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: 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.

Abstract: A vehicle for transporting long objects such as combine platforms over highways is disclosed. The vehicle has a main bed with a vertically extending frame at one side. Cantilevered arms on vertical columns of the frame project laterally across the bed and provide support for an upper load. The arms are mounted for sliding movement vertically along the columns and are hoisted into their upper positions by cables trained over a sheave mounted on the end of a fluid piston and cylinder assembly. One side member of the vehicle is considerably shorter than the other side member to permit a combine to be maneuvered into position for directly loading and unloading the platform onto the vehicle. When the first platform is raised into its proper position for transporting, a second combine may be moved into position for directly loading its platform onto the main vehicle bed. The platforms are transported in vertically superposed position.

Abstract: This invention relates to a combine harvester apparatus having a cutting mechanism apparatus of this invention connected thereto which may be of substantial length. The cutting mechanism apparatus is divided into three sections being a center platform assembly; a right platform assembly; and a left platform assembly. Each platform assembly is capable of performing a crop harvesting function as having (1) a reel assembly to direct the crop; (2) a sickle assembly to sever the crop; and (3) an auger assembly to carry the severed crop to a center point for elevation into a combine harvesting mechanism. The right and left platform assemblies are pivotally connected to the center platform assembly and adapted to be raised or lowered manually or automatically to compensate for variances in levels of the terrain. Numerous special design features are necessary to allow for this vertical movement while maintaining driving forces between the sickle assemblies; auger assemblies; and the reel assemblies.