Soil sampling tool with unique vent-and-seal feature

摘要

The disclosure involves a soil-sampling tool having a barrel with a distal end for insertion into soil, and a plunger mounted for movement in the barrel. The plunger includes a soil-contact surface spaced from the distal end by a dimension when the barrel is filled with a soil sample having a volume. The improved tool includes a locking mechanism setting the dimension equal to a reference dimension, thereby establishing the volume of the soil sample to be equal to a predetermined or reference volume. In a more specific embodiment, there is an annular space between the barrel wall and the plunger head. Such head includes plural resilient sealing rings for sealing against the wall and closing the space. The tool also includes a feature for venting air otherwise trapped between the barrel/soil sample and the cap being mounted to the barrel.