Technical field

Present invention refers to a rotary probe assembly for simultaneous taking of multiple soil samples, and a single probe being used within the rotary probe. The Invention refers in particular to the rotary probe assembly with a rotational mechanism, where simultaneous soil sampling by means of at least 2 single probes and not more than 16 is made possible. Present invention includes a sample collection container, intended for simultaneous taking of an average soil sample and tracing the soil fertility maps using the "crigging" method.

Technical problem

The technical problem addressed by the present Invention is how to increase the speed of soil sampling and work in general. Furthermore, present Invention allows the iterativeness of soil sampling in the same way, so far hardly feasible. Soil sampling with the rotary probe assembly eliminates the risk of layer mixing, which is one of the most important factors in soil fertility analyses. A solution to the mentioned technical problems is provided by means of the rotary soil sampling probe assembly, where simultaneous soil sampling by means of 2 single probes at least and 16 at most is made possible. Present invention allows simultaneous sampling with 16 probes up to max. 60 cm depth, although deeper sampling is possible by using stronger and heavier machines. If just one probe is used (where the probe container/support is removed and only the central working cylinder is used), soil sampling can be carried out even up to 120 cm depth.

Furthermore, another problem being solved, and that is another advantage of the present Invention, is the precision of soil sampling. The sampling speed is by 4-6 times higher than normally practised. Depending on the sampling technique, in one working day up to 70 average samples can be taken with the operation of 4 active single probes on the machine and with 6 sticks, which makes 1 average sample (sample density is 1 sample per 5 ha), or up to 400 average samples (sample density is 16 samples per 1 ha). The rotary probe assembly can be considered a high-performance machine that can replace 8-10 workers. For the work with the assembly 2-3 operators are needed. With the machine the GSP soil sampling technology can be very easily implemented using highly precise coordinates.

The potential of the assembly is that at one place it can take 1 average sample with 16 probes in 1 m diameter. If soil cannot be penetrated with 16 probes, then work is done with 8 probes and by rotation of the container 8 the probes are again thrust (so it totals 16). If impossible to work with 8 probes, then work is done with 4 probes with 4-time rotation of the whole container, so that again at one place 16 sticks are achieved and 1 average soil sample. Very helpful in soil sticking is also a vibrator which with its vibrations improves the efficiency of probe thrusts into the ground.

Prior art

The document US20100037712 shows a rotational soil sampling apparatus. The probes are so placed that they extend from the track and into the ground, then retracted on each revolution of the track. The sampler assembly is hinged and guided along a track in order to minimize soil compaction as the probe rotates around the rear wheel of the apparatus. Soil is ejected by means of a "rumble path" along the top of the track. The soil samples are pneumatically transferred to a bagging assembly located in the tractor pulling the apparatus.

The document US6766865 shows an improved design of the rotational probe provided with a frame pivotally mounted on the rear of a tractor. Due to the movement about an angled axis defining the use position of the wheel and the transport position of the wheel, the rotatable wheel is pivotally mounted to the frame. The wheel includes probes extending radially outwardly from the perimeter of the wheel The probes are adapted to receive soil samples as the wheel is rolled along the ground. A plunger assembly automatically discharges the soil samples on each rotation of the wheel so that the samples can be continuously collected without a need to stop the operation. - - - _*

3

The mentioned documents show assemblies different from the one envisaged by the present Invention. The advantage of the rotary probe assembly in relation to the mentioned assemblies is the possibility of tracing the soil fertility maps and that probes of varying lengths can be used, whereby sampling at greater or smaller depths is feasible.

Detailed description of the invention

Present invention refers to a rotary probe assembly for simultaneous taking of multiple soil samples and a single probe being used within the rotary probe. The invention refers in particular to a rotary probe assembly with a rotational mechanism, where simultaneous soil sampling by means of at least 2 single probes and at most 16 single probes is made possible. Present invention includes a sample collection container, intended for simultaneous taking of the average soil sample.

The function of the probe system is modular and in two ways: for the needs of deep drilling in the ground (up to 120 cm depths) as a single central probe without use of the container with a maximum of 16 probes and using a central working cylinder, or as a system with a rotary head or a probe container/support (for depths up to 60 cm). In the case of a rotary probe assembly, where the probes are positioned along the perimeter of the container, accommodation of 16 single probes at the most is provided. By rotating the container, and thereby the perimeter, more positions are attained for soil sampling. Depending on the number of the single probes arranged along the perimeter of the container and depending on the required number of samples, work proceeds with a greater or smaller number of container revolutions. When it comes to 120 cm deep sampling, the taken sample is stored in a transparent Plexiglas tube where the transfer and keeping of the as well as its analysis by soil level is possible. The innovative elements of the present invention are the container of the rotary probe assembly with a space for sample collection, the tops (heads) of the probes themselves, the probes with a possibility of keeping a layered sample in a Plexiglas tube, the vibration system and the sample mixing system A brief description of the drawings

Below is a detailed description of the invention, with reference made to the drawings as follows:

- Figure 1 shows a single probe;

- Figure 2 shows the top/head of a single probe;

- Figure 3 shows a plastic ring;

- Figure 4 shows the rotary probe assembly in two positions and a diagram showing how the assembly is attached to a tractor or another field vehicle;

- Figure 5 shows the rotary probe assembly in the soil sampling position;

- Figure 6 shows the rotary probe assembly in the position of lifting the container 8;

- Figure 7 shows the rotary probe assembly in the operation of discharging the container 8;

- Figure 8 shows container 8 and the vibrator assembly 12; and

- Figure 9 shows container 8 on the bottom side.

Figures 1 and 2 show the basic parts of the single probe 1. The single probe 1 consists of the probe head 2, the tube 3 and the element 3b for fixing the probe 1 in the frame of the perimeter 9 of the rotary probe 15. The probe head 2 is made of steel thermally treated in its sharp part. The material is resistant to wear and tear in order to keep the blade in the best possible condition and the longest possible duration to ensure a greater number of sticks. Figure 2 show the head/top of a single probe, where the external surface 2b and the internal surface 2a of the probe head 2 are conical in shape. At the widest part of the probe head 2 on the inside is the thread 2c to serve for joining the head 2 with the tube 3 of the single probe 1. The thread 2c in the head 2 of a single probe and corresponding thread at the end of the tube 3 enable the replacement of the head during operation, if needed.

The tube 3 of a single probe 1 is also made of steel to sustain loads and to prevent the bending of a single probe. The probe tubes 3 are made in spans 0-30 cm; 0 -60 cm; 0 -90 cm; 0- 120 cm The single probe on the opposite end of the probe head is open, ie., it has the orifice 3a. This feature allows continuous discharging of each single probe 1, within the rotary probe assembly, into the container 8 of the sampled soil

A complete single probe 1 in its assembly appearance is shown in Figure 1. On the tube 3, on which a thread is cut (not shown in the Figures), the head of the probe 2 is wound by means of the thread 2c, and between the head 2 and the probe tube 3 the ring 16 is inserted. The function of the ring 16 is to keep the sample inside the probe tube, i.e., to prevent the sample from falling out. The ring 16 is evenly rounded by way of forming a convex surface. When mounting the ring 16 the convex belly is placed in the direction of the upper orifice 3a. Further, the ring 16 contains evenly distributed grooves 17 that extend radially from the internal orifice 18 towards the perimeter of the ring 16. The dimensions of the orifice 18 depend on the type of soil. For sandy soils the orifice 18 has smaller, for clayey soil larger diameters. The ring 16 is made of tough material, preferably hard plastic with elastic property. During sample taking the elastic property of the material enables the ring 16 to bend in the direction of the upper orifice 3a of the probe 1, and the orifice 18 to enlarge as a result of the groove 17 expanding. The same elastic property enables the ring 16 to restore its original evenly rounded convex shape, thus assuring that the soil sample is kept inside the tube of the single probe 1. The toughness and elasticity of the material prevent cracking of the ring 16 caused by repeated use.

The rotary probe assembly is shown in Figures 4 - 7. Figure 4 shows the rotary probe assembly in two positions and schematically its attachment to the tractor 19 or another field vehicle. The rotary probe assembly is attached to the tractor's hydraulic leverage by means of the connection elements 11.

The connection elements 11 are linked with the support 4 of the whole rotary probe assembly. A component part of the support 4 is the sliding lath 5 which on one side along its length contains teeth that serve for height adjustment of the rotary probe in dependence on the length of the single probe 1. Height adjustment of the rotary probe occurs by means of the assembly's hydraulic system (not shown in the Figures). The rotary probe assembly contains the main hydraulic cylinder 6, the oil container and oil pump 7. The run of the main hydraulic cylinder 6 is up to 1200 mm. The drive of the hydraulic cylinder 6 and the oil pump 7 is provided via connection to the tractor system 19. The output of the oil pump 7 is 40 1/ min.

The lifting and lowering of the container 8 vertically from the ground takes place by means of the hydraulic cylinder 6. On its upper side the container 8 has an orifice (not shown in the Figures) through which the container 8 is discharged. Except for the said orifice, the container 8 is closed from all sides. Figure 9 shows the circular plane 15 by which the container 8 is closed on the lower side. Along the outer perimeter 9 of the circular plane 15 of the container 8 the single probes 1 are fixed perpendicularly to the plane 15 (shown in Figures 4 and 9). The perimeter 9 of the container 8 contains up to 16 orifices for fixing the single probes 1, thereby allowing simultaneous taking of 16 soil samples. Each single probe 1 contains the element 3b by which the single probe 1 is fixed in the orifice 13 of the perimeter 9. By lowering the container 8 vertically from the ground down to the desired depth, by means of the hydraulic cylinder 6, the single probes 1 arranged along the perimeter 9 are thrust into the ground, whereby earth enters the probes 1, and thus multiple soil sample taking is achieved, depending on the number of the single probes 1. The potential of the present assembly is that at one place one average sample can be taken with 16 single probes 1 in 1 m diameter. If 16 single probes 1 cannot all enter the ground, then work proceeds with 8 single probes. As the subject assembly incorporates the mechanism 10 for the rotation of the container 8, the container 8 is rotated by means of the mechanism 10 about its X-X axis and at the same place 8 single probes are thrust again, so that the taking of a total of 16 soil samples is thereby made possible at the same place. If impossible to work with 8 probes, then it is worked with 4 probes with 4-time rotation of the container 8, so that after the last fourth rotation again at one place 16 sticks and 1 average soil sample are achieved. Helpful in soil sticking is also the vibrator assembly 12 which with its vibration facilitates the forcing of the probes into the ground. The vibrator assembly 12 plays a double role. In one of them its vibration facilitates the forcing of more single probes 1 into the ground, in the other the vibrator assembly 12 facilitates efficient discharging of soil samples from the single probes over the opened part 3a of the probe 1 into the container 8. The container 8 has an orifice (not shown in the Figures) on the upper side through which the discharging of the container 8 takes place. Except for the said orifice, the container is closed from all sides. Figure 9 shows the circular plane 15 by which the container 8 is closed on the lower side. The container 8 shown in Figures 4 to 8 is conical in shape. However, the container 8 may have any other shape, provided that on its upper part it has a discharge orifice and that its shape allows accommodation within the whole rotary probe assembly and easy handling of it.

The present assembly also includes the mechanism 14 for lifting, rotating and discharging the container 8 (shown in Figure 4). The mechamsm 14 additionally contains a hydraulic assembly by which the lifting, rotating and discharging of the container 8 takes place. After sticking container 8 with the single probes 1, the container 8 returns to its extreme position. By the means of mechanism 14 the container 8 is rotated by 130°. Then the single probes 1 are discharged into the interior of the container 8. Once all the single probes are discharged, the container 8 rotates again by means of the mechanism 14 about its vertical X-X axis by another 30° so that earth can fall through the container orifice into the earth collection space. Within the rotary probe assembly, hydraulic control by means of three levers is provided, namely: control lever for the mechanism 10, control lever for the mechamsm 14 intended for the lifting and discharging of the container 8, and control lever for the hydraulic cylinder 6 and the oil pump 7. According to the present invention, the assembly also incorporates a base with the seat for the control of the rotary probe assembly, a place for storing the samples and supports for holding the single probes (not shown in the Figures).

Industrial application

The Rotary Probe Assembly is attached to the tractor's hydraulic leverage. The tractor shaft is connected and set at 540 revolutions per minute. The desirable power of the tractor 19 is 80-220 HP. The Rotary Probe Assembly is put into the uppermost position. With the handle of the hydraulic system the operator of the assembly lowers the container 8 carrying the single probes 1 which are thrust into the ground, where through the orifice in the probe head 2 earth enters up to the desired depth. With the same control handle the container 8 returns to its extreme position. The other handle of the hydraulic system controls the hydraulic cylinder inside the mechanism 14, so that the container 8 lifts/rotates by 130°. Then the single probes 1 are discharged into the interior of the container 8. Once all the single probes are discharged, by the mechanism 14 in the second step the container 8 is rotated about its X-X axis by 30°, so that earth can fall through the container orifice into the earth collection space.

There is a technical possibility to work at two sampling depths, 0-30 cm and 30-60 cm. The homogenization of the extracted earth is done by mixing in the can/container from which an average sample weighing about 2 kg is taken and stored with precise labelling, whereas the rest of earth is discarded from the can as a surplus.

The sticking time (up and down) is 15 to 20 seconds per 30 cm length of the single probe. The output of the Rotary Probe Assembly is 10 average samples per 1 hour of effective work. The daily output of the Rotary Probe Assembly amounts up to 400 average samples.

If work is to be done with one 120 cm central probe, the container 8 is disassembled and only one 120 cm central probe is mounted on the central working cylinder. In that case a whole profile can be taken at 120 cm depth, and if a Plexiglas tube is inserted into the probe, transfer and keeping as well as analysis of the sample by soil level will be possible.

The single probe 1 is thrust into the ground under the pressure of the assembly's hydraulic system, so that the interior of the tube is filled with soil up to the depth at which soil sampling is intended. When the probe 1 is removed from the ground, some earth remains in the probe tube 3. The probe is removed from the holder on the assembly base and by rotation of the probe earth falls into the prepared container for layer sampling. When discharged, the probe is returned again to its place on the base and the ground sticking process can go on again on the desired point of the plot of land. If a whole profile is to be taken out at the desired depth, including the depth of 120 cm, then a plastic Plexiglas tube, into which the soil sample is filled, is inserted into the existing probe.