FRONT-LOADING PRECISION MATERIAL SAMPLER WITH INTERCHANGEABLE RETRACTING CHAMBER

摘要

A bulk material sampler (10) comprising an elongated body (12) having a first axial bore (18) and an interior wall (19), a handle (20) having a second axial bore (28) and a finger grip (22), and a shaft assembly (30) axially supported inside the first and second bores. The bottom end of the handle (14) is connected to the top end (14) of the body. The shaft assembly comprises a tip (36) at the shaft assembly bottom end (54) and a button (38) at the shaft assembly top end (32). The button is adapted to protrude from the handle top end. The shaft assembly is axially moveable between an actuated position in which the button is maximally depressed within the handle, and a resting position in which the button maximally protrudes from the handle. The sampler further comprises means (40) for biasing the shaft in the resting position, and a sample collection cavity (50) defined by a portion of the tip and a portion of the body interior wall. The tip may be removable from the shaft assembly. A plurality of tips having different configurations tailored for sampling different bulk materials are claimed, as are methods for taking a sample using the sampler.