Abstract: An articulating marsh buggy or vehicle in the form of an articulated amphibious vehicle incorporating a front and rear drive unit which are pivotally connected for relative angular movement about a generally vertical axis and oscillatable about a generally longitudinal axis. Each of the units includes a pair of pivotal floatable pontoons with each pontoon including a drive chain on which elongated cleats are transversely mounted. The drive chains are driven by independent hydraulic motors to enable the vehicle to move over various terrains and be propelled in marshy areas, bayous or water bodies by cleats on the driven chains on the pontoons.

Abstract: A device and method for forming a downwardly extending hole in the surface of the earth for seismic exploration or for forming a larger diameter hole such as made during exploratory drilling. The hole forming device includes an elongated rigid planting member having a point or tip at its lower end which is forced downwardly into the earth's surface by a combination of forces. The multiple forces may include a primary downward force exerting a substantially constant downward push on the planting member and either or both additional forces imparted to the planting member when the primary force no longer moves the planting member downwardly.