Importance

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Abstract

A sampler for sampling granular material moving through a pipe includes a housing which is mounted on the pipe, and a probe having an open front end and a hollow rearwardly divergent interior movably mounted within the housing. A pair of pneumatic cylinders selectively move the probe between a retracted position within the housing and an extended position within the pipe. A pneumatic vibrator is mounted on the probe for selectively vibrating the probe providing for penetration of the granular material within the pipe and for moving samples of the material through the probe. Various resilient and abrasion resistant materials seal the probe to the housing, and a plurality of rollers are mounted within the housing for stabilizing and guiding the moving probe. A gate is movably mounted on a pneumatic cylinder for closing the open front end of the probe when the probe is in the retracted position. Following opening of the gate, the moving granular material in the pipe is penetrated by cutter tips formed on the front end of the probe, under the influence of the penumatic vibrator and the pneumatic cylinders within the housing. The captured sample moves toward the rear of the probe and out of a chute under the influence of the vibrator and gravity. The gate is closed after retraction of the probe from the pipe to prevent any further movement of sample from the pipe into the probe.

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First Claim