Soil Sampling Probe with Surface Scraper for Debris Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Soil sampling methods often include debris from the surface layer, which contaminates the samples and leads to inaccurate analysis, as the current methods of collecting cylindrical core samples inevitably mix debris with the soil.

Innovation Solution

A soil sample collection machine with a mobile support frame featuring a soil sampling probe assembly and a surface scraper assembly that removes surface debris before collecting the soil sample, ensuring that only the soil layer is analyzed.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a hollow soil sampling probe is plunged down into the soil to retrieve a cylindrical core sample, then the soil sample collection process is simple and quick, but surface debris becomes mixed into the soil sample causing inaccuracies in the analysis data

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil sample collection efficiencyVSAvoidsoil sample analysis accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper assembly performs preliminary action by removing surface debris from the soil surface before the soil sampling probe collects the soil core sample. This preliminary cleaning action prevents debris contamination of the soil sample, ensuring accurate analysis results while maintaining efficient sample collection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The device segments the soil sampling process into two distinct operations: first, the scraper assembly removes surface debris in a separate preliminary step, then the soil sampling probe collects the clean soil core sample. This segmentation prevents mixing of debris with soil samples, resolving the contradiction between collection efficiency and sample accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Measurement precision

If a surface scraper assembly is added to remove surface debris before sampling, then the accuracy of soil sampling analysis is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesoil sample analysis accuracyVSAvoidsampling machine structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The scraper assembly and soil sampling probe are merged into a single integrated device mounted on the same mobile support frame. Both components operate at the same location and can be controlled by a single operator, reducing the complexity that would result from using separate devices while still achieving accurate debris-free soil sampling

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS10473559B2Automated soil sample collection machine with scraper for removing surface debris

Publication Date: 2019.11.12 CASE JAMES A

AI summary

A soil sample collection machine has a mobile support frame that is transportable across the soil surface of an agricultural field. A surface scraper assembly is mounted to the mobile support frame and includes a scraper and a driver that is adapted to lower the scraper onto the surface of the soil and move the scraper across the soil surface for removing surface debris before a sample collection probe is driven into the soil at the scraped location and removes a soil sample. A soil sampling probe assembly is also mounted to the mobile support frame and includes a sample collection probe and a driver that is adapted to move the sample collection probe along a downward path into the soil to collect a sample of soil at the place the surface was scraped, to retract the probe upward and then to eject the soil sample from the probe into a container on an endless conveyer of containers.