GB2120207A

GB2120207A - Sampling apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2120207A
Application number: GB08212206A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Geoffrey Ashley Greenwood
Original assignee: COCKSEDGE AND Co Ltd
Current assignee: COCKSEDGE AND Co Ltd
Priority date: 1982-04-27
Filing date: 1982-04-27
Publication date: 1983-11-30
Also published as: GB2120207B

Abstract

A sugar cane sampling apparatus comprises a framework, an assembly carried by said framework, said assembly having a support, a worm and wheel drive 36 and drive means therefor mounted on said support, and a sampling tube rigidly attached at its upper end to a hollow output shaft of said worm and wheel drive and having at its lower end a cutter c. A first vertical double acting piston and cylinder device 44 connected between said framework and said assembly moves the latter between a raised position and a lowered position during a sampling operation. As the tube descends the cutter cuts through a load of sugar cane. An ejector 46, arranged within the tube for movement therealong independently of the movement of the tube is carried by a rod passing through the hollow output shaft of the worm and wheel drive. A second double acting piston and cylinder device connected to said rod serves to discharge the sample, which has entered the tube, after withdrawal of the tube from the load. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Crop sampling apparatus This invention relates to sampling apparatus more especially for taking a sample from a load of sugar cane, in the form of a local vertical cross section, the apparatus including a sampling tube.

A sampling apparatus for sugar beet is known (U.K. Patent Specification 897,199) comprising a vertical tube, scoop plates axially movable in relation to the tube, at the lower end thereof and means for rotating the tube and moving it downwards so that beets (or other material) scooped up by the scoop plates are moved into the tube, whereupon the tube can be raised and the contents discharged by moving the scoop plates away from the end of the tube.

A further apparatus for sampling sugar beet is disclosed in Patent Specification No. 1525241, the apparatus also having a tube which can be lowered into the sample to receive the beets by means of scoops at the lower end of the tube. The object of the invention disclosed in Patent No. No. 1525241 is to provide means for automatically arresting the drive applied to the tube to prevent damage to the tube which otherwise might occur in engaging the floor of the lorry containing the beets.

An object of the present invention is to provide apparatus for sampling sugar cane in which, as in the earlier devices referred to above, a sampling tube is lowered into a load of the crop and a sample withdrawn.

According to the invention there is provided a sampling apparatus comprising a sampling tube movable between a raised position and a lowered position to receive the sample, a vertical double action piston and cylinder device for advancing and withdrawing the tube, means for rotating the tube, an ejector arranged within the tube for movement therealong independently of the movement of the tube, means for moving the ejector within the tube, and cutting means provided at the lower end of the tube, whereby on rotation of the tube and on movement of the tube from a raised position towards a lowered position the cutting means cuts through the load whereby the sample enters the tube and on withdrawal of the tube the sample is discharged by the ejector.

A constructional embodiment will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figures 1 and 2 are respectively front elevational and plan views of a sampling apparatus incorporating the invention, and Figure 3 is a part section taken on the line A-A of Figure 2.

The apparatus shown in the present invention incorporates many constructional features described in Patent Specification No. 1525241 and for the sake of simplicity the features common to both arrangements have the same reference numbers. As in Patent No. 1525241 (and also in the earlier Patent No.

897,199) the apparatus is provided with a framework which can be moved to a sampling position beneath which a lorry can be brought, whereupon a sampling tube is driven downwards into the crop contained in the lorry. The crop enters the tube whereafter the latter is raised and the frame work moved laterally to a discharge position over a moving belt from which the sampled crop is discharged into a hopper.

The sampling apparatus shown in the drawings includes a laterally movable framework 10 on which are mounted flanged wheels 11 which engage in guide rails of a rigid framework (not shown) to position the framework 10 sufficiently above the ground for the lorry carrying a load of beets to be driven underneath. The framework 10 is movable by means of a hydraulic motor shown schematically at 14 which drives the wheels 11 through an axle 15 to move the framework laterally from a sampling position or any one of a number of sampling positions, to a discharge position. The hydraulic motor is fed from a reservoir and pump assembly 13 mounted on the framework 10.

Mounted on the framework 10 are a pair of vertical rails 16 serving as guides for a vertically movable carriage 17 which has upper and lower guides 18 engaging these rails. The carriage 17, which is constructed of angle and channel members 19,20, is connected at its upper end to one end of a piston rod 21 by way of a clevis connection which comprises a pin 22 which passes through an eye 23 formed in the end of the piston rod 21 and which is engaged in apertures in the channels 20 at the top of the carriage 17. The piston rod 21 is part of a piston and cylinder device 24, the cylinder of which is fixed to an upper 25 of the laterally movable framework 10.

At the lower end of the carriage 17 there is provided a base 26 formed by end channels 27 and side channels 28 surmounted by a base plate 29. At the centres of the end channels 27 there are provided bearings 30 (Figure 3) which are supported in journals 31 mounted on channels 32 forming the lower ends of the carriage 17 (see Figure 3).

Mounted on the base plate 29 is the driving mechanism for a sampling tube 33 to be described later. The driving mechanism comprises an electric motor 34, a gear box 35 and a worm and wheel drive 36 having a hollow output shaft 37 extending vertically downwards therefrom. The latter is connected by a screw thread 38 to a sleeve 39 which has welded thereto a plate 40 to which is attached to the inside of the sampling tube 33 at the upper end thereof. The sampling tube may be about eight to twenty inches (20 to 50 cm.) diameters and five to eleven feet long (152 to 335 cm.).

As shown in Figure 1, a rod 44' of a hydraulic ram 44 passes through the shaft 37 and sleeve 39. The lower end of the rod 44 carries an ejector plate 46 that is vertically movable within the sampling tube and is guided by an apertured plate 47 welded to the inside of the tube 33.

Whilst the upper end of the sampling tube is pivotally supported, the tube is maintained in a vertical position by means of rollers 49, 50 in a manner shown in detail in Patent Specification No.

1525241. At the lowermost extensions of vertical channels 51 and 53 depending from the laterally movable framework 10 is attached a channel sectioned hoop 55 across which are disposed a pair of support beams 56,57, each formed byfacing channel members. The beams carry the two rollers 49 in a fixed manner.

The lower end of the sampling tube is provided with an annular cutter C which may be removable for the purpose of sharpening or replacement. The cutter may be attached in a manner not shown by a screw thread or by a sleeve and spigot and secured by countersunk screws.

The sampling tube 33 is raised and lowered by moving carriage 17 under the power of the piston and cylinder device 24 and the sampling tube is rotated by the electric motor 34.

Hydraulic circuitry for the control of the movement of the sampling tube and ejector plate may be as substantially as described in Patent Specification No.

1525241 with the omission of the safety circuit to stop the downward movement or engagement of the tube with the lorry floor. In the present example a balanced potentiometer system of a known type may be used to ensure that damage does not occur either to the cutter or the lorry floor.

The function of the sampler unit may be semiautomatic and may be controlled by a single operator from a control station mounted adjacent to the control point. Operation of a joystick controller will traverse the unit to any required position over the vehicle. Placing the controller in the down position will start the sampling tube descending at a fast approach speed. On entering the load the controller is released and the tube continues to descend in slow speed cutting through the cane until it reaches a predetermined depth in the vehicle. The tube then automatically retracts and the unit traverses to its discharge position whereupon the ram 44 is automatically operated so that the ejector plate 46 ejects the sample into a reception hopper. The ram 44 then returns to its preload position, where it remains ready for the next sample cycle.

CLAIMS (Filed on 25April 1983) 1. A sampling apparatus comprising a framework, an assembly carried by said framework, said assembly having a support, a worm and wheel drive and drive means therefor mounted on said support, a sampling tube rigidly attached at its upper end to a hollow output shaft of said worm and wheel drive and having at its lower end cutting means; a first vertical double acting piston and cylinder device connected between said framework and said assemblyfor moving the latter between a raised position and a lowered position during a sampling operation; an ejector arranged within the tube for movement therealong independently of the movement of the tube, said ejector having a rod passing through the hollow output shaft of the worm and wheel drive, and a second double acting piston and cylinder device connected to said rod, wherein on rotation of the tube and on movement of the tube from a raised position towards a lowered position, the cutting means cuts through the load whereby the sample enters the tube and on withdrawal of the tube the sample is discharged on operation of the ejector.

2. A sampling apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the upper end of the tube is provided with a sleeve which is connected to said hollow output shaft by a screw thread.

3. A sampling apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the upper end of the tube is provided with a first plate which is welded to the tube and hollow sleeve, and a second plate at a short distance from the first plate having an aperture serving to guide the rod of the ejector.

4. A sampling apparatus as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the cutting means comprises a removable annular cutter concentrically mounted on the tube at the lower end thereof.

5. A sampling apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the sampling tube is maintained in a vertical position by means of rollers engaging the outer surface of the sampling tube at or near the lower end of the tube when the latter is in its raised position, the rollers being arranged in pairs, two opposing rollers being being on fixed axes to restrict lateral movement of the sampling tube and the other pair being movably mounted on beams attached to the framework of the apparatus.

6. A sampling apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 to 5, wherein the framework is mounted on flanged wheels which are drivable through an axle by a motor whereby said framework can be moved between sampling positions or to a discharge position.

7. A sampling apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

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Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **.

sectioned hoop 55 across which are disposed a pair of support beams 56,57, each formed byfacing channel members. The beams carry the two rollers 49 in a fixed manner.

The lower end of the sampling tube is provided with an annular cutter C which may be removable for the purpose of sharpening or replacement. The cutter may be attached in a manner not shown by a screw thread or by a sleeve and spigot and secured by countersunk screws.

The sampling tube 33 is raised and lowered by moving carriage 17 under the power of the piston and cylinder device 24 and the sampling tube is rotated by the electric motor 34.

Hydraulic circuitry for the control of the movement of the sampling tube and ejector plate may be as substantially as described in Patent Specification No.

1525241 with the omission of the safety circuit to stop the downward movement or engagement of the tube with the lorry floor. In the present example a balanced potentiometer system of a known type may be used to ensure that damage does not occur either to the cutter or the lorry floor.

The function of the sampler unit may be semiautomatic and may be controlled by a single operator from a control station mounted adjacent to the control point. Operation of a joystick controller will traverse the unit to any required position over the vehicle. Placing the controller in the down position will start the sampling tube descending at a fast approach speed. On entering the load the controller is released and the tube continues to descend in slow speed cutting through the cane until it reaches a predetermined depth in the vehicle. The tube then automatically retracts and the unit traverses to its discharge position whereupon the ram 44 is automatically operated so that the ejector plate 46 ejects the sample into a reception hopper. The ram 44 then returns to its preload position, where it remains ready for the next sample cycle.

CLAIMS (Filed on 25April 1983) 1. A sampling apparatus comprising a framework, an assembly carried by said framework, said assembly having a support, a worm and wheel drive and drive means therefor mounted on said support, a sampling tube rigidly attached at its upper end to a hollow output shaft of said worm and wheel drive and having at its lower end cutting means; a first vertical double acting piston and cylinder device connected between said framework and said assemblyfor moving the latter between a raised position and a lowered position during a sampling operation; an ejector arranged within the tube for movement therealong independently of the movement of the tube, said ejector having a rod passing through the hollow output shaft of the worm and wheel drive, and a second double acting piston and cylinder device connected to said rod, wherein on rotation of the tube and on movement of the tube from a raised position towards a lowered position, the cutting means cuts through the load whereby the sample enters the tube and on withdrawal of the tube the sample is discharged on operation of the ejector.
2. A sampling apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the upper end of the tube is provided with a sleeve which is connected to said hollow output shaft by a screw thread.
3. A sampling apparatus as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the upper end of the tube is provided with a first plate which is welded to the tube and hollow sleeve, and a second plate at a short distance from the first plate having an aperture serving to guide the rod of the ejector.
4. A sampling apparatus as claimed in Claim 1,2 or 3, wherein the cutting means comprises a removable annular cutter concentrically mounted on the tube at the lower end thereof.
5. A sampling apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 4, wherein the sampling tube is maintained in a vertical position by means of rollers engaging the outer surface of the sampling tube at or near the lower end of the tube when the latter is in its raised position, the rollers being arranged in pairs, two opposing rollers being being on fixed axes to restrict lateral movement of the sampling tube and the other pair being movably mounted on beams attached to the framework of the apparatus.
6. A sampling apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 to 5, wherein the framework is mounted on flanged wheels which are drivable through an axle by a motor whereby said framework can be moved between sampling positions or to a discharge position.
7. A sampling apparatus substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.