are interspersed between other liner sections that do not have access openings. The access openings are used by piercing the shrink-wrap material covering the access opening, and inserting a probe tip through the access opening into a headspace to measure contamination.

Abstract: A soil sample containment device is provided which allows soil samples to be contained within individual sections of a soil sampler liner. The device includes first and second end caps for covering and sealing the respective ends of the soil sampler liner section. Each end cap has a structure for coupling with the opposite end cap for securing the end caps together. The coupling structure for each end cap includes a hook arm and an eye arm. The hook arm of the first end cap can be coupled with the eye arm of the second end cap to secure the end caps together over the ends of the liner section. A flexible sealing material is provided within each end cap for providing a compression seal between the end caps and the liner section. The liner sections can be formed of different lengths and different materials to accommodate different soil tests.

Abstract: A mechanical bladder pump is provided for collecting fluid samples from a well. The pump includes an outer tubular member having a longitudinal bore, and an inner tubular member arranged within the bore of the outer tubular member. The inner and outer tubular members are connected at their lower ends to a compressible bladder, and are arranged for oscillating movement relative to each other to expand and compress the bladder. The lower end of the bladder is open to an inlet passage, and the upper end of the bladder is open to an outlet passage. First and second check valves are provided to control the flow of fluid through the bladder during operation of the pump. A return spring is used to store energy during a tension stroke of the inner tubular member and to release energy during a compression stroke thereof. The pump provides highly representative samples of groundwater.

Abstract: A soil sampler liner with areas of reduced wall thickness is defined by a continuous wall that has a reduced area extending along at least a portion of the length of the liner. The liner is inserted into the inner bore of a sampler probe, and a soil sample is taken by vertically inserting the probe and liner into the ground. The wall of the liner has at least two distinct areas of varying thickness; a reduced wall area and wall areas adjacent to the reduced wall area. The walls are sufficiently strong to withstand the forces applied to the liner when taking relatively large-diameter soil samples. The thickness of the wall at the reduced wall area is less than the thickness of the wall at the adjacent areas to permit a user to easily and safely cut through the wall at the reduced wall area and remove a large-diameter soil sample from the liner. The liner is also radially compressible into a flattened shape for compact and economical packaging and shipment of liners in relatively large quantities.

Abstract: A mechanical bladder pump is provided for collecting fluid samples from a well. The pump includes an outer tubular member having a longitudinal bore, and an inner tubular member arranged within the bore of the outer tubular member. The inner and outer tubular members are connected at their lower ends to a compressible bladder, and are arranged for oscillating movement relative to each other to expand and compress the bladder. The lower end of the bladder is open to an inlet passage, and the upper end of the bladder is open to an outlet passage. First and second check valves are provided to control the flow of fluid through the bladder during operation of the pump. A return spring is used to store energy during a tension stroke of the inner tubular member and to release energy during a compression stroke thereof. The pump provides highly representative samples of groundwater.

Abstract: A soil sample containment device is provided which allows soil samples to be contained within individual sections of a soil sampler liner. The device includes first and second end caps for covering and sealing the respective ends of the soil sampler liner section. Each end cap has a structure for coupling with the opposite end cap for securing the end caps together. The coupling structure for each end cap includes a hook arm and an eye arm. The hook arm of the first end cap can be coupled with the eye arm of the second end cap to secure the end caps together over the ends of the liner section. A flexible sealing material is provided within each end cap for providing a compression seal between the end caps and the liner section. The liner sections can be formed of different lengths and different materials to accommodate different soil tests.

Abstract: A soil sample liner assembly having a permanently attached core catcher is disclosed for use in a dual tube sampling system. The liner assembly includes a generally cylindrical tube having an upper end, a lower end, and a substantially smooth cylindrical outer surface extending between the ends. A core catcher is positioned within the tube and permanently attached at its lower end. The core catcher includes a plurality of resilient fingers that deflect outwardly to allow soil to pass into the tube and prevent soil from falling back out. The liner assembly has its lower end supported by an inner ledge of a cutting shoe of the dual tube sampling system. The liner assembly with the permanently attached core catcher is removable through the upper end of the outer casing without disturbing the attachment between the cutting shoe and the outer casing while the sampling system remains in the ground.

Abstract: An injection probe assembly is disclosed for injecting material into subsurface formations for making geotechnical improvements. The probe assembly includes a sheath having an upper end for attaching to a mating tool string and a lower end for receiving a solid drive point. The sheath has a reduced diameter injection area which includes an interior space enclosed by a tubular sidewall, a valve seat, and a plurality of injection ports extending through the sidewall through which materials can be injected laterally. A check valve spool is arranged for sliding movement within the interior space for preventing back-flow of material into the interior space. The spool is seated on the valve seat and covers the injection ports in a first position, and is unseated from the valve seat with the injection ports uncovered in a second position. The spool is responsive to pressure changes of the injected materials.

Abstract: An injection probe assembly is disclosed for injecting material into subsurface formations for making geotechnical improvements. The probe assembly includes a sheath having an upper end for attaching to a mating tool string and a lower end for receiving a solid drive point. The sheath has a reduced diameter injection area which includes an interior space enclosed by a tubular sidewall, a valve seat, and a plurality of injection ports extending through the sidewall through which materials can be injected laterally. A check valve spool is arranged for sliding movement within the interior space for preventing back-flow of material into the interior space. The spool is seated on the valve seat and covers the injection ports in a first position, and is unseated from the valve seat with the injection ports uncovered in a second position. The spool is responsive to pressure changes of the injected materials.

Abstract: A soil sampler liner with areas of reduced wall thickness is defined by a continuous wall that has a reduced area extending along at least a portion of the length of the liner. The liner is inserted into the inner bore of a sampler probe, and a soil sample is taken by vertically inserting the probe and liner into the ground. The wall of the liner has at least two distinct areas of varying thickness; a reduced wall area and wall areas adjacent to the reduced wall area. The walls are sufficiently strong to withstand the forces applied to the liner when taking relatively large-diameter soil samples. The thickness of the wall at the reduced wall area is less than the thickness of the wall at the adjacent areas to permit a user to easily and safely cut through the wall at the reduced wall area and remove a large-diameter soil sample from the liner. The liner is also radially compressible into a flattened shape for compact and economical packaging and shipment of liners in relatively large quantities.

Abstract: A drive apparatus has a first and second shaft rotatably mounted on the agricultural fertilizer implement. A drive wheel is fixed to the first shaft and an output wheel fixed to the second shaft. There are a plurality of wheels coupled to the first shaft and a plurality of wheels of varying sized fixed to the second shaft. A flexible connecting means is trained between a pair of selected wheels on the first and second shafts. A drive means rotates the drive wheel. A connecting means couples output wheel to the metering device. An engaging means is coupled to each of the plurality of wheels located on the first shaft coupling the selected wheel on the first shaft with the first shaft so that the wheel will rotate with the first shaft. There is also a control means that allows a user to selectively activate one of the engaging means located on the first shaft. When one of the engaging means is activated, one of the plurality of wheels is coupled to the first shaft and begins to rotate with the first shaft.

Abstract: An optical soil sensor for mobilized measurements of in-situ soil characteristics has a shank assembly, which creates a furrow in which a soil sample is exposed, and a window plate assembly including a window through which emitted and reflected light pass. The sensor window, formed of a hard and durable material, is positioned in intimate contact with the soil sample as the sensor moves across the ground or field and is continually scoured by the soil to greatly reduce or eliminate window buildup and contamination. The intimate contact between the window and soil also eliminates the sample distance or air gap through which light must pass, thereby reducing measurement distortion and error. The soil sensor provides a structural platform compatible with a wide variety of light sources, light detectors, signal conditioners, and other devices.