received by the International Bureau on 14 January 2015 (14.01.2015)

Patent claims

1. Container for collection of undisturbed soil samples/ equipped with the cylinder containing a soil sample, characterised by that it consists of two external cylinders - bottom (Γ) and top (1"), with the middle cylinder (2) designed for the sample proper situated between the two, with the internal diameters of the cylinders 1", 2) being equal, and the spacers (3) set at an angle between the cylinders (1 and 2), and (2 and 1"), moreover, the cylinders (1', 1", 2) are connected one to another in a way allowing disconnection with a non-permeable tape (4), closely adhering to the external walls of the cylinders (1', 1", 2), while the container is equipped with covers (5' and 5") from top and bottom.

2. Container according to claim 1, characterised by that the cylinders (1', 1", 2) are made of stainless steel.

3. Container according to claim 1, characterised by that the non-permeable tape (4) is a self-adhesive tape.

4. Container according to claim 1, characterised by that the height h of the middle cylinder (2) is equal or greater from 1 to 3 times from the height h' of the external cylinders (1', 1").

5. Method of collecting, preparing and analysing undisturbed soil samples for purposes of defining hydraulic conductivity, consisting in taking a cylindrical sample from the soil and placing it in a cylindrical container, in which it is saturated with water, measuring the flow of water out from the sample in the function of time, characterised by that a lump of the soil tested is acquired on site, it is formed into the initial sample in the shape of a cylinder, has the protruding fragments of roots cut off and fragments of the skeleton penetrating the surfaces removed, with subsequent imposition of a thin favourable elasto-plastic coating on this side surface of the sample, after which the sample is placed in the measurement container whose diameter is greater than the diameters of the sample, with the gap between the side surface of the sample and the internal surface of the container being filled with watertight agent, after which the soil sample is cut along the planes defined by the gaps between the cylinders (Γ, 1", 2), cutting the encountered fragments of roots, which turns out the sample proper contained in the middle cylinder (2), whose bottom and top surfaces are photographed, after which a brass mesh and perforated cover (5") are imposed on the bottom surface of the sample, and later the border between the edge of the cylinder and the perforated cover (5")is insulated with non-permeable agent, and the top surface of the sample is covered with brass mesh and grid and loaded with a perforated disc whose mass is similar to the mass of soil overlying the top level of the soil stratum from which the sample was taken, subsequently thus prepared sample proper is saturated from the bottom with water and is simultaneously deaerated, with subsequent change of the direction of filtration accompanied by continuing deaeration of the sample and measurement of the volume of water flowing out from the sample with a defined hydraulic drop being made as a function of time and temperature, and after the performance of the measurements, the share of root and skeleton fractions in the volume of the sample is determined.

6. Method according to claim 5, characterised by that the gap between the side surface of the sample and the internal surface of the container is filled with a watertight expanding agent.

7. Method according to claim S, characterised by that the hollows after removal of fragments of the skeleton, originating from the cutting off of the sample proper, are filled up with non-permeable agent, favourably an adhesive, paraffin, or gypsum in insulation layer.

8. Method according to claim 5, characterised by that the duration of saturating the sample is adjusted to its internal construction.

9. Equipment for defining soil hydraulic conductivity is equipped with a perforated base, to which the pressure column is mounted, characterised by that the mounted In the base (6) is the socket (7) with perforated bottom, from whose walls radiate the deaerating ducts (8), connected to the first grooves of the socket (7), while these ducts are connected via ducts in a way allowing disconnection to the vacuum pump, while a smooth ring (9) is situated around the socket (7), and connected to the base (6) in a way allowing disconnection is the cylinder-shaped pressure column (10), whose bottom edge turns into a flange (11), furnished with holes for screws (12) corresponding to the holes made in the base (6), while the pressure column (10) is equipped with an external water level gauge (13) and an external scale (14) indicating the hydraulic drop, while the pressure column (10) is connected from the top by the means of the feeding duct (IS) to the vessel (16) with deaerated distilled water and the dosing device, while the whole is placed in the external cylinder (17), whose height equals approximately 1/4 of the height of the entire device, equipped with side openings (18).

10. Equipment according to claim 9, characterised by that the base (6) is made of stainless steel.

11. Equipment according to claim 9, characterised by that the base (6) is equipped with supports (19).

12. Equipment according to claim 9, characterised by that the diameter of the socket (7) Is greater than the diameter of the bottom cover of the sample (20).

13. Equipment according to claim 9, characterised by that the pressure column (10) is connected to the base with thumb screws (12).

14. Equipment according to claim 9, characterised by that the external cylinder (17) is made of stainless steel.

15. Equipment according to claim 9, characterised by that situated on the socket (7) of the base (6) is a perforated reducing cap (21) adjusted to containers (25) of various diameters.

16. Equipment according to claim 9, characterised by that it is equipped with the three-armed extruder (22) with bolts (23) that correspond to the openings (24) made in the socket (7) of the base (6).