|
PatentVote.com: Vote on your favourite invention!
|
|
 |
Title: Aquatic plant sampler
Claims: Having described my invention with the particularity set forth above, what is claimed is: 1. An aquatic plant sampler comprising: (a) an aquatic craft; and (b) a sampling bucket carried by said aquatic craft for lowering into the water of a water body floating said aquatic craft and collecting plant and water bottom samples, said sampling bucket further comprising rotating cutter means for isolating said samples and bottom retracting means internally provided in said sampling bucket above said cutter means for receiving and holding said samples. 2. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 wherein said sampling bucket further includes an access door for removing said samples. 3. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 further comprising overhead rail means on said aquatic craft for suspending said sampling bucket over said water and lifting means carried by said overhead rail means for lowering and raising said sampling bucket into and out of said water, respectively. 4. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 further comprising overhead rail means for suspending said sampling bucket over said water and lifting means carried by said overhead rail means for lowering and raising said sampling bucket into and out of said water, respectively, and wherein said sampling bucket further includes an access door for removing said samples. 5. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 further comprising overhead rail means on said aquatic craft and trolley means movably carried by said overhead rail means, and wherein said sampling bucket is carried by said trolley means. 6. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 further comprising piston means cooperating with said bottom retracting means; drive means carried by said bucket and cooperating with said cutter means; and remote control means on said aquatic craft communicating with said piston means and said drive means for activating said rotating cutter means and said bottom retracting means at selected time intervals. 7. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 further comprising underwater propulsion means and above water propulsion means mounted on said aquatic craft. 8. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 further comprising overhead rail means for suspending said sampling bucket over said water and lifting means carried by said overhead rail means for lowering and raising said sampling bucket into and out of said water, respectively, and underwater propulsion means and above water propulsion means mounted on said aquatic craft. 9. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 further comprising anchors consisting of at least two poles carried by said aquatic craft and positioned in contact with the water bottom of said water body to stabilize said aquatic craft in position to collect said samples. 10. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 1 further comprising: (a) Overhead rail means and trolley means movably carried by said overhead rail means and carrying said sampling bucket; (b) Piston means cooperating with said bottom retracting means; drive means carried by said bucket and cooperating with said cutter means; and remote control means on said aquatic craft communicating with said piston means and said drive means for activating said rotating cutter means and said bottom retracting means when said sampling bucket is submerged to cut, receive and hold said samples; (c) Under water propulsion means and above water propulsion means mounted on said aquatic craft; and (d) At least two poles carried by said aquatic craft and positioned in contact with the water bottom of said water body to stabilize said aquatic craft in position to collect said samples. 11. An aquatic plant sampler comprising: (a) an aquatic craft having a hole near the center thereof communicating with the water surface of a water body floating said craft; (b) an overhead rail mounted on the deck of said aquatic craft above said hole; (c) trolley means movably carried by said overhead rail for traversing said overhead rail; (d) a chain lift motor mounted on said trolley; (e) a lift chain in cooperation with said chain lift motor; (f) a sampling bucket carried by said lift chain and suspended from said trolley means and movable up and down vertically, responsive to activation of said chain lift motor; (g) a cutter chain means mounted on the bottom of said sampling bucket; (h) a chain drive motor mounted on said sampling bucket in cooperation with said cutter chain means to drive said cutter chain means responsive to activation of said chain drive motor; (i) retraction means mounted in the bottom of said sampling bucket to selectively retract and close said bottom; and (j) remote control means on said aquatic craft for selectively activating said chain drive motor, said chain lift motor and said retraction means. 12. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 11 wherein said aquatic craft is characterized by a pair of pontoons having a deck mounted thereon with said hole provided in said deck between said pontoons. 13. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 11 further comprising a chain accumulator suspended from said overhead rail for storing, paying out, and accumulating said lift chain responsive to operation of said sampling bucket. 14. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 11 wherein said sampling bucket further includes a hinged access door for access to the interior of said sampling bucket. 15. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 11 wherein the bottom peripheral edge of said sampling bucket is provided with a set of downwardly extending stationary cutter blades, and said cutter chain means includes a chain race mounted on said sampling bucket near the bottom peripheral edge thereof above said stationary cutter blades; a chain cooperating with said chain race; and a set of chain cutter blades carried by said chain and substantially coextensive with said set of stationary cutter blades for rotation with respect to said set of stationary cutter blades. 16. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 11 further comprising a chain accumulator suspended from said overhead rail for storing, paying out, and accumulating said lift chain responsive to operation of said sampling bucket; and wherein: (a) said aquatic craft is characterized by a pair of pontoons having a deck mounted therein with said hole provided in said deck between said pontoons; (b) said sampling bucket further includes a hinged access door for access to the interior of said sampling bucket; and (c) said sampling bucket is provided with a set of downwardly extending stationary cutter blades, and said cutter chain means includes a chain race mounted on said sampling bucket near the bottom peripheral edge thereof above said stationary cutter blades; a chain cooperating with said chain race; and a set of chain cutter blades carried by said chain and substantially coextensive with said set of stationary cutter blades for rotation with respect to said set of stationary cutter blades. 17. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 11 wherein said retraction means further comprises: (a) a plurality of essentially wedge-shaped bucket bottom plates forming the bottom of said sampling bucket when in closed configuration and joined to the inside of said sampling bucket by hinges; (b) a bucket lift plate disposed above said bucket bottom plates in essentially concentric relationship with respect to the side of said sampling bucket; (c) a plurality of bucket lift plate rods having one end mounted in spaced relationship on said bucket lift plate and each having the other end pivotally carried by one of said bucket bottom plates; and (d) means in cooperation with said bucket lift plate and responsive to said remote control means for selectively exerting an upward force on said bucket lift plate to cause said plurality of wedge-shaped bucket bottom plates to swing open on said hinges and define an opening in the bottom of said sampling bucket and for selectively exerting a downward force on said bucket lift plate to close said plurality of wedge-shaped bucket bottom plates. 18. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 17 wherein said means in cooperation with said bucket lift plate is a double-action hydraulic cylinder. 19. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 11 wherein: (a) said aquatic craft is characterized by a pair of pontoons having a deck mounted thereon with said hole provided in said deck between said pontoons; (b) said sampling bucket is constructed of perforated side and top material and further includes a hinged access door for access to the interior of said sampling bucket; (c) said sampling bucket is provided with a set of downwardly extending stationary cutter blades, and said cutter chain means includes a chain race mounted on said sampling bucket near the bottom peripheral edge thereof above said stationary cutter blades; a chain cooperating with said chain race; and a set of chain cutter blades carried by said chain and substantially coextensive with said set of stationary cutter blades for rotation with respect to said set of stationary cutter blades; and (d) wherein said retraction means further comprises: (a) a plurality of essentially wedge-shaped bucket bottom plates forming the bottom of said sampling bucket when in closed configuration and joined to the inside of said sampling bucket by hinges; (b) a bucket lift plate having apertures therein and disposed above said bucket bottom plates in essentially concentric relationship with respect to the side of said sampling bucket; (c) a plurality of bucket lift plate rods having one end mounted in spaced relationship on said bucket lift plate and each having the other end pivotally carried by one of said bucket bottom plates; and (d) means in cooperation with said bucket lift plate and responsive to said remote control means for selectively exerting an upward force on said bucket lift plate to cause said plurality of wedge-shaped bucket bottom plates to swing open on said hinges and define an opening in the bottom of said sampling bucket and for selectively exerting a downward force on said bucket lift plate to close said plurality of wedge-shaped bucket bottom plates. 20. The aquatic plant sampler of claim 19 wherein said remote control means is hydraulically activated and said chain drive motor and said chain lift motor are hydraulic motors. Other info: Inventors: Kelpin, Thomas G. (Shreveport, LA, US) Application Number: 840095 Filing Date: 1977-10-06 Publication_date: 1979-12-11 Assignee: Primary Class(es): 56/9 175/20, 175/58, 175/249 Other Classes: US Patent Ref:
Other Refs: Primary Examiner: Eskovitz, Jay N. Assistant Examiner: Attorney: |
|