Abstract: A robot may extrude a tower or column. The robot may include an extrusion nozzle, a positioning system, a climbing apparatus, and a controller. The extrusion nozzle may controllably extrude uncured construction material. The positioning system may controllably cause the extrusion nozzle to traverse a perimeter layer of the tower or column. A climbing apparatus may controllably cause the robot to climb. A controller may autonomously: direct the positioning system to cause the nozzle to traverse the perimeter layer of the tower or column; direct the nozzle to extrude uncured construction material during the traverse; direct the climbing apparatus to cause the robot to climb an incremental amount; and repeat each of the foregoing positioning, extrusion, and climbing steps until the extruded tower or column attains a desired height.

Abstract: A bailer has a tapered leading end to reduce agitation and turbidity as the bailer is introduced into a body of liquid fluid. A check valve is unseated and admits liquid fluid into the bailer as the bailer enters the liquid fluid. The check valve is seated and seals the liquid fluid within the bailer against leakage when the bailer is retrieved from the liquid fluid. A first embodiment includes a bottom-emptying device that guides liquid fluid in the bailer into a wide-mouth container. A second embodiment includes a bottom-emptying device that guides the liquid fluid into a narrow mouth container such as a vial. In both embodiments, the bottom-emptying device is tapered and engages the outside walls of the tapered leading end of the bailer. This prevents liquid fluid from wetting a user's hands when the bottom-emptying device is used to unseat the check valve.

Abstract: An upper imperforate cap closes the uppermost end of a bailer and a lower imperforate cap closes the lowermost end of the bailer. In a preferred embodiment, screwthreads are formed in the uppermost and lowermost ends of the bailer and complemental screwthreads are formed in the upper and lower caps. By capping the opposite ends of a bailer, the bailer serves as its own container when the sample contained within it is shipped to a laboratory. This eliminates VOC devices, nozzles, and the concomitant contamination that may result from emptying a bailer in the field.

Abstract: An upper imperforate cap closes the uppermost end of a bailer and a lower imperforate cap closes the lowermost end of the bailer. In a preferred embodiment, screwthreads are formed in the uppermost and lowermost ends of the bailer and complemental screwthreads are formed in the upper and lower caps. In another embodiment, screwthreads are formed in a downspout and complemental screwthreads are formed in an imperforate downspout cap. By capping the opposite ends of a bailer, the bailer serves as its own container when the sample contained within it is shipped to a laboratory. This eliminates VOC devices, nozzles, and the concomitant contamination that may result from emptying a bailer in the field.

Abstract: A bailer collects a column of liquid fluid of predetermined height from a body of liquid fluid at a predetermined depth. The bailer is emptied without contaminating the collected liquid fluid with oxygen. The bailer has two check valves spaced apart from one another by a preselected distance so that it can collect liquid fluid at a predetermined depth below the surface of the body of liquid fluid. A vent opening is formed between the first check valve and the second check valve to enable the bailer to be emptied in the substantial absence of oxygen contamination.

Abstract: A bailer collects a column of liquid fluid of predetermined height from a body of liquid fluid at a predetermined depth. The bailer is emptied without contaminating the collected liquid fluid with oxygen. The bailer has two check valves spaced apart from one another by a preselected distance so that it can collect liquid fluid at a predetermined depth below the surface of the body of liquid fluid. A vent opening is formed between the first check valve and the second check valve to enable the bailer to be emptied in the substantial absence of oxygen contamination.

Abstract: An air-tight bailer is filled completely and closed at its open upper end with a flat cap so that no ambient air is trapped in the bailer. A mounting member to which a rope is secured for lowering and lifting the bailer is recessed with respect to the open upper end of the bailer so that it does not interfere with the cap. A disc-shaped protuberance formed on the bottom of the cap fills the recess. An annular groove around the recess receives the rim of the open upper end to enhance an air-tight seal between the cap and the open upper end. In a first embodiment, the bailer is emptied by piercing a thin membrane formed in the cap with a spout device having a trailing end in fluid communication with a container. A second embodiment eliminates the membrane and the spout device.

Abstract: An air-tight bailer is filled completely and closed at its open upper end with a flat cap so that no ambient air is trapped in the bailer. A mounting member to which a rope is secured for lowering and lifting the bailer is recessed with respect to the open upper end of the bailer so that it does not interfere with the cap. A disc-shaped protuberance formed on the bottom of the cap fills the recess. An annular groove around the recess receives the rim of the open upper end to enhance an air-tight seal between the cap and the open upper end. In a first embodiment, the bailer is emptied by piercing a thin membrane formed in the cap with a spout device having a trailing end in fluid communication with a container. A second embodiment eliminates the membrane and the spout device.

Abstract: An upper imperforate cap closes the uppermost end of a bailer and a lower imperforate cap closes the lowermost end of the bailer. In a preferred embodiment, screwthreads are formed in the uppermost and lowermost ends of the bailer and complemental screwthreads are formed in the upper and lower caps. In another embodiment, screwthreads are formed in a downspout and complemental screwthreads are formed in an imperforate downspout cap. By capping the opposite ends of a bailer, the bailer serves as its own container when the sample contained within it is shipped to a laboratory. This eliminates VOC devices, nozzles, and the concomitant contamination that may result from emptying a bailer in the field.

Abstract: A bailer that is substantially leak-free includes an improved valve housing at its lowermost end. A valve body in the form of a solid or hollow hemispherical ball is mounted at the lowermost end of a straight valve stem. The hemispherical valve body seats in a valve seat that matches the contour of the hemispherical exterior surface of the valve body. The valve body has a preselected specific gravity that enables it to float on the surface of the liquid fluid being sampled when the valve body is unrestricted. The valve stem is slideably received within and guided by a central aperture formed in a central hub of a spider member that spans the hollow interior of the valve housing. The spider is supported about its periphery by an annular shoulder formed in the interior sidewalls of the valve housing. The spider is inserted into the valve housing and pressed against the annular shoulder when the bailer is assembled.

Abstract: A substantially leak-free bailer includes an improved valve assembly at its lowermost end. A valve body is mounted to the lowermost end of a valve stem and the valve stem is slideably received within and guided by a central bore formed on a support member that spans the hollow interior of the bailer at its lowermost end. The valve body may be hemispherical, frusto-conical, or elongate and downwardly tapered. The valve seat is configured to match the contour of the valve body. An annular ridge circumscribes the valve seat and serves as a barrier to particulate matter so that the valve body sits in the valve seat without interference from such particulate matter.

Abstract: A bailer that is substantially leak-free includes an improved valve assembly at its lowermost end. In a first embodiment, a valve body in the form of a hemispherical ball is mounted at the lowermost end of a straight valve stem. The hemispherical ball seats in a valve seat that matches the contour of the hemispherical exterior surface of the ball. In a second embodiment, the valve body and the matching valve seat are both frusto-conical in configuration. In a third embodiment, the valve body and matching valve seat are tapered downwardly to form an elongate, narrow slot. A fourth embodiment adds a guide member to the third embodiment structure to ensure seating of the downwardly tapering valve body in its valve seat. In all embodiments, the valve stem is slideably received within and guided by a central bore formed in a support member that spans the hollow interior of the lowermost end of the bailer, and the valve body is covered with a cushioned material of uniform thickness.